Press releases

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Press Releases

Chinese children in classroom engaging in lesson

28 September 2021

Future prosperity in China is unlikely to be hindered by population aging

New research on China suggests that declining birth rates and an aging population might not hinder future prosperity when associated with better education of the young.

Population and Just Societies (POPJUS)

Multidimensional Demographic Modeling (MDM)

China

27 September 2021

The kids are not alright

Children are to face disproportionate increases in lifetime extreme event exposure – especially in low-income countries, according to new research by an international group of scientists.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)

Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE)

Integrated Assessment and Climate Change (IACC)

Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS)

Population and Just Societies (POPJUS)

Social Cohesion, Health, and Wellbeing (SHAW)

Airial photo of water reservoirs in Brazil

21 September 2021

To solve Brazil’s energy and food crisis: store more water

Storing greater amounts of water in Brazil’s reservoirs could increase precipitation and river flow, alleviating the water and energy supply crisis in Brazil.

Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE)

Sustainable Service Systems (S3)

Brazil

Tractor spreading fertilizer on field before planting

13 September 2021

Balancing food security and nitrogen use

Environmental targets to limit excess nitrogen require the large-scale deployment of dedicated nitrogen mitigation strategies to avoid a strong increase in the risk of food insecurity. Without these measures, the amount of dietary energy available to people would be greatly reduced, which would in turn lead to high food prices and an increase in the number of undernourished people.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)

Integrated Biosphere Futures (IBF)

China

India

Man standing on cracked soil of a dried up lake

06 September 2021

Putting a price on climate change

The social cost of carbon dioxide is one of the most influential indicators of climate change as it allows us to estimate the cost of greenhouse gas emissions to humanity. A new study looks back on how ten years of scientific advancements have influenced such estimates, and explores how to resolve some of the most important outstanding gaps in existing models.

Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE)

Integrated Assessment and Climate Change (IACC)

Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS)

Indian man looking at light bulb in his house

02 September 2021

How much energy do we need to achieve a decent life for all?

For many, an increase in living standards would require an increase in energy provision. At the same time, meeting current climate goals under the Paris Agreement would benefit from lower energy use. IIASA researchers have assessed how much energy is needed to provide the global poor with a decent life and have found that this can be reconciled with efforts to meet climate targets.

Energy, Climate, and Environment (ECE)

Integrated Assessment and Climate Change (IACC)

Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS)

Child's hands holding tree with butterflies

30 August 2021

Research reveals location and intensity of global threats to biodiversity

Using a novel modeling approach, new research published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals the location and intensity of key threats to biodiversity on land and identifies priority areas across the world to help inform conservation decision making at national and local levels.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)

Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation (BEC)

27 August 2021

Are we on track to end world hunger?

IIASA researchers have contributed to a study that provides a new model to monitor and predict food insecurity in the coming decade. It finds that while overall global levels of food insecurity are set to decrease an increase is implied for lower income countries.

Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA)

Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability (NODES)

Population and Just Societies (POPJUS)

Migration and Sustainable Development (MIG)

Close up of senior hands giving small plant to a child over defocused green background

24 August 2021

Meeting biodiversity, climate, and water objectives through integrated strategies

We are collectively failing to conserve the world’s biodiversity and to mobilize natural solutions to help curb global warming. A new study carried out by the Nature Map Consortium, shows that managing a strategically placed 30% of land for conservation could safeguard 70% of all considered terrestrial plant and vertebrate animal species, while simultaneously conserving more than 62% of the world’s above and below ground vulnerable carbon, and 68% of all clean water.

Biodiversity and Natural Resources (BNR)

Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation (BEC)