Overheating: is the UK failing to respond to the impacts of climate change?

In this public event, David Shukman, the former BBC Science Editor, will speak to Emma Howard Boyd, the former chair of the Environment Agency and the London Climate Resilience Review, about how the UK is responding to the growing impacts of climate change.

David will draw on his new book, The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes, which investigates how the country is dangerously unprepared for the climate impacts being experienced now, let alone those to come. Through extensive interviews, FOIs and new research, David’s book reveals how lives at being put at risk through a lack of awareness and joined-up thinking. Story-based, the book tries to provide a new and more pragmatic framing of climate change that might cross the polarised divide.

Meet our speakers and chair

Speaker

David Shukman is a British journalist, author and science broadcaster with over 40 years of experience, best known for his long career at the BBC and his authoritative reporting on science and environmental issues. After joining the BBC in 1983, he held a range of senior roles including World Affairs Correspondent, Environment and Science Correspondent and became the BBC’s first Science Editor in 2012, a position he held until leaving the organisation in late 2021 to work as an independent consultant. A leading voice on climate change, sustainability and biodiversity loss, he is a sought‑after international speaker whose engaging talks draw on deep journalistic insight. He has also authored several bestselling books on climate change, science and global challenges, and his work has featured in major media outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, The Times and The Telegraph.

Chair

Emma Howard Boyd has worked extensively on environmental policy, climate resilience and sustainable finance. She served as Chair of the Environment Agency for England from 2016 to 2022 and was an ex officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the same period. Appointed by the Mayor of London, she chaired the London Climate Resilience Review, publishing recommendations in July 2024 to support the city’s response to the impacts of climate change. Emma currently chairs ClientEarth’s Group Board and ClimateArc, co‑chairs Climate Resilience for All, is a member of the Supervisory Board of the European Climate Foundation and is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute.

How to attend

To attend this in-person event, please register in advance here.