News for journalists 2016

News archive 2016. View recent press releases

19 December 2016
How fair are countries’ climate pledges?

Benchmarks to guide countries in ratcheting up their ambition to limit climate change to well-below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C in an equitable manner are critical, but not yet determined in the context of the Paris Agreement.  More

12 December 2016
Integrated approach vital for fisheries management

A comprehensive perspective on evolutionary and ecological processes is needed in order to understand and manage fisheries in a sustainable way.  More

29 November 2016
Study maps the climate impact of agriculture

A new study provides the first global assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from croplands, showing the relative impact of different crops and management practices on climate change.  More

29 November 2016
Sustainable Development Goals lead to lower population growth

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would significantly slow population growth, according to a new study.  More

24 November 2016
Game theory provides new insight on spreading environmentally conscious behavior

The simple act of exchanging information can influence people to change their actions to protect the environment, according to a new study that links game theory with psychological science.  More

10 November 2016
Climate, human influence conspired in Lake Urmia’s decline

A combination of climate change and water usage are responsible for the staggering drying of Lake Urmia, what was once the second largest salt lake in the world.  More

04 November 2016
Informing action on a historic climate agreement

The Paris Agreement on climate change goes into effect today, but while the agreement set ambitious targets for tackling climate change, scientists say there is a long way to go to achieve it. Research suggests pathways to get the world on track.  More

03 November 2016
Biodiversity needs citizen scientists

Could birdwatching or monitoring tree blossoms in your community make a difference in global environmental research? A new study says yes: citizen scientists have a vital role to play.  More

21 October 2016
Risk analysis for common ground on climate loss and damage

The Paris Agreement included groundbreaking text on the need for a mechanism to help identify risks beyond adaptation and support the victims of climate-related loss and damage—but how exactly it will work remains unclear. New IIASA research lends insight to policymakers on how to move forward.  More

19 October 2016
Reducing ammonia pollution from cattle

Agriculture is responsible for 90% of all ammonia pollution in Europe, a considerable part of which comes from cattle manure management: a new study shows what steps to take to reduce this pollution.  More

05 October 2016
Improving air quality in Delhi

Tackling air pollution in Delhi requires a smart mix of measures not only within the city, but also in the surrounding states.  More

04 October 2016
Handgrip strength provides a new window to health

A simple test of grip strength could provide a quick and inexpensive screening tool for health practitioners, according to a new study from IIASA population researchers.  More

29 September 2016
Global temperature rise could hit 2°C threshold by 2050

Without additional action and advanced technologies, global emissions are expected to be 33% above the 2°C pathway in 2030, according to a new report from a group of leading international scientists including IIASA Deputy Director General Nebojsa Nakicenovic.  More

26 September 2016
IIASA launches citizen science observatory

European citizens will soon be able to directly contribute to the analysis of land use change in Europe and beyond. A new observatory established by IIASA and funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program will combine satellite images with data collected by citizen scientists around Europe.  More

23 September 2016
New study assesses human capital of asylum seekers

Who are the refugees who fled to Austria in the fall of 2015? In a new study, researchers have assessed the skills, attitudes, and values of asylum seekers and refugees who arrived in Austria last summer and fall.  More

21 September 2016
Modeling study sheds light on disease eradication

Diseases evolve in response to treatment, frustrating efforts to eradicate them. A new study shows how evolution, population dynamics, and economic factors interact, providing new insight that could help inform efforts to control diseases like malaria.  More

16 September 2016
Wicked trade-offs between environmental SDGs and food security

A new analysis examines the interconnections between the Sustainable Development Goals, identifying policy pathways that lead to trade-offs, and others that could bring benefits on multiple fronts.  More

31 August 2016
New population data provide insight on aging, migration

A new data set provides a comprehensive look at population dynamics in Europe, including the influence of migration on population growth and the effect of population aging.  More

30 August 2016
Making sustainability pay

The private sector has a major role to play in achieving the sustainable development goals, argue experts from the Alpbach Laxenburg Group.  More

21 July 2016
Can palm oil be sustainable?

A new study shows to where and to what extent palm oil plantations could be expanded, while avoiding further deforestation in pristine and carbon-rich tropical forests.  More

18 July 2016
Managing an endangered river across the US-Mexico border

A new IIASA study shows how improving communication and involvement could bring consensus solutions for the embattled Rio Grande/Bravo, which is shared between the USA and Mexico.  More

29 June 2016
Country pledges overshoot Paris temperature limit

Individual country pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would need to be strengthened in order to limit future climate change to well below the 2°C limit included in the Paris climate agreement, according to a new assessment.  More

28 June 2016
To reduce deaths from air pollution, boost energy investment

Energy is the main contributor to air pollution that kills millions each year, but a 7% increase in energy investment could cut the death toll by as much as half by 2040, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), to which IIASA researchers contributed significantly.  More

21 June 2016
Better soil data key for future food security

Future food security depends on a variety of factors – but better soil data could substantially help improve projections of future crop yields, a new study shows.  More

20 June 2016
A new partnership for migration research

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) have launched a new research partnership to provide science-based knowledge on migration and demography to support EU policy.  More

13 June 2016
Climate consequences of oil price uncertainty could be significant

Oil prices can have a major impact on the types and quantities of energy sources used—and thus on greenhouse gas emissions. A new study from researchers at IIASA and the World Bank is the first to quantify the energy and emissions impacts of future fuel prices and the various unknowns these impacts depend on.  More

