Sustainability transformations face inherent and persistent sources of conflict, pushback, and resistance, yet many policy frameworks and prescriptions often assume consensus and harmony. This paper argues that policy action for sustainability transformations must focus on negotiating discord by finding partial political settlements among divided actors. This approach acknowledges the complexity of real-world politics and the need for pragmatic, workable steps that can loosen deadlocks and avoid derailment of transformation agendas. Discord arises from material and interpretive struggles, including conflicting interests, values, and beliefs. Political parties and individuals may resist policies they perceive as overreaching, especially in polarized settings. Sustainability transformations require reorganizing power structures and redistributing resources, leading to winners and losers. However, existing frameworks often overlook these challenges, emphasizing technical solutions and assuming universal agreement. The paper proposes a "discord-based view" of sustainability transformations, where policy action is pursued within the context of ongoing conflict and negotiation. This involves finding partial political settlements—uncomfortable compromises that enable minimal cooperation and avoid intractable conflict. These settlements are imperfect, tentative, and subject to reversal, but they can shift political conditions and enable new actions. The paper highlights the need for approaches that focus on negotiating discord in ongoing processes of societal transformation. This includes recognizing the role of power dynamics, diverse moral stances, and the necessity of ongoing political work. Examples of partial political settlements include coal phase-out commissions in Germany and Canada, and the negotiation of climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the United States. The paper also discusses the challenges of inclusion, marginalization, and exclusion in sustainability transformations, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives and inclusive processes. It argues that partial political settlements are essential for navigating the complexities of real-world politics and achieving sustainable transformation. This approach moves beyond unrealistic assumptions of consensus and emphasizes the importance of pragmatic, adaptive strategies in policy action for sustainability.Sustainability transformations face inherent and persistent sources of conflict, pushback, and resistance, yet many policy frameworks and prescriptions often assume consensus and harmony. This paper argues that policy action for sustainability transformations must focus on negotiating discord by finding partial political settlements among divided actors. This approach acknowledges the complexity of real-world politics and the need for pragmatic, workable steps that can loosen deadlocks and avoid derailment of transformation agendas. Discord arises from material and interpretive struggles, including conflicting interests, values, and beliefs. Political parties and individuals may resist policies they perceive as overreaching, especially in polarized settings. Sustainability transformations require reorganizing power structures and redistributing resources, leading to winners and losers. However, existing frameworks often overlook these challenges, emphasizing technical solutions and assuming universal agreement. The paper proposes a "discord-based view" of sustainability transformations, where policy action is pursued within the context of ongoing conflict and negotiation. This involves finding partial political settlements—uncomfortable compromises that enable minimal cooperation and avoid intractable conflict. These settlements are imperfect, tentative, and subject to reversal, but they can shift political conditions and enable new actions. The paper highlights the need for approaches that focus on negotiating discord in ongoing processes of societal transformation. This includes recognizing the role of power dynamics, diverse moral stances, and the necessity of ongoing political work. Examples of partial political settlements include coal phase-out commissions in Germany and Canada, and the negotiation of climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in the United States. The paper also discusses the challenges of inclusion, marginalization, and exclusion in sustainability transformations, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives and inclusive processes. It argues that partial political settlements are essential for navigating the complexities of real-world politics and achieving sustainable transformation. This approach moves beyond unrealistic assumptions of consensus and emphasizes the importance of pragmatic, adaptive strategies in policy action for sustainability.