Is the Climate and Environment Scientist More Advocative or Political?

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The role of the climate and environment scientist should be more political. Many scientists became researchers out of some desire to make the world a better place. To do that, we need to become engaged in political processes - which means engaging in politics. The move from advocacy to activism isn't a change in our neutrality at all but an escalation of tactics.

Last week’s IPCC report gives the world just 30 months to get greenhouse gas emissions falling. Beyond that, we’ll have missed our chance of limiting global heating to 1.5C and protecting our planet from the most serious impacts of climate change. As the window closes, some scientists feel like writing reports and publishing papers is no longer enough, and researchers around the world are leaving their desks and labs to take action on the streets. Madeleine Finlay meets scientists protesting at Shell HQ in London and speaks to the conservationist Dr Charlie Gardner about civil disobedience – and why he thinks it’s the only option left. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod