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Benchmarks to guide countries in ratcheting up their ambition to limit climate change to well-below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C in an equitable manner are critical, but not yet determined in the context of the Paris Agreement. More
It is with profound sadness that IIASA marks the death of Professor Thomas Schelling on December 13. As a groundbreaking scientist, a Nobel laureate, and a thoughtful, articulate person, he was also a great friend and supporter of IIASA. More
A comprehensive perspective on evolutionary and ecological processes is needed in order to understand and manage fisheries in a sustainable way. More
A new study provides the first global assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from croplands, showing the relative impact of different crops and management practices on climate change. More
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would significantly slow population growth, according to a new study. More
The simple act of exchanging information can influence people to change their actions to protect the environment, according to a new study that links game theory with psychological science. More
Deep economic cooperation between the EU, the Eurasian Economic Union, and their neighbors in the long term was the focus of the pilot phase of an IIASA project that concluded with a final workshop this week. The event brought together an international group of economists, modelers, and other experts. More
A combination of climate change and water usage are responsible for the staggering drying of Lake Urmia, what was once the second largest salt lake in the world. More
The Paris Agreement on climate change goes into effect today, but while the agreement set ambitious targets for tackling climate change, scientists say there is a long way to go to achieve it. Research suggests pathways to get the world on track. More
Could birdwatching or monitoring tree blossoms in your community make a difference in global environmental research? A new study says yes: citizen scientists have a vital role to play. More
The Paris Agreement included groundbreaking text on the need for a mechanism to help identify risks beyond adaptation and support the victims of climate-related loss and damage—but how exactly it will work remains unclear. New IIASA research lends insight to policymakers on how to move forward. More
COURAGE is an interdisciplinary performance, combining dance, theatre, and science. In a time of uncertainty, it aims to address issues, and raise crucial questions: how can we tackle the pressing problems of our time? Is there a way out? COURAGE premiered as part of the Political Symposium at the European Forum Alpbach in August 2016. The summary of this session is available on the IIASA YouTube channel. More
As the world becomes increasingly globalized and interconnected, the need is greater than ever for science to become a more important component of diplomacy and foreign relations. More
Agriculture is responsible for 90% of all ammonia pollution in Europe, a considerable part of which comes from cattle manure management: a new study shows what steps to take to reduce this pollution. More
Tackling air pollution in Delhi requires a smart mix of measures not only within the city, but also in the surrounding states. More
A simple test of grip strength could provide a quick and inexpensive screening tool for health practitioners, according to a new study from IIASA population researchers. More
Without additional action and advanced technologies, global emissions are expected to be 33% above the 2°C pathway in 2030, according to a new report from a group of leading international scientists including IIASA Deputy Director General Nebojsa Nakicenovic. More
European citizens will soon be able to directly contribute to the analysis of land use change in Europe and beyond. A new observatory established by IIASA and funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program will combine satellite images with data collected by citizen scientists around Europe. More
Who are the refugees who fled to Austria in the fall of 2015? In a new study, researchers have assessed the skills, attitudes, and values of asylum seekers and refugees who arrived in Austria last summer and fall. More
Diseases evolve in response to treatment, frustrating efforts to eradicate them. A new study shows how evolution, population dynamics, and economic factors interact, providing new insight that could help inform efforts to control diseases like malaria. More
A new analysis examines the interconnections between the Sustainable Development Goals, identifying policy pathways that lead to trade-offs, and others that could bring benefits on multiple fronts. More
IIASA Director General and CEO Professor Dr. Pavel Kabat presented the institute's Arctic Futures Initiative to leaders in the Finnish government at a high-level seminar on the Arctic, organized by the Prime Minister’s Office in Finland. More
A new data set provides a comprehensive look at population dynamics in Europe, including the influence of migration on population growth and the effect of population aging. More
The private sector has a major role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals, argue experts from the Alpbach Laxenburg Group. More
