Evaluating for Transformational Responses: Climate Change, Ecosystem Degradation, and Social Inequality

Abstract

To combat the escalating climate crisis, transformational interventions and evaluations that identify and assess such interventions are imperative and urgently needed. Current methods for evaluating climate adaptation and mitigation interventions are failing to identify and assess the profound, systemic shifts required. In the context of transformation-washing (any positive improvement being portrayed as transformational), this article presents a holistic approach to ensuring evaluations contribute to transformational climate and environmental responses that promote livelihoods, restore ecosystems, and advance social justice. First, it distils from existing literature the characteristics of transformational change and how they can be distinguished from changes that reinforce the status quo. Second, it identifies shortfalls in current evaluation conceptual frameworks for assessing the transformational potential of interventions. Third, recognizing the need to move away from anthropocentric conceptualization of merit and worth of development interventions, it illustrates an alternate conceptual framework: a Nexus approach that focuses not only on human system needs, including social equity, but also on the interconnected need for ecosystem restoration. Fourth, it points to proven innovative, practical methods to operationalize assessments based on such conceptual frameworks. Fifth, it discusses the barriers to integrating evidence emerging from such evaluations to facilitate transformational development interventions, providing pathways to enable duty-bearers and claimholders to mainstream transformational interventions.