The IIASA Urban Futures Hub is a cutting-edge research initiative dedicated to studying and assessing how cities and urban systems can lead climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts from local to global scales.
The IIASA Urban Futures Hub is a new research initiative and project established within the Energy, Climate, and Energy (ECE) program at IIASA in 2023.
This project focuses on several key areas:
- Urban systems transformation, including buildings, transport, energy systems, spatial planning and urban forms
- City-scale models and scenarios
- Digitalization and smart cities
- Social and technological innovations
- Mitigation and adaptation synergies
- Justice and equity
The project brings together experts from various disciplines within and beyond IIASA to collaborate on assessing cities and climate change across diverse domains and scales.
As a first phase, in collaboration with the IIASA Japan National Member Organization (NMO), we initiated an international joint research endeavor. The aim of this collaborative effort was to compile a fast-track comprehensive report to better understand urban transformations and identify critical knowledge gaps. This report serves to support the scientific community, city stakeholders, and policymakers in discerning areas that warrant greater attention and, crucially, further investigation and study.
Projects
Urban Active Mobility
(2024-)
This project aims to enhance the understanding of active mobility in cities, focusing on needs, opportunities, and potential pathways. The project is divided into two phases: empirical studies (including household surveys and expert interviews) and modeling. Specifically, we will expand the BENCH agent-based model as a decision-support tool to provide deeper insights into the behavioral and social dynamics, as well as the infrastructure and service provisioning that influence mobility choices.
City Governance (IIASA-Japan joint research project)
(2024-2025)
This project aims to bridge the gap between professional knowledge on city governance and the scientific community. The main goal is to shed light on multi-level governance in cities regarding climate change-related issues, the role of cooperation, and city networks. The project is grounded in empirical studies, ranging from surveys and interviews to stakeholders' workshops (including scientists, local government representatives, and practitioners).
URGED, IBGF funded project
(2024)
The URGED IBGF project leverages big granular data such as household microdata and earth observations to apply statistical methods aimed at identifying context-aware but globally applicable empirical relations between urban-scale solutions to reduce both the negative impacts of climate change, given the escalating vulnerability and risks faced by urban populations, and emissions. URGED will produce output data products that can be used by researchers and technical officers to inform decision makers involved with transforming cities to reduce their emissions and minimize the adverse socio-economic impacts of climate change.
Cities Transformation (IIASA-Japan joint research project)
(2023-2024)
This report aims to consolidate the current understanding of urban transformations, identifying critical knowledge gaps therein. It serves to support the scientific community, city stakeholders, and policy-makers in discerning areas warranting greater attention and, crucially, further investigation and study. Particularly, it provides updates on the IPCC 7th Assessment Cycle, with a specific focus on its Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.
Access full report: here
Reports
Expert Report: Towards sustainable transformation
Research priorities in climate change and biodiversity
By exploring key research gaps and challenges in climate change and biodiversity, this report offers insights into promoting transformative change through research and innovation. Developed through an open and participatory approach, the report builds on the extensive international network of researchers and innovators at Future Earth and beyond. It investigates research needs around topics such as planetary health, societal values, governance, the role of policy instruments, emerging tools, and new ways to work across sectors to implement and drive transformations. Through this transdisciplinary approach, the authors highlight the importance of innovative and inclusive methodologies to tackle sustainability challenges and advocate for collaborative funding initiatives to support these endeavours. The outcomes of this research agenda are crucial in directing and prioritising research funding, emphasising the imperative of systems change in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
More information: here.
UCCRN Third Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3.3)
ARC3.3 will provide up-to-date benchmarked knowledge for urban climate change researchers, city practitioners, and policymakers at all levels of governance to motivate rapid action. ARC3.3 represents a collaborative effort with 200+ authors from cities in low, middle, and high-income countries around the world. ARC3.3 is peer-reviewed and includes city projections, new research, and urban policy recommendations.
More information: here.
The Summary for Urban Policymakers (SUP)
The Summary for Urban Policymakers (SUP) Volume III focuses on climate change mitigation in cities and urban areas. Drawing on latest research, this volume synthesizes key findings of the IPCC Working Group III Report for urban policy makers. Cities and urban areas offer significant opportunities for reducing emissions through a range of mitigation options such as low-emissions transport, energy-efficient buildings, or enhanced carbon storage using nature. Ambitious urban policies that forefront well-designed and effectively implemented mitigation interventions also hold co-benefits for adaptation and sustainable development goals.
Click here to watch a derivative video summarizing the key messages from the SUP Volume III.
Urban Futures Hub Series
Digitalization and Green Technologies for Sustainable Urban Development
Date: 01.08.2024, 11:00 - 12:00 CET
The Urban Futures Hub is excited to announce the launch of its Urban Futures Series with a compelling inaugural event. Join us to hear from distinguished speakers Dirk Messner and Keywan Riahi on digitalization and green technologies in urban areas. The session will be moderated by Leila Niamir.
IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities
Date: 12.02.2025, 11:00 - 12:00 CET
The Urban Futures Hub is delighted to announce the second installment of its Urban Futures Series, featuring an insightful discussion on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s upcoming Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. This groundbreaking report, part of the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Cycle (AR7), will commence with its First Authors' Meeting in March 2025 and is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Are you interested in any specific topic or do you want to see a specific speaker?
Please feel free to reach out share your suggestions for future topics to cover or speakers to invite to our Urban Futures Hub Series.
