Taking action on climate change or biodiversity is harder than it looks. We saw this last November when the conflict of interest of Sultan al-Jaber, president of both the COP28 and of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, were there for all to see.

針對氣候變遷或生物多樣性採取行動，比其看起來更艱難。去年(2023年)11月，當Sultan al-Jaber身為締約國大會第28次會議(COP28：Conference of the Parties-26th Meeting )主席與阿拉伯聯合大公國國家石油公司主席的利益衝突有目共睹時，我們看到了這一點。

Sultan al-Jaber was accused of taking advantage of the world climate summit to strike backroom business deals for his company. He also claimed that there was no scientific evidence to justify the elimination of fossil fuels, before finally peddling back.

Sultan al-Jaber被指控，利用世界氣候高峰會，來為其公司達成幕後商業交易。他也聲稱，在最後恢復兜售之前，沒有科學證據證實，消除化石燃料是有根據的。

This episode illustrates the difficulty of adopting a climate rhetoric that brings about real change without exacerbating climate change itself. This is why the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Sciences Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – also known as the IPCC on Biodiversity – are calling for transformative change.

此事件說明了，採用一種帶來真正改變，而不加劇氣候變遷本身之氣候辭令的困難。這是政府間氣候變遷專門委員會(IPCC)及政府間生物多樣性與生態體系運作科學政策平台(IPBES，也被通稱為生物多樣性IPCC)，正呼籲起改造作用之改變的原因。

But what is transformative change? Another political buzzword? The IPBES defines it as a “fundamental, system-wide reorganisation across technological, economic and social factors, including paradigms, goals and values”.

不過，什麼是起改造作用的改變？另一種政治流行口語？IPBES將其定義為一種“跨技術、經濟及社會因素之根本、廣泛系統的重組，包括模式、目標及價值觀”。

So it’s not just a small change here or there, but a complete rethink of our way of life. Understandably, transformative change involves many different scientific disciplines. The difficulty of bringing it about is a reflection of the complex socio-ecological environment in which we live. But there is nothing magic about it. To understand how this concept can help us, we must first go back to its origins.

因此，這不只是這裡或那裡的一個小改變，而是有關我們生活方式的重新思考。可理解的是，起改造作用的改變，涉及諸多不同的科學學科。實現它的困難是，有關我們所處之複雜社會與生態環境的一種反映。不過，這沒有什麼魔法。為了瞭解此概念如何能協助我們，首先我們必須回到其諸多開端。

For more than 10 years, the IPBES has produced several global assessments, sounding the alarm about the loss of biodiversity and the ecosystem systems it provides to humans. Despite presenting knowledge from thousands of scientific studies in its assessment reports, the political response has largely been lacklustre. This applies to species conservation, sustainable development and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from biodiversity, such as genetic resources.

十多年來，IPBES已經提出多項全球評估，發出了有關喪失生物多樣性及其為人類提供之生態體系的警鐘。儘管，從其評估報告中的數千項科學研究，提供了理解。不過，政治的反應大部分一直是平淡無生氣。這適用於物種保育、可持續發展及源自諸如遺傳資源等，生物多樣性之諸多利益的公平分享。

By and large, decision-makers have failed to heed the IPBES’ warnings, be it at a global, national or local level. In fact, we are continuing to lose wildlife at an unprecedented rate.

總的說來，無論是在全球、國家或地方層面，決策者一直未能留心IPBES的諸多警告。事實上，我們正​​以前所未有的速度，持續失去野​​生動物。

What we need to understand is that introducing transformative change in the way we live is hard. There are as yet no clearly established ways of factoring in biodiversity into political choices. One example is transport, which is a major source of CO₂ emissions. Yet we are far from refraining from unnecessary travel.

我們所需要瞭解的是，在我們的生活方式中，引進起改造作用的改變，是艱難的。迄今為止，沒有將生物多樣性納入諸多政治選擇中，經明顯確立的方法。一個例子是交通運輸，這是排放二氧化碳的主要來源。然而，我們一點也沒有避免不必要的旅行。

圖1. 運作中的雪砲。

Snow cannon in operation. 

Another example, in the leisure sector, is that of ski resorts. They are still trying to counter the effects of climate change by moving ever higher, or by installing even more snow cannons and water reservoirs. All the while having a sometimes serious impact on local wildlife, and the functioning of rivers and streams.

另一個例子，在休閒領域，是滑雪勝地。他們仍試圖，藉由遷移更高處，或安裝更多雪砲及水庫，來對抗氣候變遷的影響。不過，對於當地野生動物及河川與溪流的功能，一直偶爾有嚴重的影響。

Last February, a Court of Auditors report pointed out that French taxpayers’ money spent on adapting ski resorts was money wasted, which should go on more important challenges.

