IIASA at the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025

As the international community accelerates efforts ahead of COP30, IIASA brings interdisciplinary expertise and new perspectives to several events during the ten-day meeting.

As part of the SB62 research dialogue on 17 June, IIASA researcher Setu Pelz will present a poster on JustMIP, a model intercomparison effort coordinated by IIASA together with partners from the ELEVATE project. It systematically incorporates underrepresented justice considerations into global integrated assessment modeling frameworks. The work aims to expand the scenario solution space and inform climate and sustainable development policy in a more inclusive and equitable way.

On 18 June, Pelz will also participate in a technical discussion on metrics for assessing ambition and alignment of NDCs, organized by the World Resources Institute, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, New Climate Institute, and Climate Analytics. The discussion will explore how mitigation targets can be better assessed in relation to national and global long-term goals.

In addition, he will present at an event hosted by IAEA and UNECA, titled “Towards a Just Transition: Financing Pathways from Coal to Sustainable Energy,” showcasing the work of IIASA on coal and gas phase out, as well as the scenarios developed as part of the ENGAGE project. This event aims to bring together experts from the UN and partner institutions, along with national experts, to discuss financing pathways, including assistance needs, as well as social and economic benefits of transitioning to sustainable energy technologies. The event will serve as a forum for discussing the policies and regulations related to financing a Just Transition, facilitating an exchange of insights and best practices from different regions with regard to the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

On 20 June, IIASA researcher Elina Brutschin will participate in ELEVATE stakeholder workshop. The session, titled "The Compass for Net Zero: Navigating Ambition, Justice and Development" will draw on the latest ELEVATE and COMMITTED project findings to evaluate the interplay of ambition and justice-focused approaches in shaping robust 2035 NDCs. The event will further explore how to capture and reflect different fairness considerations in mitigation pathways, turning these insights into practical policy solutions to advance the Net-Zero transition. Brutschin will also lead discussions on equity during the NEWPATHWAYS workshop on “Co-Shaping the Net-Zero Transition”, which aims at bringing together representatives from international organizations, policy, research, finance, and civil society to explore how global climate transition pathways can be more effectively aligned with national contexts. The interactive event, organized in the format of a “world café”, will be focused on development priorities in global mitigation pathways and policy implementation of scenario insights.

On 26 June, IIASA and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro will co-organize an official UNFCCC side event. Titled “Advancing Justice Considerations in Climate Policy – Bridging National and Global Perspectives”, the session will address how global and national models can better integrate justice with climate mitigation. The event will bring together prominent voices from the Global South and international research institutions to align development and poverty alleviation with mitigation goals. IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program Director Keywan Riahi will contribute to the discussion alongside experts from the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA), Ghana; National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), India; Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ), Brazil; and King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, (KAPSARC), Saudi Arabia.

Through its participation in SB62, IIASA seeks to broaden its influence, providing robust scientific evidence to inform global climate governance.