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The following statistics are from the last 5 full calendar years: 2021-2025
Publications
Projects
Engagement
116
Number of times participants from Brazil joined IIASA events
15
Number of times visitors from Brazil came to IIASA
49
IIASA staff visits to Brazil
People
20
- Women
- Men
Staff members from Brazil
4
- Women
- Men
Postdoctoral researchers from Brazil
7
- Women
- Men
YSSPers from Brazil
67
- Women
- Men
- Unknown
Total number of alumni from Brazil
News
05 May 2026
Amazon understory forests show short-term boost in CO₂ uptake – but this comes at a cost
Tropical forests are one of the planet's most important carbon sinks – often also called "the lungs of the Earth". But their future in a high-CO₂ world remains uncertain. IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, which suggests even small understory trees in the Amazon may initially buffer climate change more strongly. Their long-term capacity to store carbon could, however, be restricted by nutrient availability, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems under future climate conditions.
18 March 2026
IIASA leadership strengthens partnerships during mission to Brazil
During a recent visit to Brazil, IIASA Director General, Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, and Deputy Director General, Karen Lips, met with representatives from government agencies, research institutes, universities, and NGOs to explore opportunities for collaboration on some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
28 January 2026
Science without borders: Brazilian Ambassador visits IIASA
IIASA recently welcomed H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Paes Saboia, Ambassador of Brazil to Austria, for a high-level visit to the Institute’s headquarters in Laxenburg. The visit provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on IIASA’s research portfolio and on future avenues for strengthening cooperation between IIASA and Brazilian institutions.
Events
Focus
Annual Report 2025: Strategic Initiatives Program Highlights
Throughout 2025, the Strategic Initiatives (SI) Program continued to foster close collaboration with IIASA’s National and Regional Member Organizations, supporting targeted, solution-oriented research aligned with national and global priorities. Building on the initiatives already concluded and those still in progress in collaboration with IIASA Member Organizations, the program maintained its focus on co-designing research that responds to member needs while strengthening engagement across the IIASA community.
At the end of 2025, a strategic decision was taken to dissolve the Strategic Initiatives Program. The Institute is currently reviewing how to integrate the most valuable elements of the former program – particularly its strong member engagement model and flexible, initiative-based approach – into the evolving IIASA research and development vision, ensuring that these strengths remain embedded in the Institute’s research agenda and continue to inform future activities.
Annual Report 2025: Economic Frontiers Program Highlights
From poverty and resource extraction to climate policy and economic modeling, the Economic Frontiers Program explored some of the most pressing questions at the intersection of economy, society, and sustainability. Research conducted in 2025 challenged conventional assumptions and generated new perspectives on how progress can be measured and achieved.
Projects
Evolving Participatory Information System for Nature-based Climate Solutions (Epistem)
Building resilience to floods and heat in the maternal and child health system in Brazil and Zambia (REACH)
ECOANTITRUST
Resilience of Ecosystem Services provided by Intact and Sustainably managed Terrestrial ecosystems (RESIST)
Publications
Ware, J., Andrijevic, M. , Vinca, A. , & Byers, E. (2025). Brazil Burning: The economic impact of climate change on South America. Christian Aid , London, UK.
Nascimento, E.L.M.d., Velazco, S.J.E., Ramos, F.M., Ramos, R.G., Soterroni, A., & Tessarolo, G. (2025). Climate change and feeble governance threaten the endangered endemic Cerrado flora in Brazil. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 23 (4) 290-299. 10.1016/j.pecon.2025.08.007.
Vishwanathan, S.S., Bataille, C., Nogueira, E.C., McCall, B., Siangian, U.W.R., Cunha, S., La Rovere, E.L., Trollip, H., Garg, A., Patange, O. , Burton, J., & Gunfaus, M.T. (2025). Towards net-zero electricity sector in emerging economies – Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa. Climate Policy 1-18. 10.1080/14693062.2025.2550588.
Chen, H., Cecilio e Silva, I.A., Hajat, S., Russo, L.X., Wan, K., Part, C., Mi, Z., Borghi, J. , Nitsch, D., da Silva, E.N., & Foss, A.M. (2025). Regional variations in the impacts of high temperature on hospital admissions in Brazil. Environment International 202 e109620. 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109620.
Balkovič, J. , Skalský, R. , Folberth, C. , & Oberleitner, T. (2025). Single- and double-cropping soybean production systems in Brazil: EPIC-IIASA GGCM simulations. 10.5281/zenodo.15835321.
Svensson, J., Avashia, V., Boer, R., Chaturvedi, R.K., Cotta, M., Dubeux, C., Sugih Immanuel, G., La Rovere, E.L., Patange, O. , Rossita, A., & Vishwanathan, S.S. (2024). The AFOLU sector’s role in national decarbonization: a comparative analysis of low-GHG development pathways in Brazil, India and Indonesia. Climate Policy 1-18. 10.1080/14693062.2024.2391048.