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 WestlakeThis excellent short (23 min) film explain why some scientists have been compelled to take direct action in an effort to get governments to respond to the climate crisis. Please watch and share. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNvk...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake"... the US and European countries that tout Israel as an ally that shares their values have issued barely a word of condemnation. They should be ashamed of their silence, and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity" www.ft.com/content/f5fd...
- I'm heading to Prague and Berlin at the end of May. Any suggestions for people to meet in the climate/research space? Díky/Danke!
- Great new contribution from Katherine Arbuthnott countering the popular assumption that "human nature is fundamentally selfish". This assumption underpins our economic systems and blocks progress on the climate and environmental crises, among other things🧵 econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeNew article in @theconversation.com on the importance of leadership for climate action. With @tinafawcett.bsky.social theconversation.com/leading-by-e...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeIn this article for @uk.theconversation.com, CAST affiliate @steveclimate.bsky.social explores the climate controversy sparked by Katy Perry’s celebrity space flight. "Celebrities have a positive role to play in leading by example. It’s not rocket science." Read the article 👇
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake"Emissions linked to Chevron, the highest-emitting investor-owned company in our data, for example, very likely caused between US $791 billion and $3.6 trillion in heat-related losses over the period 1991–2020" www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeIn this article for @uk.theconversation.com the University of Bath's @steveclimate.bsky.social explores the climate controversy sparked by Katy Perry’s celebrity space flight. theconversation.com/why-katy-per...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeThe wealthiest people in the richest countries use the most energy & set the standards for the rest of society. That’s why the Blue Origin dream... is a nightmare for the climate because it perpetuates an unsustainable culture, writes @steveclimate.bsky.social theconversation.com/why-katy-per...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake"This message of collective responsibility is one our current economic and political system works hard to suppress by championing unlimited freedom to consume, while ignoring the loss of freedom that such behaviour causes"
- I wrote a piece for @theconversation.com about how space tourism drives climate breakdown - well beyond any emissions from the rocket itself. Celebrities and other leaders have huge potential to catalyse climate action, but not like this... theconversation.com/why-katy-per...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake@steveclimate.bsky.social captures brilliantly what I’ve heard countless times in citizens’ juries & focus groups. There is widespread support for collective climate action but excessive consumption of the few undermines motivation to act & belief in the fairness + effectiveness of climate policies
- I wrote a piece for @theconversation.com about how space tourism drives climate breakdown - well beyond any emissions from the rocket itself. Celebrities and other leaders have huge potential to catalyse climate action, but not like this... theconversation.com/why-katy-per...
- I wrote a piece for @theconversation.com about how space tourism drives climate breakdown - well beyond any emissions from the rocket itself. Celebrities and other leaders have huge potential to catalyse climate action, but not like this... theconversation.com/why-katy-per...
- Apologies! Forgot to include space tourism in this infographic... 😏
- Great to see the Climate Change Committee (CCC) calling for public figures to “lead by example” on climate change, citing our research. CCC says leading by example increases public buy-in and behaviour change @thecccuk.bsky.social 🚨So, we've made this new infographic showing how it works... 🧵
- Interesting study on African attitudes to personal and government responsibility for climate action. "Those with secondary or post-secondary education are significantly more likely to attribute responsibility to rich countries" h/t @carbonbrief.org www.nature.com/articles/s43...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeThis great video also reminded me of an interesting facet of motonormativity: people can lose 100 hours a year in traffic and never notice; but they have one late train and it's all "Never again - you can't rely on them"
- "Everything you thought you knew about roads is a lie" GCN go hard on induced demand and all the other follies linked to road building www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVq7...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake"When the effects of changing subglacial water pressure were included in the model, the amount of ice flowing into the ocean under future #climate nearly tripled... existing sea-level rise projections may be too low, because they do not fully account for the dynamic influence of subglacial water"
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeHELP PLEASE 🙏 🛫✈️ We’re designing a conjoint experiment to test public support for a more ambitious air travel #carbon tax in Denmark—varying tax levels, revenue use, and progressivity. We're now deciding which three tax levels to test—each reflecting different levels of ambition. Any suggestions?
- Crucial leadership research here from Gregg Sparkman and @stysyropoulos.bsky.social. Indicates the importance of influential figures speaking up on the climate crisis 📢 📣 🔊
- 🚨New PNAS Paper w/@stysyropoulos.bsky.social 🚨 90% of US Christian religious leaders accept humans drive climate change. Sharing this info w/Christians boosts seeing climate action & voting for candidates who take climate action as consistent w/their church's values. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2419705122
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake1/ The view from our bedroom window earlier this week was the eerie sight of a blaze across Garth Hill, South Wales. The weather conditions preceding the fire were extremely dry leaving the grass & bracken to turn to tinder. Here's a 🧵putting this fire context... (Photo credit: Ryan Davies)
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake"The climate and ecological implications of this shift are as disastrous as they are deliberate. We need an appropriate name for this new era of fossil and tech bros accelerating attacks on democracy and the planet: cataclysm capitalism." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake🚨NEW from me: Scientists On Survival is a new book by more than 20 researchers who've put their freedom on the line for ... everyone. It is a work of joy. @scientistsx.bsky.social @thierryaaron.bsky.social @abiperrin.bsky.social @stucap.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeMore wise words from President Michael D Higgins on the need for a Gaza ceasefire
- Everyone is doing too little on climate change - except activists, according to this survey of international public opinion.
