
The Equity and Justice Research Group at IIASA leads the justice debate in global change research and sustainability science using mixed, systems-based, and participatory methods.
EQU research aims to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to solving other global environmental, climate, and sustainability challenges, both on its own and as part of broader IIASA initiatives, by developing and applying conceptual and analytical frameworks for integrating equity and justice aspects into systems analysis. Scientists in EQU analyse the diverse perspectives on justice, assess unjust and unethical practices, and identify just governance options, contributing to universal ethical and compassionate support in times of crisis.
EQU researchers pioneer innovative and transparent mixed methods, with a special focus on qualitative systems approaches, to come to terms with diverse ideas of justice and the governance of 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. This stakeholder inclusive way of conducting research means putting people's lived experience at the center of our work to solve “real problems” that our society faces. Across the board, we aim for systematic and transparent research, and make our processes and output accessible to all.
In EQU, we lead and live by example in the practice of sustainability and social justice. In our team, we appreciate and harness diversity in views and work styles, and foster an enabling and collaborative work environment. We remain self-reflected 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 is well-grounded in ethics.
Models, tools, datasets
Projects
Staff
News

23 May 2023
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would save billions from dangerously hot climate
22 May 2023
Science for Policy Podcast: Transdisciplinary research for policymaking

04 May 2023
Researchers from Norwegian Geotechnical Institute visit IIASA
Events
06 December 2023 Vienna, Austria
Wittgenstein Centre Conference 2023-Exploring Population Heterogeneities
Focus

16 May 2023
Would Vienna still be Vienna without migrants?
What would Vienna look like without migrants, and what kind of socioeconomic implications would such a situation have? IIASA researchers Anne Goujon and Thomas Schinko delved into these questions in response to a recent public debate on the topic.

08 May 2023
Stakeholder engagement, co-production, and transdisciplinary research
Co-production is a term that has been cropping up more and more in discussions about public involvement and is fast becoming an integral feature of many research processes and proposals. Susanne Hanger-Kopp explains why not every project can or should include elements of co-production and how to make the most of such processes when they are used.
04 December 2022
IIASA and Austria: supporting Austria into a sustainable future

Publications
Lenton, T.M., Xu, C., Abrams, J.F.., Ghadiali, A., Loriani, S., Sakschewski, B., Zimm, C. , Ebi, K.L., Dunn, R.R., Svenning, J.-C., & Scheffer, M. (2023). Quantifying the human cost of global warming. Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-023-01132-6. (In Press)
de Goer de Herve, M., Schinko, T. , & Handmer, J. (2023). Risk justice: Boosting the contribution of risk management to sustainable development. Risk Analysis 10.1111/risa.14157. (In Press)
Peisker, J. & Schinko, T. (2023). Yes we can? Effects of a participatory visioning process on perceived climate efficacy. Frontiers in Climate 5 e1129789.. 10.3389/fclim.2023.1129789.
Hochrainer-Stigler, S., Zhu, Q., Ciullo, A., Peisker, J. , & Van den Hurk, B. (2023). Differential Fiscal Performances of Plausible Disaster Events: A Storyline Approach for the Caribbean and Central American Governments under CCRIF. Economics of Disasters and Climate Change 10.1007/s41885-023-00126-0.
Scolobig, A., Linnerooth-Bayer, J., Pelling, M., Martin, J. , Deubelli, T. , Liu, W. , & Oen, A. (2023). Transformative adaptation through nature-based solutions: a comparative case study analysis in China, Italy, and Germany. Regional Environmental Change 23 (2) e69. 10.1007/s10113-023-02066-7.