Sustainability transition studies gain prominence as an academic discipline, while the science becomes clear
The evolution of sustainability transitions research as an academic discipline is rooted in the end of the 20th century with the growing realisation that "end-of-pipe" solutions would not solve environmental problems. Johan Schot, a historian of technology and founder of the Deep Transitions project, is one of the founders of the sustainability transitions field and a pioneer who set out to find more structural answers to climate change related issues.The field developed a number of concepts, including socio-technical systems change, niche theory of radical change and the Multi Level Perspective (MLP). This led to a new understanding of the dynamics of technological innovation and the importance of human and social dimensions in long term societal change processes.

Signals
- 2004: Knowledge Network on System Change and Transitions (KSI) launched in The Netherlands.
- 2006: Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are launched.
- 2009: KSI led to the creation of STRN, currently the largest sustainability transitions research network in the world.
- 2013: The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 400 ppm.
- 2016: UN Sustainable Development Goals are adopted.