Climate change is an increasing threat to sustainable development worldwide. However, the dominant incremental policy approaches have not generated action at anywhere near the rate, scale or depth that is needed. This is largely due to the fact that climate change has historically been framed as a purely external, technical challenge. There is an urgent need for a more integral understanding that links internal and external (collective and systems) approaches to support transformation. However, related knowledge is scarce and fragmented across disciplines. This study addresses this gap. Through a systematic literature review, we analyse how the linkages between internal and external change are portrayed and understood in current research. We assess the scope, perspectives and approaches used to understand why, and how, internal change relates to climate action and sustainability. Our results highlight patterns and gaps regarding foci, conceptualisation, methods, epistemology, ontology and ethics that hamper emergent solutions and progress. Starting from the status quo, we propose an integrated model of change as an agenda and roadmap for future research, policy and practice.

气候变化对全球可持续发展的威胁越来越大。然而，占主导地位的增量政策方法并没有在任何接近所需的速度、规模或深度的地方产生行动。这主要是因为气候变化历来被认为是纯粹的外部技术挑战。迫切需要更全面的理解，将内部和外部（集体和系统）方法联系起来以支持转型。然而，相关知识稀缺且跨学科分散。本研究解决了这一差距。通过系统的文献综述，我们分析了当前研究中如何描绘和理解内部和外部变化之间的联系。我们评估用于理解原因和方式的范围、观点和方法，内部变化与气候行动和可持续性有关。我们的结果突出了在焦点、概念化、方法、认识论、本体论和伦理学方面阻碍新兴解决方案和进步的模式和差距。从现状出发，我们提出了一个综合的变革模型，作为未来研究、政策和实践的议程和路线图。