UNU-IAS was inaugurated on 1 January 2014. It was formed through the consolidation of two previous UNU institutes: the UNU Institute of Advanced Studies based in Yokohama, and the UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (UNU-ISP) based in Tokyo. UNU-IAS builds on the strong foundations of these two previous institutes, and of more than 45 years of UNU academic activities in Tokyo.
The UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (1996–2013) explored interactions of social and natural systems and identify strategic paths to sustainable development. Its projects focused on biodiversity, sustainable development governance, urban ecosystems, science and technology policy options for developing and least developed countries, and education for sustainable development. It launched a postgraduate degree programme in 2011, the Master of Science in Environmental Governance with Specialization in Biodiversity.
The UNU Institute for Sustainability and Peace (2009–2013) integrated two previous UNU academic programmes based at UNU headquarters in Tokyo: the UNU Environment and Sustainable Development Programme and the UNU Peace and Governance Programme. The activities of UNU-ISP were in three areas— global change, peace and human rights, and development—with a mandate to address the interconnections between pressing global issues in these areas. UNU-ISP introduced UNU’s first postgraduate degree in September 2010, the Master of Science in Sustainability, Development and Peace.