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In 2024, global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C for the first time, signaling that the world is on track to pass this limit within the next decade. In a new commentary, IIASA experts and collaborators argue that this new reality requires a rethink of accountability in climate policy.

IIASA researchers explored why mortality among adults of working age remains high in India alongside rapid economic growth, finding that education – at both individual and community levels – is more strongly associated with lower premature mortality than income or household wealth.

IIASA recently welcomed H.E. Ambassador Eduardo Paes Saboia, Ambassador of Brazil to Austria, for a high-level visit to the Institute’s headquarters in Laxenburg. The visit provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange on IIASA’s research portfolio and on future avenues for strengthening cooperation between IIASA and Brazilian institutions.

Within the next few decades, intensifying heatwaves could expose a significant share of Europe’s cattle to dangerous levels of heat stress. New research maps where and how millions of animals may be affected by mid-century.

Cities are expected to track sustainability progress with data that are often incomplete, outdated, or available only at national level. New research led by IIASA in collaboration with UN-Habitat finds that citizen science could address these gaps and support nearly 70% of global sustainability indicators, yet is currently used in only 4% of cases.

In a commentary published by Süddeutsche Zeitung (South German Newspaper), columnist Heribert Prantl reflects on the renewed importance of science diplomacy amid growing geopolitical tensions, highlighting IIASA as a notable exception to the current global trend of disengagement.

China’s rising demand for cooling doesn’t have to drive rising temperatures. A new study shows how rapid shifts to cleaner refrigerants and high-efficiency technologies could cut cooling-related climate impacts to near zero by mid-century.

In January, the Laxenburg Education Campus became a gathering place for curious minds, engaged citizens, and local forward-thinkers. In cooperation with IIASA, the Municipality of Laxenburg hosted the opening of the exhibition Climate & Me, welcoming visitors interested in sustainability.

IIASA’s EQU Research Group started the new year with the kick-off meeting of the Transform-Labor project led by Julia Beier and Susanne Hanger-Kopp. The project centers heat affected workers in Austria in the development of transformative climate change adaptation options.

IIASA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) Awards in recognition of outstanding research conducted during the program.

A new study by IIASA researchers offers a pioneering way to understand how climate change affects people’s lives over the long term. Using a global model and the Years of Good Life (YoGL) metric, the research shows that today’s emissions shape future wellbeing, especially for younger generations.

Researchers from the IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program are involved in the recently launched EU-funded Trees4Adapt project. The project focuses on tree-based solutions for climate adaptation, aiming to strengthen Europe’s adaptation and resilience to climate change in a way that supports people and nature.

In December, IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, met in Beijing with Professor Dou Xiankang, President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the IIASA National Member Organization for China. The meeting focused on strengthening long-term cooperation between IIASA and NSFC and exploring opportunities for deeper engagement between the two organizations.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder and one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide. On average, one in ten adults is affected. The number of people living with diabetes continues to rise, posing an increasing challenge for healthcare systems and entire economies. A new study reveals the global and national economic costs of diabetes and offers strategies to reduce them.

A commentary coauthored by IIASA experts and senior representatives from the UN and the international statistics community discusses the implications of recent changes to the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program and highlights the importance of integrating citizen science more fully into official data systems

An IIASA delegation visited Egypt from 11–12 December 2025 including Deputy Director General Karen Lips and IIASA Water Security Research Group Leader, Taher Kahil, who participated in the Innovation Research Commercialization Expo (IRC 2025) and met with representatives of Egypt’s Institute of National Planning.

A new study reviews how ageing is measured in consumer behaviour research, highlighting the continued dominance of chronological age and calling for stronger interdisciplinary approaches drawing on gerontology and demography.

A delegation from CzechGlobe – the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences – visited IIASA on 10 December 2025 to explore opportunities for deepening scientific cooperation. 

New research shows rising hydrogen emissions since 1990 have indirectly intensified climate change and amplified the impact of methane.

As populations age worldwide, understanding health inequalities in later life becomes increasingly important. A new international study examines disparities in physical and cognitive functioning among older adults across 41 countries, revealing substantial differences by country, gender, and age, offering valuable insights for targeted policy action.