Addressing uncertainty in water management
Reliable access to clean water is a key aspect addressed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A general decision-making framework developed at IIASA to support policy decisions on water resources management, for the first time explicitly takes into account the associated uncertainties.
Supporting sustainable agricultural strategies
Land is an essential element of agriculture, food production, and many other human activities. Tools developed by IIASA and its partners support policymakers in the development of national, regional, and global strategies for food production that ensures the long-term sustainability of land and water resources.
Understanding virtual water trade
It seems like an intuitive solution for water-scarce regions to alleviate water stress by simply importing products that require a lot of water to manufacture. IIASA researchers investigated why real trade patterns do not always support this theory.
Encouraging science-based policymaking in East Africa
A key goal of integrated water resources management is to balance supply and demand for all water users across different economic sectors while safeguarding the environment. IIASA research supports the incorporation of water science into policy, planning, and applied management issues.
Contributing to science based climate targets
IIASA researchers contributed significantly to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR1.5). Researchers from the institute also developed a new scenario explorer on behalf of the IPCC Working Group III and the scientific community.
The finance risks and opportunities of decarbonization
If financial markets become more long-term oriented, they could potentially become a catalyst for action on sustainability. In 2018, IIASA scientists collaborated with international banks and researchers from other institutions to assess the financial implications of deep decarbonization strategies.
Translating energy and climate research into policy
Part of the IIASA mission is to provide scientific guidance to policymakers. In 2018, IIASA scientists continued to engage in international and national policy processes by translating cutting-edge science into policy relevant insights for energy and climate policymakers and negotiators.
National energy modeling and capacity development
In 2018, IIASA researchers organized several capacity development activities. These comprised workshops on best practices in energy and integrated assessment modeling as well as hosting researchers from IIASA member countries to jointly develop and apply methods to address energy-related challenges.
Engaging with science and policy communities
The Transitions to New Technologies (TNT) Program’s strategy for engagement with the IIASA science and policy communities include a focus on high-level international science and policy initiatives and the dissemination of results from its research through dedicated open source web-based platforms.
Pushing frontiers in science: Rethinking demand
Under the 2018 thematic focus of Consumption and Production, IIASA partnered with the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) to organize an international, interdisciplinary workshop aiming to push the frontiers of science on the conceptualization, interdisciplinary integration, and modeling of demand.