Christoph Bertram

Christoph Bertram is an Associate Research Professor at the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS), University of Maryland School of Public Policy. His research focuses on climate change mitigation strategies, energy policies, and the interplay between mid-term climate actions and long-term goals. He holds a PhD in Economics from Technische Universität Berlin and master's degrees in Physics and Political Science from Universität Tübingen.

Key areas of expertise include carbon lock-in analysis, nationally determined contributions (NDCs), net-zero targets, and the application of integrated assessment models. Bertram has contributed to major international projects such as the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) scenarios and IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

His recent work evaluates high-ambition decarbonization pathways for countries like South Korea and Indonesia, emphasizing policy design, institutional constraints, and transition risks. He co-authored analyses on methane emissions, land-sector climate strategies, and the impacts of U.S. legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act.

Bertram remains affiliated with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) as a guest researcher, where he previously led the International Climate Policy team. His research consistently bridges technical modeling with policy-relevant insights, addressing both global and national climate challenges.