Five urgently needed changes to the sustainable world and how they can be achieved: the United Nations Report

Amidst the escalation of inequality and crises such as climate change, biodiversity losses and pollution, the new UN report presents a bold approach to change.

The 2025 Interconnected Disaster Risk Report, Turning Over a New Leaf, is published by the UNU University Institute for Environmental and Human Security (UNU-EHS), shifts the focus from problem diagnosis to solution mapping. Many of today’s solutions are surface-level modifications, establishing that in order to create lasting change, it is necessary to question the social structures and thinking that perpetuate these challenges.

“Society is at a crossroads,” says Professor Shen Xiaomeng, director of UNU-EHS.

“For many years, scientists have warned us about the damage we have done to the planet and how to stop it. But we have not taken any meaningful actions. Climate change is getting worse, but fossil fuel consumption continues to reach record highs.

“Over and over again, we feel danger first, but we continue to move towards it. Often, we see deep by, we know how to turn around, but still, we continue to walk towards it with confidence. Why?”

To answer this question, this report provides a more comprehensive analysis of what is at the heart of human behavior and how to achieve true change, as well as practical examples of positive change that are being conducted around the world and serve as a source of modeling and inspiration.

Theory of Deep Change

Previous editions of interconnected disaster risks warned of irreversible risk turning points. This year, the author took the time to find his last report left off by developing a “Theory of Deep Change” (TODC).

This theory is divided into the root causes of global problems, allowing us to identify the structures and assumptions of society. For example, if rivers clogged with waste waste and causing disastrous floods, people may criticize waste management systems and seek more recycling.

However, the theory of deep change becomes deeper. First, we identify structures that allow waste to accumulate from the start, such as waste and mass production systems, and then we dive deep into the assumptions that lead to the creation of those systems, encouraging people to maintain them, such as “new things are better” or believing that material production and consumption is an advance.

Changes start at the root

Scientists associate their models with trees. There, the visible consequences are fruits, but the actual problem lies in the roots. Rotten roots produce rotten fruit.

The report emphasizes that true change begins at the roots. The system itself never changes without rethinking the values ​​and mindsets that underpin these systems.

Interventions such as recycling and conservation remain insufficient as they are superficial corrections that do not address the underlying causes of waste and biodiversity loss. Society cannot escape the plastic crisis without questioning why so much plastic waste is produced in the first place.

“There are a lot of people trying to change the world for the better, but trying to do the right thing can seem like an impossible challenge,” said Caitlyn Evare, the lead author of the report.

“Our reports show that many of the actions we take are not effective as long as the entire system is working towards us. We need to go deeper, imagine the world we want to live in, and change the structure to suit that vision.”

Recognise and surpass superficial corrections

Solargeoengineering is one example cited in the report that failing to address the deep roots of the problem can pose even more risks. At present, there is growing interest in research and deployment of solar power technology, including spraying aerosols into the Earth’s stratosphere, bringing sunlight back into space and lowering average global temperatures.

This approach, which has been hailed as a solution to climate change, can have unpredictable impacts on weather patterns around the world.

But even more, solar geoengineering, seen through the lens of deep theory of change, is an attempt to place the current system rather than commit to a real solution.

By dealing with the negative consequences of human behavior (global warming), instead of the action itself (burning of fossil fuels), it is a superficial correction. Furthermore, when implemented by individual governments or businesses, it is also an example of unilateral decisions being made in parts of the world that can have widespread consequences for others.

Five deep changes

The report outlines five areas where deep, systematic changes are urgently needed.

Rethinking waste: From garbage to treasures with nature, from separation to harmony to rethinking responsibility: From me to rethinking the future: From seconds to centuries, redefining values: From economic wealth to planetary health.

Lever: How to make a change

To create truly deep change, the theory of deep change recognizes two types of levers that can be used to influence changes: the inner and outer levers. It is possible to start with one lever, but both are necessary to create permanent changes.

Inner lever: The inner lever is a way to change the current assumptions of the system. They include paradigms or mindset shifts that allow people to redefine the boundaries of what is possible. Outer lever: The outer lever transforms the new goals of the system into practical structures, producing more positive results. For example, changes in policy, institutions and education.

Regarding the aforementioned example of solar geoengineering, the inner lever moves from prioritizing self-interest to seeing themselves as responsible people who care about the global community.

You can also pull the outer lever to create a structure of commitment to work together to solve international governance and global issues. Both of these are needed in combination to create deep changes that will continue and bring about a better future.

Overcoming changing barriers

The report acknowledges major challenges to change, such as “DELTA of Doom.” Even if the solution is clear and changes are ongoing, implementation can be stagnant due to conflicts of interest, fear and systematic inertia. This may well explain the strong headwinds against meaningful behavior seen today.

The key to overcoming them is to recognize that positive changes occur and can occur every day, and that the system can change because it is human.

“Changes can be uncomfortable, but retreating won’t solve the challenges of a rapidly evolving world,” says Dr. Zita Sebesvari, another lead author of the report.

“This report isn’t just about avoiding disasters, it’s about freeing us from the idea of ​​simply reducing harm. We limit ourselves when we focus on preventing the worst, rather than making the best efforts.

“Despite the root causes of problems, foster global cooperation, and trusting in collective power, we can shape a world where future generations can not only survive but thrive.