Our vision on
Transition management
Before diving into the term transition management, let’s first clarify: what are transitions? Transitions are not new. Looking back through history, we see plenty of examples – for instance, the shift from an agrarian to an industrialized society, or from a local economy to an increasingly global one (and sometimes back again). What is newer, however, is the growing focus on sustainable transitions. We explain what we mean by sustainable transitions, and more importantly: how to accelerate them through effective transition management.
Sustainable transitions
By sustainable transitions, we mean the major, structural societal changes needed to create a livable and future-proof Netherlands. Especially in times of changing conditions, such as those caused by climate change, transitions are necessary to adapt both our society and ourselves.
For example, consider the energy transition: how do we ensure that by 2050 all our energy comes from renewable sources? This requires a massive transformation of our energy system. Another example is the transition of rural areas, where the future of the countryside will be shaped. Within the National Program for Rural Areas (NPLG), regional partners work on challenges in agriculture, nature, and recreation that converge in these areas. Other sustainable transitions include the shift to a circular economy and the transition to a climate-adaptive living environment.
What do sustainable transitions have in common? They are urgent, and action is required. The need for these transitions is clear. To meet climate goals, we must accelerate sustainable transitions. As the IPCC stated in 2023, the Earth has already warmed by 1.1 degrees, putting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree target at risk. For organizations, participating in these transitions is also crucial to ensure their own future resilience. This means action is needed—but how?
Our impact
We get the transition moving
Transitions do not happen overnight, partly due to the size and complexity of the challenges involved. Sustainable steps are already being taken in many areas, but there is still a long way to go, and these transitions need to be accelerated significantly. Comparing climate goals with current projects and activities makes it clear: the pace must increase. As the organizers of the Climate Classic 2024 put it: “Time is our only challenge.” Transition management is therefore essential to get transitions moving—and to speed them up.
Transition management
Basisprincipes Transitiemanagement
Transition management is about guiding (sustainable) transitions with the goal of accelerating them. This requires strategic thinking and forward-looking approaches. To make real impact, transition managers need to have an innovative and solution-oriented mindset, know how to connect key stakeholders, and be able to turn ambitions into concrete actions. At &flux, we distinguish three principles for effective transition management.
1. Think in opportunities and taking action
It is precisely in the uncertainty and complexity of transitions that we see opportunities. Not only to become more sustainable, but also to create new business cases. Organizations will need to adapt their activities to continue growing in the future. The hydrogen market is an example: while there is uncertainty about its deployment and availability, it also holds great long-term potential as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Turning potential into action—that is how we create impact.
2. Together, we go further than alone
Collaboration between parties is key to success: by connecting sustainable initiatives, knowledge, and stakeholders, we can take bigger steps. We focus on creating or contributing to platforms that share knowledge and connect parties, working together toward a sustainable future. Examples include our H2Makers project and our involvement in the Delta Plan for Agricultural Water Management (DAW).
3. Thinking ahead
By always thinking a few steps ahead, we can truly prepare for what lies ahead. We know, for example, that the Earth will warm by 1.5 degrees and that critical resources will eventually run out. That is why we must act now to shape our living environment and economy for this scenario. An example of our work is initiating and guiding the Climate-Adaptive Building Covenant, which ultimately served as a stepping stone for the National Standard for Climate-Adaptive Building.
About us
How we help as transition managers
At &flux, we use effective transition management to make our programs and projects successful. We work only on initiatives that we believe genuinely contribute to sustainable transitions. Our approach operates on three levels: strategic, tactical, and operational. By connecting these levels, we work from strategy to execution to accelerate sustainable transitions.
Got curious?
We like to get to know you!
Our team of transition managers is ready to guide your initiatives in the climate, resources, and energy transitions.
Check out our contact details on our team page.