The imperatives of environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation and social justice (partially codified in the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs) call for ambitious societal transformations. As such, few aspects of actionable knowledge for sustainability are more crucial than those concerning the processes of transformation. This article offers a brief overview of different conceptualisations of transformation, and outlines a set of practical principles for effective research and action towards sustainability. We review three approaches to transformations, labelled: ‘structural’, ‘systemic’ and ‘enabling’. We show how different ways of understanding what we mean by transformations can affect what actions follow. But these approaches are not mutually exclusive. We use an international set of examples on low carbon economy transformations, seed systems, wetland conservation and peri-urban development to show how they can be complementary and reinforcing. We describe three cross-cutting practical considerations that must be taken seriously for effective transformations to sustainability: diverse knowledges, plural pathways and the essentially political nature of transformation. Realizing the ambitions of the SDGs, we conclude, requires being clear about what we mean by transformation, and recognizing these basic methodological principles for action.

环境可持续性，减轻贫困和社会正义（在《可持续发展目标》或《可持续发展目标》中部分编纂）的必要性要求进行雄心勃勃的社会转型。因此，关于可持续性的可操作知识的几个方面比关于转型过程的知识更重要。本文简要概述了不同的转型概念，并概述了一套有效研究和针对可持续性采取行动的实用原则。我们回顾了三种转换方法，分别标记为：“结构”，“系统”和“使能”。我们展示了理解转变的含义的不同方式如何影响后续行动。但是这些方法不是互相排斥的。我们使用了一系列有关低碳经济转型的国际案例，种子系统，湿地保护和城郊开发，以展示它们如何互补和加强。我们描述了要有效地实现可持续性转型必须认真对待的三个跨领域的实际考虑：多样化的知识，多元化的途径以及转型的本质政治性质。我们得出结论，要实现可持续发展目标的雄心壮志，需要明确我们所谓的转型意义，并认识到这些基本的行动方法论原则。