Lets kick-start the work of the PANTHEON Advisory Board!

On March 21, 2024, the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Board for the PANTHEON project was successfully organized by the Jagiellonian University team, led by Dr. Tadeusz Rudek and Prof. Aleksandra Wagner. This significant event marked the beginning of a collaborative journey aimed at addressing pathways towards carbon neutrality, with a special focus on climate, environment, health, and socio-economic co-benefits.

The meeting, held online, saw participation from esteemed members across the globe, including regions in the European Union, the United States, South America, and China. This diverse representation underscored the project’s global scope and the importance of international cooperation in tackling climate change.

Prof. Klaus Hubacek, the Principal Investigator of the PANTHEON project, kicked off the meeting with a warm welcome and an introduction to the project’s overarching goals. Following this, Dr. Tadeusz Rudek and Prof. Aleksandra Wagner outlined the role of the Advisory Board, detailing the timetable, aims, and objectives. They also introduced an exciting proposal for a joint paper, emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the project.

Each Work Package (WP) Leader provided a brief introduction, offering insights into their respective areas of focus within the project. This was followed by short introductions from each Advisory Board member, creating a foundation for a productive and engaging discussion.

A key part of the meeting was the moderated discussion titled “Towards the Right Questions,” which aimed to gather valuable input from the Advisory Board members on various critical aspects:

• Objectives: Members shared their impressions and experiences regarding the project’s aims and objectives, discussing their clarity, relevance, and coherence.
• Modeling: The discussion explored the usefulness of modeling in different fields, its limitations, and the potential benefits for the project.
• Cooperation: Given the project’s scale and its EU-Chinese collaboration, the members identified areas that require special attention to ensure effective partnership and progress.
• Stakeholders: Identifying key stakeholders in the decarbonization process was crucial, considering both visible and invisible stakeholders who influence or are affected by the project.
• Reflexivity: The need for reflexivity in the Advisory Board’s work was highlighted, with members providing recommendations on how to maintain a reflective approach throughout the project’s duration.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration. The discussions and insights shared during this first meeting have laid a strong foundation for the PANTHEON project, paving the way for future advancements in the quest for carbon neutrality.

Funded under the Horizon Europe framework and co-funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, the PANTHEON project stands as a testament to the power of international cooperation in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.