Press Releases 2014
2014 Press Releases
ERC grant to support energy poverty & climate research
IIASA energy researcher Narasimha D. Rao has received a prestigious Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for a project on energy, climate change, and decent living standards. More
Climate policy pledges are an important step forward but fall short of 2°C
Pledges to reduce emissions in China, Europe and the US provide an important step forward for climate change action, but a more comprehensive effort is needed to stabilize the climate below critical thresholds. Climate finance can cover investment gaps and alleviate distributional tensions, a new study shows. More
Growing cooperation: First the carrot, then the stick
To encourage cooperation in groups, a combination of rewards and penalties is best, according to a new study by researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). More
Climate Change: The necessary, the possible, and the desirable
In a new article published just prior to the UNFCC meeting in Lima, prominent scientists, including IIASA leaders, explore the key elements for climate change action. More
Education is key to climate adaptation
According to new IIASA research, education makes people less vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and storms that are expected to intensify with climate change. More
UNEP report highlights pathways to limit climate change
The 2014 Emissions Gap report from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) outlines clear limits for global greenhouse gas emissions, in order to avoid overreaching the 2 degree Celsius limit. IIASA researchers played leading roles in the report. More
Risk analysis for a complex world
Developing adaptable systems for finance and international relations could help reduce the risk of major systemic collapses such as the 2008 financial crisis, according to a new analysis. More
Climate change: Limiting short-lived pollutants cannot buy time on CO2 mitigation
Reducing emissions of non-CO2 gases and air pollutants with climate effects would bring health benefits and near-term climate co-benefits - but the impact on long-term climate change might be lower than previously estimated, according to a new study of the potential of air pollution and carbon dioxide mitigation in climate stabilization scenarios. More
World population likely to peak by 2070
New population projections from IIASA researchers provide a fundamentally improved view of future population, structured by age, sex, and level of education, which differ from recent projections by the United Nations. More
Improved electricity access has little impact on climate change
Expanding access to household electricity services accounts for only a small portion of total emission growth, shows a new study from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), shedding light on an ongoing debate on potential conflicts between climate and development. More
Natural gas boom alone won't slow climate change
Expanding the current bounty of cheap natural gas alone would not help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to a new study. More
Growers Nation brings citizen science to the farm
A new app designed at IIASA makes agricultural data available for gardeners and smallholder farmers around the world, and allows users to share information and inform future research. More
The plus side of population aging
An aging society will have numerous benefits, according to new research from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and researchers in Germany and the United States. More
Population projections
In a new blog post, IIASA's demographers explain why they project the world population to peak this century and UN demographers believe stabilization is unlikely. More
Climate targets move further from reach
The Global Carbon Project’s 2014 Carbon Budget shows the continuing rise of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2013. Analyses from IIASA researchers and colleagues show the implications for meeting climate targets. More
Population policy for sustainable development
Education and health, particularly for women, should be the priority focus of new population policies for the 21st century, according to a growing body of research from IIASA demographers. More
Landmark report defines climate change in Austria
Climate change effects are already being felt in Austria: A new report shows how rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and melting glaciers have affected the country and what lies in store for the future. More
Climate change to increase forest fire danger in Europe
Climate change is expected to contribute to a dramatic increase in forest fire damage in Europe, but better forest management could mitigate the problem, according to new research from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). More
Biodiversity in the balance
A new study calls into question the evolutionary stability of an ecological explanation of biodiversity. More
Alpbach-Laxenburg Group: Tackling inequality is key to sustainable development
Inequality must be a primary focus for the post 2015 sustainable development goals, according to a declaration released today by the newly formed Alpbach-Laxenburg Group. More
A demographic perspective on religion
The mixes of religion and ethnicity in society are changing in Vienna, Europe, and the world. IIASA research provides a demographic perspective. More
Gender disparities in cognition will not diminish
Improved living conditions and less gender-restricted educational opportunities reduce the cognitive disparities between men and women or improve the gap in favor of women, according to new research by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Karolinska Institutet. More
China’s hidden water footprint
China’s richest provinces have an outsized environmental impact on the country’s water-scarce regions, according to new research from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the University of Maryland. More
Putting a price tag on the 2° climate target
Addressing climate change will require substantial new investment in low-carbon energy and energy efficiency – but no more than what is currently spent on today’s fossil-dominated energy system, according to new research from IIASA and partners. More
Study shows greater potential for solar power
Concentrating solar power (CSP) could supply a large fraction of the power supply in a decarbonized energy system, shows a new study of the technology and its potential practical application. More
Tip Sheet for Journalists: June 2014
IIASA Tip Sheets provide regular updates on new research from the institute. For more information please feel free to contact the researcher directly, or the IIASA Press Office. More
Mexico joins IIASA
Mexico joined IIASA on 16 June 2014 , becoming the 22nd member of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). More
Protecting the environment by fighting poverty
