Transformative change – a complex, multifaceted challenge for humanity

The Transformative Change Assessment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will examine how better biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, ecosystem service delivery and restoration can be achieved, considering the totality of the socio-ecological system. In this regard, it is also important to understand and identify factors in human society at both the individual and collective levels, e.g., the tragedy of the commons exemplifies how individual self-interest can act against the common good of all. The assessment will then examine the drivers and activities that may be leveraged to bring about transformative change in a growing human population. In this Special Issue on transformative change, nine articles give an insight into the multifaceted challenge transformative change poses to policy makers and decision takers and with that to humanity.