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IIASA researcher Pratik Patil reflects on how researchers and research institutes like IIASA can respond more effectively to the emerging Polycrisis with transformative approaches and frameworks to facilitate public understanding and policy.

Drawing on personal reflections and real-world examples, IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program participant, Avijit Pandit, explores the question of how scientists can ensure that their influence remains anchored in purpose rather than in power, and provides a quick guide for sustainability and systems scientists to navigate today’s science landscape.

After an unseasonably hot early May in Vienna, the European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly concluded, having gathered more than 19,000 scientists, practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe. Themes of vulnerability, compounding risk, and systemic transformation took centre stage, reinforcing the need for grounded, science-informed resilience-building. Alliance colleagues from the Z Zurich Foundation, IIASA, and Concern Worldwide share their reflections on this year’s General Assembly.

A team of scientists led by IIASA researcher Christian Folberth is contributing to international nuclear winter research through the ANFOS project, which aims to provide a comprehensive picture of how a nuclear conflict could alter crop growth, cause supply chain disruptions, and consequently affect global food security.

In a world where sustainable development and climate change solutions demand urgent action, ensuring that policies are informed by solid evidence is essential. The North Africa Applied Systems Analysis Centre (NAASAC) in Egypt has made this its mission, aiming to build a systemic culture of applied systems analysis for evidence-based policy development.

As water demand continues to rise across Europe, new analysis reveals that more people than previously estimated will face water stress in the coming decades. IIASA researchers working on the EU-Horizon ACCREU project highlight the urgent need for informed adaptation strategies.

Transdisciplinary research and knowledge co-production are transforming the way IIASA addresses complex societal challenges. Susanne Hanger-Kopp reports on behalf of the participants of an IIASA-wide workshop that highlighted the potential of and hurdles to these approaches.

IIASA recently hosted an interdisciplinary research workshop under the LowAI project to explore how social media and digital platforms can advance climate and sustainability research. The participants tackled the challenges of leveraging digital data to shape effective climate actions and foster social change. IIASA researcher Sandeep Chowdhary shares his insights and experiences from the event.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), traditional approaches are not enough to meet the climate goals. In the search for new ways forward, science diplomacy could offer a powerful avenue for fostering the cooperation needed to develop effective solutions. IIASA 2024 Science Communication Intern, Moritz Boeswirth explored this topic.

Social media intelligence mining is transforming disaster risk management. A new cutting-edge tool developed by IIASA researchers provides real-time insights from platforms like X and Google, enhancing rapid response during and after disasters, resource distribution, and effective crisis communication to better safeguard communities.

The focus of the ongoing COP is to decide on a new finance regime. Major polluters will be asked to massively increase their financial contributions to developing nations. Researchers from IIASA and CMCC show that Loss and Damage needs of vulnerable countries range between roughly 130 and 940 billion Dollars in 2025 alone. On top of money for mitigation and adaptation.  

Ahead of the Wittgenstein Centre Conference 2024 on Delayed Reproduction: Challenges and Prospects, which is set to take place from 21-22 November, researchers from the IIASA Population and Just Societies Program, the Vienna Institute of Demography, and the University of Vienna look into the shifting trends, drivers, and consequences of delayed parenthood.

At the COP in Baku, Azerbaijan, nation states must decide on a new climate finance regime, that will take effect from 2025. Studies show that by 2030, a sixfold increase in international financing is needed globally, for the needed mitigation investments alone. As tensions rise over who should pay, it will be difficult to achieve new and fair targets. Success is crucial to keep the Paris Agreement within reach.

In a new article published on The Conversation, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Gaurav Ganti, and Joeri Rogelj discuss the urgent need to accelerate global emissions reductions to limit global warming to 1.5°C, cautioning against reliance on overshoot scenarios that assume temporary warming above 1.5°C, which may lead to irreversible climate impacts.

Who lives up to the promises made two years ago? Not many. Only about 35 countries have a strategy on how to meet biodiversity targets, says Piero Visconti, Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation (BEC) Research Group Leader at IIASA. But in 2022, at COP15 in Montreal, the countries pledged to preserve 30 percent of the planet’s land and seas. At the same time, rich countries also don’t live up to their promise to help the poor with financing. This COP needs to show results.

As the TED AI conference unfolds in Vienna, Ian McCallum, IIASA Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group Leader, brings a fresh perspective on the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in Earth monitoring. He explores how AI can revolutionize our understanding of environmental changes and support sustainable practices in an era marked by significant transitions.

IIASA researchers Robert Sakic Trogrlic and Stefan Hochrainer-Stigler explore the growing complexity of natural hazards and their interconnected impacts on communities. Their research offers insights into the challenges faced by communities worldwide and underscores the importance of building more resilient systems in an interconnected, increasingly hazard-prone world.

Have you ever wondered how policymakers make informed decisions for climate action? "That’s an easy one," you might say. "With science of course!" But even for scientists, understanding the world's climate is complex, and forecasting potential future developments is even more so. IIASA 2024 Science Communication Intern, Moritz Boeswirth explored this topic.

For over 45 years, the IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) has offered opportunities for PhD students to learn about systems analysis and hone their professional skills at IIASA. As this year’s summer term comes to an end, IIASA science writer Vladimir Tarakanov interviewed Amrutha G.S., 2024 YSSP participant and Kirit Parikh Fellow, to learn more about her experiences at the Institute this summer.

Imagine a city where every neighborhood has lush green spaces that not only beautify the area but also improve the quality of life for its residents. How can we work together to make this vision a reality? Jaewon Son, a participant in the 2024 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program shares insights into this important question.