A new study suggests that a reversal in global biodiversity trends is feasible through integrated conservation and restoration efforts combined with food system transformations. This requires rapid stepped-up action in two key areas: bold conservation and restoration, and food system transformation.
A new IIASA-led study examines how COVID-19 spreads regionally and between countries, revealing that government measures such as border closures and flight suspensions were crucial in preventing further transmission. The research also shows that international air travel played a significant role in the early stages of the pandemic.
The Community Water Model is a large-scale hydrological and water resources model that simulates global and regional water availability. It considers various sectors' demands and environmental needs, providing insights into the impact of climate change on water supply.
Researchers propose using an equivalency criterion to determine the old age threshold based on a fixed remaining life expectancy, which is consistent with the equivalency criterion. This approach highlights the need to reevaluate traditional measures of aging and provides a more nuanced understanding of population aging.
The report assesses the positive potential benefits of innovation for sustainable development while also highlighting negative impacts and challenges. It outlines strategies to harness innovation for efficiency and sufficiency in providing services to people, with a focus on human wellbeing.
A study found that citizen science has the potential to contribute to all 17 UN SDGs, supporting indicators such as environmental and spatial data. Citizen science initiatives can provide accurate, timely, and comprehensive data to track progress towards the SDGs.
The world's population aged 60 years and older is expected to reach 2 billion by 2050, with significant disparities in health conditions across the globe. The IIASA study reveals constant prevalence rates of severe activity limitations in low- and middle-income countries for the next 30 years.
A new IIASA-led study suggests that matching-commitment agreements can incentivize countries to cooperate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, potentially leading to a more effective international climate agreement. The research results indicate that such an agreement can successfully divert countries from a rational outcome to a new ...
A global pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the interconnected food system, with supply chain disruptions leading to food shortages and price spikes. A systems approach is needed to address the challenges of a globally complex food system, incorporating systemic risk and opportunities into food-related policies.
A new study calls for a radically different approach to addressing deforestation, focusing on understanding how individuals make choices about forests and livelihoods. Researchers propose using specially designed board games to help stakeholders align forces despite differing values and worldviews.
Researchers developed a new approach to predict vegetation dynamics by incorporating principles of evolution, self-organization, and entropy maximization into dynamic vegetation models. This allows for better prediction of complex plant behavior and resulting vegetation responses to environmental conditions.
A new study finds that climate change affects hydropower potential, with a 1.5°C scenario offering greater benefits than a 2°C scenario. Hydropower production will play an increasingly crucial role in the world's energy supply as a renewable and clean energy source.
A recent study by IIASA researchers found that there is an 85% probability of a new recession occurring before 2020, with the likelihood even higher before the Coronavirus crisis. The study developed a diagnostic model to estimate the duration of expansion periods and the onset of the next recession.
Researchers from IIASA and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology used the Human Life Indicator to measure progress in development, finding it easier to calculate and interpret than the Human Development Index. The new approach can provide a clearer idea of regional inequalities, helping policymakers design means to bridge gaps.
A IIASA study reveals sub-Saharan Africa needs to triple its electrification pace to achieve universal access to affordable, reliable energy services by 2030. The region faces a daunting challenge with nearly 570 million people without electricity and limited grid infrastructure in rural areas.
Researchers found that only about half of present cropland would be required to produce major crops with high nutrient inputs, while the other half could be restored to natural habitats. Targeted land sparing in biodiversity hotspots resulted in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration.
Research finds that climate change increases the risk of undernutrition and diarrheal diseases among young children in flood-prone areas of India. Interventions focused on households with pregnant women and infants can help mitigate these risks by improving access to healthcare, safe drinking water, and sanitation facilities.
A new study by an international team of researchers finds that improving educational attainment leads to a large improvement in population's vulnerability to climate change. However, it also tends to increase emissions driving climate change, suggesting a tradeoff between these goals.
A new study found that China's water use has decelerated since the 1980s due to the adoption of efficient irrigation techniques and industrial water recycling technologies. However, uncertainties remain due to land institution transitions, urbanization, and potential increased water use in intensive farming and industrial sectors.
A new IIASA study shows that higher levels of education and increasing workforce participation can offset the economic burden of an aging population in Europe. The 'productivity-weighted labor force dependency ratio' reflects the impact of expanding education and labor market participation, particularly among women and the elderly.
New research by IIASA reveals that tropical forest ecosystems' strength as global carbon sinks depends on multiple interacting factors, including species diversity, soil type, and climate. The study found that abiotic and biotic factors interact to determine the amount of carbon stored by the ecosystem.
A new IIASA study finds that many Europeans, especially women, underestimate their remaining life expectancy, leading to costly decisions. The researchers used SHARE data from 9 European countries to estimate subjective life expectancies from age 60 to 90 for men and women.
A new study published in Energy and Environment found that despite high awareness of climate change, people are hesitant to take action due to differing worldviews. The study identifies four major worldviews influencing opinions on policy interventions and individual responsibility.
Childhood malnutrition in India is concentrated in specific geographic areas, with districts in southern India providing better conditions for growth and improved nutritional status. Lower levels of maternal education and access to mass media are also correlated with childhood malnutrition.
A new study reveals that implementing available technology can significantly reduce methane emissions and mitigate climate change. The study estimates that between 30% and 50% of future global methane emissions can be removed at a cost below 50 €/t CO2eq, but acknowledges the need for regional- and sector-specific approaches to mitigat...
