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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. 

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

IIASA CAT-ASA scientists Nadejda Komendantova, Tatiana Ermolieva, and Taher Zobeidi jointly with PARATUS case study teams from Istanbul (Turkey), Bucharest (Romania), Barcelona (Spain), are excited to share a short summary of their joint work on "Systemic risks, vulnerability analysis and integrated disaster risk management for disaster resilient societies" in the frames of the WP2, Task 2.2. of the PARATUS project.

On 23 June 2025, IIASA will launch the global citizen science “Tree-Quest” campaign at the Living Planet Symposium in Vienna, inviting people from all over the world to take part using the free Geo-Quest app. As part of the Citizens for Copernicus project, IIASA researchers will also lead hands-on workshops with schoolchildren at the symposium, teaching them how to use the app and collect ground data that will help scientists map the carbon stored in trees with satellite data more accurately.

Daniel Huppmann joins Martin Puntigam and the Science Busters for a special live podcast recording (in German), held in collaboration with the Austrian Panel on Climate Change (APCC) to mark the release of the Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change (AAR2).

The Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change (AAR2) provides a comprehensive scientific analysis of climate change spanning approximately 800 pages, showing ways to a sustainable transformation towards climate neutrality and a sustainable, just society.

The World Ecosystem Extent Dynamics (WEED) Project is hosting its hands-on Living Lab Workshop at IIASA.This three-day event will bring together key project partners and Champion Users for collaborative, hands-on engagement.

On 17 June, Sigrid Stagl, Scientist of the Year 2024, will speak on the topic of the sustainable economy. Ulrike Diebold, Vice President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, and Christian Köberl, IIASA Council member for Austria, will deliver opening remarks before the lecture. This event is part of the ongoing IIASA-OeAW public lecture series and will be in German.

IIASA researcher Roman Hoffmann has been honored with two prestigious awards and elected as a member of the Young Academy of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, recognizing his contributions to climate change research and environmental social sciences.

The OJEong Resilience Institute at Korea University (OJERI) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) successfully held the OJERI–IIASA Symposium 2025 on April 28–29 at IIASA in Laxenburg, Austria. With the theme “Forest Fire and Water-Land Management under the Carbon (Emission) Cycle”, the symposium aimed to continue the strong partnership between IIASA and OJERI@KU in advancing cross-disciplinary research for sustainable forest and land-water management.

As part of the IIASA initiative for schools and youth organizations, two classes from the HTL Mödling will be visiting IIASA on 19 and 20 May to learn more about systems thinking, this time focusing on sustainability issues, and interconnections between Earth's systems.

IIASA, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters are co-organizing a parallel session at the Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission Conference that explores how to effectively reconcile global coordination with national priorities in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

Wiedner High School is hosting this year's GALESS conference on 'Empty Pockets.' Over 20 participants from Uganda, Thailand, and the US will spend a day at IIASA, where they will join our researchers in discussing topics related to climate justice and the fair sharing of responsibility.

A new climate initiative launched in Vorarlberg, Austria, aims to plant 50 trees for every child born in the region. The initiative, which will run under the patronage of IIASA Director General Hans Joachim (John) Schellnhuber, was introduced on 3 April in Rankweil.

IIASA, together with the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the European Academies' Science Advisory Council (EASAC), will host a side event at the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) to the European Commission Conference 2025. This event will explore the expanding role of collaborative frameworks in shaping evidence-based policies, with contributions from esteemed experts in government and leading research institutions.

As part of its science-diplomacy mandate, and building on its continued engagement with the OSCE, IIASA convened a high-level event to facilitate dialogue on how to promote connectivity, trade, and economic cooperation in the European and Eurasian space. This event took place on the margins of the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna.

IIASA contributed to the Austrian Bundesländerdialog — a forum bringing together the federal government, representatives of different states, and other interested institutions to discuss recent developments in research, technology, and innovation. It provided an important platform to increase IIASA’s visibility in the Austrian federal states and strengthen connections with key stakeholders in research and innovation.