去年(2023年)2月，一份歐洲審計院的報告指出，法國納稅人花在改造滑雪場上的錢，是浪費的錢。這應該持續用於更重要的諸多挑戰。

IPBES is currently carrying out an in-depth assessment of transformative change. The stakes are high: putting humanity on a sustainable path.

目前，IPBES正在進行，有關起改造作用之改變的深入評估。事關重大：這能賦予人類一道可持續發展的途徑。

To understand what transformative change is, we can look at the problem in reverse. With the Industrial Revolution, economic growth became continuous. This led to a co-evolution of our values, our knowledge, our social organisation, our echnologies and our environment.

為了瞭解什麼是起作用的改變，我們可以反過來探究此問題。隨著工業革命，經濟持續成長。這導致了我們的價值觀、知識、社會組織、技術及環境的共同演變。

圖2. 於馬拉威的旱田。

Dry fields in Malawi.

As a result, humanity has crossed many planetary limits. The dramatic consequence of increasing CO₂ emissions is constantly rising temperatures, more and more climatic disasters and a general imbalance in the global climate.

結果，人類已經跨越許多地球的極限。二氧化碳排放量增加之引人矚目的後果是，溫度不斷上升、越來越多氣候災害及全球氣候普遍失衡。

We are also overexploiting our natural resources and, in the process, destroying biodiversity. This increases health risks due to the rise in the incidence of pathogens, the decline in water quality and the resulting decline in mental and physical health.

我們也過度開發咱們的自然資源且，在過程中，破壞了生物多樣性。由於病原體發生率上升、水質下降，及從而於身、心健康上的下降。這增加了健康風險。

The pressure on biodiversity is constantly mounting due to economic interests. The number of derogations requested from regional scientific committees (CSRPN) or the national nature protection committee (CNPN) is a good indicator of this.

由於經濟利益，有關生物多樣性的壓力不斷增加。來自地區科學委員會 (CSRPN)，或國家自然保護委員會(CNPN)要求減少的數量，是此事的一個好指標。

In other words, transformative change would lessen those impacts of ours that threaten the survival system of life on Earth. What we have done to exploit – and then over-exploit – natural resources, we can also undo to return to sustainable levels of pressure in all sectors.

換句話說，起作用的改變將減少，我們威脅生命於地球上之生存體系的那些影響。我們已經進行且過度開發自然資源。在所有領域，我們也能廢止，以恢復到可承受的壓力水平。

One way to usher in transformative change would be to green our urban infrastructure. Urban ecosystems are also home to biodiversity that provides important ecosystem services for human well-being.

引導進入起作用之改變的一種方法，或許是綠化咱們都市的基礎設施。都市生態體系也是為人類福祉，提供重要生態體系運作之生物多樣性的根源。

For example, a community that keeps patches of wildflowers instead of regularly mown grass manages to slash costs, prevent water runoff and limit its greenhouse gas emissions, all the while increasing the diversity and abundance of insects, birds and communities.

譬如，一個保留小片野花，而不是定期割草，來設法削減成本，防止水徑流並限制溫室氣體排放的社區，始終在增加昆蟲、鳥類及社區的多樣性與豐度。

圖3. 於美國芝加哥千禧公園前的當地野花。

Local wildflowers in Chicago, in front of Millennium park. 

But to bring these thoughts on transformative change to life, we need to overcome a number of hurdles. To mention just a few of them: there is the challenge of governance, that of better bringing biodiversity into the urban green infrastructure, as well as the challenge of developing more modern urban planning modelling that is better suited for the future life in cities.

不過，為了將此些有關起作用之改變的想法付諸實踐，我們需要克服諸多障礙。僅舉其中幾個：有管理的挑戰、更佳地將生物多樣性納入都市綠色基礎設施中的挑戰，及開發更適合未來於都市中生活，更現代之都市規劃模型製作的挑戰。

It must take into consideration all the various health impacts originating from degraded environments, such as pathogens and parasites, poisoning from pollution, and mental distress. Challenging? Certainly. But in this way, not only will we all be able to enjoy more pleasant cities, but their negative effects on the planet will also be reduced.

這必須考慮到，所有起源於諸如病原體及寄生蟲、來自污染的中毒及精神困擾等，降級之環境的各種健康影響。具有挑戰性？當然。不過，這樣一來，我們不僅能享受到更宜人的都市，而且它們對地球的負面影響也會被減少。

But greening our urban systems will also demand that businesses get involved and adapt their business processes and governance. There are five possible strategies to encourage them to do so:

不過，綠化咱們都市體系，也需要企業參與並調整其業務流程及管理。有五種可能鼓勵他們這樣做的策略：

Make biodiversity conservation the business of all companies, from the large to the small;

使生物多樣性保育成為所有公司(無論大或小公司)的業務；

Shifting focus from CO₂, which nowadays captures almost all of businesses’ sustainability efforts, toward biodiversity protection;

將焦點從二氧化碳，目前幾乎所有企業可持續性努力的捕獲物，轉移到生物多樣性保護；

Hold companies accountable for their impacts on biodiversity throughout their supply chains;

要公司負起，其整個供應鏈對生物多樣性影響的責任；

Develop a corporate culture favourable to the protection of biodiversity;

發展一種有利於保護生物多樣性的公司文化；

And finally, create third-party certifications to assess biodiversity-friendly business practices.

