Dr Steve Westlake
Lecturer at the University of Bath researching the effects of leading by example with low-carbon behaviour. Particular interest in politicians, celebrities & CEOs.
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeThe optimist vs pessimist divide in #climate debates isn’t usually about the data. It’s about how the same graphs are read, what people emphasise, what they discount, and how they interpret pace and stakes. Here’s what I mean 🧵👇
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- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeGlobally, no single day in 2025 was cooler than its 1991-2020 average. climate.copernicus.eu/global-clima...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate ⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content ⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps ⬆️ Second warmest troposphere ⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs ⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeThis thread responds to Prof. Christian Dunn’s Telegraph piece on #climate communication. I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
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- A canny political and media strategy from @zackpolanski.bsky.social. Immediately he defuses climate delayers’ favourite cynical attack lines, and avoids headlines like “Polanski says you should never go on holiday, drive a car, or eat meat”. But, crucially, he's leading by example... 1/🧵
- His actions speak louder than words: “Polanski… is vegan and does not fly or drive. ‘I have the privilege and the time to be able to make those choices,’ he told The Times. ‘Someone can be an environmentalist and still not be able to make those choices’”. This is clever messaging because... 2/
- His behaviour signals what he thinks is appropriate personal action in a climate emergency, while acknowledging others' circumstances, and not directly telling anyone what to do (which few of us enjoy). But leading by example on climate is crucial and powerful... 3/
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View full threadAnd if you're really keen, here's a PhD on low-carbon leading by example... 😅 "The power of leading by example with high-impact low-carbon behaviour: emulation, trust, credibility, justice" orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/15...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeSomething we all knew intuitively: Leading by example, or walking the walk. We need to elect more principled representatives folks!
- Research has found that people really want consistency between words and actions on climate change. Leaders who make low-carbon choices are more credible, liked, and trusted. The opposite is true too... 4/ theconversation.com/how-world-le...
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- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake1/ Yes the globally wealthy have outsized emissions, and yes that’s a massive problem But it’s actually only a small part of their devastating influence on the conditions that support life 🧵
- This is scary. "Three of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred since 2020, leaving some farmers asking whether the growing impacts of the climate crisis are making it too financially risky to sow their crops." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Hard hitting words from Chris Packham to politicians and leaders at the National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature: "You MUST listen to the science. We didn't just elect you. We've given you our trust. You are about to hear from leading scientists. I beseach you to hear their truth"
- Professor Nathalie Seddon lays out the economic and moral case for protecting nature. "We must treat nature as critical infrastructure, and treat it as kin. We must stop funding harm. We must cultivate a culture of care. The majority of the public strongly supports nature protection."
- Professor Kevin Anderson delivers some granite hard truths @kevinclimate.bsky.social "We need profound shifts in our social norms. It is too late for non-radical solutions. The UK is emitting far more than its fair share of greenhouse gases. We need deep cuts in energy use."
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- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeHuge news from the UK today: after UN climate talks in which there was a massive fight over language on fossil fuels, the UK government today announced that it will in fact be keeping many millions of barrels of oil & gas in the ground. Deeds rather than just words for a change! 🧵
- 🚨Looking forward to the National Emergency Briefing on the climate and nature crisis tomorrow🚨 👀Will be fascinating to see which political leaders attend to hear expertise from @kevinclimate.bsky.social @profpaulbehrens.bsky.social @angelaisfranc.bsky.social @mikebernerslee.bsky.social and more
- With more amazing speakers announced, make sure your MP is coming along to the National Emergency Briefing on 27th November. Link below. www.nebriefing.org #climatecrisis #netzero #NEB2025 #cop30
- Please attend this crucial briefing @annamcmorrin.bsky.social We are in a climate and nature crisis and need our leaders to step up.
- #COP30 has failed to deliver. Over 1,000 scientists now urge all MPs to attend the UK National Emergency Briefing on the #climate & #nature crisis. "Without much more urgent and decisive action, we risk seeing these impacts overwhelm our capacity to respond." www.nebriefing.org/open-letter
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- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀! Want to join @chrisgpackham.bsky.social in supporting the National Emergency Briefing on Climate & Nature? 🖋️ 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 urging MPs to attend: lnkd.in/ecGDM3Ry
- We're delighted that tireless advocate for the natural world, @chrisgpackham.bsky.social CBE, will be opening the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster Central Hall on 27th November. Chris speaking with @bbclaurak.bsky.social earlier👇 Please make sure your MP is attending: nebriefing.org #NEB
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- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeI've finally got around to curating a selection of films about the #climate crisis 🎥 There's lot of mediocre climate films out there, but for me these stand out head & shoulders above the rest 🎞️ They make excellent resources for classrooms, lecture halls, or community cinema's 🎬 Thread:🧵Plz RT
- Great thread on Universities and the climate crisis. Lays out the problem, and the way forward.
- I was recently invited to present my thoughts on the role of universities in the #climate crisis Several audience members asked that I share my slides, so I've decided to post them here too as an open resource I'd love any feedback, & for you to share examples of projects & best practice. Long 🧵😊
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake🔥 The never-ending narrative… This week, I’ve once again heard prominent climate researchers dismiss individual action as either irrelevant or a distraction instigated by the fossil fuel industry. Here’s a 🧵 on why this argument frustrates me to no end and why I think it misses the bigger picture.
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- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeHas anyone else been dealing with some serious headline whiplash recently? Even for those of us who follow #climate and #energy matters closely, it can be hard to know what the hell is going on! So here's a thread to help climate communicators get a grip on how to deal with this 🧵
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- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake😊 Delighted to announce I'll be a Lead Author for ch.8 of @ipcc.bsky.social's Seventh Assessment Report, alongside 663 experts from 111 countries, as part of Working Group III. Analysis by @carbonbrief.org shows increasing diversity of IPCC authorship: tinyurl.com/462pvby9 #IPCC #ClimateReport
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- Happy to share our new research on UK climate politics 🚨 We found Members of Parliament (MPs) use the language of climate "pragmatism" to avoid rapid change. It risks becoming a new discourse of delay. More detail below and in 🧵 1/ theconversation.com/politicians-...
- Co-author Rebecca Willis @bankfieldbecky.bsky.social and I interviewed MPs and NGOs to see what’s changed in a turbulent 5 year of UK climate politics. We found that climate is now mainstream for UK politicians: they speak openly about climate change. But... 2/ link.springer.com/article/10.1...
- We found “pragmatism” is used by MPs: - to promote incremental rather than transformative change - to defend fossil fuel companies - to sound sensible and scientific - to protect a fragile political consensus - and to dismiss “extreme” calls for a more rapid climate transition 3/
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View full threadAlso big thanks for @stucap.bsky.social 🙏
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- Help please 😁. I’m co-designing a new module for 3rd year psychology undergrads on “The Psychology of Sustainability”. I’d love to hear your advice and ideas for making it extra-brilliant by way of: themes, content, essential references, resources, materials.
- Please feel free to shamelessly self-cite, and flag this post with colleagues! Thanks one and all! 🙏
