Publications


Full report

Full report transformative change Global scientific assessments increasingly reach the conclusion that transformative change of global production and consumption systems is necessary to safeguard and maintain global commons, such as biodiversity, natural forests and the ocean. Against this background the present study analyses the conclusions of global assessments and derives recommendations on how to increase the transformative potential of international negotiations and agreements as well as development cooperation programs, projects, and initiatives. The study develops a conceptual framework and argues that interventions are much more likely to achieve transformation to sustainability if they are embedded within a more comprehensive framing of transformative change. The study identifies core challenges and gaps for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in general and for forests and the ocean by (i) examining the recommendations from global assessments and reports on the state of nature and the environment, and (ii) by analysing international cooperation projects with regard to their transformative potential. Finally, the study provides recommendations on how Germany can support transformation in the context of international and development cooperation.

Wittmer, H. Berghöfer, A., Büttner L., Chakrabarty, R., Förster, J., Khan, S., König, C., Krause, G., Kreuer, D., Locher-Krause, K., Moreno Soares, T., Muñoz Escobar, M., Neumann, M., Renner, I., Rode, J., Schniewind, I., Schwarzer, D., Tröger, U., Zinngrebe, Y., Spiering, S. (2021). Transformative change for a sustainable management of global commons — biodiversity, forests and the ocean. Recommendations for international cooperation based on a review of global assessment reports and project experience. UFZ-Report 3/2021. DOI: 10.57699/7s83-7z35

You can download the full report here.

Please find the appendices here: Appendices_Transformative change for a sustainable management of global commons.pdf (1.3 MB)


Short version

shortversion This publication is the short version of study “Transformative change for a sustainable management of global commons - biodiversity, forests and the ocean. Recommendations for international cooperation based on a review of global assessment reports and project experience” (forthcoming) and was created as part of the project “Transformative change for the protection of global commons”. The short version summarizes key results of the main study in three parts and concludes with options for action for the three central transformation levers 1) structural anchoring of socio-ecological change and orientation towards the common good, 2) greening agriculture and 3) global governance to protect the global commons biodiversity, forests and the ocean.

Wittmer, H. Berghöfer, A., Büttner L., Chakrabarty, R., Förster, J., Khan, S., König, C., Krause, G., Kreuer, D., Locher-Krause, K., Moreno Soares, T., Munoz, M., Neumann, M., Renner, I., Rode, J., Schniewind, I., Schwarzer, D., Tröger, U., Zinngrebe, Y., Spiering, S. (2021). Es geht um unsere Lebensgrundlage: Wie wir jetzt handeln können, um die globalen Gemeingüter Biodiversität, Wälder und Meere für eine lebenswerte Zukunft zu erhalten. UFZ-Report 2/2021.

You can download the short version in German language here.