Page - 2 - in options, Volume summer 2020

Q&A — Thomas Schinko FROM THE EDITOR For most of us, 2020 has so far presented a range of unique challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are however grateful that we are able to present our readers with another edition of Options magazine despite these difficult circumstances and we hope that you will enjoy reading this issue. In our cover feature, we take a closer look at the gender dimension of sustainable development, and explore whether a greater focus on women’s empowerment could offer a way forward to ensure that we achieve a more sustainable future for all (pages 12-15). As we are fast approaching the institute’s 50th anniversary, we also focus on a number of selected research highlights achieved through collaborative efforts between IIASA researchers and colleagues from member countries and partner institutions around the globe (18-19). Researchers at IIASA have embraced citizen science and co-design, not only as an integral part of many research projects, but also as a creative input into advisory processes. In one of our features, we explain how system analysts engage in, or even co-design and implement, processes that provide inclusive, effective, and informed policy guidance (pages 10-11). If there are topics that you would like to see covered in coming issues of Options, or you would like to share your thoughts on an article you read in this issue, please feel free to get in touch with us via email. Philippa Baumgartner Communications Manager baumgartner@iiasa.ac.at ABOUT OPTIONS Options magazine features recent IIASA research and activities. Editor: Philippa Baumgartner Writers: Monika Bauer, Michael Fitzpatrick, Bettina Greenwell, Ansa Heyl, Aisling Irwin, Katherine Leitzell, Rachel Potter, Jeremy Summers Expert reviewers: Olha Danylo, Günther Fischer, Steffen Fritz, Franziska Gaupp, Andreas Gros, John Handmer, Lena Höglund-Isaksson, Julian Hunt, Leena Ilmola-Sheppard, Jenan Irshaid, Nadejda Komendantova, Volker Krey, Finn Laurien, Wei Liu, Wolfgang Lutz, Piotr Magnuszewski, Guillaume Marois, Reinhard Mechler, Jan Marco Müller, Asjad Naqvi, Shonali Pachauri, Maximilian Posch, Keywan Riahi, Alena Rybkina, Thomas Schinko, Nikita Strelkovskii, Hugo Valin, Nemi Vora, Yoshihide Wada, Fabian Wagner, Ping Yowargana, Shaohui Zhang Graphic design: Adam Islaam Cover: © Adam Islaam | IIASA This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. For any commercial use please contact: permissions@iiasa.ac.at — ZVR 524808900 John Handmer Alena Rybkina EXPLORING THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE