Policy action for sustainability transformation faces inherent and ever-present sources of conflict, pushback, and resistance (i.e., discord). However, conceptual frameworks and policy prescriptions for sustainability transformations often reflect an undue image of accord. This involves simplified assumptions about consensus, steering, friction, discreteness, and additiveness of policy action, conferring an unrealistic view of the potential to deliberately realize transformation. Instead, negotiating discord through continuously finding partial political settlements among divided actors needs to become a key focus of policy action for sustainability transformations. Doing so can help to navigate deeply political settings through imperfect but workable steps that loosen deadlock, generate momentum for further policy action, and avoid complete derailment of transformation agendas when discord arises. Sustainability transformations are increasingly called for in response to escalating threats to human well-being and ecological integrity. This refers to fundamental changes in society, economics, and politics ( 1– 3)—such as through changes in institutions, norms, practices, and power relations—which bring societies toward realizing just and ecologically sustainable ways of life ( 4, 5). However, policy action to advance sustainability transformation faces inherent and persistent sources of discord (i.e., conflict, pushback, and resistance). Discord arises from interlinked material (e.g., interests, resources, authority) and interpretive (e.g., problem frames, beliefs, values) struggles. Political parties and incumbents often oppose policy action when their interests or values are at stake. Individuals might reject policies that they perceive as overreach, especially in polarized settings ( 6, 7). Unsustainable systems can be “locked-in” from multiple angles ( 8) leading to unintended or unforeseen consequences from policy action ( 9, 10). External shocks can also undermine support for action, such as by delaying fossil fuel phase-outs due to energy crisis ( 11). The challenge of discord calls into question the adequacy of existing conceptions of policy action for sustainability transformation as reflected in many prominent frameworks and prescriptions.