Writing

I am an award-wining writer, covering environment and science for general audiences since 2013. I currently write a regular environment column for the UK newspaper i. I am a contributor to the Independent, the Guardian, and the Ecologist. I have written over 50 sustainability and environmental science articles for The Conversation generating 3.5 million unique views. I have also written for Quartz, World Politics Review, The Globe Post, and other publications with my articles being republished and reported in many countries. The excellent journalism site Muck Rack does a very good job of keeping a record of all this.

My first book Fire Storm and Flood: The violence of climate change was published in 2021 by Bloomsbury imprint Head of Zeus.

In 2020 I was nominated for the Maddox Prize. In 2022 I won a Covering Climate Now journalism award for Best Commentary.

Below are some highlights.

These two articles co-written with Sir Robert Watson (previous chair of IPCC and IPBES) and Wolfgang Knorr (climate scientist) have progressed the arguments that net zero has come to rely on speculative technologies and wishful thinking. The 2021 Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap won Best Commentary category in the 2022 Covering Climate Journalism Awards. Climate activist Greta Thunberg said the article was “one of the most important and informative texts I have ever read on the climate and ecological crises”. Three years later we followed this up with The Overshoot myth: you can’t keep burning fossil fuels and expects scientists of the future to get us back to 1.5°C.

Available in The Guardian here. I wrote this in response to the latest set of temperature records being broken. Part climate science, part frustration around a real sense of urgency. Heatwaves and other climate impacts risk becoming normalised.

Available in The Independent here. This long read explores some of the drivers of our destructive civilisation. It discusses the technosphere concept and in places is quite depressing! However, I do think I offer one route where we may be able to make progress.

Available in Byline Times here. This article took a long time to write. I’m still not happy with it, but the central argument needs to be made. Warming beyond 1.5°C does not mean game over for action on the climate. It does mean more people will suffer and die. We have to deal with that brutal reality and end wishful thinking about technological salvation.

Below is a (near complete) list of work. For original and republished articles, please see my listings on Muckrack is available here.

