Jan Sandstad Næss is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Department of Architecture and Technology. His research advances climate change mitigation strategies through land-energy-water nexus studies, focusing on sustainable bioenergy systems, zero-emission neighborhoods, and circular economy applications. He leads projects assessing the potential of abandoned cropland for carbon dioxide removal via afforestation and BECCS, employing interdisciplinary methods that integrate quantitative modeling with qualitative social science. Recent publications analyze renewable energy deployment, urban material flows, and life-cycle emissions in built environments. Dr. Næss contributes to national guidelines on GHG accounting and develops dynamic models for decarbonizing building stocks. His work informs sustainable resource management policies across Nordic and European contexts.
Giuseppina Siciliano is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Development at SOAS University of London, within the Department of Development Studies. Her work focuses on sustainability transitions, environmental justice, and the socio-environmental impacts of infrastructure projects such as hydropower dams. She has conducted research in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, examining topics like land use changes, low-carbon development, and climate change. Her research has been supported by grants from ESRC, DEFRA, and the Wellcome Trust. Notably, she co-edited the book Chinese Hydropower Development in Africa and Asia (Routledge, 2017), analyzing the sustainability of Chinese-backed dam projects. At SOAS, she teaches courses on environment and development, water management, and energy transitions. She advises PhD students on themes like hydropower impacts and land-water-energy nexus issues. Her research interests include political ecology, just energy transitions, and the interplay between climate policy and socio-economic equity. She has collaborated with international institutions like the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Centre (SESYNC) on projects such as the socio-environmental impacts of hydropower dams. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address global development challenges. Giuseppina holds a BA in Environmental Economics from the University of Siena, an MSc in Ecological Economics from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and a PhD in Sustainable Development from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. She actively contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed articles and policy-relevant publications, focusing on equitable and sustainable pathways for development in the Global South.
Iva Ridjan Skov is an Associate Professor in Energy Planning and Renewable Energy Systems at Aalborg University, Denmark. She leads research on Power-to-X (PtX) pathways for liquid/gaseous fuels, energy system analysis, and sustainable aviation fuels. Her work addresses technical, socio-economic, and policy aspects of renewable energy transitions. Education : PhD in electrofuels and renewable energy systems. Research Interests : Electrofuels (PtX), hydrogen economy, energy system integration, waste heat utilization, and cross-sectoral decarbonization strategies. Current projects include Nordic hydrogen hubs, methanol-to-jet fuel development, and safety/ethical assessments of PtX in ports. Publications : Focuses on energy system modeling, lifecycle assessment of PtX, and renewable energy policy. Recent work includes analyses of hydrogen demand potentials and district heating integration with excess heat. Awards : EliteForsk travel grant (2014), Best Research Project Award (2016). Grants : Active in NordicH2ubs, Methanol-to-jet, and INNO-CCUS projects funded by Danish and European institutions. Labs/Teams : Member of the Sustainable Energy Planning Research Group and the PlanEnergi Board. Coordinates the Master's Program in Sustainable Cities.
Fredrik Dahl Nielsen is a Research Fellow at Aalborg University’s Department of Sustainability and Planning within The Technical Faculty of IT and Design. His research focuses on sustainable energy systems, with emphasis on energy systems modeling, Power-to-X technologies, district heating integration, and hydrogen energy systems. He is affiliated with the Sustainable Energy Planning Research Group and contributes to projects such as NordicH2ubs (2023–2026) and MARCO POLO-DK (2022–2023), exploring hydrogen hubs, methanol production, and energy policy frameworks. Projects: Nordic Hydrogen Hubs Roadmaps, Methanol Logistics Optimization, Offshore Energy Hub Modeling Key Research: Excess heat utilization in district heating, e-methanol production potential, offshore wind-hydrogen integration. His work spans peer-reviewed journals and collaborative reports, addressing technical, economic, and policy dimensions of energy transition. Notable collaborations include the Faroe Islands energy system analysis and European heating roadmaps.
