Equity and Justice (EQU)

EQU research aims to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by developing and applying conceptual and analytical frameworks for integrating equity and justice into systems analysis.  Scientists in EQU bring a valued perspective to major global and local policy issues, including the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, by identifying and co-designing governance reforms and policy options that take account of diverse perceptions of procedural, distributive and compensatory justice. 

EQU researchers pioneer innovative mixed methods, with a special focus on the complementarity of qualitative systems approaches to quantitative systems analysis, to mobilise the manifold ideas of justice and governance approaches for complex societal challenges. To bridge the gap between conceptualization and implementation, EQU researchers develop and employ participatory processes that provide a safe space to co-produce options for transformative change. Stakeholder-inclusive research means putting people's lived experience at the center to solve “real policy problems” that our societies face. We aim for systematic and transparent research and to make our processes and output accessible to all.   

In our team, we appreciate and harness diversity in views and work styles and we foster an enabling and collaborative work environment. We remain self-reflexive and open-minded. The research group works closely with other IIASA research programs and external partners to position our research activities in a systems analysis framework that reconciles both hard and soft systems methodologies and is grounded in ethics.