During World Water Week, an international partnership on flood resilience, including IIASA researchers, is launching an online Flood Resilience Portal to provide essential information and practical solutions for flooding around the world. More
IIASA modeling results provide the backbone for a new proposal by the European Commission on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More
A new study shows to where and to what extent palm oil plantations could be expanded, while avoiding further deforestation in pristine and carbon-rich tropical forests. More
A new IIASA study shows how improving communication and involvement could bring consensus solutions for the embattled Rio Grande/Bravo, which is shared between the USA and Mexico. More
Brian Fath is awarded the 2016 Prigogine Medal. The award ceremony is scheduled on 13 July, 2016 at the University of Alicante (Spain) during the 11th International Conference on Urban Regeneration and Sustainability (The Sustainable City) which runs 12 – 14 July. Brian is also giving an invited talk on "Urbanmetabolismand regenerative economics" during the conference. More
It is with great sadness and respect that IIASA marks the death of Professor Howard Raiffa on the 8th of July. As the first director of IIASA, and instrumental in its creation, Professor Raiffa’s passing is a profound loss to the institute, as well as for the entire field of decision analysis. More
Individual country pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would need to be strengthened in order to limit future climate change to well below the 2°C limit included in the Paris climate agreement, according to a new assessment. More
Energy is the main contributor to air pollution that kills millions each year, but a 7% increase in energy investment could cut the death toll by as much as half by 2040, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), to which IIASA researchers contributed significantly. More
The International Center for Climate Governance has again ranked IIASA third place in their global listing of top think tanks for climate change economics and policy. More
Future food security depends on a variety of factors – but better soil data could substantially help improve projections of future crop yields, a new study shows. More
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) have launched a new research partnership to provide science-based knowledge on migration and demography to support EU policy. More
IIASA Research Scholar Joeri Rogelj was awarded the 2016 Piers Sellers Prize for "world leading solution-focused climate research" by the Priestley International Centre for Climate. More
Oil prices can have a major impact on the types and quantities of energy sources used—and thus on greenhouse gas emissions. A new study from researchers at IIASA and the World Bank is the first to quantify the energy and emissions impacts of future fuel prices and the various unknowns these impacts depend on. More
A new study shows that increased demand for biomass for energy in Europe, through intensified use of existing forests, could lead to loss of biodiversity and high competition for wood between sectors, and proposes policies to help preserve biodiversity while also limiting greenhouse gas emissions. More
On 8 June 2016, IIASA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organizations of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) to enhance scientific collaboration with Pakistan. More
Reducing energy imports and mitigating climate change are often portrayed as complementary. However, new research shows that while ambitious climate policies would lower energy imports, energy independence would not bring significant climate benefits. More
IIASA Deputy Director General Nebojsa Nakicenovic has been awarded one of the top honors in Austria. More
Despite the recent crises in the EU, citizens increasingly identify themselves as European compared to recent decades. This is according to a new study by IIASA researchers which confirms forecasts they made in a 2006 study and brings further insight to the demography of European identity. More
Renewables are now firmly established as competitive, mainstream sources of energy in many countries around the world, according to a new report from an international consortium focused on energy policy. More
South Africa has formally launched a new research and education program focused on systems analysis. More
IIASA colleagues and friends of Kurt Komarek were saddened to learn of his death on the 18thof May. His passing is a great loss, not just for Austria’s scientific community, but for IIASA in particular. More
In order to meet the goals set by the Paris climate agreement, agriculture will need to reduce emissions substantially. In a new study researchers propose a target for greenhouse gas emissions from farming that could meet those goals. More
A new report from the German Advisory Council on Global Change examines the trend of urbanization and its implications for sustainability. More
IIASA World Population Program Director Wolfgang Lutz has been elected as a foreign associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. More
The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Starting Grant to Charlie Wilson, a researcher at IIASA and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the UK. More
Land water, including groundwater extraction, contributes far less to sea level rise than previously thought, according to a new study. More
