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A new IIASA study addresses the urgent challenges in managing the water-energy-land nexus in the Zambezi River Basin, which is crucial for southern Africa’s economic stability and environmental health. The authors suggest strategies for economic development that protect environmental resources and adapt to climate and socioeconomic changes.  

As environmental, technological, and societal change join forces to disrupt human and planetary health, the world must get better at tracking and responding to a host of emerging challenges, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Science Council (ISC).

Under the leadership of the Equity and Justice Research Group of the IIASA Population and Just Societies Program, researchers from across the Institute have spent the past three years working towards the first iteration of the IIASA Justice Framework – a descriptive guideline for science and policy. The framework is now available on the IIASA website and as an IIASA working paper.

IIASA researchers contributed to a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), working in partnership with scientists from other renowned institutions, to help the government of Indonesia advance actionable agrifood systems policies based on rigorous scientific assessment.

On 22 July, 2024, a high-level delegation from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), led by Professor Tran Tuan Anh, visited IIASA to meet with Director General John Schellnhuber and IIASA researchers to discuss ongoing research projects and opportunities.

A new IIASA-led study offers the first detailed estimates of land use change emissions for six sustainable aviation fuel production pathways. The authors focused on both food and non-food raw materials used to produce biofuels, using trusted global data sources to provide fine-scale emissions data.

Despite facing regional threats like deforestation and wildfires, the world's forests continue to be a powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. A new study reveals these vital ecosystems have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide for the past three decades, even as disruptions chip away at their capacity.

Summer season is traditionally a period when researchers from different corners of the globe, being united by a passion for systems analysis, gather at IIASA. This year, the FLAM team has welcomed two brilliant persons with diverse backgrounds – an intern and a guest research assistant – who are eager to contribute their unique perspectives to a shared research topic. We are happy to introduce these dynamic individuals and hear their expectations as they embark on this scientific journey at IIASA with us.

A novel machine learning framework developed by IIASA researchers to estimate global rooftop area growth from 2020 to 2050 can aid in planning sustainable energy systems, urban development, and climate change mitigation, and has potential for significant benefits in emerging economies.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequent displacement of millions of people will have a significant impact on the country’s long-term population structure. Researchers from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, IIASA, and the University of Vienna are forecasting a substantial population decline of 21-31% by 2052.

Global water scarcity, a result of both quantity and quality change, challenges the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. An international team of researchers developed a novel modeling approach to identify cost-effective combinations of water management, promising a substantial reduction in future water scarcity.  

IIASA researchers are part of the ALFAwetlands project, which aims to map wetlands in the European Union and assess restoration measures to provide maximum benefits for climate and biodiversity. The project partners recently gathered for a Midterm Conference to review implementation progress, present and exchange current results, and discuss further plans.

A new publication authored by scientists from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and IIASA with a large European consortium provides vital insights into the current status of biodiversity monitoring in Europe, identifying policy needs, challenges, and future pathways.

A new IIASA study explores waste management systems and reveals that achieving zero waste leakage by 2030 is unlikely, potentially jeopardizing related Sustainable Development Goals. The authors emphasize the need for global cooperation, particularly across four regions, to responsibly manage waste disposal.

IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, analyzing the main narratives in public discussions of climate change on social media.

BRICS countries face common regulatory challenges posed by the increasing dominance of digital platform ecosystems. By fostering dialogue and cooperation between their competition authorities, these nations can aim to develop a unified understanding and symbiotic strategies to tackle these challenges.

Unlock the potential of digital artificial intelligence to address pressing environmental challenges! Traditional approaches to conservation are evolving as AI tools enable precise monitoring, predictive analytics, and optimized resource management. From combating climate change to preserving biodiversity, AI offers scalable solutions that benefit ecosystems and communities alike. Explore how AI is reshaping environmental stewardship for a sustainable future.

Computer games are not only entertaining but can also offer new perspectives, as demonstrated by the game "Climate Survivors". In this game, players combat the consequences of global warming while learning about scientifically grounded facts in an engaging and playful way.

Nadejda Komendantova, the Cooperation and Transformative Governance Research Group leader, and Dmitry Erokhin, a researcher at IIASA, prepared a case study on the application of science, technology and innovation solutions to increase participation in climate change adaptation. In this case study, they discuss best-practice solutions as well as their internal and external validity. The case study served as an input to the 9th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals held on May 9-10, 2024, at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York.

When it comes to practical solutions, finding causal links is one of the holy grails in all disciplines of science. Although Granger-type causality doesn’t prove actual causality, it becomes a powerful tool for analyzing any system once it’s coupled with theoretical reasoning. Recent advances in wavelet analysis as a tool to unravel the patterns and coherence among different phenomena raise the question of whether such coherence can be used to indicate causality.