1. We have officially advised our university to ditch carbon offsets – and focus on cutting emissions, with Peter Cox & Jamie Shuttler, The Conversation, 22^nd November 2024.
2. President Trump 2.0 accelerates US decline, Brave New Europe, 7^th November 2024.
3. The Spanish floods are a warning to the UK: we are not prepared for climate change, The I, 5^th November 2024.
4. If you try to recycle perfectly, you’ll recycle nothing, The i, 15^th October 2024.
5. Climate emergencies threaten our collective security, but governments are flying blind into the storm, The Conversation, 11^th October 2024.
6. Forever chemicals are making British fish less safe to eat, The i, 7^th October 2024.
7. No, the cold summer doesn’t mean climate change has ‘stopped’, The i, 13^th September 2024.
8. The Overshoot myth: you can’t keep burning fossil fuels and expects scientists of the future to get us back to 1.5°C, The Conversation, 20^th August 2024.
9. Bamboo can destroy your home, but it will help us battle climate change, The i, 13^th June 2024.
10. Parasites in our taps are the terrible legacy of water privatisation, The i, 17^th May 2024.
11. April was wet and miserable – but the warmest on record. Here’s why, The i, 8^th May 2024.
12. The damage forever chemicals in our water could be doing to our health. The i, 1^st May 2024.
13. Carbon: the market of fantasy (Carbono: el mercado de la fantasia), Climática, 20^th April 2024.
14. The ECHR ruling that could shame our Government into climate action. The i, 11^th April 2024.
15. FAO Lee Anderson: how electric lawnmowers work. The i, 25^th March 2024.
16. Mass salmon deaths are a warning: no one should be eating this fish. The i, 10^th March 2024.
17. With Armstrong-McKay, D., Climate tipping points are nearer than you think. The Conversation, 6^th December 2023.
18. Why climate deniers are wrong about the snow. The i, 30^th November 2023.
19. Why the planet is nearing its doom. The i, 25^th October 2023.
20. Rishi Sunak’s approval of the Rosebank oil field shows his ideological incompetence on climate change. The i, 27^th September 2023.
21. Charles is supposed to be the climate king – but has achieved little in his first year. The i, 7^th September 2023.
22. Geoengineering Without Decarbonization Won’t Solve the Climate Crisis, World Politics Review, 13^th June 2023.
23. Those angry at Just Stop Oil’s Van Gogh soup stunt have misunderstood the brilliance of the protest, The i, 17^th October 2022.
24. We need to stop pretending we can limit global warming to 1.5°C. Byline Times, 6^th July 2022.
25. Australia’s biggest challenge is now preparing for climate catastrophe, while trying to stop even more warming. The i, 25^th May 2022.
26. With Steinberger, J. Climate breakdown: even if we miss the 1.5°C target we must still fight to prevent every single increment of warming. The Conversation, 11^th May 2022.
27. The most maddening thing about our climate change situation is that we aren’t doomed. The i, 8^th April 2022.
28. The IPPC climate change report shows LED lightbulbs and electric cars are not enough to solve the crisis. The i, 28^th February 2022.
29. Consumers paid for Cameron cutting ‘green crap’ to lower energy bills, yet some Tories haven’t learned. The i, 11^th February 2022.
30. The Antarctic ice is giving way, and so is our last chance to avoid a climate change catastrophe. The i, 15^th December 2021.
31. COP26’s final agreement is a failure and a betrayal of those most vulnerable to climate change. The i, 14^th November 2021.
32. COP26 won’t make the climate changes we need, but ground-up initiatives like the Global Assembly could. The i, 28^th October 2021.
33. The fuel and energy crises have laid bare our dependence on fossil fuels. The i, 1^st October 2021.
34. Extinction Rebellion protesters are motivated by love as well as fear – we could all learn from them. The i, 25^th August 2021.
35. IPCC report: The only way to prevent a climate change disaster is to stop using fossil fuels immediately. The i, 9^th August 2021.
36. Researching billions of years of climate change showed me the severity of our current crisis The i, 5^th August 2021.
37. ‘Moon wobble’ will cause flooding in the 2030s The i, 15^th July 2021.
38. The heat dome proves climate change is not a distant threat The i, 1^st July 2021.
39. If we’re serious about slashing carbon emissions, changing our cars and gas boilers is just the start. The i, 3^rd June 2021.
40. New climate commitments are a smokescreen – governments are still addicted to burning fossil fuels. The i, 30^th April 2021.
41. With Watson, R,. Knorr, W., Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap. The Conversation | Apple News, 22^nd April 2021.
42. The policing bill will criminalise some environmental activists, but they won’t stop us protesting. The i, 5^th April 2021.
43. Mars landing: I am fascinated by space, but there is a bigger mission facing us here on Earth. The i, 24^th February 2021.
44. Joe Biden has shown that we can turn the tide on the climate crisis in 2021 – Boris Johnson, take note. The i, 28^th January 2021.
45. Note to a stranger: To the man who wrote me a letter after I called him an ambulance. The i, 28^th December 2020.
46. A meat-free Christmas can be just as enjoyable as one that is crammed full with turkey. The i, 27^th November 2020.
47. Donald Trump or Joe Biden? What the result of the 2020 US election would mean for the environment. The i, 28^th October 2020.
48. Putting giant blankets on the Alps or firing sulphur skywards are the latest form of climate change denial. The i, 21^st October 2020.
49. There are animals under threat in our gardens– let’s celebrate them as well as exotic creatures. The i, 15^th October 2020.