Steffen Nielsen is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University's Department of Sustainability and Planning, affiliated with The Technical Faculty of IT and Design and the Sustainable Energy Planning Research Group. His research focuses on strategic heating planning, leveraging GIS for mapping energy demands and renewable resources. He specializes in integrating spatial analyses with energy system models to transition towards 100% renewable energy systems, particularly in the heating sector. Nielsen emphasizes energy efficiency in buildings, advocating for innovative design and insulation to reduce carbon emissions. He collaborates extensively with European research projects, industry stakeholders, and governments to advance sustainable energy transitions. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, including affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). Notable projects include the CARMA-Green Fuels initiative for carbon management and the IEA DHC Annex TS7 on district heating systems. His research outputs span over 90 publications, with recent work on district heating in clean energy systems and nuclear power's role in carbon-neutral systems. He actively participates in conferences, media debates, and PhD examinations, promoting evidence-based energy policy.
assozi. Prof. Dr. Robert Steiger is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public Finance, University of Innsbruck. His research focuses on climate change impacts on tourism, particularly winter tourism and ski industries, with emphasis on adaptation strategies, policy frameworks, and regional sustainability. He investigates economic and environmental challenges in mountain regions, including snow reliability, resource management, and stakeholder dynamics. His work spans global case studies from the Austrian Alps to North America and Asia. Key research areas include climate risk assessment for tourism sectors, resilience modeling, and sustainable development policies. He has contributed to interdisciplinary studies on Olympic Winter Games viability, loss and damage funding mechanisms, and behavioral nudges for energy conservation in hospitality sectors. His publications often combine empirical analysis with agent-based modeling to explore complex socio-environmental interactions.
Professor Dr. Phoebe Koundouri is a globally recognized economist and sustainability scientist, currently serving as Professor of Economic Theory and Policy at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Visiting Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge , and Senior Research Fellow at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge . She is also a Research Professor (part-time) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) . She holds an MPhil and PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge , where she was awarded the Peterhouse Scholarship of Excellence and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship . Her academic journey includes positions at University College London , London School of Economics , and University of Reading . Her research spans environmental economics , sustainability science , climate change adaptation and mitigation , blue economy , systems innovation , and behavioral economics . She is the founder and director of the Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aeiphoria (AE4RIA) , which unites over 200 researchers and 100 interdisciplinary projects across 120 countries. She has published over 650 scientific papers and 19 books , with work appearing in Nature , The Lancet , and leading economics journals. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Environmental Economics , Co-Editor of Environmental and Resource Economics , and Associate Editor of Nature: Climate Action . Among her many honors are the Academy of Athens Excellence in Science Award 2023 , the European Research Council (ERC) Synergy Grant , and election as a Fellow of Academia Europaea , World Academy of Art and Science , and European Academy of Sciences and Arts . She is also a member of the Nominating Committee for the Nobel Prize in Economics . She advises the United Nations , G20 , World Bank , European Commission , EIB , OECD , and WHO , and chairs the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub and the World Council of Environmental and Natural Resource Economists Associations (WCEREA) .
Avit Kumar Bhowmik is an Assistant Professor at Karlstad University's Department of Risk and Environmental Studies Research, specializing in climate solutions and sustainability transformation. He holds a Ph.D. in Spatial Environmental Health from the University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany, and has conducted interdisciplinary research spanning Environmental Health, Planning, and Geoinformatics. His work focuses on rapid climate action, positive social tipping points, and integrating science into policy frameworks for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He has contributed to high-impact reports for global climate summits like COP and the UN High-Level Political Forums. Current projects include the Alliance of Regional Innovation Ecosystems (ARIES4) funded by the European Commission and a MIRAI 2.0 project on marketing technology for reducing food waste. Dr. Bhowmik advises municipalities, industries, and NGOs on climate strategies, serving as Co-founder/Director of The Long Game initiative with UNFCCC partners. He also chairs the Scientific Steering Committee of the Analysis, Integration, and Modeling of the Earth System (AIMES) and advises the African Circular Business Alliance. His research emphasizes multi-scale climate action frameworks and has been published in leading journals like Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Environmental Research Letters . Key collaborations include work with the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Project Drawdown, and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative. His educational background includes a B.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, an M.Sc. in Geospatial Technology via an Erasmus Mundus program, and postdoctoral roles with the Earth League and Future Earth networks. He actively bridges academic research with actionable policy through innovative frameworks like the 'Powers of 10' approach.
