A new global dataset provides a comprehensive picture of immigration composition, shedding light on who is moving across borders and how it reshapes populations. The dataset reveals an increase in higher education immigrants and differences in age and education between male and female migrants, with implications for population projecti...
A new study links severe water scarcity in wheat-growing regions to global wheat prices, finding that 3°C of warming could triple average wheat prices. The study used climate observations, crop geography, and global commodity prices to explore this connection.
The EU battery regulations have the potential to improve global sustainability governance by establishing standardized data and calculation methods for environmental performance. This could lead to more comparable and transparent data across the market, but also raises challenges around representativeness and rigor.
The climate impact taxonomy provides a shared framework linking measurable climate changes with risks and adaptation options, helping policymakers and practitioners make informed decisions. The taxonomy identifies key patterns, including regional scales and the need for both mitigation and adaptation.
Researchers developed an open-source tool RIME-X to generate regional climate and impact projections while capturing uncertainties. The new method combines simple climate models with regional information from multi-model climate and impact model ensembles, producing scenario- and time-dependent probability distributions.
A new Perspective in Nature Sustainability proposes industry-specific net-zero blueprints to ensure corporate climate action is grounded in science. The plan aims to provide a common scientific foundation for companies to set targets and track progress, reducing the reliance on carbon credit markets and planetary limits.
A new study suggests that future mobility infrastructure can be designed to minimize resource use and carbon emissions. By combining high-resolution global infrastructure mapping with integrated assessment frameworks, researchers found that optimizing infrastructure and production technologies can cut embodied emissions by up to 63%. T...
Researchers traced fire origins using network analysis of satellite observations, finding large fires often started from multiple locations. The study highlights the role of environmental conditions in determining where fires originate, which may challenge previous understanding of tropical forests' resilience.
A new framework developed by IIASA researchers helps identify where conservation can prevent biodiversity loss and where restoration efforts are likely to have the greatest impact. The framework integrates ecological thresholds with protected area coverage to assess how upstream pressures affect downstream fish communities.
A new study assesses six climate mitigation strategies in buildings, transport, and industry, finding that demand-side options scored higher across a wider set of dimensions. Improvements in building efficiency emerged as the most robust performer, benefiting both higher- and lower-income countries.
Researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis have built a dataset of global migration flows from 1990 to 2023, revealing a true per-capita increase in human mobility. The dataset shows that migration has become more common overall since 2000, with dips only during the financial crisis and Covid-19 pandemic.
A new study found that social connections can help compensate for the loss of mentally stimulating interactions linked to work, with different types of relationships benefiting women and men. The researchers used data from 27 European countries and found that strong social networks appear to buffer the cognitive disadvantage of not wor...
A new study suggests that temporary carbon storage can play a significant role in climate mitigation, particularly in sectors with persistent methane emissions. The researchers found that neutralizing the climate impact of 1 kilogram of methane requires removing roughly 498 kilograms of CO₂ stored for 20 years.
A full fossil fuel phase-out by mid-century relies on rapid direct electrification alongside large-scale deployment of hydrogen-based energy carriers. This would require an 80% increase in electricity generation compared to conventional 1.5°C pathways.
A new study calls for tripling energy efficiency, electrification and action against extreme energy consumption by 2035. This would accelerate the spread of efficient technologies and generate revenue to expand energy access and support low-carbon investment.
A new IIASA-led study offers a practical approach to evaluate the distributional implications of climate action, enabling policymakers to assess justice impacts of emissions pathways. The study found that many existing mitigation scenarios are consistent with justice principles, while few explore limits on energy or meat consumption.
A new study reveals that street greenery can reduce heat stress in cities, but its benefits depend on local conditions. The cooling effect is stronger in tropical and continental climates, but weaker in dry and temperate climates.
A new study by IIASA researchers reveals that China's economic growth is being driven by the skills of its workforce, not just its large working-age population. Improvements in skill composition have become a key driver of economic expansion, and a more favorable age structure enhances economic returns to workforce skills.
To halt sea-level rise and cumulative CO2 releases, global emissions would need to become net-negative and remain so for centuries. This conclusion is based on studies assessing the impact of delayed climate changes, which require long-term carbon removal commitments.
Researchers argue that low fertility is not an economic threat but rather a reality that can lead to stronger human capital and innovation. Governments should adapt social security systems and invest in education and productivity to ensure prosperity.
A new IIASA-led study examines critiques of global climate mitigation scenarios' equity and justice, proposing practical ways to advance fairness in climate pathways. The research synthesizes growing evidence that current scenarios fall short, identifying a roadmap for integrating fairness into future climate futures.
A new study highlights the importance of farmer-led collaboration in addressing biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. Farmer clusters, groups of farmers working together to support biodiversity-sensitive farming, show varying levels of maturity and collaboration, influenced by factors such as leadership quality and institutiona...
A new study by IIASA researchers found that education has a stronger association with lower premature mortality than income or household wealth in India. Adults with higher levels of education are less likely to die prematurely, regardless of their economic status.
Researchers urge policymakers to re-evaluate accountability in climate policy as the world inches closer to exceeding the 1.5°C target, emphasizing the need for integrated remedies and quantifying equity under overshoot scenarios.
The study maps where and how millions of animals may be affected by heat stress in Europe. Regional differences were found, with southern European countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, and Romania likely to face significant impacts.
