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In 2024, IIASA expanded its global partnerships to drive collaborative research and policy innovation in sustainability, climate action, and systems science through new agreements, joint initiatives, and high-level engagements. 

In 2024, IIASA strengthened its position as a trusted science diplomacy actor by deepening engagement with international institutions and supporting evidence-based policy dialogue across global platforms.  

As part of its mission, IIASA aims to provide scientific guidance to policymakers by finding solutions to global problems through applied systems analysis. Through interdisciplinary research and international collaboration, the Institute delivers independent, science-based insights into critical policy issues, supporting evidence-informed decision-making on challenges such as climate change, energy security, and sustainable development. 

The Strategic Initiatives Program plays an important role in advancing initiatives through strong engagement with the Institute’s member organizations while delivering groundbreaking research. In 2024, the program launched a Call for Expressions of Interest, informed by insights from the Member Organizations Engagement Workshop held in October 2023. Following rigorous evaluation, two initiatives were selected for funding: Biodiversity and Land-use Objectives for Optimal Management (bloom) and Wildfires and Climate Change in the Boreal Zone (Fire&Ice).

In 2024, the Population and Just Societies Program focused on addressing the questions surrounding the concepts of justice, inclusion, and human wellbeing across diverse social and demographic contexts. 

As the climate clock ticks, the Energy, Climate, and Environment Program continued to examine the intricate links between climate, energy, and institutional resilience. 

In 2024, the Economic Frontiers Program explored the shifting dynamics between demography, health, and sustainability. 

As global challenges grow increasingly interconnected and uncertain, the Advancing Systems Analysis Program provides decision-makers with the tools and insights needed to respond effectively. 

Over the past year, the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program has made significant strides in advancing our understanding of the complex relationships between ecosystems, land use, and climate. 

The Resilience of Ecosystem Services provided by Intact and Sustainably managed Terrestrial ecosystems (RESIST) project aims to develop a modeling framework that integrates biophysical feedbacks and socioeconomic drivers affecting the environment.

Researchers from the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis Program, Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program, Energy, Climate and Environment Program, and from the Population and Just Societies Program share their expertise to carry out the IIASA Tools for Raising and UnderStanding Trust in systems science through citizen engagement (TRUST) Strategic Initiative.

The IIASA Just Transitions to Net‑Zero Carbon Emissions for All (JustTrans4All) project contributes to novel analyses of transition pathways that are  cognizant of diverse justice considerations. The project aims to help shape policies that make people’s lives better without harming the planet, following the UN 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

In the fairSTREAM project, IIASA researchers from the Equity and Justice, Water Security, and Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation research groups aim to address issues of fairness. This is crucial for managing risks in nexus challenges where conflicting views on procedural and outcome fairness often remain unresolved and jeopardize finding solutions.

As wildfires become more frequent and severe due to climate change, it’s important to address the unequal distribution of wildfire risk in communities. A  2023 IIASA study calls for more integrated and inclusive wildfire risk management approaches and proposes a novel framework mapping different  justice aspects.

Scientists from the Advancing Systems Analysis Program, in collaboration with the Bank of Canada, developed a next-generation model for monetary  policy analysis and projections.

In 2023, IIASA launched two innovative webtools offering a wealth of data and insights into climate mitigation and exposure to impacts stemming from development and climate change.

The soil beneath our feet holds vital information for understanding agriculture, climate, and environmental sustainability. IIASA provides user friendly tools to support decision makers in developing national, regional, and global strategies for food security and the environment.

IIASA research shows that the remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5°C is significantly less than previously anticipated and could be depleted within the next six years.

Shifting diets could yield major improvements for climate and biodiversity. IIASA researchers found that replacing half of all main meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land userelated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forests and natural land.

IIASA researchers used a new method to analyze the effectiveness of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) with regard to its  ability to minimize the short-term fiscal effects of disasters.