About

Bob joined the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment in November 2008, shortly after its launch.

He also holds the following positions:

Background

Bob joined the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) from Risk Management Solutions, where he was Director of Public Policy.

He also worked at the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science, for eight years, until October 2006. His responsibilities there included leading the media relations team.

He has also worked as a freelance science writer and journalist.

Bob has a first degree in geology and an unfinished PhD thesis on palaeopiezometry.

He is a fellow of the Geological Society, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a fellow of the Energy Institute and a member of the American Geophysical Union. Bob is also a member of the board of the Association of British Science Writers and a member of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Public Relations Association.

Research

Research - 2022

Research - 2021

This paper discusses major action areas for China's 14th Five-Year Plan after COVID-19, especially focusing on three aspects: the energy transition, a new type of sustainable urban development, and investment priorities. Read more

Research - 2018

Research - 2016

Research - 2015

Research - 2014

Research - 2013

Research - 2012

Research - 2010

Research - 2009

Research - 2008

Policy

Policy - 2024

This report presents insights on heat resilience policy and practice in the UK to inform future preparedness and responses to extreme heat, incorporating the experiences and views of decision-makers and practitioners who worked on the frontline of the 2022 heatwaves across England. Read more

Policy - 2023

Policy - 2022

This report and brief provide improved estimates of the likely economic damages from climate change to the UK, highlighting where the greatest risks and need for adaptation are. These are translated into loss of socioeconomic welfare and reported as an equivalent loss of the UK’s GDP under two different policy scenarios – one in which current policies continue and another in which strong mitigation policies are put in place. Read more

Policy - 2021

This report sets out core elements of an overarching and integrated strategy for recovery from the COVID-10 pandemic and growth, as a contribution to the preparation for the G7 Summit taking place in Carbis Bay, Cornwall (11 to 13 June 2021). Read more

The Grantham Research Institute submitted this response in July 2020 to a consultation launched by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) in May 2020 to gather views on its intention to refresh its core aim as stated in its Maximising Economic Recovery Strategy for the UK [MER UK Strategy], which came into force in March 2016. Read more

Policy - 2020

This report investigates whether the evidence supports the reasons given by the Trump Administration to justify its decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, and concludes that the decision is irrational and does not promote the best interests of the American people. Read more

This is a response to the Bank of England's discussion paper, 'The 2021 biennial exploratory scenario on the financial risks from climate change'. The response has been prepared by authors from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at LSE, the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh Business School. Read more

In advance of the Budget, this policy report highlights areas of the UK economy where the public sector could leverage private investment and in so doing contribute to achieving the strategic priorities of regionally balanced growth and decarbonisation. Read more

Policy - 2019

This submission was made to the Environment Agency's consultation on its draft strategy for flood and coastal risk management in England, and draws on the Grantham Research Institute's work and expertise over many years in this area. Read more

Economic assessments of the potential future risks of climate change have been omitting or grossly underestimating many of the most serious consequences for lives and livelihoods because these risks are difficult to quantify precisely and lie outside of human experience. This policy insight identifies and draws attention to these 'missing risks' and discusses how populations might fare in light of their potential to adapt in the face of these risks. Read more

Policy - 2018

This submission to the Scottish Affairs Committee focuses on the implications for the oil and gas industry in the UK, including Scotland, of the transition to low-carbon economic growth. It calls for the Government’s Industrial Strategy to reconcile its ambitions for the sector with the ‘Clean Growth’ Grand Challenge. Read more

Policy - 2017

Ongoing concerns about the best policies to achieve affordability have led to three reviews: of energy costs, of the Levy Control Framework, and of carbon pricing. This paper draws on research findings and empirical evidence to identify key principles and issues that should be taken into account by the Government in relation to these separate but related reviews. Read more