A new study by IIASA and UN-Habitat finds that citizen science can strengthen urban sustainability monitoring, particularly for issues like air quality and community wellbeing. The analysis reveals that many indicators remain incomplete and are reported mainly at national level.
A new study shows that China can significantly limit its cooling-related climate impacts by transitioning to cleaner refrigerants and adopting high-efficiency cooling technologies. This integrated approach could phase down cumulative HFC consumption by 12.6 Gt CO2e from 2022 to 2060, avoiding up to 0.015°C of global warming.
A new study by IIASA researchers offers a pioneering way to understand how climate change affects people's lives over the long term. Using the Years of Good Life metric, the research shows that today's emissions shape future wellbeing, especially for younger generations.
The EU-funded Trees4Adapt project aims to strengthen Europe's adaptation and resilience to climate change through tree-based solutions. By combining cutting-edge research with practical applications, the project will help policymakers make informed choices and inform EU policies.
The study reveals that diabetes poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems and economies worldwide. The economic impact of diabetes is substantial, with an estimated global cost of up to $152 trillion, equivalent to 1.7% of GDP, when informal care is factored in.
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis argues that citizen science should be integrated into national and global statistical systems to address growing data gaps. This approach has the potential to support 60% of SDG indicators dependent on household survey data, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
A new study reveals that reducing mortality through large-scale investment in public health is a more effective and ethically sound strategy than encouraging people to have more children. By focusing on lowering mortality rates, countries can slow population decline and maximize the return on investment in their existing population.
A new study maps three decades of income inequality data globally, revealing worsening trends for half the world's population but 'bright spots' in regions with effective policies. Regional efforts such as investments in public health and education in India and cash transfer programs in Brazil show promise in reducing inequality.
The statement provides guidance as countries debate closing ambition gap at COP30 and small island states call for honoring 1.5°C goal. Research shows that limiting overshoot and returning below 1.5°C is still possible with quick emissions fall and clean-energy deployment acceleration.
The global construction sector's carbon footprint is projected to double by 2050, driven by cement, steel, and brick emissions. A material revolution is needed to reduce reliance on these materials and explore low-carbon alternatives.
New research shows that near-term mitigation could spare future generations around 0.6 meters of sea-level rise caused by emissions between 2020 and 2090 following current policies. The study provides a direct link between today's policy choices and sea levels hundreds of years from now.
A new international study proposes a transparent and inclusive research platform to generate and compare Integrated Assessment Model scenarios. This approach would allow researchers from across the world to participate, contributing their expertise to shape the future of climate policy.
A new study estimates that safe underground carbon storage can reduce warming by 0.7°C, significantly lower than previous estimates of 6°C. The study highlights the need for responsible management of this limited resource to achieve long-term climate goals.
A new study highlights an opportunity for China to take the lead in fluorocarbon lifecycle management, which could prevent up to 8 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions by 2060. By implementing strategies like recovery, recycling, and reclamation, China can reduce more than half of residual refrigerant emissions.
A new IIASA study highlights the critical role of socioeconomic conditions in shaping wildfire economic losses. By adopting sustainable development pathways, countries can reduce wildfire-related damages by up to 2% of GDP in low-income nations.
A new study by researchers from IIASA found that Brazil's mining industry does not deliver sustained economic benefits and instead contributes to deforestation, particularly in the Amazon. Informal mining is a major driver of forest loss, while industrial mining has no strong connection to forest damage.
A new study suggests that EU agricultural policy can reduce carbon emissions by nearly a third and improve biodiversity recovery through strategic de-intensification. This approach involves adopting more sustainable farming practices, such as organic fertilizers, biological pest control, and low-input systems.
New research highlights that warming peatlands releases substantial methane, offsetting their carbon storage capacity and increasing the global temperature overshoot challenge. This means policymakers may need to remove more carbon from the atmosphere to return to safer climate levels.
A new IIASA-led study finds that Earth's carbon-climate system may be more fragile than thought, with quantified 'stress power' reaching between 12.8 and 15.5 pascals per year. The researchers also identified a turning point in the planet's response to stress around 1925-1945.
A recent study by IIASA researchers explores the socio-economic potential of India and China, focusing on human capital and labor force quality. The findings suggest that China will maintain an economic lead for most of the next half-century due to its more educated and higher-participating labor force.
A new study reveals a link between the weakening Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and increased rainfall in the Southern Amazon rainforest. The AMOC's decline may buffer dry season rainfall loss, but also underscores the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent broader climate risks.
A new IIASA-led study uses satellite imagery and machine learning to monitor street-level greenery in cities worldwide. The results show a global decline of 0.3-0.5% per year, with sharper declines in Asia and Oceania. Uneven distribution raises concerns about fairness and access to green space.
The study examines energy scenarios that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, finding that sustainable development scenarios significantly reduce extreme poverty. Under these scenarios, the number of people without enough energy to meet basic household needs is projected to decrease by over 90%.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that the world's wealthiest 10% are responsible for two thirds of observed global warming since 1990. The top 1% of the wealthiest individuals globally contributed 26 times the global average to increases in monthly 1-in-100-year heat extremes globally.
A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution shows that integrating nature restoration with land management strategies can ensure long-term sustainability. Strategic restoration efforts can yield significant biodiversity and climate benefits while ensuring continued food and timber production across Europe.