News | IIASA

IIASA Director General Hans joachim (John) Schellnhuber with Dame Julie Maxton

28 May 2026

IIASA welcomes Royal Society Executive Director Dame Julie Maxton

IIASA recently welcomed Dame Julie Maxton, Executive Director of the Royal Society, to Laxenburg for a series of discussions focused on global challenges, science diplomacy, and the future of international research cooperation.

Environmental Scientist Monitoring Climate Data, Blurred global maps and charts emphasize the scale of environmental monitoring and research.

27 May 2026

Temporary carbon removal could help support climate goals

Persistent methane emissions from sectors such as agriculture and growing debates over the credibility of carbon offsets are creating new challenges for governments and companies pursuing net-zero commitments. New research suggests temporary carbon storage may have a scientifically valid role in helping support climate goals, if used in the right way.

Group photo of the Chinese delegation and IIASA participants

25 May 2026

International exchange on research careers and science diplomacy at IIASA

Representatives from China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security visited Schloss Laxenburg in May 2026 for discussions on international research collaboration, scientific career development, and talent exchange.

Global interaction. Background digital image of world map with connection lines

20 May 2026

New Elsevier report on Austria’s science system highlights IIASA’s global impact

IIASA has emerged as one of Austria’s standout research institutions in a new Elsevier report titled, Austria as a Science and Technology Nation, which benchmarks the country’s scientific performance in an international context.

18 May 2026

Full fossil fuel phase-out by 2050 would require up to 80% more electricity generation

New research by an international team of scientists finds that fully phasing out fossil fuels worldwide by 2050 would require global electricity generation to expand by roughly 60 to 80% beyond the levels projected in conventional 1.5°C climate pathways. The study also shows that eliminating fossil fuels could significantly reduce dependence on CO₂ removal technologies and underground carbon storage.

18 May 2026

African Human Capital Data Sheet 2026

The African Human Capital Data Sheet 2026: Past Trends, Skills, and Future Pathways presents new evidence on population trends by level of education, skills, and demographic transitions across the African continent.

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.

04 May 2026

Integrating energy, materials, and industry for climate and development goals

Within the framework of the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) 2026, CircEUlar researchers Volker Krey (IIASA), Alessio Mastrucci (IIASA), Adriana Gomez Sanabria (IIASA), and Dominik Wiedenhofer (BOKU) convened a high-level Deep Dive session titled “Integrated green industrialisation strategies across the energy, material and climate nexus to achieve climate and development goals” on 10 April. The session brought together representatives from policy, industry, finance, international organisations, and research.

IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber

30 April 2026

IIASA Director General engages at Regional Ecological Summit in Kazakhstan

In April, IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, visited Kazakhstan at the invitation of Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, to participate in the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026).