Correspondence between Bob Ward and Graham Stringer MP, member of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology. The correspondence relates to a letter to ‘The Times’ and an article in the ‘Daily Mail’, from Graham Stringer MP, which were published on 20 September. In the correspondence Bob Ward asserts the MP misrepresented the findings of the paper on ‘Emission budgets and pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5˚C’ by Richard Millar and co-authors, which was published in ‘Nature Geoscience’ on 18 September. Read more

This submission to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee’s inquiry on Leaving the EU looks at which aspects of EU policy should be retained and the potential impact of Brexit on Paris Agreement pledges. Read more

Policy - 2016

Policy - 2015

The next UK Government after the General Election on 7 May should reform the UK’s overly-complex energy taxation and create new institutions to depoliticise infrastructure investment, particularly in the energy sector. These recommendations are among several new measures outlined in the Institute’s latest policy brief ‘Climate change priorities for the next UK government’. Read more

Policy - 2014

Policy - 2013

Flooding is the biggest natural disaster risk in England. Flood risk is expected to increase due to climate change and continued development of floodplains for residential and commercial property, which increases the exposure of homes and businesses. Addressing the causes and consequences of flooding is very important and we welcome the recent efforts by the Government and the insurance industry to reform the approach to flood insurance in England. Read more

Shifting from coal to natural gas for electricity generation can help the UK power sector to decarbonise in the near term. With good planning and investment, natural gas can support the development of a low-carbon power sector by providing essential backup for intermittent renewables, but could only play a bigger role longer-term if fitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

However, a new UK ‘dash’ for gas on the assumption of low prices is a risky economic and environmental option. A lower risk option is a ‘dash’ for smart gas; using natural gas in those areas where it offers the greatest value in decarbonising the power sector. Read more

Policy - 2010

Events

Events - 2023

Events - 2022

Events - 2019

Events - 2017

Events - 2014

News

News - 2024

News - 2023

News - 2022

News - 2021

News - 2020

In this commentary, written in The Guardian, Bob Ward says that the media vilification of government adviser Neil Ferguson is about far more than social distancing. He says it is part of a media campaign led by those who are ideologically opposed to government measures in response to COVID-19. This campaign is similar to previous campaigns aimed at discrediting climate scientists. Read more

Bob Ward suggests that some of the money from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s $10 billion "Earth Fund" could be used to counter misinformation about climate change and to explore options for managing a just transition for workers & communities currently dependent on high-carbon industries. This is part of an article in which climate experts and scientists put forward a variety of ideas for how the money could be best used. Read more

News - 2019

In a letter to the Evening Standard Bob Ward calls for politicians to respond with more ambitious plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. This is in the light of a recent report in the paper showing that 85% of British adults are now concerned about global warming. Read more

Bob Ward speaks in a debate on American television channel CGTN (China Global Television Network). He spoke about scientific consensus on climate change and the implications for the defence community that climate change contributes to problems that themselves are driving conflict. Read more

In our statement for this article, Bob Ward said: “People may find it very pleasant to be in warmer temperatures but they must also remember that it’s the same trend that saw hundreds of people die last summer as a result of overheating. Over the last five years we also had two record wet winters during which there was severe flooding. This is a sign of the fundamental and profound way that Britain’s climate is changing.” Read more

News - 2018

News - 2017

News - 2016

News - 2015

News - 2014

News - 2013

News - 2012

The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the Press has mainly been focusing mainly on issues arising from the alleged hacking of phones by journalists at some national newspapers. But the Inquiry would perform a great service for the public interest if it also investigates the way that some parts of the media are choosing to cover the issue of climate change. Read more

Self-proclaimed climate change 'sceptics' have for the past few years been recycling the myth that anthropogenic global warming has 'stopped'. But these 'sceptics' always fail to point out is that, based on their logic, manmade global warming has actually 'stopped' nine times since 1970, in 1972, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1995, 1996 and 1997. And they fail to mention that the underlying anthropogenic warming trend is clear and unambiguous when temperature data for the past four decades are taken into account. Read more

News - 2011

News - 2010

News - 2009

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