Transforming Mind-sets for Sustainable and Circular Societies

This Research Topic aims to explore transformative responses to the crises facing our global ecosystem, with a particular focus on how shifting mind-sets can contribute to building sustainable and circular societies. Circular societies go beyond the technical and economic principles of the circular economy by embracing broader systemic change—rethinking production, consumption, resource use, and societal values in ways that prioritize regeneration, equity, and long-term resilience. At the heart of this transition is the need to challenge linear thinking and cultivate new worldviews that support ecological balance, social justice, and collaborative innovation. Transforming mind-sets in the context of the climate crisis involves reshaping values, behaviors and cultural narratives. It is about reconfiguring collective worldviews and cultivating the capacity to perceive, understand, and act in fundamentally new ways. The call also embraces research on the development of sustainable planning strategies, modelling and design, such as climate-resilient infrastructures, mitigation strategies, and adaptation measures for extreme weather and disaster preparedness/response. Additionally, it encompasses the collaboration between Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (SAH) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the creation of new economic and business models, innovative technologies, and transdisciplinary solutions for sustainable energy, transportation, and industry, as well as anticipating and preparing for future challenges and opportunities in climate action through collaborative foresight practices based on big data analysis. We seek submissions that explore the transition from linear, extractive models to regenerative, circular systems—viewing circularity not only in terms of economy and resource use, but as a holistic societal transformation.

Contributions should challenge interdisciplinary research to discuss and seek interfaces between contrasting approaches, which could enable dialogue and envision actionable transformation for societal change. Research findings hosted in the RT should contribute to creating dialogues and developing knowledge and practical guidance for the involvement of target groups from various disciplines to foster transdisciplinary critical practices for sustainable societies and transformations from linear to circular economy.

SAH are among the many actors in this transformation process that can create spaces for dialogue and offer new methods and tools to help said transformation become actionable. Thus, we are, in particular, seeking contributions that include an analysis of the role of the SAH in the transformation process. We also welcome crossing the divisions between STEM disciplines, technical sciences, and SAH to achieve actionable transformation and the great shift we need to achieve.

By submitting papers to this RT, there should be a response to one or more of the following standing questions or address any other new mind-set changing approaches for sustainable and circular societies:
● How can different actors (researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry, educators, artists, communities, etc.) imagine and implement actionable transformations?
● What drivers, pressures, or opportunities catalyze innovation and change in practical contexts, particularly through anticipatory practices?
● How can transdisciplinary and systemic approaches bridge the gap between research and actionable outcomes?
● What methods and approaches from within the SAH domain can support dialogue on socially inclusive, just transitions to circularity, democratic, and sustainable futures that can be individually and collectively imagined and enacted, and how these could create stronger links across disciplines and societal sectors?
● How can we give a voice to marginalized groups and future generations when it comes to debating the future of our planet and desirable connections between society, technology, and nature?
● In what ways can collaborative practices anticipate and address future climate challenges and how can different views and representation of climate change coexist and lead to co-constructed actions? How can creative actions inspire shifts in perspectives, practices and policies?

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: sustainability, societal change, circular economy, transdisciplinary collaboration, mind-set transformation, anticipation science, climate action

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.