Ramiz Qussous is a Researcher and doctoral candidate at the Chair for Control and Information Technology (CIG) within the Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (INATECH) at the University of Freiburg. His work focuses on modeling and simulation of energy systems and electricity markets, with expertise in renewable energy integration, grid flexibility, and market dynamics. He holds a Master of Science in Energy Conversion and Management from the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg and a Bachelor of Science in Energy Engineering from the German Jordanian University. His research interests include agent-based modeling, reinforcement learning applications in energy systems, and the analysis of electricity market mechanisms. Notable contributions include the development of the ASSUME framework for simulating market dynamics and studies on the German steel industry's demand-side flexibility and battery storage potential. He has also explored policy impacts such as coal phase-outs and the integration of renewable energy constraints into modeling tools. Qussous has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 2019, spanning journals like Energy and AI , Applied Energy , and Energy Informatics . His work frequently addresses interdisciplinary challenges at the intersection of energy systems, economics, and policy. He received the DAAD Prize for academic excellence during his studies in Germany. Professional experience includes roles as a research associate at INATECH since 2017, with prior industry experience in photovoltaic system design and energy planning. His current projects involve optimizing energy system scenarios, analyzing flexibility provision costs, and advancing agent-based simulation techniques for realistic market modeling.
Anand Patwardhan is a Professor at the School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, College Park, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Sustainability. He previously held a professorship at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. His expertise spans climate change mitigation/adaptation, clean technology policy, and science-innovation systems. Education: BTech (Electrical Engineering) from IIT Bombay; MS (Civil Engineering) and PhD (Engineering & Public Policy) from Carnegie Mellon University. Research focuses on climate vulnerability assessment, adaptation strategies, and the integration of climate science into policy. He has served as Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC, and currently chairs the Science Committee of the World Adaptation Science Program (WASP) and co-leads the Race to Resilience initiative. His work emphasizes equitable climate solutions and the role of innovation in sustainable development. Key contributions include analyzing adaptation co-benefits in carbon markets, evaluating heat pump impacts on energy equity, and studying tropical cyclone vulnerability in coastal communities. Awards include inclusion in the 2024 Top 100 Sustainability Researchers list. Teaching includes leading the Policy Engagement Project (PLCY690/790), where students tackle real-world policy challenges for external clients. His research has been published widely in climate science and policy journals, with a focus on actionable insights for policymakers.
Prof. JL Moraga Gonzalez is a Full Professor in the School of Business and Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He holds a position as an Economics Research Fellow at Tinbergen Institute. His research focuses on industrial organization, consumer behavior, energy economics, and competition policy. He has been actively involved in academic activities, including keynote lectures and editorial work, particularly in areas such as consumer search models, R&D strategies, and energy market regulation. His work bridges economic theory with practical applications in markets for differentiated products, renewable energy systems, and merger analysis. Key research themes include the impact of consumer search behavior on market outcomes, strategic interactions between firms and entrants, and regulatory frameworks for emerging energy technologies. He has contributed to understanding innovation dynamics in mergers and acquisitions, particularly how startups and incumbents navigate technological pathways. His recent projects address hydrogen market potential, renewable gas economics, and the electrification of transportation and heating systems in the Netherlands. Prof. Moraga Gonzalez has supervised four PhD theses, focusing on topics such as search costs, platform intermediation, and energy policy. His research frequently employs empirical and theoretical methods to analyze market structures, strategic pricing, and policy implications for sustainability and competition.
