RIFS collaborates with a range of stakeholders to address sustainability challenges including researchers, governmental bodies, the private sector, and civil society.

Its research covers areas such as climate change mitigation, sustainable governance, and cultural transformations in the Anthropocene.

Additionally, RIFS promotes knowledge exchange through its Fellow Program, strengthening its sustainability initiatives.

[4] In January 2023, the IASS merged with the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization, and was renamed the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) while being incorporated to German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), while retaining its scientific independence.

[citation needed] The RIFS uses a number of publications formats to disseminate its findings and policy recommendations.