(How) Can scientists harness the power of narrative in sustainability transformations?

Narratives are increasingly seen as powerful drivers of sustainability transformations. Scientists are often encouraged not only to study narratives but also to actively shape them to accelerate change. Yet sustainability debates rarely unfold in predictable ways. Narratives can compete, evolve, become co-opted, or deepen divisions, as seen in debates around energy transitions, biodiversity restoration, and chemical governance. In this talk, Sina explores the role of scientists in these contested spaces through the concept of discursive agency—the capacity to influence meanings, frames, and narratives in public debate. She distinguishes between narrative steering, which seeks to deliberately guide sustainability discussions, and narrative navigation, which emphasizes engaging with multiple and shifting narratives under conditions of uncertainty. Drawing on research across environmental governance, she reflects on the opportunities, limits, and responsibilities that come with scientific engagement in public discourse. Sina Leipold is Head of the Department of Environmental Politics at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig and Professor of Environmental Politics at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Her research focuses on narratives, discourses, and sustainability governance, with particular interests in circular economy and bioeconomy transformations, forest governance, and transnational business governance. Through her work, she examines how ideas and narratives shape environmental politics and societal change.