Dr. Maximilian Witting

Further Information

Research

My interdisciplinary research focuses on carbon dioxide removal (CDR), climate change adaptation and social-ecological systems. I recently finished the STEPSEC research project, which investigated the potential of land-based CDR measures under socio-ecological constraints in Germany.

My research centers on the development of socioeconomic scenarios and the feasibility and desirability of future CDR. In particular, I seek to better understand current and future barriers to the implementation of CDR, as well as potential pathways for overcoming them. This requires a comprehensive understanding of the diverse roles and responsibilities, capacities, interests, and knowledge basis of relevant actors.

Methodologically, I draw on a range of mixed empirical research methods, including scenario development, surveys, expert interviews, and stakeholder workshops. Through this work, I aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the societal conditions under which CDR can be implemented in a legitimate, effective, and sustainable manner.

Selected publications

For a complete list of publications see Google Scholar

Winkler, K., Witting, M., Gulde, F., Garschagen, M., Pongratz, J. & M. Rounsevell (2026). Spatiotemporal scenarios of socioeconomic futures in Germany. Frontiers in Climate, 7:1715424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2025.1715424

El Zohbi, J., Haas, T., Hoppe, I., Matzner, N., Montero de Oliveira, F. E. & M. Witting (2025). CDRterra Policy Brief: Erfolgsentscheidend – Eine gesellschaftliche Debatte über das Ob und Wie einer CO₂-Entnahme im großen Maßstab. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15124588

Gulde, F., Witting, M., Neuber, F., Baatz, C. & M. Garschagen (2025). Frameworks to assess climate change responses – a systematic analysis to enhance frameworks for carbon dioxide removal. Environmental Research Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/adcad3

Witting, M. & J. Schmude (2024). Climate change and winter (sports) tourism. In: F. Kock, A. Lindgren, S. Markovic (Hrsg.), Research Handbook on Tourism, Complexity and Uncertainty (S.161-173). Cheltenham.

Witting, M., Bischof, M. & J. Schmude (2021). Behavioural change or ‘business as usual’? Characteris­ing the reaction behaviour of winter (sport) tourists to climate change in two German destinations. International Journal of Tourism Research, 23(1), 110–122. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2399

Witting, M., Filimon, S. & S. Kevork (2021). Carry along or not? Decision-making on carrying standard avalanche safety gear among ski tourers in a German touring region. Safety Science, 143(11), 105406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105406

Witting, M. & J. Schmude (2019). Impacts of climate and demographic change on future skier demand and its economic consequences – Evidence from a ski resort in the German Alps. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 26, 50–60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2019.03.002

Welle, T., Birkmann, J., Rhyner, J., Witting, M. & J. Wolfertz (2013). World Risk Index 2013. In: BEH – Bündnis Entwicklung Hiflt (Hrsg.), WeltRiskoBericht 2013, (S. 45–56). Bonn.

Witting, M., Birkmann, J. & K.-O. Zentel (2012). Detecting Disaster Root Causes – A Framework and an Analytic Tool for Practitioners. (=DKKV – Deutsches Komitee Katastrophenvorsorge, Publication Series 48). Bonn.

Teaching

I am involved in a wide range of teaching activities in Human Geography at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (B.Sc. and M.Sc.). I teach lectures and exercises that provide a general introduction to human geography as well as courses on research methods. In addition, I teach classes and project-based seminars on climate change adaptation, land use and land-use conflicts, sustainable resource management, and trend and scenario analysis.

My field excursions focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as sustainable urban development. In addition, I regularly act as a second examiner at Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis defenses, and, in collaboration with Munich University of Applied Sciences, co-lead an interdisciplinary seminar that focusses on international climate policy.

Biography

Before joining LMU Munich in 2017, I worked as a research associate at the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn (2010–2013), where I focused on climate change adaptation, vulnerability assessment, and disaster risk management. I subsequently gained practical experience as a project manager at the German Alpine Club (2014–2017), where I was responsible for implementing climate change mitigation measures and coordinating awareness-raising activities across the nationwide organization.

Since 2017, I worked at two different chairs within the Department of Geography at LMU Munich. In this role, I taught and examined a wide range of seminars, lectures and courses and acquired extensive experience in academic self-governance, serving as a representative of academic mid-level staff, Moodle coordinator, member of the examination board, and member of appointment committees. During this period, I also served as a Chapter Scientist for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), supporting the preparation and writing of the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Cycle. Within the recently finished BMBF-funded research project STEPSEC, I was responsible for developing an assessment framework for land-based CDR, developing land-use extended SSP scenarios, and coordinating the project's science-policy communication activities (e.g. organizing webinars, drafting policy briefs, developing and creating content for a project website).

I hold a PhD in Geography from LMU Munich (2021) and completed my Diploma in Geography at the University of Bonn (2011), including an Erasmus exchange at the University of Bologna (2007–2008) and a DAAD-funded research scholarship at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (March–July 2010).