50. Clean Air Day is crucial because by driving our cars we are slowly poisoning our children. The i, 8^th October 2020.
51. Global energy consumption could be lowered to 1960s levels and provide good living standards. The i, 30^th September 2020.
52. Coronavirus: Donald Trump’s desire to lift social distancing measures shows he values dollars more than people. The i, 25th March 2020.
53. Coronavirus: The lacklustre UK measures are a repeat of our failures on climate change. The i, 18^th March 2020.
54. Budget 2020: From the fuel duty freeze to roads investment, Rishi Sunak prioritised the economy over climate change. The i, 11^th March 2020.
55. A global epidemic is killing millions every year – but it’s not a virus, it’s air pollution. The i, 4^th  March 2020.
56. Putting Mike Pence in charge of the US coronavirus response is some kind of sick joke. Independent, 27^th February 2020.
57. Banning wood stoves might upset many- but our climate and health deserve better. The i, 26^th February 2020.
58. The only way to protect ourselves from storms and flooding is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The i, 21^st February 2020.
59. A professor has said only human extinction will save the planet- but I have hope. The i, 12^th February 2020.
60. The COP26 climate conference could not come at a worse time for the UK, but we can’t afford for it to go wrong. The i, 5^th February 2020.
61. Thanks to pushback in places like York, Brighton and Birmingham, we may have hit ‘peak car’. The i, 29^th January 2020.
62. If regional airports and airlines are struggling, the government should allow them to close. The i, 23^rd January 2020.
63. No wonder David Attenborough is angry. Climate science has been telling us the same story for decades. Independent, 16^th January 2020.
64. I was forced to consider handing myself in as a terrorist sympathiser for working with Extinction Rebellion. The i, 14^th January 2020.
65. Deluded SUV drivers need to take their foot off the gas for the sake of the planet. The i, 9^th January 2020.
66. Australia is being burned alive by the climate crisis – so why is it still promoting fossil fuels? Independent, 9^th January 2020.
67. We’ve left climate action so late, only radical acts will do; my New Year’s resolutions for the planet in 2020. The i, 1^st January 2020.
68. In the wake of heatwaves and bushfires, Australia must let go of its attachment to coal. The i, 26^th December 2019.
69. As we were focused on the election, major climate talks in Madrid collapsed. The i, 18^th December 2019.
70. How we can heal the ocean’s low-oxygen ‘dead zones’. The i, 11^th December 2019.
71. Greta Thunberg could have a far greater impact on climate change than Donald Trump. The i, 4^th December 2019.
72. This general election may be last roll of the dice to avoid climate breakdown. Independent, 28^th November 2019.
73. Brexit has made action on climate change an easier sell for voters. The i, 27^th November 2019.
74. Don’t be fooled by EasyJet’s PR push – offsetting carbon from flights won’t save the planet. The i, 20^th November 2019.
75. The Australian bushfires show politicians must take a firmer stance on climate change. The i, 17^th November 2019.
76. America’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement will undermine the world’s efforts to combat climate change. The i, 10^th November 2019.
77. Story of How Humanity Avoids Climate Breakdown Must Be Told By All of Us. Globe Post, 8^th November 2019.
78. We should be investing in better public transport – it’s more environmentally-friendly than electric cars. The i, 28^th October 2019.
79. Extinction Rebellion’s train protest missed the mark but you can’t justify the violence against them. The i, 17^th October 2019.
80. I will be joining the Extinction Rebellion protests because we need radical change. The i, 11^th October 2019.
81. My catalytic converter was stolen, and it made me think of the ecological cost of owning a car. The i, 1^st October 2019.
82. Carbon removal is as much a solution to climate change as liposuction is a solution to obesity. The i, 26^th September 2019.
83. We can’t wait for those in power to take the lead on climate change. The i, 18^th September 2019.
84. This month millions will strike for climate justice – we will either make history, or through our inaction, end it. The i, 9^th September 2019.
85. Amazon fires need cooperation across political spectrum. Independent, 27^th August 2019.
86. Hiroshima victim’s message of hope aged 12 reminds me of Greta Thunberg’s climate-striking children. The i, 6^th August 2019.
87. The Whaley Bridge dam collapse is terrifying – but it will soon be dwarfed by far greater eco-disasters. Independent, 2^nd August 2019.
88. Europe is burning just as new research offers a chilling truth about the volatility of climate change. Independent, 24^th July 2019.
89. The government’s progress on climate change is so bad it’s almost a waste of time measuring it. Independent, 10^th July 2019.
90. With Alexis-Martin, B Turbull, J., and Malin, S.,Climate crisis: migration cannot be the only option for people living on ‘drowning’ islands. The Conversation, 3^rd July 2019.
91. Europe is cooking in yet another heatwave. Our attempts to outrun climate change are futile. Independent, 27^th June 2019.
92. Theresa May’s climate target is a fantasy while we’re all still praying at the altar of economic growth. Independent, 2^nd June 2019.
93. Climate crisis: migration cannot be the only option for people living on ‘drowning’ islands. The Conversation 3rd July 2019.
94. Here are all the ways in which Philip Hammond was wrong about the cost of fighting climate change. Independent, 9^th June 2019.
