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IIASA researchers contributed to a new study showing that efforts to meet restoration targets for the globally important, biodiversity rich forests found along Brazil’s Atlantic coast will only be effective with a sustainable intensification of cattle farming.

Food and energy production have caused substantial nitrogen pollution, harming air and water quality and posing risks to the climate and ecosystems. A new study shows how nitrogen interventions can reduce pollution, improving health, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The RESIST project has made significant progress through active collaboration with IIASA's National Member Organizations (NMO). Key recent achievements include setting up collaborations with national researcher partners and consulting with local experts and stakeholders in respective case study regions (listed below).

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.  

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.

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.

Global crop modelers and IIASA scientists joined forces to explore the potential impacts of nuclear winter resulting from hypothetical nuclear detonations on food systems and food security.

A new study conducted by IIASA researchers and their colleagues highlights that cooperation in infrastructure operation between countries surrounding the Lancang-Mekong River Basin could bring major economic and environmental co-benefits.

Urbanization in Africa is accelerating quickly, showing no signs of slowing down. An international team of researchers addresses critical gaps in our understanding of how this urbanization affects local food and ecological systems, emphasizing the importance of recognizing shifts in dietary patterns.

Discussions around soil carbon have traditionally revolved around organic matter, overlooking the substantial contribution of soil inorganic carbon. A recent study published in Science by an international team of researchers, however, addresses this oversight.

The Agriculture, Forestry, and Ecosystem Services (AFE) group has hosted researchers from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as part of the TaigaClimate project meeting from 29 to 30 April. 

Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study published in Science. The projections show that climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.

The annual European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly took place from April 14-19, 2024, in Vienna. The FLAM Team participated significantly as conveners, oral presenters, and poster exhibitors in various sessions.

Wildfires are a growing threat to the boreal north, especially under the rapidly changing climate. IIASA researchers modeled and analyzed how climate change may impact future burned area in boreal forests and highlighted the importance of mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce climate-fueled impacts on wildfires.