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.

Economic Frontiers © 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

Sustainable buildings

Models, tools, datasets

gas pipeline

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

Photo 134399877 © Designer491 | Dreamstime.com

ENGAGE Scenario Explorer

Photo 258300272 © Paradee Paradee | Dreamstime.com

NGFS-IIASA Scenario Explorer

IPCC

AR6 Scenario Explorer and Database

Projects

Beige and colored pawns grouped together

Exploring National and Global Actions to reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions (ENGAGE)

Grossglockner Austria

Next generation of AdVanced InteGrated Assessment modelling to support climaTE policy making (NAVIGATE)

urban greenery

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

Sustainable development goals

Sustainable development pathways achieving Human well-being while safeguarding the climate And Planet Earth (SHAPE)

Staff

Placeholder, because no staff image is available

Ruslana Palatnik

Guest Senior Research Scholar (IACC, S3)

Takuya Hara profile picture

Takuya Hara

Guest Research Scholar (IACC, S3)

Áron Hartvig profile picture

Áron Hartvig

Research Scholar (S3)

Bing Zhu profile picture

Bing Zhu

Guest Senior Research Scholar (IACC, S3)

News

Rethinking electricity demand

06 February 2025

Rethinking energy demand can foster sustainable development and reduce emissions from buildings and transport

In a new study, IIASA scientists show that a mix of policy measures, including both technological solutions and behavioral changes, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy use in buildings and transport.
Greece Delegation Visit

24 January 2025

Delegation from Greece visits IIASA to explore further collaborations

On 23 January 2025, IIASA was honored to receive a high-level delegation from Greece, visiting to learn about the institute’s research on wildfires, urban planning, wind and solar energy, as well as to explore opportunities for future collaboration.
NGFS Scenarios

13 November 2024

IIASA researchers help central banks to assess climate risks in the financial sector

IIASA researchers provide over one hundred central banks all over the world with scenarios that help them make the financial sector more resilient to climate change. The scenarios have recently been updated to reflect advances in climate policies and assess risks more comprehensively. This work was conducted by a scientific consortium to support the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS).

Focus

Young adults using smartphones in a circle

11 December 2024

Advancing climate insights with social media data

IIASA recently hosted an interdisciplinary research workshop under the LowAI project to explore how social media and digital platforms can advance climate and sustainability research. The participants tackled the challenges of leveraging digital data to shape effective climate actions and foster social change. IIASA researcher Sandeep Chowdhary shares his insights and experiences from the event.

Icons depicting environmental cooperation, collaboration for a sustainable environmental future superimposed on picture showing hands typing on a laptop

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.

Publications