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Providing insight and guidance to policymakers worldwide through research on universal problems using applied systems analysis for environmental protection and human wellbeing.
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What is IIASA? An introduction to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Global challenges By 2030, the world’s population will have increased by one billion (IIASA) Global temperature change is likely to exceed 1.5°C by the end of the century (IPCC) 2.5 billion people are without access to modern energy (IIASA/GEA) 783 million people have inadequate access to safe freshwater (WHO & UNICEF) 835 million people are still living in extreme poverty (UN SDGs)
Mission To provide insight and guidance to policymakers worldwide by finding solutions to global and universal problems through applied systems analysis in order to improve human and social wellbeing and to protect the environment.
Major research initiatives at the intersection of global issues Large-scale initiatives: The World in 2050 (TWI2050) Integrated Solutions for Water, Energy, and Land (ISWEL) Futures initiatives: Arctic Futures Initiative Eurasian Economic Integration Tropical Futures Initiative Water Futures and Solutions Cross-cutting projects: Equitable governance of common goods Dynamic vegetation models Socioeconomic heterogeneity in model applications Systemic risk and networks dynamics
How IIASA delivers impact Governance Large-scale integrated projects supporting major global transformations Community services Cross-cutting research Science to policy Science diplomacy Core research Capacity development and training Exploratory projects New methodologies in systems approaches Administration, infrastructure, and services
Working at the heart of IPCC reports IIASA has a long history of providing expertise to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports IIASA researchers were integrally involved in the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC IIASA hosts the 1.5 Degree Scenario Explorer used by the Special Report authors to explore the benefits and trade-offs of climate change mitigation options IIASA scientists invited to contribute to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: • Physical Science basis • Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability • Mitigation of climate change IIASA also serves as the repository for two additional IPCC databases
Reducing air pollution worldwide Air pollution is a global problem causing 5.5-7 million premature deaths each year. The IIASA GAINS model provides an independent resource to inform successful and cost-effective policies. The model has global coverage, with regional versions available for South Asia and China. European air pollution has improved substantially since the 1980’s due to effective policies such as the European Clean Air Policy and the EU Climate and Energy Strategy for 2030, which were informed by IIASA research. IIASA researchers are working with the World Bank and policymakers in Beijing and its surroundings (China), Delhi and other areas in India, Hanoi (Vietnam), Johannesburg (South Africa), Cairo (Egypt), and Lagos (Nigeria) to tackle city-level pollution and other specific issues.
Harnessing the power of citizen science IIASA researchers are exploring the potential of citizen science in land cover and land use monitoring. Various initiatives at the institute are reaping the benefits of combining citizen science with more traditional approaches to working with spatial information. The Agrotutor app developed by IIASA and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) provides farmers with tutorials and expert advice to transform agriculture in Mexico. LandSense:A project that connects citizens with satellite imagery to transform environmental decision making. FotoQuest GO: A citizen science campaign aimed at collecting observations of land use and land cover across Europe. CIMMYT IIASA Agrotutor mobile application
Sustainable land use The Global Agro-ecological Zones (GAEZ) analyze the synergies and trade-offs between alternative uses of resources (land, water, technology). GAEZ has been refined over 30 years, and continues to shape land-use policy today. GAEZ findings have contributed reports for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank.
Helping to protect global fish stocks IIASA has been at the forefront of research on how fish populations react to pressures from fishing since the 1990s. Intense fishing can alter fish species’ genetics, possibly putting them at risk of population collapse. IIASA researchers developed a framework for Evolutionary Impact Assessments. This framework is now in widespread use and allows fisheries managers to evaluate the impact of fishing practices on evolution.
Informing migration policies in Europe IIASA research provides a scientific basis to inform evidence-based migration policies that will benefit Europe while ensuring that humanitarian needs are met. Since its establishment in 2016, the IIASA / EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) has produced several insights and new methods to provide a more scientific basis for policymaking. Biannual European and Asian population data sheets produced by IIASA are a valuable resource for policymakers, presenting information about demographic trends, current statistics, and projections.
Strengthening flood resilience IIASA is a founding member of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance,which: Strengthens the resilience of communities against floods Disseminates knowledge and expertise Conducts innovative research More than 110 communities in nine countries have benefited from alliance projects. Extended for another 5 years until 2023, the alliance will generate US$1 billion in additional funding for flood resilience
Helping countries bounce back The IIASA catastrophe simulation model (CATSIM) allows countries to evaluate different policy options for dealing with natural disasters. Madagascar sought IIASA assistance in the wake of cyclone Gafilo, which killed 363 people. This helped develop risk management and technology approaches for the country to reduce future disaster impacts. Two variants of the model are used to understand, and quantify the fiscal consequences of extreme climate events. CATSIM Inter-industry Impact Assessment module was used to assess the impact of flood damage in Cambodia and Laos. CATSIM Stochastic Debt Assessment has been applied to assess flood risk in 28 EU countries. Now applied in Austria to assess flood and drought risk under climate change.
