ABSTRACT
In this chapter, sustainability is defined as strong sustainability in order to set the tone for the book. This reflects a move beyond the three pillars to consider more comprehensive conceptions of sustainability. Sustainability principles and competencies are introduced to help sustainability professionals guide and achieve changes in society as part of the solutions-oriented sustainability transitions framework at the end of the chapter. The framework shows how the seemingly contradictory concepts of creating change and building resilience are actually synergistic in a multi-level sustainability transition. The framework is designed to set the stage for the remaining chapters by helping to conceptualize how a multi-level sustainability transition works and why it is so difficult to achieve.
