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.
Themes
Scenario Services and Scientific Software
Access to Energy Services
Finance
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
Fabio Sferra
Researcher (IACC, S3)
Jarmo Kikstra
Research Scholar (IACC, S3, TISS)
Shonali Pachauri
Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar (TISS); Principal Research Scholar (S3, IACC)
Heidelinde Trimmel
Research Scholar (S3)
News
12 August 2024
Balancing technology and governance are key to achieving climate goals
Despite advancements in clean energy, global CO2 emissions continue to rise. IIASA researchers contributed to a new international study that underscores the importance of integrating technological advancements with robust institutional capacities to formulate effective climate policies.
21 June 2024
Supporting the right small changes can have big impacts
Small changes in our everyday actions can trigger significant, rapid societal shifts especially when it comes to climate action. A new IIASA-led study highlights the importance of analyzing these dynamics with a comprehensive framework to harness their full potential for reducing carbon emissions.
05 June 2024
The 2024 State of CDR Report: Scaling up CO2 removal to meet Paris Targets
The 2024 State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report finds that around 7–9 billion tonnes of CO2 per year will need to be removed by mid-century from the atmosphere if the world is to meet the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target. The authors stress that reducing emissions is the primary way to achieve net-zero, but Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) has a critical role to play.
Events
Vienna, Austria and online
IIASA at EGU 2024
Focus
25 September 2024
How policymakers make informed decisions for climate action
Have you ever wondered how policymakers make informed decisions for climate action? "That’s an easy one," you might say. "With science of course!" But even for scientists, understanding the world's climate is complex, and forecasting potential future developments is even more so. IIASA 2024 Science Communication Intern, Moritz Boeswirth explored this topic.
14 June 2024
Expert workshop on digitalization narratives and climate change mitigation
Charlie Wilson and Elena Verdolini share insights and experiences from an expert workshop on the impacts of digitalization on energy, materials, the economy, markets, lifestyles, and society, and how these impacts directly or indirectly affect greenhouse gas emissions.
Publications
Hirata, A., Ohashi, H., Hasegawa, T., Fujimori, S. , Takahashi, K., Tsuchiya, K., & Matsui, T. (2024). The choice of land-based climate change mitigation measures influences future global biodiversity loss. Communications Earth & Environment 5 (1) e259. 10.1038/s43247-024-01433-4. Oshiro, K. & Fujimori, S. (2024). Mid-century net-zero emissions pathways for Japan: Potential roles of global mitigation scenarios in informing national decarbonization strategies. Energy and Climate Change 5 e100128. 10.1016/j.egycc.2024.100128. Roichman, R., Sprecher, B., Blass, V., Meshulam, T., & Makov, T. (2024). The convenience economy: Product flows and GHG emissions of returned apparel in the EU. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 210 e107811. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107811. Min, J. , Soergel, B., Kikstra, J. , Koch, J., & van Ruijven, B. (2024). Income and inequality pathways consistent with eradicating poverty. Environmental Research Letters 19 (11) e114041. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad7b5d. Frank, S. , Derci Augustynczik, A.L., Havlik, P. , Boere, E., Ermolieva, T., Fricko, O. , Di Fulvio, F. , Gusti, M., Krisztin, T. , Lauri, P., Palazzo, A. , & Wögerer, M. (2024). Enhanced agricultural carbon sinks provide benefits for farmers and the climate. Nature Food 5 (9) 742-753. 10.1038/s43016-024-01039-1.