及最後，創設第三方認證，來評估友善生物多樣性的商業實務。

Each of these strategies, alone or in combination, is a challenge in itself. Not only for businesses, but also for politicians. In these circumstances, new scientific knowledge is needed to move away from the statu quo and bring innovative solutions to the political world.

這些的每一策略，單獨或組合，本身就是一個挑戰。不只對企業，而且對政治家們。在此些情況下，需要新的科學知識來擺脫現狀，及為政治界帶來創新的解決方案。

In France, the third national biodiversity strategy (SNB3) is failing to bring about transformative change in society.

在法國，第三種國家生物多樣性策略(SNB3)，未能於社會中達成起作用的改變。

Why? Because our major impacts on biodiversity and the environment have not been taken into account. Authorities have failed to identify the differences between land and sea, freshwater and ecosystems. There is no distinction between evidence-based and anecdotal conservation actions.

為什麼？因為，我們對生物多樣性及環境的重大影響，一直沒有被納入考慮。當局們一直未能確定，陸地與海洋、淡水與生態體系之間的差異。以證據為基礎與具有軼事形式的保護行動間，沒有區別。

The French strategy focuses too much on limiting or offsetting environmental impacts, and relies too much on voluntary approaches, labels and certification. It does not take into account the links between man and biodiversity and man’s dependence on the biosphere. This is shown by the scientific literature that has studied the SNB3 using the IPBES grid.

法國策略過於著重限制或補償環境的影響，且過度依賴自願方式、標籤及認證。這沒考量到，人類與生物多樣性之間的諸多關聯性，及人類對生物圈的依賴。使用IPBES系統網格，研究SNB3的科學文獻，證實了這一點。

The European Union (EU), for its part, has tried to be more ambitious about the ecological transition. It has established the “do-no-harm” principle (also known as “do no significant harm”), which gives each State responsibility for preventing, reducing and controlling the risk of environmental damage.

就歐盟(EU)而言，有關生態轉型，其一直試圖更為雄心勃勃。它已經確立“不造成傷害”原則(也被通稱為“不造成重大傷害”)，這賦予每個國家，預防、減少及控制環境損害風險的責任。

It is a proactive policy measure that requires economic actors to do no harm to the six main environmental objectives that determine the sustainability of an activity: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use of marine resources, circular economy, pollution prevention and reduction, and finally the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

這是一項，需要經濟參與者，不對決定活動持續性之六大環境目標，造成傷害：也就是，減緩氣候變遷、適應氣候變遷、海洋資源的可持續利用、循環經濟、預防與減少污染及最後，生物多樣性與生態體系的保護及復原。

In this respect, we must not only find new solutions to bring about transformative change, but also assess the transformative potential of current measures.

在這方面，我們不僅必需找到新的解決方案，來達成起作用的改變，而且必需評估現有措施之起作用的可能性。

To do this, we need to train people (particularly young researchers and political and economic decision-makers) in transdisciplinary thinking. The feedback from experience is very encouraging. They show that this type of training, by supporting learning by doing, group interactions and interdisciplinary exchanges, encourages the emergence of shared values and visions as well as constructive self-criticism.

為此，在跨學科思維中，我們需要培訓人們(特別是，年輕的研究人員，及政治與經濟決策者)。從經驗的回饋是非常令人鼓舞的。他們證實，經由支持邊做邊學、團隊互動及跨學科交流的這種類型培訓。除了建設性的自我批判外，也促進共同之價值觀及願景的出現。

The challenge of transformative change is complex and requires a trans – and multidisciplinary approach, at the crossroads of environmental, social and medical sciences, technologies and education. We need to pursue it at the global, regional, national and local levels, enlisting companies, politicians and decision-makers who are well informed about these issues. And above all, we need civil society to rise to the challenge.

起作用之改變的挑戰是複雜的，因此在環境、社會與醫學科學、技術及教育之十字路口上，需要一種跨學科且多學科的方法。我們需要，在全球、區域、國家及地方層級，尋求此目標。要求對此些問題瞭如指掌的公司、政治家及決策者們協助。最重要的是，我們需要民間社會應付此挑戰。

In other words, transformative change is everybody’s business. A transformed future is possible, but we need to move from rhetoric to action, together.

換句話說，起作用的改變是每個人的事。一個改變的未來是可能的，不過我們需要共同，從討論進展到行動。

網址：https://theconversation.com/transformative-change-idea-will-be-key-in-fight-for-climate-and-wildlife-226786

翻譯：許東榮