Tyndall Manchester Seminar by Dr Rebecca Willis
Political support is essential to climate action. But how do politicians think about climate, and how do they decide whether to speak up or act? At this session, I will discuss the findings of collaborative research between Green Alliance and Lancaster University. The research uses analysis of political speech and detailed anonymised interviews with Members of the UK parliament, to build up a picture of how politicians see their role, plan their career and represent their voters - and how climate change fits (or doesn’t) within that picture. Based on these findings, I will suggest how climate advocates can best work with politicians to encourage better debate and action. The work draws on Green Alliance’s Climate Leadership Programme for MPs, which since 2009 has worked to engage politicians in the science and policy of climate change.
Speaker
Dr. Rebecca Willis
Biography: Dr Rebecca Willis is an independent researcher with twenty years’ experience in environment and sustainability policy and practice, at international, national and local levels. Rebecca founded Green Alliance’s Climate Leadership Programme, an initiative to support Members of the UK Parliament. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of RCUK’s Energy Programme and advises the iGov Initiative at University of Exeter. She is a Fellow of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). She was previously a Council Member of NERC, and a Vice-Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, advising the Prime Minister and First Ministers of the devolved administrations. She is an Associate of the think tank Green Alliance and from 2001-4 was Green Alliance’s Director.
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
C1
George Begg Building
Manchester