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeToday we (Lancaster University Social Processes Group) @lancasteruni.bsky.social hosted Dr. Steve Westlake @steveclimate.bsky.social (Bath University) where he spoke about his Cardiff based research into the power of leadership for changing climate related behaviours. #ClimateChange #Psychology
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeGood to listen to @steveclimate.bsky.social present his work on "The power of leading by example with high-impact low-carbon behaviour" to the social processes group at Lancaster University. #NoManIsAnIsland
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake“These bans are more than political gestures – they are a crucial step in reducing demand for emissions-intensive goods and aligning public policy with climate science.” Completely agree. The public get it too - we found clear support for bans on high polluting vehicles in our deliberative research
- 🛑 Why are cities banning ads for airlines, SUVs, and fossil fuels? A growing number of towns & cities worldwide are saying NO to high-carbon ads. Here’s why this movement is gaining momentum, from my latest piece in @theconversation.com🧵👇 theconversation.com/many-cities-...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeOn the current Musk/empathy/Western civilisation chatter, something that's been less remarked upon is the high likelihood that Western civilisation, as we think about it, probably doesn't exist. >
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake📽 The first public screenings of 'Plan-Z' are taking place in cinemas around the UK. Thanks again to everyone who supported the crowd-fundraising campaign that made this film possible 🎬 Book tickets here: plan-z-film.co.uk#watch
- Important insights here into the climate thinking of people with big carbon footprints...
- Our study on UK's wealthiest & climate action has been published, and has been covered by @theguardian.com. Rich Britons have the potential to lead on climate action, but need to cut their own excessive emissions. #ClimateAction #Inequality www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeOur study on UK's wealthiest & climate action has been published, and has been covered by @theguardian.com. Rich Britons have the potential to lead on climate action, but need to cut their own excessive emissions. #ClimateAction #Inequality www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeStudy finds the wealthiest could cut their disproportionately high emissions but largely don’t want to. Flying makes up a big part of those emissions. This research is a strong argument for regulation & progressive fiscal measures (eg a frequent flyer levy) to prompt behaviour change.
- "The threats posed by fossil fuels to the climate, extreme weather to outdoor sport, and fossil-fuel sponsorship to the integrity of sport, converged on the recent Tour du Rwanda bicycle race" Great infogrgaphic too...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeNew paper "Since at least 1989, the US livestock industry knew of its role in global warming, and a newly uncovered industry document makes clear the industry planned to obstruct efforts to shift US diets to reduce emissions" By Jennifer Jacquet et al iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
- This positive review of the Climate Change Committee's Seventh Carbon Budget calls for a greater focus on the social transformations needed to tackle climate change @edrc-uk.bsky.social @thecccuk.bsky.social @cast-centre.bsky.social
- Will the UK’s emissions strategy get us to net zero? @jrbarrett.bsky.social discusses the 7th Carbon Budget, highlighting the need for both technology & social transformation in travel & consumption to reach net zero. 🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/bd8ud4kr
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeWill the UK’s emissions strategy get us to net zero? @jrbarrett.bsky.social discusses the 7th Carbon Budget, highlighting the need for both technology & social transformation in travel & consumption to reach net zero. 🔗 Read more: tinyurl.com/bd8ud4kr
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeLast week @thecccuk.bsky.social published its #SeventhCarbonBudget report calling on government public figures to lead by example with low-carbon behaviours. 🏛️ But how exactly can we achieve this? 🤔 Read the CAST briefing on “leading by example”: cast.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeOn the theme of this article (ie conspicuous consumption of the wealthy & powerful has to change), see this summary of @steveclimate.bsky.social’s excellent work on leading by example👇
- Great to see the Climate Change Committee (CCC) calling for public figures to “lead by example” on climate change, citing our research. CCC says leading by example increases public buy-in and behaviour change @thecccuk.bsky.social 🚨So, we've made this new infographic showing how it works... 🧵
- Very useful summary...
- A brief analysis of what the Seventh Carbon Budget says about aviation ✈️: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
- It is unwise for Transport Minister @heidialexander.bsky.social to engage in identity politics by saying: “I am not some sort of flight-shaming eco warrior.” Stigmatising environmental concern makes climate targets harder to hit. 1/🧵 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Reposted by Dr Steve Westlake✈️ Jumping on a plane is one of the most carbon-intensive activities a person can do. This article breaks down the immense challenges of decarbonizing aviation. While we should explore technological solutions, the most effective solution is the simplest: flying less. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeGreat! And I'd say that most of us can also aim to "lead by example" within our communities. We need bottom-up, not just top-down, influencing!
- Great to see the Climate Change Committee (CCC) calling for public figures to “lead by example” on climate change, citing our research. CCC says leading by example increases public buy-in and behaviour change @thecccuk.bsky.social 🚨So, we've made this new infographic showing how it works... 🧵
- Reposted by Dr Steve WestlakeClimate stories were all over the news this morning: - Airport expansion - BP dropping renewables - UKs 7th carbon budget But at no point did the journalists set the scientific context & explain the stakes of climate breakdown. Here's a recap...
- "Everything in connection with something else" The most fundamental insight of Earth System Science is the application of the lens of complex system analysis to our planet. Bear this in mind, for the following quick thread of recent developments in our understanding of the Earth's #climate...
