The TRANSITIONS research group addresses the urgent need for sustainability transitions in response to today’s complex and interconnected ecological, technological, and socio-political crises. The group generates inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge to support an environmentally sustainable development and reduce resource consumption across key societal sectors.

The thematic scope in TRANSITIONS is broad and the areas of focus develop with society. Major themes in the current work portfolio include:

1. Sustainable Energy Systems and Carbon Management:
   Investigating stakeholder-driven energy transitions and the development and deployment of new integrated energy- and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.
2. Agrifood Systems and Biosystems:
   Exploring sustainable food systems, landscape modeling and land use change, and development and deployment of regenerative agricultural practice through data-supported stakeholder engagement and planning processes.
3. Circular Economy:
   Promoting resource efficiency and waste minimization in value chains such as plastics, construction, food and biomass, while supporting development and deployment of new business models moving beyond linear systems.

The groups’ current project activities also include research on marine systems, mobility, water management and climate change adaptation, and regional development.

TRANSITIONS’ research integrates context- and technology assessments, stakeholder- and practice orientation and system analysis and -design through combinations of technical, natural, and social sciences. Methods include e.g.:

• Cross-thematic tools such as multi-criteria decision analysis, theory of change, road mapping, and foresight.
• Technical methods like lifecycle analysis, material flow analysis, and GIS-based spatial analysis.
• Social science approaches, including living labs, socio-technical studies, policy analysis, value chain analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
• Natural science research through lab- and field-based data collection.

The group collaborates widely with academic institutions, industry, public authorities, NGOs, and civil society. It also benefits from access to specialized labs, including biogas fermentation, pyrolysis, spatial analysis, and food innovation facilities.

TRANSITIONS is committed to co-creating actionable and transformative knowledge and solutions. Complex sustainability challenges require iterative, holistic approaches and broad stakeholder involvement. The group welcomes dialogue and collaboration on sustainability issues.

TRANSITIONS hosts a two-year postgraduate program and two bachelor-level modules in Sustainability Transitions at Roskilde University.