Research achievements

Leadership in systems analysis

Building a sustainable future

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Science into policy

Regional highlights

Contagious hope

A decade of systems science

Annual Report 2020

The IIASA Annual Report presents research achievements and institutional developments in 2020.

IIASA in numbers

researchers from 52 countries

member countries

research partners in member countries

peer-reviewed articles published in 2020

early-career researchers mentored

Highlights

Integrated action needed to curb biodiversity loss

Plant and animal species across the world are steadily disappearing due to human activity. A breakthrough IIASA-led study emphasizes that without ambitious, integrated action, turning the tide of biodiversity loss will not be possible by 2050.

Innovations for sustainability in a post-pandemic future

COVID-19 has undeniably brought about unprecedented global change, but according to the latest report of The World in 2050 (TWI2050) initiative, the crisis could be an opportunity to create sustainable societies with higher levels of wellbeing for all.

Modeling water to quench the future’s thirst

IIASA researchers have developed a new largescale, open source hydrological and water resources model to support and enable investigations by different stakeholder groups and scientific communities.

Clean air for all is an attainable goal

Air pollution has serious health impacts and is considered the number one environmental risk factor for human health globally. According to IIASA research, achieving clean air is an attainable goal that would prevent millions of premature deaths every year.

Making climate scenarios more accessible

Science-based information is critical for sound decision-making. IIASA researchers are helping to make climate scenarios more user-friendly to enable all kinds of decision makers to effectively incorporate the valuable information such scenarios provide into their decision-making processes.

Incentivizing cooperation on climate action

Many countries are failing to comply with the non-binding commitments of the Paris Agreement. An IIASA-led study offers clues on how to design an international climate agreement that could incentivize countries to cooperate.

Climate change as a driver of migration

Environmental hazards affect populations worldwide and can drive migration under specific conditions, especially in middle-income and agriculture-dependent countries. Changes in temperature levels, increased rainfall variability, and rapid-onset disasters such as tropical storms play an important role in this regard.

Toward just and inclusive energy transitions

Transitioning to sustainable energy systems is challenging due to the many different views, perceptions, and interests involved with regard to the process itself, and in terms of attitudes towards various energy generation technologies. IIASA researchers developed recommendations that consider the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in the governance of such transitions in three countries.

Institutional developments

Our people

Network and collaborators

Governance

Policies and processes

Publications and outreach

Financials

Regional highlights

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