Decision Change: The First Step to System Change

Arnold J. Bomans () and Peter Roessingh
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Arnold J. Bomans: Independent Researcher, 2101 MT Heemstede, The Netherlands
Peter Roessingh: Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: Global crises, such as climate change and ecological collapse, require changes in systemic factors that cause the crises. These factors include the economy, population growth, and decision-making in global affairs. Current decision-making processes have failed to accomplish the required system change, necessitating a change to these processes (‘decision change’) for meaningful progress. The key question is how a procedure for deciding on the required system change should be designed in this setting. In this essay, we propose a three-step approach. First, independent experts in collective decision-making should design this procedure under monitoring by auxiliary bodies that safeguard the design process; second, proposals for system change should be collected; third, based on these proposals, system change should be designed and decided upon using the new decision-making procedure. We argue that authority can be given to the new decision-making body that decides on system change. A global team must convene the decision-making experts and auxiliary bodies, collect system-change proposals, and guarantee that the decision-making process is facilitated. We call on individuals and independent organisations to form such a team or support its formation.

Keywords: climate change; decision-making; ecological collapse; meta-coordination; transformational change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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