Summer School 2025
23rd SWISS CLIMATE SUMMER SCHOOL
SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS TO NET ZERO
24 - 29 August 2025
Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland
Swiss Climate Research
The network of leading Swiss institutions in climate research and education invites early stage scientists to join high-profile climate researchers in Southern Switzerland for keynote lectures, workshops, poster sessions, and personal interactions on the occasion of the on the occasion of the 23rd Swiss Climate Summer School 2025.
Scope of the Summer School
The 23rd Swiss Climate Summer School focuses on the theme "Sustainable pathways to net zero". Pathways to decarbonisation have trade-offs with energy security, land use, food production, biodiversity, and need to consider equity and social acceptance. The main questions to be addressed during the summer school 2025 are:
- What are the status and key drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss?
- What are sustainable pathways to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions on a global and domestic level in different political contexts?
- What strategies and solutions exist for climate mitigation, energy transition and biodiversity conservation globally and in different countries?
- What is the role of science in socio-political transformation processes?
This summer school addresses early stage researchers from climate and earth system sciences to biodiversity, energy, social, political, and economic sciences. The one-week summer school is organised akin to a conference and is structured around keynote lectures by internationally renowned experts with ample time for discussions, poster sessions, workshops, and concluding fireside chats that involve lecturers and participants. All summer school participants are expected to present a poster of their research to discuss their own research.
The summer school is organised back-to-back with the Energy Summer School “Navigating the Energy Transition in an Insecure World” by the Energy Science Center of ETH Zürich from 31 August – 5 September 2025 to allow interested early stage researchers to attend both schools and expand their knowledge on different aspects on the path towards a net zero society.
Application Summer School 2025
The summer school is open to early stage researchers (PhD students and postgraduate students) worldwide. For your application, you will need to submit your CV, an abstract of your current work and a list of your most relevant publications (3 max), and a short motivation letter.
Participation is highly competitive and will be limited to a maximum of 70. The registration fee (1350 CHF) includes full board accommodation, excursion, and teaching material. Application period is from 1 November 2024 to 14 February 2025. Successful applicants will be notified in March 2025.
» Apply here until 14 February 2025
Lecturers for Keynotes and Workshops (confirmed)
Prof. Reto Knutti (ETH Zurich, CH)
Dr. Cyril Brunner (ETH Zurich, CH)
Prof. Piers Forster (external page University of Leeds and external page CCC, UK)
Prof. Katja Frieler (external page PIK, DE)
Prof. Gabriela Hug (ETH Zurich, CH)
Prof. Karin Ingold (external page University of Bern / external page Eawag, CH)
Dr. Georgios Mavromatidis (external page Empa, CH)
Prof. Joeri Rogelj (external page Imperial College, UK)
Prof. Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen (external page University of Bern, CH)
Prof. Maren Urner (external page FH Münster, DE)
Prof. Ralph Winkler (external page University of Bern, CH)
Prof. Niklaus Zimmermann (external page WSL, CH)
Organisation and Sponsoring
Programme Committee:
Prof. Reto Knutti, C2SM, ETH Zurich
Dr. Cyril Brunner, C2SM, ETH Zurich
Prof. Karin Ingold, OCCR, University of Bern / Eawag
Dr. Christina Schnadt Poberaj, C2SM, ETH Zurich
Prof. Ralph Winkler, OCCR, University of Bern
