Scientists are in a prime and privileged position to be able to accelerate action...and it is vitally important that we do.
The good news is that there are lots of ways that we can get involved.
If you a scientist or academic wanting to contribute impactfully in response to the Climate & Ecological Emergency, the resources and communities on this page are here to support you. Please feel free to contact me if you want to get more involved or to discuss these ideas.
ACTION TAKES MANY FORMS
A summary of the reasons why scientists are in such a strong position to act effectively - and more on how we can do so - are detailed in a dedicated blog post from August 2025.
One of the most powerful ways that scientists and academics can take action is via supporting the social movements actively driving positive change. This can take many forms, as discussed in our recent article "How scientists can contribute to the social movements essential to protecting climate and nature" (also covered in The Conversation).
Our institutions have a key role to play. For more on how our universities, research centres, learned societies and funders can evolve to accelerate positive change, see:
- My essay "Changing mindsets not just lightbulbs"
- Our open letter on transforming universities
- Many of the academic articles linked below
Stories of Scientists in Action
Stories of Scientists in Action
- Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action (2025) is a collection of short personal stories of UK scientists who have become climate activists.
- Plan Z: from lab coats to handcuffs (2024) is a short documentary providing a window into scientist-activism and the motivations for it. Available to watch on YouTube.
- Science in Resistance: The Scientist Rebellion for Climate Justice (2025) is a detailed book by Fernando Racimo, featuring the perspectives of scientists from around the world.
- Tipping Points Podcast, hosted by the Grantham Institute, is a series of interviews of scientists and other professionals about why they have become involved in environmental activism.
COMMUNITIES & CAMPAIGNS
Scientist communities include:
- Scientists On Survival: a UK community that supports a broad range of scientist-led action.
- Scientist Rebellion: a global scientist-activist community with has groups across six continents. They campaign using a range of approaches, supporting and participating in nonviolent direct action related to the Emergency.
- Scientists Warning works to “represent scientists who are warning humanity of the rapidly increasing dangers of climate change and destruction of the ecology and habitability of planet Earth”
- Union of Concerned Scientists (global) & Scientists for Global Responsibility (UK) are member organisations that communicate on the Emergency
Wider UK campaigns that may be of interest for scientists include:
- Zero Hour which is the campaigning group for the Climate and Ecological Emergency legislation in the UK, based around a parliamentary bill originally written through collaboration between scientists and legal professionals.
- National Emergency Briefing: a campaign working to get policymakers and the public up to speed on the severity of the crises we face and the urgent and effective actions we can all be part of.