Researchers found that seasonal pumped hydropower storage has considerable potential for highly competitive energy storage costs, with estimated global energy storage potential of 17.3 PWh. The study also addresses environmental concerns related to traditional hydropower plants, suggesting a more sustainable solution for renewable ener...
New IIASA-led research assesses economy-wide effects of sea level rise globally, highlighting significant GDP losses without further mitigation and adaptation. The study shows that projections for 2050 and 2100 reveal drastic changes in G20 countries' relative GDP impacts, with China facing the highest losses.
A new IIASA study examines how collective behavior patterns emerge from personal, social, and environmental factors. The research highlights the importance of infrastructure in shaping sustainable behaviors, such as cycling, and demonstrates that even minor changes can have significant effects on adoption rates.
An ice-free Arctic region could lead to increased global warming, but also offer benefits like reduced shipping distances and heating demands. IIASA researchers propose strategies to increase the North Atlantic current, which could lower ocean temperatures and mitigate climate change.
A study by IIASA researchers found that the risk of simultaneous breadbasket failures due to climatic extremes has increased over time, with potential consequences for food price spikes and famine. The analysis suggests a need for more efficient allocation of resources to contingency plans and strategic crop reserves.
A new study calculates replacement level fertility based on actual rates, revealing countries with fertility levels above 2.1, often due to high mortality and gender inequality. The findings show that many countries have a higher replacement rate than commonly assumed, highlighting the need for policy adjustments.
Diversifying crop production can increase protein by 1-5%, iron supply by 5-49%, climate resilience by 1-13% and reduce GHG emissions by 2-13%. Coarse cereals like millets and sorghum are recommended
The study found that energy needs for providing decent living standards are well below current national and global energy use, especially for basic human needs like health and education. Developing countries face different resource needs to meet the same human development goals, requiring policymakers to invest in public transit, green...
A new study reveals that nitrous oxide emissions have increased significantly over the past two decades, with a faster rate of increase in the last decade. The authors estimate that global N2O emissions have increased by 1.6 TgN y-1 between 2000-2005 and 2010-2015.
Researchers propose MGES technology for long-term energy storage using mountains, filling a gap in the market for smaller locations. Sand or gravel is transported from bottom to top, storing potential energy, which can be reused and generates electricity.
A new study reveals that human impacts have greatly reduced plant-fungus symbioses, which play a key role in sequestering carbon in soils. Restoring these ecosystems could help alleviate anthropogenic soil carbon losses and ameliorate increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases.
A new study finds that increasing solar and wind energy in California can enhance drought resilience and benefit groundwater sustainability. The researchers developed a trade-off frontier framework to quantify the water sustainability value of solar and wind energy.
International researchers from IIASA and Japan propose a more systematic exploration of the carbon budget scenario space to address biases identified in current literature. This new approach aims to hedge against future budget uncertainties and provide consistency between physical climate science and mitigation assessments.
New research quantifies governance pathways at national level, finding it will take around 2050 for global weak governance to improve. The study's results have far-reaching implications for sustainable development and adapting to climate change impacts, particularly in vulnerable countries.
The new integrated modeling framework could help the Indus Basin region address water resource challenges and interconnected sustainable development goals. The framework, developed by IIASA researchers, includes state-of-the-art integrated assessment modeling and participatory approaches to engage stakeholders in decision-making.
A new roadmap outlines critical actions on forests, farming, and food systems to achieve the land sector's 50% emissions reduction by 2050. The study suggests reducing deforestation, peatland drainage, and burning by 70%, restoring forests and coastal mangroves, and shifting one in five people to primarily plant-based diets.
A new IIASA study found that childhood socioeconomic conditions play a significant role in determining health satisfaction in adults. The study's results indicate that policies to mitigate early disadvantages are crucial for improving health outcomes.
Researchers evaluated six options, including afforestation, wetland restoration, and soil carbon sequestration, finding they contribute positively to ecosystem services and SDGs. However, some options require risk management to avoid negative impacts on food production and clean water.
A new study reveals that rural areas in the US are aging faster than cities, leading to greater climate change vulnerability. The research projects a divide in population age structure across the country, with thinly-populated counties in the Midwest and Rocky Mountains facing the most drastic aging.
A new global database, Forest Observation System (FOS), has been established to share on-site forest aboveground biomass data. This initiative aims to link ecological and remote sensing communities and overcome existing data sharing barriers, providing critical input for climate change mitigation policies.
A new study published in Nature Sustainability highlights the potential of citizen science to contribute to SDG monitoring. Citizen science projects can help close data gaps, particularly for indicators with no standard international data source. This could lead to increased involvement in sustainable development and implementation.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that self-reported health data can be highly biased depending on the country or age group. Researchers compared self-reported measures with tested equivalents and found significant differences in reporting behavior between countries and age groups. This highlights the importance of treating self-repo...
A new study explores how climate change impacts coal-fired power plants' water constraints, threatening regional electricity generation plans. The research highlights three possible strategies to mitigate water limitations, including reducing existing/planned power plants, integrating electricity markets, and adopting dry cooling in no...
A new study proposes a novel scenario framework for climate policy, focusing on capping global warming at a maximum level with either temperature stabilization or reversal. This approach addresses the limitations of current scenarios, which prioritize reaching specific climate goals in 2100 over long-term negative effects.
Researchers propose targeted government support and food programs to address nutrition gaps, reducing environmental impacts compared to increased agricultural production. Eradicating hunger by 2030 requires only a marginal increase in overall agricultural production, with potential benefits for environmental sustainability.