The reciprocal relationships between human populations and the environment becomes increasingly important in the light of climate change. Researchers from IIASA and Wittgenstein Centre published the Fact Sheet Climate Change and Demography, providing information for policy makers and scientists about some key areas where demography can contribute to climate research.
Human populations are at the center of climate change research. On the one hand, human activities contribute to climate change. On the other hand, changes in the climate system affect human wellbeing and livelihoods. Both the contribution to and the impact of global warming is not distributed equally across the planet. Rather, different people in different places contribute and suffer to different degrees, depending on their characteristics and their level of affluence. Climate risks are the outcome of differential exposure and vulnerability to hazards. Understanding the reciprocal relationships between human populations and climate change and how they will evolve in the future, thus, is crucial for policy design and planning, in the areas of both mitigation and adaptation.
News
17 March 2025
SPARCCLE Researcher Marina Andrijevic Leads the Organization of the ‘Adaptation Pathways and Scenarios for Climate Change Research’ Workshop
Adaptation to climate change is becoming increasingly urgent, yet global assessments still struggle to answer pressing questions: Where will adaptation be most needed? Which actors must adapt, and what barriers stand in the way? These challenges were at the heart of the ‘Adaptation Pathways and Scenarios for Climate Change Research’ workshop, held from 17th to 21st February at the Lorentz Center in Leiden, Netherlands.
17 March 2025
Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations unable to move away from climate risk areas
People in informal settlements, urban deprived areas, refugee camps, prisons, and war zones can be particularly vulnerable to climate threats and natural hazards. A new study, led by IIASA researchers, explores how policymakers can ease their burden.
12 March 2025
Training Workshop on Demographic Analysis with Applications to Aging and Health
IIASA’s Population and Just Societies Program, in collaboration with the College of Population Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, is pleased to announce its upcoming annual intensive training course titled "Demographic Analysis with Applications to Aging and Health."