Research Themes

Amidst the current climate crisis, we are also facing an ongoing and intensifying ecological crisis. Work to improve the resilience of people and ecosystems to climate and other risks has never been more important.

Many sustainability challenges and trade-offs exist with regard to resource use and waste generation – who reaps the benefits and who carries the burden? How can we manage our resources more sustainably? How can we ensure access for future generations to an environment that is able to provide healthy food and water?

Core notions of nature and human-nature relations can be used to design behavioural interventions, shape policy, transform societal norms and values, and better manage land, water, air, ecosystems and technologies.

We address the multi-faceted imperative to accelerate the transition to clean energy in order to protect human and planetary health while not overlooking the adverse impacts caused by renewables and how the risks and benefits of clean energy sources are distributed.

IRES researchers explore how technology and innovation can be used to improve or exacerbate environmental and social stressors, while also conducting research that supports policy, planning, and decision-making about infrastructure and development.

We are actively identifying laws, policies, decision making practices, and institutions that either inhibit, facilitate, or accelerate progress towards a more equitable and sustainable future.