Climate activist, environmental scientist, sustainability communicator, and ethical influencer.
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Honoured to have received the 2022 SRUC alumni champion award!
A really powerful organisation who are challenging the agricultural industry to be the best it can be. I’m grateful for this award and the recognition it bring to my activism work, but I also loved the opportunity to hear about the other work happening across farming communities in Scotland. I spent one year studying for my masters between the University of Edinburgh and SRUC in 2018/19 studying for an MSc in Environmental Protection and Management. |
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Honoured to have won the Edinburgh University ‘Being Edinburgh’ alumni award 2022.
Thank you for recognising the climate work I’ve been involved in over the past couple of years since graduating, but this award goes to the community of people behind me! This is awarded to one past alumni each year to highlight individuals whose lives make the University of Edinburgh proud to be connected to their passion, their drive and their brilliance. I did however take the opportunity to humanise the award a little by mentioning my biggest two Edinburgh fails in my speech… |
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2014 - being rejected at 17 years old to study my undergraduate degree there (but I persevered…), and then 2019 - sticking to my guns and running for a student union position completely flyer, leaflet, poster, and waste free (even roping in some good friends to write the voting web address on bananas to promote my campaign) before closely missing out on the position!
Awards can often only show the good stuff, so important to show the reality behind what can seem like a list of great achievements!
Always persevere.
Awards can often only show the good stuff, so important to show the reality behind what can seem like a list of great achievements!
Always persevere.
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This month I got to cruise around in the new ID. Buzz, all electric microbus from Volkswagen at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas! I also had the opportunity to spend a morning with CEO of Volkswagen America, Scott Keogh, learning about this new vehicle.
This is a big moment for Volkswagen, as it brings such an iconic vehicle into a green future with style, comfort, and conscious design throughout. It was great to hear a little bit about Scott’s story journeying with sustainability, from a personal level through to steering a global brand in the direction of a greener future! |
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This included hearing about the exciting new launch of the iconic Volkswagen microbus…but with a difference. The new ID. Buzz is not only all electric, but also has a conscious design and sustainability at its core, this vehicle is part of the exciting future this brand has in its #waytoZERO.
Our full interview will be made available from Volkswagen and released across their platforms soon. The vehicle is a near-series prototype and not yet offered for sale. Towards the end of 2022 this vehicle will be available for purchase in specific locations, keep your eyes peeled for more coming very soon! |
I then got to meet Dustin Krause, Director of E-Mobility at Volkswagen to hear about the direction VW has been moving in when it comes to electric cars, and of course discussing the reality of what it means for such a global brand to be leading the way with their new I.D Buzz.
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Dustin has extensive experience working in the electric vehicle industry and brings so much value to Volkswagen for helping bring these sustainable cars to the everyday market globally.
Check out our interview below where you can also see a variety of the different features with the new I.D Buzz. |
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Excited to announce that I am a new Sky News Daily Climate Show regular contributor, coming on monthly to run through the latest environmental news. The show goes live every day between 8.30pm and 9pm on Sky News (Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freeview 132) then shared on YouTube for catch up.
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After the Climate Change Committee published their report on achieving a Net Zero Scotland, it was a joy to join Scotland Tonight on STV with presenter John MacKay, and Lord Deben, Chairman of The Climate Change Committee, to discuss the Scottish Government's progress on current targets. Watch here.
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Honoured to meet Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Loss and Damage day at COP26. I moderated a meeting between the First Minister and Faith leaders from around the Global South. Represented was the Archbishop of Panama Julio Murray, Rev James Bhagwan of Fiji, Father Chiti of Zambia, Bertha Magomero from Malawi, and Nushrat Chowdhury from Bangladesh.
Discussed was the need for Scotland to continue pushing for more nations to pledge finance for countries who have experienced loss and damage at the hands of the climate crisis. Scotland was the first developed nation to pledge money for Loss and Damage, setting a £1 Million example to other world leaders. This will become an annual commitment, speaking to the group she said it was "the debt we owe to you." |
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From coal to climate activist...
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Meet James Jack, my Great Great Grandfather. This photo was taken around 100 years ago while he was down the coal mines in Scotland, pioneering the coal cutting machine. This machine led to a revolution in the coal production across the world, and significantly advanced the industrial revolution. My family comes from coal, with both James Jack, his dad David, and his son James (my Great Grandfather) working as miners throughout the late 19th and first part of the 20th centuries.
There is something powerful in thinking about my family roots, and now looking forward to the climate activism I am doing. I have been at COP26, where coal was consigned to history. When I spoke on energy day about consigning coal to the history books, in those books are my family. |
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When we talk about needing a just transition I am brought back to James Jack, understanding that if 100 years ago we were thinking about the transition away from fossil fuels, it would be his job on the line. I also think about honouring the sacrifice many made in this job to get us to where we are today.
Let’s also not end up in a situation where people around the world are sent down into the same conditions to mine for materials involved in the renewable energy world. There is no climate justice without social justice! Now, in 2021, his Great Great Granddaughter is walking the corridors of the most important climate summit to date. Something James Jack might never have imagined... |
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'Kicking the plastic habit' Laura Young TEDX Glasgow 2019