Speaker
Description
The concept of ‘tipping points’ has been influential in the literature on the climate crisis. The earliest mention of the metaphor ‘tipping point’ was found in studies on racial segregation, where it referred to the factors that triggered the swift departure of the white majority from neighbourhoods in US cities during the 1950s. In the 2000s the use of the term surged significantly, particularly in the fields of climate science, environmental sciences, and ecology (Fischer, 2016). In the book ‘Tipping Point’, the concept of tipping points is related to small initial changes leading to a runaway process, that ultimately cause big transitions (Gladwell, 2001). Lenton in the context of environmental systems defines tipping points as conditions or situations, “where a small perturbation triggers a large response”. They could cause abrupt, system-wide changes that are challenging, significant and irreversible (Lenton, 2013). It is a type of threshold (Lenton et al., 2023).
The idea that systems (including the planet) may be close to a point of change where a small amount of force could cause a major transformation, is intuitive and powerful, especially in light of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, and the palpable advent of the ‘age of permanent crisis’ (Chakravarty, 2024). How should governments and institutions adapt their processes in view of the literature on tipping points? Building on the literature on climate and social tipping points, the study introduces the idea of an 'institutional tipping point'— the critical moment before which institutions must act to influence climate outcomes effectively.
The study reviews tipping point interpretations across domains like evolution, social, political, and ecological sciences, including frameworks by Lenton and Sterman. Drawing on insights from planning theory (Hopkins, 2001) and policy studies, it argues for proactive, strategic action by governments to intervene before natural systems reach irreversible thresholds. Emphasizing the importance of timely, coordinated policymaking, the study proposes a 'backcasting approach' that incorporates the lags that the institution might face, to determine necessary lead times for effective institutional responses.
References
Chakravarty, S. 2024. The precariat and the age of permanent crisis: a research agenda for urban planning in India. IN Andres, L. Bryson, J.R., Ersoy, A. and Reardon, L. (Eds.) Pandemic Recovery? Reframing and Rescaling Societal Challenges. 95-112. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing
Fischer, J., 2016. Managing Research Environments: Heterarchies in Academia. A Response to Cumming. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 31(12), pp.900-902.
Hopkins, L.D., 2001. Urban development: The logic of making plans. Island Press: Washington DC.
Lenton, T.M., 2011. Early warning of climate tipping points. Nature climate change, 1(4), pp.201-209.
Lenton, T.M., 2013. Environmental tipping points. Annual review of Environment and Resources, 38(1), pp.1-29.
Gladwell, M., 2006. The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. Little, Brown.
| Keywords | temporality; tipping points; climate action; institutions |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