09 June 2016
Increased bioenergy demand to put pressure on forests

A new study shows that increased demand for biomass for energy in Europe, through intensified use of existing forests, could lead to loss of biodiversity and high competition for wood between sectors, and proposes policies to help preserve biodiversity while also limiting greenhouse gas emissions.  More

06 June 2016
Focus on energy independence will not save the climate

Reducing energy imports and mitigating climate change are often portrayed as complementary. However, new research shows that while ambitious climate policies would lower energy imports, energy independence would not bring significant climate benefits.  More

02 June 2016
European identity continues to grow

Despite the recent crises in the EU, citizens increasingly identify themselves as European compared to recent decades. This is according to a new study by IIASA researchers which confirms forecasts they made in a 2006 study and brings further insight to the demography of European identity.  More

01 June 2016
A record-breaking year for renewable energy

Renewables are now firmly established as competitive, mainstream sources of energy in many countries around the world, according to a new report from an international consortium focused on energy policy.  More

17 May 2016
New study sets climate target for agriculture

In order to meet the goals set by the Paris climate agreement, agriculture will need to reduce emissions substantially. In a new study researchers propose a target for greenhouse gas emissions from farming that could meet those goals.  More

04 May 2016
The transformative power of cities

A new report from the German Advisory Council on Global Change examines the trend of urbanization and its implications for sustainability.  More

02 May 2016
How much does groundwater contribute to sea level rise?

Land water, including groundwater extraction, contributes far less to sea level rise than previously thought, according to a new study.  More

27 April 2016
Protecting fisheries from evolutionary change

Evolutionary changes could lead to reduced fishery yields. A new IIASA study shows how alternative management practices could mitigate the problem in a key North Sea fishery.  More

26 April 2016
Could off-grid electricity systems accelerate energy access?

Small off-grid electricity systems are growing rapidly in South Asia. A new study provides the first assessment of how these systems are impacting communities in the region.  More

21 April 2016
1.5°C vs 2°C: Why half a degree matters

An average global temperature rise of 1.5°C or 2°C over the coming century would have substantially different impacts on the planet, according to a new study.  More

20 April 2016
Climate change threatens already volatile Lake Urmia

Climate change is likely to worsen the situation of the drought-stricken hypersaline Lake Urmia in Iran, even in the most optimistic climate change scenario and without any further human impact.  More

18 April 2016
Multiple perspectives for better risk management

A study of landslide risk in Italy engaged citizens and experts in new ways, to generate solutions that everyone can stand behind.  More

15 April 2016
Drinking water: Carbon pricing revenues could close infrastructure gaps

More than 700 million people have no running water. A study released today shows that a carbon tax could help remedy this situation while contributing considerably to climate protection.  More

15 April 2016
For the media: New IIASA research at EGU

IIASA researchers are presenting new research on deforestation, water resources, climate change impacts, crowdsourcing, and more at the European Geophysical Union meeting in Vienna.  More

11 April 2016
Intelligent transaction tax could help reduce systemic risk in financial networks

A new IIASA study proposes a solution for mitigating the increasingly risky nature of financial markets, based on an analysis of systemic risk in financial networks.  More

11 April 2016
Kerosene subsidies slow transition to clean energy

Reducing reliance on kerosene lighting would provide benefits but proves a stickier problem than previously thought, according to a new analysis focused on India.  More

24 March 2016
Insurance for an uncertain climate

The application of insurance as a mechanism to help vulnerable people adapt to the impacts of climate change is gaining international support. Experts support the idea but warn of potential problems.  More

22 March 2016
Livestock holds major potential for mitigating climate change

Livestock production offers a significant opportunity to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining the economic and social benefits of the sector, according to a new study from IIASA and partners.  More

16 March 2016
Short-sighted climate policy jeopardizes other UN sustainable development goals

A new study finds that climate policies that fail to take into account interlinkages and trade-offs could hamper progress on other sustainable development goals. However, energy efficiency improvements can reap synergies between the goals.  More

16 March 2016
IIASA study assesses land-use impacts of EU biofuel policy

The indirect impacts of biofuel production on land-use change and greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union vary widely depending on the type of biofuel, according to a new study.  More

04 March 2016
Clean energy could stress global water resources

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector could lead to greater pressure on water resources, increasing water use and thermal water pollution. Dedicated adaptation measures will be needed in order to avoid potential trade-offs between the water and climate change impacts of the energy system.  More

24 February 2016
A lower limit for future climate emissions

A new study finds that the world can emit even less greenhouse gases than previously estimated in order to limit climate change to less than 2°C.  More

12 February 2016
IIASA research supports clean energy center for Indonesia

IIASA researchers have contributed specially tailored analysis tools to the new Indonesian Center of Excellence for Clean Energy, launched today at the Bali Clean Energy Forum.  More

25 January 2016
Pressure building on global water supply

A new study projects that global demand for water could more than double by 2050, increasing pressure on already scarce water resources. Water efficiency and water saving measures could stabilize demand.  More

14 January 2016
How will climate policy affect energy access goals?

Without new subsidies and policies to support increased energy access, new climate policies could push access to modern energy out of reach for millions in Asia.  More

04 January 2016
Worldwide electricity production vulnerable to climate and water resource change

Climate change impacts on rivers and streams may substantially reduce electricity production capacity around the world. A new study calls for a greater focus on adaptation efforts in order to maintain future energy security.  More



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Last edited: 23 January 2019

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