Effective participation in a sustainability transition that leaves no one behind

This paper explores the potential of participatory legal research approaches to address the challenges associated with sustainability transitions. Examining research projects conducted in collaboration with Indigenous communities from Peru and Brazil, the paper details the participatory methods adopted in each case study and subsequently demonstrates the effectiveness of these participatory and co-created research approaches in tackling sustainability issues. The active engagement of Indigenous communities, in the research design and implementation process was found to generate context-specific knowledge and foster a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. The findings suggest that a participatory and co-created research approach can provide a way forward to achieving effective, transformative solutions in the context of sustainability transitions. • Examining participatory legal research for sustainability transitions. • Effectiveness of co-created research in tackling sustainability challenges demonstrated. • Indigenous communities engagement fosters context-specific knowledge and shared responsibility. • Participatory approach vital for transformative solutions in sustainability transitions.