Building capacities for transformative social innovation and learning in complexity in urban climate work

Organizations working on climate action face growing pressures to realize significant emissions reductions at rapid pace and scale while also navigating complex socio-economic and ecological systems. Building individual and organizational capacities are essential if we are to go beyond incremental changes and adaptations to existing systems, particularly when working toward justice as integral to climate action. This article presents findings from a two-year action research study with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) in Vancouver Canada, where an embedded Social Innovation Researcher in Residence supported capacity building in transformative social innovation and transformative learning approaches to advance just climate action. We tell four stories from this research that illustrate how the ZEIC staff learned to apply transformative social innovation and transformative learning approaches to deliver their ambitious just climate action mandate. The article closes with four of the most significant capacities built by ZEIC staff resulting from this action research, including: nuancing conceptions of innovation; practicing inner and outer systems work; experimentation; and shifting power and decision-making. We also discuss the significance of employing an embedded researcher in residence approach to action research, and share some key aspects of this methodology.