Most of my work now takes places within the University of Cambridge or the NHS so please see other pages on this site or James Smith for more information on this.
Cambridge, the city where I live, has a disproportionate influence on the world because of the academic research undertaken here, the links to many university alumni across the world and the growing number of innovative and global companies based in the city. Combine this with a local population which is concerned about environmental issues, an unusual (for the UK) cycling culture and a proximity to London which means many residents work in national and international institutions and it is clear that Cambridge has the potential to be the world leading city of its size for climate action. This is why I think it is important for me, as a local resident to contribute to efforts to make Cambridge a zero carbon climate ready city. To this end I am a committee member of Carbon Neutral Cambridge, a local voluntary group.
Past activity:
Cambridge Climate Lecture Series
For several years I was on the organising committee of this lecture series which live-streams talks from world leading speakers to a global audience each year in February and March.
I was part of Fossil Free Cambridgeshire, a local fossil fuel divestment campaign calling on the local councils and Cambridgeshire Pension Fund to remove all investments from fossil fuel companies. I set up this group with two others and continue to be a leading member of the group. The group was successful in October 2015 in persuading the Cambridge City Council to support divestment and recognise the need for a ‘fossil free future’.
In November and December 2015, with two others, I established and ran the Cambridge Climate Message Project. This project engaged with organisations from across the city, asking them to support a message from the city to send to the COP21 climate change negotiations in Paris calling for an ambitious and fair agreement to be reached. The message was supported by over 80 organisations and 700 individuals, including the City Council, colleges, academic departments, local businesses, community groups and schools. The message was even mentioned in the UK parliament by Daniel Zeichner, the MP for Cambridge.
Dr James Smith 