Governance for Earth System Tipping Points – A Research Agenda

The authors propose a new interdisciplinary research agenda to address the challenges that earth system tipping points pose for global governance. They argue that current institutions and policy tools are inadequate for managing the rapid, non-linear, and potentially irreversible nature of tipping processes. The paper seeks to develop a governance framework specifically suited to the dynamics of tipping points by identifying three key phases: pre-tipping, reorganisation, and stabilisation. The authors call for collaboration across the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences to support more anticipatory, adaptive, and effective responses to the growing risks associated with earth system tipping points.