ECE’s overarching vision is to provide evidence-based, scientific roadmaps for feasible systems transformations that simultaneously meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ambitious climate change mitigation targets.

Emphasis is placed specifically on local policy decisions and actions required in the short term to put the world on track to achieve long-term targets while assuring human health, wellbeing, and the reduction of social inequalities in a socially and economically sustainable manner. The program’s systems analytical tools enable it to act as an objective scientific broker in support of sustainable transformational processes. ECE combines the research portfolios of the former Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases, Energy, and Transitions to New Technologies programs.

The ECE program is organized in four Research Groups which encompass different thematic areas of research:

ECE Research Groups

 ID 14056366 © Mikhail Dudarev | Dreamstime.com

Integrated Assessment and Climate Change (IACC)

The IACC Group leads the development of tools for a new generation of “coupled” global transformation pathways that are able to represent bottom-up local constraints and opportunities at the national and sub-national scale, which is a major focus of the ECE Program.

Photo 202479727 / Climate © Yana Bardichevska | Dreamstime.com

Pollution Management (PM)

The PM Group focusses on solving immediate and near-term environmental (health and ecosystems impacts from pollution), climate (non-CO2 greenhouse gases), and social (widening inequality gaps) problems in a cost-effective way, providing support to policymaking at local and regional scales.

© Jon Anders Wiken | Dreamstime.com

Sustainable Service Systems (S3)

The S3 Group focuses on demand-side systems as entry points for sustainable transformations. The group analyses demand for energy and materials through the lens of service provision of mobility, shelter, and consumer goods, as well as how lifestyle changes can contribute to consumption reduction.

Photo 22027252 © Deniscristo | Dreamstime.com

Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions (TISS)

The TISS Group explores innovative solutions to environmental issues that integrate social, institutional, and governance drivers with technological and economic considerations, with an emphasis on improving conditions for the most deprived and marginalized in society.

Current ECE Research Themes

ECE Nexus

Just and Feasible Transitions

Scenario Services and Scientific Software

Access to Energy Services

Heterogeneities and Inequalities

Finance

Modeling for National Transformations

Materials

Models, tools, datasets

gas pipeline

Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impact (MESSAGEix)

India Forest

The NExus Solutions Tool (NEST)

IPCC

AR6 Scenario Explorer and Database

Air Pollution in India

Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS)

Projects

urban greenery

Energy Demand changes Induced by Technological and Social innovations (EDITS)

RESCUE

Response of the Earth System to overshoot, Climate neUtrality and negative Emissions (RESCUE)

Staff

Adriano Vinca profile picture

Adriano Vinca

Research Scholar (IACC, TISS)

Aneeque Javaid profile picture

Aneeque Javaid

Research Scholar (IACC, S3)

Adriana Gomez Sanabria profile picture

Adriana Gomez Sanabria

Research Scholar (PM)

Olivia Coldrey profile picture

Olivia Coldrey

Guest Research Scholar (S3, TISS)

News

flagship report banner

13 September 2023

IIASA Flagship Report: Illuminating the path to sustainable wellbeing

IIASA is proud to announce the launch of its Flagship Report, "Systems Analysis for Sustainable Wellbeing. 50 Years of IIASA Research, 40 Years After the Brundtland Commission, Contributing to the Post-2030 Global Agenda” on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 at an official UN event in the framework of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly and the Sustainable Development Goals mid-term review.
Performers on the stage during a performance of Breath

30 August 2023

Performing artists and scientists take the stage at Vienna’s MuTh theatre

An Austrian choreographer, an American playwright, and a Dutch composer have collaborated with scientists to shed light on various dimensions of the ecological crisis in artistic ways. On 6 October 2023 at 20:00 CET, they will present some of their work in an engaging program titled “What We Want” at the MuTh, one of Vienna’s well-known concert halls.
Solar powered irrigation

23 August 2023

Solar powered irrigation: a game-changer for small-scale farms in sub-Saharan Africa

A new study finds that standalone solar photovoltaic irrigation systems have the potential to meet more than a third of the water needs for crops in small-scale farms across sub-Saharan Africa.

Focus

Black and white view from one side of the wall of famous Gariep Dam near Norvalspont in South Africa with open spillway and picturesque landscape in the background.

08 September 2023

Climate change will affect hydropower – African countries must be prepared

Africa has great potential for the implementation of hydropower, but there are political and environmental concerns that planners must consider if they want to ensure a more reliable power supply for their citizens. IIASA researcher Giacomo Falchetta delved into this issue in an article recently published on The Conversation.

Elderly gentleman in white shirt having difficulties with extreme heat, high temperature, wiping sweat from face

31 July 2023

Extreme heat is particularly hard on older adults – an aging population and climate change put ever more people at risk

Scorching temperatures have put millions of Americans in danger this summer, with heat extremes stretching from coast to coast in the Southern US. IIASA researcher Giacomo Falcetta and colleagues from Boston University looked into this issue in an article recently published on The Conversation.

28 June 2023

Promoting sustainable rural development in sub-Saharan Africa

Options Magazine, Summer 2023: IIASA has joined the LEAP-RE initiative to promote sustainable rural development in sub-Saharan Africa through the RE4AFAGRI project, which focuses on climate-water-energy-land-food-environment nexus modeling and renewable energy adoption.
Regional impacts-Africa

Publications