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IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program Director, Keywan Riahi, will deliver a public lecture at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the National Member Organization representing Austria at IIASA, as part of their Mathematical and Natural Sciences Division's session. 

In an era of information overload and rapidly evolving media landscapes, science journalism plays a crucial role in helping audiences understand complex global challenges. IIASA is pleased to join ISTA and the Complexity Science Hub for a panel discussion exploring how journalists and communicators can uphold accuracy, context, and trust in science reporting.

IIASA has emerged as one of Austria’s standout research institutions in a new Elsevier report titled, Austria as a Science and Technology Nation, which benchmarks the country’s scientific performance in an international context.

From 11–13 June 2026, the alpine town of Heiligenblut am Großglockner, Austria, will once again become a meeting point for forward-looking dialogue on sustainability, climate resilience, and the future of society during the 9th FORUM ANTHROPOZÄN. Audiences from around the world will also be able to join the opening keynote by IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber online via livestream.  

Tropical forests are one of the planet's most important carbon sinks – often also called "the lungs of the Earth". But their future in a high-CO₂ world remains uncertain. IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, which suggests even small understory trees in the Amazon may initially buffer climate change more strongly. Their long-term capacity to store carbon could, however, be restricted by nutrient availability, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems under future climate conditions.

Join us for an engaging event at the Natural History Museum in Vienna to explore how we can define environmental limits and inspire meaningful climate action. IIASA researchers will contribute insights through the Tree Quest citizen science initiative, showcasing innovative approaches to mapping forest carbon across Europe. The program combines scientific perspectives with interactive discussions on how especially young people can help shape a more sustainable future.

IIASA researchers invite visitors to explore some of the most pressing challenges of our time - from climate change and clean energy to global water security. Through interactive formats and hands-on activities, participants can discover how science helps us better understand complex systems and identify solutions. IIASA will be present at two locations: in Vienna at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and in Lower Austria at Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA).

IIASA researchers will contribute to the 26th Austrian Climate Day taking place in Vienna from 8 to 10 April 2026. Organized by the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA), the event brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and foster collaboration. This year's theme, Building bridges: from knowledge to transformation, focuses on strengthening links between science, policy, and implementation.

IIASA Integrated Climate Impacts Research Group Leader, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, will be the speaker at the upcoming 5vor12 Briefing by the Network for Climate Journalism Austria on one of the most pressing developments in climate science: climate overshoot.

On Tuesday, 17 March 2026, IIASA had the privilege of hosting Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen at Schloss Laxenburg for a program focused on exchange, conversation, and engagement with the Institute’s research community. Austria is IIASA’s host country and one of its founding members, with its membership dating back to 1973.

Cyberattacks, blackouts, natural disasters: in a world where physical and digital systems are becoming ever more tightly intertwined, disruptions can quickly paralyze entire infrastructures. At a recent public lecture co-hosted by IIASA and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), renowned computer scientist and mathematician Dimitris E. Simos spoke about these vulnerabilities. In this interview, he explains why our systems are particularly susceptible to attacks, how chain reactions occur, and what each of us can do to improve security.

On Thursday, 26 March, IIASA hosts a group of young minds from the Keimgasse High School in Mödling to connect "systems thinking" with an all time favourite, chocolate.

Two new studies published in leading scientific journals conclude that stabilizing long-term climate risks will require sustained net-negative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions for centuries. Approaching the problem from distinct perspectives – legal and technological feasibility on the one hand, and economic optimization under uncertainty on the other – the research converges on a consistent message: reaching net zero is not enough.

Hands-on mini project- ‘My Future City’ for brainstorming a safer school street for children

IIASA recently welcomed Austrian Federal Minister of Education, Science, and Research, Eva-Maria Holzleitner to Schloss Laxenburg for a high-level exchange on science diplomacy, international cooperation, and future collaboration opportunities.

The International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum (IVECF) 2026 will take place over two days from 9-10 April 2026, at the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. Co-organized by UNIDO, the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, the Austrian Development Agency, and IIASA, in cooperation with other Vienna-based international organizations and partners, the IVECF 2026 will convene global leaders from  governments, international organizations, industry, academia, development partners and civil society, under the theme “Powering Prosperity, Security and Stability”.