  Social tipping points are promising levers to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas
emission targets. They describe how social, political, economic or
technological systems can move rapidly into a new state if cascading positive
feedback mechanisms are triggered. Analysing the potential of social tipping
for rapid decarbonization requires considering the inherent complexity of
social systems. Here, we identify that existing scientific literature is
inclined to a narrative-based account of social tipping, lacks a broad
empirical framework and a multi-systems view. We subsequently outline a dynamic
systems approach that entails (i) a systems outlook involving interconnected
feedback mechanisms alongside cross-system and cross-scale interactions, and
including a socioeconomic and environmental injustice perspective (ii) directed
data collection efforts to provide empirical evidence for and monitor social
tipping dynamics, (iii) global, integrated, descriptive modelling to project
future dynamics and provide ex-ante evidence for interventions. Research on
social tipping must be accordingly solidified for climate policy relevance.
