February 23–26, 2025
From February 23 to 26, 2025, Dai Hancheng, a jointly-appointed faculty member at Peking University’s Institute for Global Health and Development, led a delegation to Milan, Italy, to participate in the kickoff meeting of the Horizon Europe flagship project NEWPATHWAYS, followed by an academic visit to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany. Earlier, Prof. Dai Hancheng from the LEEEP group was nominated by international peers and selected as an Associated Partner of the project, representing China’s academic community. During the visit, Dai engaged with over 100 global scholars on topics such as innovations in integrated assessment model (IAM) methodology, coupling socio-natural systems, and the Planetary Health Axis System (PHAS).
01. Horizon Europe Flagship Project NEWPATHWAYS Kickoff Meeting
The NEWPATHWAYS project, a key initiative under the EU’s 2021–2027 research and innovation funding framework, is led by Dr. Elmar Kriegler, a senior scientist from PIK. It involves 25 leading IAM institutions worldwide, including the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), ETH Zurich, the University of Oxford, and Peking University etc.
The project aims to strengthen the role of research and innovation in policy implementation by developing next-generation pathways for a just climate transition and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key objectives include:
1. Advancing deep decarbonization: Integrating sectoral transitions, equity principles, climate finance, and nature conservation into assessment models to identify windows of opportunity for enhanced climate action.
2. Strengthening policy accountability: Establishing a transparency framework for greenhouse gas reduction commitments to improve the comparability and verifiability of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
3. Enabling global-regional synergies: Building a multi-scale scenario platform to support the UNFCCC’s Global Stocktake process.
At the kickoff meeting, Prof. Dai Hancheng presented the IMED model (Integrated Model of Energy, Environment and Economy for Sustainable Development), developed independently by his team. He outlined recent progress and potential contributions to the NEWPATHWAYS project while emphasizing future collaborations in methodology innovation, joint research, and talent development. LEEEP members also advanced discussions on ScenarioMIP-based national scenario analysis and joint training programs with international peers.
Figure 1: Main session of the NEWPATHWAYS kickoff meeting
Figure 2: LEEEP team presenting IMED research to international scholars
02. Visit to the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
On February 26, the LEEEP team visited PIK in Germany. During the visit, Prof. Dai Hancheng held a working lunch with Prof. Johan Rockström, PIK Director and co-creator of the Planetary Boundaries framework. Their dialogue focused on coupling socio-natural systems, Earth’s biophysical limits, the Planetary Health Axis System, and future collaborative opportunities, laying the groundwork for sustained academic exchange.
Figure 1: Prof. Dai Hancheng with Prof. Johan Rockström at PIK
Prof. Dai later delivered a keynote titled “Integrated Assessment Modeling in China: An Overview” at PIK’s Energy Transition Lab. The presentation highlighted advancements in IAM research by Chinese universities and institutes, Peking University’s achievements in model development and team-building, and the critical role of academia in cultivating next-generation IAM experts. The session sparked lively discussions on model intercomparison, policy support, R&D challenges, and talent strategies.
Figure 2: Prof. Dai Hancheng delivering the keynote address
The team concluded the visit with a closed-door workshop involving PIK’s REMIND modeling group (core developers of the IPCC’s flagship model). Discussions centered on China’s power sector transition, green development pathways, and prospective research directions for LEEEP members at PIK. Both sides identified alignment in research priorities and explored collaborative opportunities in joint projects and talent development.
Figure 3: LEEEP team in closed-door discussions with PIK’s REMIND model group
This visit strengthened Sino-German collaboration in carbon neutrality policy modeling and showcased the transformative potential of IAMs in driving climate and energy transitions. Going forward, the LEEEP group plans to deepen ties with PIK and other global institutions to build a multifaceted platform for international research and talent development.
About PIK
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is a world-leading institution dedicated to interdisciplinary climate science, energy transitions, and sustainable development. Renowned for its cutting-edge research teams and facilities, PIK provides critical scientific support for global climate policy and energy transition strategies.