95. Climate change: ‘We’ve created a civilisation hell bent on destroying itself – I’m terrified’, writes Earth scientist. The Conversation, 24^th May 2019.
96. Climate change: Why we need a fundamental shift in how we think about this crisis. Independent, 24^th May 2019.
97. They have discovered plastic at the very bottom of the ocean – human destruction will last longer than our species. Independent, 14^th May 2019.
98. We can’t fight the climate emergency when the Tories are ideologically opposed to renewables like solar. Independent, 10^th May 2019.
99. Why my fears about climate change made me cross the line that separates academia from activism. The Conversation, 2^nd May 2019.
100. Scientists finally have an explanation for the ‘Gaia puzzle’. The Conversation, 2^nd July 2018.
101. Inaction on climate change risks leaving future generations $530trillion in debt. The Conversation, 18^th July 2017.
102. What’s really at stake with Trump’s war on science? World Politics Review, 25^th April 2017.
103. Scientists are planning a march on science. Here’s why. The Guardian, 27^th January 2017.
104. Why do humans eat meat? The Question, 23rd January 2017.
105. Five reasons why cutting NASA’s climate research would be a colossal mistake. The Conversation, 24^th November 2016.
106. I told my students to be optimistic about the climate – after Trump, I feel an utter fraud. The Conversation, 15^th November 2016.
107. By failing to rein in climate change, our children’s rights are being disregarded. The Guardian, 4^th October 2016.
108. Western elitism has given rise to a dangerous assumption about developing nations and climate change. Quartz, 23^rd September 2016.
109. Study identifies key species which act as warning signs of ecosystem collapse. The Guardian, 19^th August 2016.
110. ‘Pristine’ landscapes haven’t existed for thousands of years, says new study. The Conversation, 6^th June 2016.
111. Winter may be coming to Westeros, but our next Ice Age is on hold. The Conversation, 4^th May 2016.
112. Why Limits to Growth Forecasts are still relevant today. The Guardian, 19^th April 2016.
113. Can game theory help solve the problem of climate change? The Guardian, 13^th April 2016.
114. Great Barrier Reef disaster is the latest harbinger of mass extinction. The Conversation, 7^th April 2016.
115. Universities’ love affair with fossil fuels must end. The Ecologist, 15^th March 2016.
116. Record global temperatures are shocking — and yet we don’t respond seriously The Guardian, 15^th March 2016.
117. Meltdown Earth, the shocking reality of climate change kicks in – but who is listening? The Conversation, 14^th March 2016.
118. We have 12 months until the next ‘hottest year’ memo – will we be ready? The Conversation, 21^st January 2016.
119. What next after Paris? Time to listen to those most affected from climate change? The Conversation, 18^th December 2015.
120. Don’t wait for global politics – we can fix climate change ourselves. The Conversation, 30^th November 2015.
121. Three trillion trees live on Earth, but there would be twice as many without humans. The Conversation, 2nd September.
122. Can the Earth feed 11 billion people? Four reasons to fear a Malthusian future. The Conversation, 12^th April 2015.
123. Earth’s sixth mass extinction event has begun, new study confirms. The Conversation, 19^th June 2015.
124.  ‘Global Apollo’ program for renewables cannot take off without political power. The Conversation, 3rd June 2015.
125. One in six species faces extinction as a result of climate change. The Conversation, 30^th 2015.
126. We can avoid mass extinction but time is running out. The Conversation, 8^th April 2015.
127. El Nino could mean 2015 is even hotter than last year’s scorcher. The Conversation, 21^st January 2015.
128. Humanity is in the existential danger zone, study confirms. The Conversation, 15^th January 2015.
129. Get into the festive spirit by not eating turkey this Christmas. The Conversation, 18^th December 2014.
130. Beware the zombie hordes of Black Friday. The Conversation, 28^th November 2014.
131. Russel Brand’s political activism is a recipe for environmental disaster. The Conversation, 13^th November 2014.
132. If he were alive today Alfred Nobel would have wanted an environment prize. The Conversation, 7^th October 2014.
133. Not even wrong: why it matters when science is misunderstood. The Conversation, 23^rd September 2014.
134. Sustainable development must be doughnut shaped. The Conversation, 19th September 2014.
135. Understanding transitions may be critical to our survival. The Conversation, 22^nd July 2014.
136. Battle for Hearts and minds on climate change will be fought across generations. The Conversation, 1^st July 2014.
137. The Greenpeace executives commute is a flight of fantasy. The Conversation, 24^th June 2014.
138. The devil is in the detail of efforts to log Tasmania’s forest. The Conversation, 18^th June 2014.
139. When climate change comes, you won’t be able to vote it out. The Conversation, 23^rd May 2014.
140. Peak phosphorus will be a shortage we can’t stomach. The Conversation, 1^st April 2014.
141. Dredging and drilling are both recipes for disaster. The Conversation, 12^th Feburary 2014.
142. Reef madness: the Abbot Point decision makes no sense. The Conversation, 31^st January 2014.
143. For future generations, it’s heads we win, tails they lose. The Conversation, 15^th January 2014. 
144. Death, the universe and everything. The Conversation, 18^th Decebmer 2013.
145. We chose the Earth, not because it is easy, but because it is hard. The Conversation, 27^th November 2013.
146. Wasps deserve to be loved. The Conversation, 26^th September 2013.
147. Even if Earth changes, life will continue with or without us. The Conversation, 17^th June 2013.