Latest updates from the Net Zero Lab.
A major new paper in Science examines the role of forests in global climate adaptation.
The Net Zero Lab contributed to a large-scale study published in Science examining how forests support climate adaptation worldwide. The research brings together data from across regions to assess the diverse roles forests play in helping communities and ecosystems adapt to climate change, from moderating local temperatures and managing water cycles to protecting against extreme weather events.
The paper highlights that while forests are widely recognised for their role in climate mitigation through carbon sequestration, their adaptation benefits have received far less attention in policy discussions. The findings underscore the need to integrate forest-based adaptation strategies into national and international climate plans.
View publication →The Net Zero Lab contributes to a major synthesis of new climate science findings.
The annual "10 New Insights in Climate Science" report was released in Global Sustainability, presenting a comprehensive overview of major climate research advances from the past 18 months. Scientists from around the world collaborated to synthesise policy-relevant findings drawn from thousands of climate studies published annually.
The Net Zero Lab contributed to this year's report, focusing on a significant concern: voluntary carbon credit markets face substantial integrity issues. Their contribution builds on a 2024 Nature Communications study and follow-up investigations, emphasising the importance of enhanced oversight and improvements within carbon markets.
View publication →The lab publishes three new papers in Nature, Nature Sustainability, and Nature Communications.
Net Zero Lab published three significant studies across Nature journals examining carbon mechanisms and corporate climate action:
Our team contributes expertise on carbon market integrity to a new international policy report.
Net Zero Lab contributed to the Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6, a newly released framework addressing climate finance mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. The lab warns that without proper safeguards, the system risks creating ineffective credits while global emissions continue rising.
The report outlines three foundational principles:
Net Zero Lab's Ben Probst joined experts at the Waldgipfel 2025 conference.
Ben Probst, Head of Net Zero Lab, participated in Waldgipfel 2025 on July 31 at the Waldakademie in the Eifel region. The conference focused on "Shaping a Livable Future," bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss climate protection, forest health, and sustainability.
Probst contributed to a panel examining "Are Forests Our Compensation Service Providers?", exploring forests' role in climate mitigation strategies and carbon offset programmes. The event was moderated by ARD journalist Eva Schulz.
The lab moves to a new, central location within Munich.
The Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition has moved to a new location in central Munich. Since May 1, 2025, the institute operates from Herzog-Max-Strasse 4, 80333 Munich, at the Karlstor/Stachus intersection.
The new location is more centrally situated, making the institute more accessible for researchers, students, and visitors.
A collaborative conference bringing together researchers from multiple institutions.
Net Zero Lab hosted the Common Ground Conference in early April at Raitenhaslach, a former Cistercian monastery. The event brought together researchers from three organisations: Max Planck Net Zero Lab, Florian Egli's Public Policy for the Green Transition group, and Julian Kölbel's research team.
Research topics presented included:
The updated and translated English version of Ben Probst and Marian Krüger's book is set for release.
Net Zero Lab announced an upcoming English edition of the book by Dr. Benedict Probst, co-authored with Marian Krüger. The publication addresses climate change as both an environmental and business risk, offering business leaders a practical roadmap for complementing conventional mitigation strategies with carbon removal.
The book covers three main areas:
The book became available April 17, 2025, through Campus Press.
View publication →New research examines embodied emissions of chemicals within the CBAM framework.
Researchers from ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen University, and the Net Zero Lab released a preprint examining the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) applied to the chemical industry, covering 4,470 global chemical production facilities.
The current CBAM framework accounts for only 50–60% of actual production emissions for key chemicals like ethylene and polyethylene, primarily due to incomplete tracking of scope 3 emissions. Two recommended policy improvements:
The study notes that established Life Cycle Assessment methodologies aligned with ISO standards offer viable solutions for implementation.
View publication →The team continues to expand with new junior research fellows and research assistants.
The Net Zero Lab has grown to more than 10 researchers, bringing together economists, data scientists, and policy experts. Visit the team page for more information about the team and its members.
A new initiative to support carbon dioxide removal startups in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Net Zero Lab launched the Africa Carbon Removal Accelerator (ACRA), a six-month programme supporting early-stage carbon removal startups in Sub-Saharan Africa. ACRA is a collaboration between sus.lab ETH Zürich, Max Planck Net Zero Lab, Strathmore University, and Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research.
ACRA provides participating startups with three primary benefits:
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss National Science Foundation provide financial support through the SOR4D programme. Learn more at acra-program.com.
Our Nature Communications study on carbon credit quality is recognized as a top research highlight.
The Net Zero Lab received recognition from the Max Planck Society for its comprehensive study on carbon credit quality, designated as a 2024 Research Highlight. The research, published in Nature Communications, examined approximately one billion carbon credits over three years and found that less than 16% of studied credits represented genuine emission reductions.
Performance variations across project types included:
The team developed an interactive platform at carboncredits.fyi to share detailed findings with stakeholders and policymakers.
Listen to our team discuss carbon dioxide removal research and its role in climate strategy.
Dr. Benedict Probst participated in a podcast discussion exploring climate solutions for industrial sectors. The conversation, hosted on the Geladen Podcast with Marian Krüger, addressed whether industries can achieve climate neutrality in the coming years.
Topics covered include carbon capture technologies, reforestation initiatives, and biochar production, all aimed at reducing atmospheric carbon. The full episode is available on the Geladen Podcast (episode 144).
View media →The research group formally launches at the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition.
In May 2024, Benedict Probst was welcomed to the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, where he established an independent Max Planck Research Group. The lab's primary investigator aims to accelerate development of green technologies that can replace fossil fuels in industrial applications, as well as technologies designed to directly remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
The group focuses on examining the entire innovation process, from invention through commercialization to global diffusion, and emphasizes the importance of exchanging ideas with policymakers and companies so that research findings also make their way into society.
The German edition of "Race to Zero" is presented at a launch event in the Bundestag.
The Net Zero Lab announced the official launch of the book Race to Zero at the German Bundestag in Berlin. The event was organized in partnership with the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE) as part of a parliamentary breakfast focused on negative emissions.
The gathering brought together policymakers, corporate leaders, investors, and CDR startups around climate solutions advancement. Ben Probst and Marian Krüger, the book's authors, presented their work and participated in a panel discussion alongside CDR entrepreneurs including Antje Bulmann, Magnus Drewelies, and Fabian Sperling.
View publication →