Evolutionary changes could lead to reduced fishery yields. A new IIASA study shows how alternative management practices could mitigate the problem in a key North Sea fishery. More
Small off-grid electricity systems are growing rapidly in South Asia. A new study provides the first assessment of how these systems are impacting communities in the region. More
An average global temperature rise of 1.5°C or 2°C over the coming century would have substantially different impacts on the planet, according to a new study. More
Climate change is likely to worsen the situation of the drought-stricken hypersaline Lake Urmia in Iran, even in the most optimistic climate change scenario and without any further human impact. More
A study of landslide risk in Italy engaged citizens and experts in new ways, to generate solutions that everyone can stand behind. More
More than 700 million people have no running water. A study released today shows that a carbon tax could help remedy this situation while contributing considerably to climate protection. More
A new IIASA study proposes a solution for mitigating the increasingly risky nature of financial markets, based on an analysis of systemic risk in financial networks. More
Reducing reliance on kerosene lighting would provide benefits but proves a stickier problem than previously thought, according to a new analysis focused on India. More
IIASA World Population Program Director Wolfgang Lutz was awarded the 2016 Mindel Sheps Award at the Population Association of America meeting. More
The IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) has selected the successful applicants for the 2016 program, which runs from 1 June to 31 August. More
The application of insurance as a mechanism to help vulnerable people adapt to the impacts of climate change is gaining international support. Experts support the idea but warn of potential problems. More
The institute’s new open access policy makes more research publications available online for free. More
Livestock production offers a significant opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the economic and social benefits of the sector, according to a new study from IIASA and partners. More
A new study finds that climate policies that fail to take into account interlinkages and trade-offs could hamper progress on other sustainable development goals. However, energy efficiency improvements can reap synergies between the goals. More
The indirect impacts of biofuel production on land-use change and greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union vary widely depending on the type of biofuel, according to a new study. More
IIASA has appointed British water expert Simon Langan to head the IIASA Water Program. Yoshihide Wada from Japan was named as the deputy program director. More
Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector could lead to greater pressure on water resources, increasing water use and thermal water pollution. Dedicated adaptation measures will be needed in order to avoid potential trade-offs between the water and climate change impacts of the energy system. More
Modeling forest dynamics is fundamental to the study of future changes in climate and biodiversity. A new modeling framework developed in collaboration with IIASA researchers facilitates investigations of complex vegetation dynamics. More
A new study finds that the world can emit even less greenhouse gases than previously estimated in order to limit climate change to less than 2°C. More
A new popular book summarizes scientific research conducted at IIASA and elsewhere showing that education is a key prerequisite for modern social and economic development. It makes the case for a global alliance on education as a strategy for future wellbeing on the planet. More
IIASA researchers have contributed specially tailored analysis tools to the new Indonesian Center of Excellence for Clean Energy, launched today at the Bali Clean Energy Forum. More
The 2016 Science Book of the Year prize has been awarded to IIASA researcher Karl Sigmund. The prize, awarded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, was given to Sigmund under the natural science and technology category, for his book about the mathematical and philosophical group, the Vienna Circle. More
H.E. Federal Austrian President Heinz Fischer met with IIASA Director General and CEO Pavel Kabat to discuss preparations for a high level Heads of Governments session of the IIASA 45th Anniversary Conference. More
A new study projects that global demand for water could more than double by 2050, increasing pressure on already scarce water resources. Water efficiency and water saving measures could stabilize demand. More
Expanded awards for young scientists will enable a growing number of outstanding researchers to conduct research at IIASA. More
Without new subsidies and policies to support increased energy access, new climate policies could push access to modern energy out of reach for millions in Asia. More
IIASA Deputy Director General Nebojsa Nakicenovic and other members of the IIASA network will serve on a scientific advisory group to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. More
Climate change impacts on rivers and streams may substantially reduce electricity production capacity around the world. A new study calls for a greater focus on adaptation efforts in order to maintain future energy security. More
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
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