In this interview (adapted from our instagram stories - find us at @oxfordclimatesoc) Alexis McGivern answered our questions about what actually happened at COP27, after the anticipation and in some instances disregard in the lead up to it.

She explains the important relationship between activists and negotiators at the conference, the exciting progress made that could bring the end of greenwashing and countries evasion of climate responsibility, and the work yet to be done.

In this short interview, Professor Myles Allen (CBE) answered some our questions in the advent of COP27: On the potential of COP27 to strengthen commitment to stay within 1.5 degrees of warming, the role of the UK at COP and leading climate progress, and what he's looking forward to at the conference, as an expert in the field of climate science.

Disclaimer:

It should be mentioned that Allen is an advocate for Carbon Capture Storage (CCS); an often favoured but risky technological solution for climate change, that involves capturing and storing CO2 beneath the seabed. He mentions this in some of his answers to questions, however CCS is controversial as the science underlying it is still uncertain, and could backfire if relied upon and used at scale - thus we'd like to underline this opinion is not upheld by OCS, and not to be undertaken without critical thought!

Launch event run by the Oxford Climate Society to reveal latest edition of Anthroposphere: Oxford Climate Review magazine. We were joined by Ayesha Tandon, a climate science journalist at Carbon Brief to give a lecture on the importance of inclusive journalism and how to get involved in journalism.

Anthroposphere: The Oxford Climate Review is an interdisciplinary magazine founded at Oxford University and open to students from around the world. We cover climate change and the environment through the lenses of natural science, economics, policy, politics, literature, pop culture, and much more.

Ayesha Tandon is a science journalist from Carbon Brief. Ayesha holds an MSci in natural sciences, specialising in climate science, from the University of Exeter. She previously worked at the UK Met Office as a climate science communicator.

Nuclear energy is sometimes described as the panacea we need to carry out a green energy transition, while others see it as a sinister and easily abusable power source that ought to belong in the past. Though it has traditionally been opposed by environmental activists, considerations of the role nuclear power can play in transitioning to a diverse net-zero energy mix has led to a shift in attitudes. Where wind- and solar energy take up vast land areas and produce energy intermittently, nuclear power is stable and extremely energy dense. Moreover, the development of newer, safer technologies have made reliance on nuclear seem like less of a risky road than it previously did.

Simultaneously, many remain critical of its potential to serve as a chief energy source for centuries to come. Concerns about the risk of damage associated with nuclear accidents, imperfect waste storage, and intentional sabotage of plants through war or terrorism remain a source of widespread worry.

Zion Lights is a science communicator, author and activist, and founder of the evidence-based climate activism group Emergency Reactor. She is a vocal advocate of nuclear energy as a green energy source we need to make use of in addressing the climate crisis. In this talk she will address the current narrative surrounding nuclear energy, why it is such a polarising issue, and the path forward.

On 27 February 2019, Mike Berners-Lee presented his newest book, "There Is No Planet B", to the Oxford Climate Society. We're delighted to share his full talk with you now!

*About the book: *

Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, antibiotics, plastics - the list of concerns seems endless. But what is most pressing, what are the knock-on effects of our actions, and what should we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world? Should we frack? How can we take control of technology? Does it all come down to population? And, given the global nature of the challenges we now face, what on Earth can any of us do?

Fortunately, Mike Berners-Lee has crunched the numbers and plotted a course of action that is practical and even enjoyable. There is No Planet B maps it out in an accessible and entertaining way, filled with astonishing facts and analysis. For the first time you'll find big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of the day laid out in one place, and traced through to the underlying roots - questions of how we live and think. This book will shock you, surprise you - and then make you laugh. And you'll find practical and even inspiring ideas for what you can actually do to help humanity thrive on this - our only - planet.

*About the author: *

Mike Berners-Lee consults, thinks, writes and researches on sustainability and responses to 21st century challenges. This is his third book.

About his first book, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint Of Everything, Bill Bryson wrote “I can’t think of the last time I read a book that was more fascinating, and useful and enjoyable all at the same time”

His second book, The Burning Question, co-written with Duncan Clark, explores the big picture on climate change and the underlying global dynamics, asking what mix of politics, economics, psychology and technology are really required to deal with the problem. Al Gore described it as “Fascinating, important and highly recommended” and was among MPs’ top ten summer reads.

Mike is the founder of Small World Consulting, an associate company of Lancaster University, which works with organisations from tech giants to supermarkets. Small World is a leader in the field of carbon metrics and their use.

He is a professor at Lancaster University’s Institute for Social Futures, where his research includes sustainable food systems and carbon metrics. He co-ordinates the Global Futures event series which are freely open to all and explore big global challenges in multidisciplinary ways.