Do Trees Save Lives Under Climate Change?
Limits of Current Attribution Models

Narrative Overview
Do trees save lives under climate change?
Why attribution is hard—and why it matters

15-minute framing presentation outlining:
• The central research question
• The core attribution chain and where it breaks down
• Explicit goals and non-goals of the paper
• Goals of the day

By Nils Hohmuth, Collegium Helveticum, and Nora Fahrenbach, ETH Zurich

Framing Discussion
Open questions?

Structured 15-minute discussion focused on:
• Synthesis of current limitations of current modeling chain (ESM and health attribution)
• Whole-group alignment to agree on a shared vocabulary of limitation categories

Moderated by Nils Hohmuth, Collegium Helveticum, and Nora Fahrenbach, ETH Zurich

Workshop Format & Writing Workflow
How we work today

10-minute briefing covering:
• Forming of writing groups, one per section with one designated section lead each
• Support roles
• Integration of remote participants
• Pre-defined manuscript structure in Google Docs
• Citation workflow (Zotero preferred, comments acceptable)
• Miro board for critical questions and cross-section tensions
• Definition of “good enough” output by noon

Led by Nils Hohmuth, Collegium Helveticum

Mini-break

Including moving to separate group rooms (1 room per writing group).

Plenary Check-In & Alignment
What emerged? What are tasks for the afternoon?

Short reports from each section lead (5 min per section + discussion):
• Core argument and limitation
• Vision for the section
• Unresolved tension or dependency that they aim to resolve in the afternoon

Collective discussion to align before the writing sessions after lunch

Lunch break

At Dozentenfoyer, ETH Zurich

Informal cross-section exchange encouraged, especially between interdependent sections.

Writing Session II
Refinement & tension resolution

Writing groups refine sections with focus on:
• Clear drafts for each section
• Resolving identified tensions
• Aligning terminology and assumptions

Full-Document Read-Through
Consistency and coherence check

Joint read-through of the full draft.
Participants take assigned listening roles:
• Logical consistency
• Terminology drift
• Narrative flow and missing transitions

Short coffee break

Writing Session III
Polishing & consolidation: from draft to coherent manuscript

Focused editing to:
• Address read-through annotations
• Flag contradictions or dependencies with other sections and ideally strengthen transitions between sections
• Strengthening transitions between sections
• Emphasize key messages and limitations
• Ensure a coherent narrative arc across sections
• Collect open to-dos for next day and follow up

Explicit acknowledgement of what will remain for post-workshop work.

Closing Remarks & Next Steps

Summary of achievements, authorship expectations, and clear post-workshop timeline.

Followed by a small reception.