Education not income the best predictor of a long life Research from IIASA and the Vienna University of Economics and Business shows that level of education is a much better predictor of life expectancy than rising income. The work highlights the importance of improving educational attainment for multiple dimensions of development IIASA World Population Program scientists presented the results of the program’s research at global conferences influencing global policy frameworks and shaping national policy priorities.
Buoying up resilience in financial systems IIASA researchers collaborated on the development of a methodology for banks to increase understanding of how climate change and climate action could impact their business, and help them become more transparent. 16 banks from four continents are piloting the methodology. IIASA researchers are looking at systemic risk in financial systems, including: - halving systemic risk in government bond markets by optimizing investment portfolios - identifying that non-financial firms contribute to systemic risk in financial systems in the same way as financial institutions and should therefore be regulated in the same way.
Safeguarding the future of forests IIASA research covering all facets of sustainable forest management has impacted policy across the globe. IIASA researchers led the development of new guidance for EU member states estimating greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests. IIASA research was used in the development of Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which now specifies that deforested areas should be restored and the Forest Code properly enforced. The RESTORE+ project, which is active in Indonesia, Brazil, and the Congo Basin, aims to inform key national and sub-national policies including the countries’ climate resilience strategies, national biodiversity strategies, and action plans.
Integrated solutions for a sustainable future The IIASA Integrated Solutions for Water, Energy, and Land (ISWEL) project is developing sustainable solutions to jointly meet water, energy and land demands globally. • Researchers are also looking at two basins in Africa and India. • Stakeholder engagement and capacity building is an important part of the project. Collaboration between IIASA and the Ukrainian NMO has informed national policy and led to improvements in sustainable management of the food-energy-water-environment nexus.
Climate implications of energy policies The way society uses energy gives rise to major environmental, social, and economic challenges. IIASA research revealed that behavior-influencing policies are critical for the mass market success of low carbon vehicles to reduce transport sector carbon emissions. Another IIASA led study showed that removing fossil fuel subsidies will not reduce CO2 emissions as much as hoped, and highlighted regional differences in effects and the impact of such removals on the poor.
Science to policy Science and policy must work together to achieve a sustainable future for humanity, and providing robust policy advice is a key objective for IIASA. IIASA research in Brazil shows compromise could be established between agriculture and the environment and underpinned Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 IIASA researchers led the development of new guidance for EU member states estimating greenhouse gas emissions and removals from forests for 2021-2030. IIASA research was used in the preparation of two major UN-linked reports – The World in 2050 (TWI2050) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.
The Global Energy Assessment The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) addressed four topics that are key to energy transformation: a review of major energy challenges an assessment of current technologies pathways to solutions policy recommendations and tools The GEA provided the scientific basis for the global initiative Sustainable Energy for All and the basis for the UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 7 on Energy.
IIASA members National Member Organizations (NMOs) represent the scientific community of a country and are often the National Academy or principal research funding agency.
Funding Annual budget in 2018 was €22.7 million, of which 53% was from IIASA National Member Organizations. The institute receives additional funding from contracts, grants, and donations from governments, international organizations, academia, businesses, and individuals. Between 2017 and 2018 this additional funding increased by 25% from €8.4 million to €10.5 million.
International collaborations CD-LINKs: combining climate change mitigation with sustainable development objectives. IIASA is coordinating with a consortium of 18 leading international research organizations. Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land, and Energy Project (FABLE): IIASA is collaborating with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the EAT Foundation to mobilize a global network of research institutions from the major G20 countries and other countries with large land-use and food sectors.
International collaborations The OECD: IIASA and OECD launched a strategic partnership in 2017 which aims to jointly shape policies by applying systems thinking to improve the quality of people’s lives. Ferrero: IIASA has developed an innovative industry-research partnership with the third biggest chocolate and confectionary company in the world - looking into the sustainability of palm oil.
Capacity building The Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) trains the next generation of researchers from around the world. The YSSP celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017 Since 1977, over 1,970 young scientists from 87 countries have benefitted from the YSSP In 2018 there were 52 YSSPers from 27 countries.
Postdoc opportunities IIASA offers a range of postdoctoral opportunities to early career researchers that provide fully funded research positions of up to two years to study topics related to the IIASA research agenda. IIASA postdoc scheme: enables postdoc researchers to work alongside 382 researchers from 48 countries in an interdisciplinary environment with access to a global research network of over 3,500 scholars. Bilateral programs funded by NMOs: IIASA currently has bilateral postdoctoral fellowship programs with Brazil, China, Finland, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Sweden. In 2018, there were a total of 26 postdocs at IIASA.
Nobel Prize winners Professor Tjalling Koopmansand Professor Leonid Kantorovich Nobel Prize in Economics (1975)
Nobel Prize winners Professor Lawrence Klein Nobel Prize in Economics (1980)
Nobel Prize winners Professor Paul Crutzen Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1995)
Nobel Prize winners Professor Thomas C. Schelling Nobel Prize for Economics (2005)
Nobel Prize winners Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Nobel Peace Prize (2007)
Nobel Prize winners Professor William D. Nordhaus Nobel Prize in Economics (2018)
Thank you For further information about IIASA: www.iiasa.ac.ator info@iiasa.ac.at Subscribe to IIASA publications: www.iiasa.ac.at/subscribe