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.
© Jon Anders Wiken | Dreamstime.com
The S3 Group have two overarching research objectives. First, to understand the evolution of behaviors and lifestyles around energy services and assess their environmental impacts; and second, to identify and understand policy interventions that can change behaviors and lifestyles to minimize environmental impacts. The group’s research binds together work on three domains that are critical for a transformation toward sustainable societies, namely buildings, mobility, and consumer goods, which are connected through changes in infrastructures and lifestyles. S3 aims to establish and lead a research community on demand-side transitions and to innovate conceptual frameworks for demand-side model comparisons.
Models, tools, datasets
Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environmental Impact (MESSAGEix)
ENGAGE Scenario Explorer
NGFS-IIASA Scenario Explorer
AR6 Scenario Explorer and Database
Projects
Exploring National and Global Actions to reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions (ENGAGE)
Next generation of AdVanced InteGrated Assessment modelling to support climaTE policy making (NAVIGATE)
Energy Demand changes Induced by Technological and Social innovations (EDITS)
Sustainable development pathways achieving Human well-being while safeguarding the climate And Planet Earth (SHAPE)
Staff
Volker Krey
Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar (IACC); Principal Research Scholar (S3)
Matthew Gidden
Senior Research Scholar (IACC, S3)
Bing Zhu
Guest Senior Research Scholar (IACC, S3)
Alessio Mastrucci
Research Scholar (S3, TISS)
News
21 April 2023
Social media data sheds light on air conditioning interest
With increasing temperatures caused by climate change, air conditioning is becoming a necessity for people’s comfort and health. A new study provides insight into consumers’ interest in home cooling by analyzing social media data, and addresses data gaps in demographic heterogeneity of global air conditioner adoption.
24 March 2023
Urgent need to ramp up climate action to secure a liveable future for all
IIASA researchers contributed to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released earlier this week. The report highlights that there are multiple feasible and effective options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, and they are available now.
23 March 2023
The global economics of climate action
Climate change has serious consequences for the environment and people and is a major threat to economic stability. A new assessment reviews innovative, integrated research that underpins the economic case for strong near-term climate action.
Events
19 April 2023 Virtual event
Communicating Climate Solutions: an expert panel discussion
16 February 2023 Online
Final conference of the SHAPE Project
Focus
06 December 2022
Challenges and opportunities for a South American waterway system
Julian Hunt writes about the challenges and opportunities that the development of a South American Waterway System could bring to the region.
29 November 2022
Bridging the gap between science and policy
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Leila Niamir is a computational economist and climate researcher driven by a passion for global change.
28 November 2022
Linking health status and clean cooking practices in South Africa
Options Magazine, Winter 2022: Transitioning to clean cooking services in South Africa can reduce existing health inequalities by improving the health of socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Publications
Tong, W., Lu, Z., Zhao, H., Han, M., Zhao, G., & Hunt, J. (2023). The structure and control strategies of hybrid solid gravity energy storage system. Journal of Energy Storage 67 e107570. 10.1016/j.est.2023.107570.
Liu, Q., Yang, J., Gao, L., Dong, Y., Guo, Z., Moallemi, E.A., Eker, S. , & Obersteiner, M. (2023). Robust sensitivity analysis to uncertainties in environmental and socio-economic scenarios: A perspective from a global socio-ecological system model. Journal of Cleaner Production 410 e137244. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137244.
Crabolu, G., Font, X., & Eker, S. (2023). Evaluating policy complexity with Causal Loop Diagrams. Annals of Tourism Research 100 e103572. 10.1016/j.annals.2023.103572.
McBain, S.M., Axsen, J., & Wilson, C. (2023). Function, symbolism or society? Exploring consumer interest in electric and shared mobility. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 118 e103675. 10.1016/j.trd.2023.103675.
Eker, S. , Mastrucci, A. , Pachauri, S. , & van Ruijven, B. (2023). Social media data shed light on air-conditioning interest of heat-vulnerable regions and sociodemographic groups. One Earth 6 (4) 428-440. 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.03.011.