ABSTRACT
Addressing persistent environmental problems, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and resource depletion, requires transitions to new electricity, heat, buildings, mobility and agro-food systems. This chapter describes the multi-level perspective (MLP) as a ‘big picture’ framework to understand such sustainability transitions. The MLP conceptualizes transitions as involving multi-dimensional interactions between radical niche-innovations, incumbent regimes and exogenous landscape developments. Drawing on evolutionary economics, sociology and institutional theory, the chapter discusses different phases in transitions, core processes in each phase, and policy implications.