Workshop reflections from the World Biodiversity Forum 2026: Rethinking transformative change through the lens of power

On 16 June 2026, our Translating Transformations project facilitated the interactive workshop "What exactly is transformative change? Deciphering solutions for transformative futures" at the World Biodiversity Forum (WBF) 2026 in Davos. During the 90-minute session, we introduced The Power in Change, one of our Critical Social Science (CSS) literacy tools, beginning with a brief introduction to our CSS approach to transformative change and our broader project of developing practical CSS literacy tools.

The workshop brought together 31 participants with diverse professional and disciplinary backgrounds. Participants included researchers, professors, students, consultants, practitioners, policymakers and NGO leaders, with a balanced representation of social and natural scientists, four practitioners, and one policymaker. Most participants (71%) indicated that transformative change already forms part of their research or professional practice.

As with The Power in Change tool, the workshop was designed to support the exploration of transformative change through a power lens by reflecting on: How can we tell whether a proposed solution is truly transformative? Using concrete examples specifically chosen to be broadly understood (e.g. wealth redistribution), participants deliberated over the differences between mitigative, adaptive, and transformative change. Guiding questions about power relations encouraged discussion on who benefits from proposed solutions, whose interests are reinforced or challenged, and how power relations shape the transformative potential of different initiatives. To highlight the importance of discussing and questioning assumptions behind proposed solutions, examples included ambiguous or context-dependent approaches (e.g. school program for a healthy diet).

Group discussions as co-creation of transformative (change) knowledge

The workshop showed that participants found the tool highly valuable for stimulating discussions about power and helping translate the abstract concept of transformative change into practical application. Working through examples together broadened perspectives, highlighted the importance of both local and broader context, and demonstrated that assessing transformative change is often far more complex than it initially appears. Many participants particularly appreciated analyzing examples from their own fields of work and saw potential for applying the tool in educational settings and stakeholder workshops.

Throughout our iterative process of co-designing and workshopping our tools, we have been repeatedly surprised and delighted with the richness of the co-produced knowledge that emerges from cultivating inter- and transdisciplinary spaces for collective exploration. The workshop only reinforced the importance of such spaces for transformative knowledge. Participants did not simply categorize examples; they challenged one another's assumptions, explored different interpretations, and collectively reflected on how power shapes societal change. The diversity of disciplinary and professional backgrounds enriched these conversations and illustrated that navigating the complexities of transformative change is best done through dialogue.

What we learned

Although we initially develop our tools within our project team, our overall aim is to ensure their usefulness and fit-for-purpose. We thus view our workshops as mutual learning spaces and immensely value participant feedback. One of the most salient lessons from this workshop was that the categorization of examples as mitigative, adaptive, or transformative diminished the tool's overall effectiveness. Because the terms mitigation and adaptation are strongly associated with climate change, participants interpreted them in different ways. As a result, discussions sometimes shifted away from reflections on power and towards debates about terminology itself.

Power is arguably one of the most complex and contested concepts in social theory, and this was reflected in the workshop, with some participants calling for a stronger conceptual framing of power. Several others recommended aligning the tool more clearly with the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, with one drawing our attention to the 10-step tool presented in the Appendices of the Summary for Policymakers.

How we adapted The Power in Change

Based on participants' feedback, we have adjusted the tool to clarify its aim of assessing the potential of proposed solutions to address the power dynamics at the core of the polycrisis.

First, we clarified the conceptual framing. The revised version now explicitly connects with the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, explaining its particular focus on the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and nature's decline, including concentration of power and wealth, domination over nature and people, and the prioritization of short-term individual and material gains. We also incorporated the Indigenous Seven Generations Principle, encouraging participants to consider whether proposed initiatives contribute to long-term stewardship and intergenerational justice rather than short-term corrections.

Second, we replaced the original three-category classification of change (mitigative, adaptive, and transformative) with a Power-Temporality Matrix. Rather than assigning examples to specific classifications of change, participants now position them along two axes: one reflecting the extent to which they reinforce or address the power dynamics that manifest as domination, concentration of wealth, and profit prioritization; the other the extent to which they offer temporary fixes or contribute to long-term, intergenerational transformation. This shift redirects the discussion away from terminology and towards critically examining the underlying causes, conditions, and links to power that shape transformative potential.

Finally, while we agree with appeals from participants familiar with power theory for a stronger conceptual framing of power, our overall aim is to keep each tool as simple and accessible as possible. Instead of introducing more complexity to The Power in Change tool, we now recommend using it after participants have already explored how power operates through our other CSS literacy tools. Building this foundation helps participants engage more deeply with the role of power in transformative change and responds directly to participants' feedback that the original version assumed prior knowledge of power concepts.

Explore the new version now: The Power in Change

Looking ahead

The WBF 2026 workshop reaffirmed that there is a strong interest in practical methods that help make power visible in discussions about transformative change. More importantly, it demonstrated the value of our iterative, co-development approach to designing CSS literacy tools. Testing tools with diverse audiences not only improves their usability but also reveals new ways in which concepts such as power and transformative change are understood, questioned, and applied across different contexts.

We are grateful to everyone who participated, shared their reflections, and helped shape the next iteration of The Power in Change. Your feedback has already led to significant insights and improvements, and we look forward to continuing to refine our tools. We also warmly invite you to explore our open platform and use the tools in your own work.