Environmental protection and poverty eradication go hand in hand, according to a new policy paper from leading scientists including IIASA researchers. More
REN21 report shows jump in renewable capacity
The 2014 Global Status Report from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) shows major growth in renewable energy capacity worldwide, expanding upon recent IIASA research such as the Global Energy Assessment. More
Scenarios for a changing Arctic
IIASA’s new Arctic Futures Initiative explores the future of the Arctic region in all its dimensions. The initiative launched last week with an expert workshop and a policy-oriented special session in Laxenburg. More
Symbiosis or capitalism? A new view of forest fungi
A new study suggests that symbiotic relationships between trees and the mycorrhyzae that grow in their roots may not be as mutually beneficial as previously thought. More
Tying air pollution to climate scenarios
The latest IPCC report relied on four scenarios—the Representative Concentration Pathways or RCPs—to project the range of possible future greenhouse gas emissions. A new study explores how air pollution could develop under the different climate change scenarios. More
Tip Sheet for Journalists: May 2014
IIASA Tip Sheets provide regular updates on new research from the institute. For more information please feel free to contact the researcher directly, or the IIASA Press Office. More
A new tool to measure the speed of aging
A physical test for measuring age shows wide differences between the rates of aging among different population groups, according to new research by IIASA demographers. More
Cropland Capture brings a flood of crowdsourced data
IIASA’s crowdsourcing game Cropland Capture ends its six-month campaign next week. Players have already validated more than 4 million square kilometers of land cover. Researchers are now using the data to build a new and improved map of global cropland. More
Media at EGU: Highlights of new IIASA research
IIASA researchers are presenting new research on deforestation, disaster response and adaptation, land use change, crowdsourcing and games, at the European Geophysical Union meeting in Vienna this week. More
Brazilian agricultural policy could cut global greenhouse gas emissions
Brazil may be able to curb up to 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation by encouraging the intensification of its cattle production, according to a new study from researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and international collaborators. More
Nutrient-rich forests absorb more carbon
The ability of forests to sequester carbon from the atmosphere depends on nutrients available in the forest soils, shows new research from an international team of researchers, including IIASA. More
IPCC report: Mitigating climate change
IIASA researchers are major contributors to the third part of the IPCC’s 5th Assessment Report (AR5), “Mitigation of Climate Change,” released yesterday. More
The tiniest greenhouse gas emitters
Climate feedbacks from decomposition by soil microbes are one of the biggest uncertainties facing climate modelers. A new study from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the University of Vienna shows that these feedbacks may be less dire than previously thought. More
Tip Sheet for Journalists: April 2014
IIASA Tip Sheets provide regular updates on new research from the institute. For more information please feel free to contact the researcher directly, or the IIASA Press Office. More
Impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability to climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released the second part of its 5th Assessment Report (AR5), “Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.” IIASA research provides an important input to the report. More
What will climate policy mean for coal?
Limiting climate change to 2°C means shutting down coal power plants – an unpopular proposition for coal power companies. But a new study shows that delaying climate policies could prove even worse for power plant owners. More
EU could afford to lead international climate action
New research from IIASA and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impacts Research (PIK) shows that early action by the European Union on climate change could reduce future warming by more than 1 degree, even if other countries join later. More
Media Advisory: IIASA experts available for comment on IPCC reports
Nineteen IIASA researchers contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s reports on adaptation and mitigation, which will be released in the coming weeks. More
Education boosts brain function long after school
Education significantly improves mental functioning in seniors even four decades after finishing school, shows a new study published in the journal Demography by researchers at IIASA and the University of Linz. More
To avoid very high pension ages, enable more to work
A new IIASA study shows that in most European countries, if labor force participation rates remain at current levels, by 2050 it would be necessary to raise pension ages above age 68. More
European flood risk could double by 2050
Losses from extreme floods in Europe could more than double by 2050, because of climate change and socioeconomic development. Understanding the risk posed by large-scale floods is of growing importance and will be key for managing climate adaptation. More
Better livestock diets to combat climate change and improve food security
The projected transition of livestock systems from pure grazing diets to diets supplemented by higher quality feeds will cut greenhouse gas emissions from land use change globally by as much as 23% by 2030, while improving food availability and farmers’ income, shows new IIASA research. More
Why do young people fail to thrive?
Around the world, more and more young people are failing to find stable jobs and live independently. A new study from IIASA population researchers explains why. More
Fertilizer nutrient imbalance to limit food production in Africa
A growing imbalance between phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer use in Africa could lead to crop yield reductions of nearly 30% by 2050, according to a new study from researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). More
The upside of migration
To improve migration policies, Europe should consider education levels, argued IIASA’s Wolfgang Lutz at the World Economic Forum in Davos. More
Model comparison improves estimates of future food demand
An unprecedented comparison of agricultural economic models shows that future demand is likely to exceed previous estimates, with the biggest uncertainties coming from future changes in population and consumption. More
ERC funds IIASA crowdsourcing project
The European Research Council has awarded a highly competitive Consolidator Grant to Steffen Fritz, leader and creator of IIASA’s citizen science project, Geo-Wiki. More
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