IIASA Seminars
Urban Systems in Terms of Metabolic Flows and Footprint Impact
Date: 21.10.2024, 14:00 - 15:00 CET
Together with IIASA Researcher Brian Fath we explore urban metabolic flows and footprint impact in this seminar, highlighting sustainable pathways for the transformation towards more circular, resilient cities in China and Europe.
News
News
Leila Niamir selected as a Lead IPCC Author
Congratulations to IIASA researcher Leila Niamir on being selected as a Lead Author for the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. We look forward to learning more about the findings of this important publication!
More information on the report: here
Overview of all authors: here
Workshop
URGED Workshop on Urban Heat Impacts and Solutions
Date: 28 Nov 2024, 9:00 - 11:45 CET
The URGED (URban mitigation and adaptation strategies Gauging through Empirical functions and Data products) project is organizing a IIASA internal workshop in collaboration with the Urban Futures Hub. Starting with presenting the preliminary findings of this project, which examens the effects of urban green and blue spaces, the workshops seeks to create a collaborative space for exchanging knowledge and discussing various aspects of city-scale modeling framework. Our aim is to stimulate meaningful debates among IIASA researchers regarding pressing issues and research gaps that need to be addressed in the near future.
Event
EIRES Lunch lecture by Leila Niamir, Head of the Urban Future Hub
The renowned Eindhoven Institute for Renewable Energy Systems (EIRES) invited Dr. Leila Niamir to talk about "Social and Technical Innovations in Cities" during their Lunch Lecture series on 8 November 2024.
Experts Convene
CCICED Special Policy Study on Digitalization and Green Technology: Experts Convene in Vienna
Vienna, Austria - In July 2024, global experts from the CCICED Special Policy Study on Digitalization and Green Technology will gather in Vienna to explore the city's innovative urban climate initiatives. The event includes site visits to the Bereichsleitung Klimaangelegenheiten, Vienna Climate Council, and Aspern Seestadt, followed by an expert workshop at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Collaborating with prestigious institutions, the event aims to forge strategies leveraging digitalization and green technology for sustainable urban development, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing global climate challenges.
Event
IPCC Scoping Meeting of the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities
Date: 16 Apr - 19 Apr 2024
More information: here.
Interview
John Schellnhuber on the Crucial Role of Transforming Cities
In a compelling interview with the NHK World-Japan News Channel, IIASA Director General John Schellnhuber discusses the urgent need for sustainable urban development in the Global South and the transformative potential of eco-friendly building materials like timber and bamboo to combat climate change. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on rethinking our cities for a greener future.
Watch the Interview: here.
Event
Publications
CCICED (2024). Digitalization and Green Technologies for Sustainable Development. Digital-Green Dual Transformation and the Sustainable Development of Cities. China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) , Beijing,China.
Thomas, H., Carmona Aparicio, L.G., Creutzig, F., Hara, T., Hayashi, A., Callegari, C.L., Martinez, L., Kishimoto, P. , Niamir, L. , Saheb, Y., & Trouvé, M. (2024). Models and methods for transport demand and decarbonisation: A review. Environmental Research Letters 19 (9) e093005. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad6b3a.
Creutzig, F., Becker, S., Berrill, P., Bongs, C., Bussler, A., Cave, B., M. Constantino, S., Grant, M., Heeren, N., Heinen, E., Hintz, M., Ingen-Housz, T., Johnson, E., Kolleck, N., Liotta, C., Lorek, S., Mattioli, G., Niamir, L. , McPhearson, T., Milojevic-Dupont, N., Nachtigall, F., Nagel, K., Närger, H., Pathak, M., Perrin de Brichambaut, P., Reckien, D., Reisch, L., Revi, A., Schuppert, F., Sudmant, A., Wagner, F., Walkenhorst, J., Weber, E., Wilmes, M., Wilson, C. , & Zekar, A. (2024). Towards a public policy of cities and human settlements in the 21st century. npj Urban Sustainability 4 (1) e29. 10.1038/s42949-024-00168-7.
Niamir, L. , Riahi, K. , Brutschin, E. , Byers, E. , Gomez Sanabria, A. , Kaltenegger, K. , Kamei, M., Kiesewetter, G. , Kılkış, Ş., Klimont, Z. , Mastrucci, A. , Marztinez, L., Mimura, N., Nemet, G.F., Pachauri, S. , Pathak, M., Purohit, P. , Takemoto, K., Toth, F.L., van Ruijven, B. , Yamagata, Y., Zimm, C. , & Zusman, E. (2024). Cities Transformation. IIASA-Japan Joint Research Project , Zenodo. 10.5281/zenodo.10703436.
Edwards, P., Juhola, S., Saxena, P., Balag'kutu, T., Bastos, A., Capon, A., DeClerck, F., DeWitt, L., Niamir, L. , Roco, L., Sioen, G., & Ungvari, J. (2024). Towards sustainable transformation: Research priorities in climate change and biodiversity. Publications Office of the European Union doi/10.2777/591057.
Staff
Leila Niamir
Research Scholar (S3, TISS)
Keywan Riahi
Program Director and Principal Research Scholar (ECE); Principal Research Scholar (IACC, PM, S3, TISS); Principal Research Scholar (ICI)
Alan Dill
Researcher (S3)
Áron Hartvig
Research Scholar (S3)
Giacomo Falchetta
Research Scholar (IACC)
Merle Quade
Researcher (S3)