Susanne Becken holds multiple prestigious academic and advisory roles. She is a Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University, Australia, and a Vice Chancellor Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, UK, within the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences and the Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management department. She also serves as a Principal Science Investment Advisor for tourism in the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. Her work bridges research, policy, and sustainability practice across the Asia-Pacific region. Her research focuses on sustainable tourism, climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental policy, and systems thinking. She investigates carbon emissions in tourism, public engagement in conservation, and the use of digital tools such as social media analytics and AI for environmental monitoring. She has led projects on climate adaptation in Vanuatu, blockchain for carbon markets, and assessing aesthetic values of the Great Barrier Reef using eye-tracking and AI. Her recent publications (2020–2024) demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research using innovative data sources. Themes include decarbonizing tourism, public sentiment on climate and flying, and the integration of citizen science with professional monitoring. She frequently employs social media data, systems modeling, and behavioral analysis to understand tourism’s environmental footprint and transformation pathways. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Fellow of the International Academy of the Study of Tourism Advisory and Governance Roles: Susanne advises on sustainability through her membership in the Air New Zealand Sustainability Advisory Panel, the NOW Transforming Travel Advisory Board, and the Whitsunday Climate Change Innovation Hub. She has contributed to tourism policy integration assessments across 61 countries and advocates for regenerative tourism paradigms, particularly in government contexts such as New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. Labs and Research Teams: She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across Griffith University, University of Surrey, and international institutions. Her work integrates computer science (Bela Stantic), ecology (Rod Connolly), and social science (Johanna Loehr, Jinyan Chen), forming a robust network for hybrid environmental monitoring and policy analysis.
Isabel Haase is a Doctoral Student and Junior Research Fellow at the Net Zero Lab within the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, starting in January 2025. Her research focuses on carbon markets, emission trading systems, and policy evaluation, with particular expertise in carbon removal technologies and corporate social responsibility. Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in Sustainability Economics and Management from Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (2017-2020) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Management from the University of Konstanz (2013-2017). She completed an exchange semester at the University of São Paulo in Brazil during her master's studies. Haase's research interests center on the intersection of climate policy and economic mechanisms, with specialized focus on carbon market integrity, climate finance, and the socio-economic impacts of energy transitions. Her work examines how policy design affects carbon credit quality, the permanence of land-based carbon removal, and the allocation of revenues from emissions trading systems. She investigates both national and international climate governance frameworks, with particular attention to G20 contexts and multilateral cooperation mechanisms. Her publication record reveals a strong focus on carbon market mechanisms, with significant contributions to understanding carbon credit quality, non-permanence risks in land-based mitigation, and the integration of climate finance with development assistance. Her research spans multiple disciplines including environmental economics, climate policy, and international relations, with particular emphasis on practical implementation challenges and policy evaluation. Haase has presented her findings at notable forums including the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative and OroVerde roundtables, focusing on forest projects in voluntary carbon markets and solutions to permanence problems. Her work demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical policy applications in climate mitigation. Her professional experience includes research positions at the Oeko-Institut and Ecologic Institute in Berlin, as well as internships with GIZ, NewClimate Institute, Germanwatch, and the German Embassy in Santo Domingo. She has also served as a research assistant at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, gaining practical research experience in ecological economics.
Reza Mirmiran is a Senior Lecturer at the Warsash Maritime School, part of Solent University. His research focuses on maritime economics and decarbonization strategies within the shipping industry. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications analyzing the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable maritime operations. Academic Position: Senior Lecturer Affiliation: Warsash Maritime School, Solent University Key research interests include maritime decarbonization pathways, environmental policy implementation, and sustainable logistics management. His 2023 article in the Journal of Maritime Research explores obstacles and developments in reducing carbon emissions in maritime transport. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Prof. Thomas Hamacher is a Full Professor of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Engineering and Design. He leads the Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering (MEP) and previously served as Director of the Munich School of Engineering (MSE). His research focuses on urban energy systems, renewable energy integration, nuclear fusion, and energy modeling methodologies. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Hamburg and has extensive experience at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. Education: Studied Physics at Universities of Bonn, Aachen, and Columbia University (NY). Doctorate from University of Hamburg (1990s). Career highlights include leadership roles in energy research groups and academic administration. Research interests include fusion energy applications, decarbonization strategies, and systemic energy transitions. He is a member of the Environmental Science Center (WZU) at Augsburg University. Key research themes emphasize multi-sector energy systems, grid stability with renewables, and global energy policy. His work bridges technical innovation with socio-technical system analysis to address climate goals. Recent publications focus on digital twin applications, battery storage optimization, and hydrogen economy potentials. Active in international energy modeling collaborations like ETSAP TCP.
