Environmental change
We integrate expertise across multiple disciplines to provide the evidence base and solutions to tackle the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
Contact the environmental change research leads
Dr Jo House (Geographical Sciences)
Dr Matt Rigby (Chemistry)
We are a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change
The APPCCG is the leading forum informing the climate change discussion between parliamentarians, business leaders, NGOs and academics. We are regularly involved in a number of key discussions to ensure climate change policy is well-informed in Westminster.
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Exploring our changing ice environments
As our ice sheets melt, the Earth's ability to regulate its own temperature diminishes, and sea levels rise. But it's not just ice in Antarctica and Greenland we need to focus on – how can we help the people who rely on mountain glaciers to prepare for a future with less water, and possibly less food as a result? -
Quantifying the greenhouse emissions gap
In 2015 the Paris Agreement stipulated that global warming must be limited to well below 2°C if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. Much of this depends on reducing manmade greenhouse gases. -
Drivers and consequences of environmental change in drylands
As climate changes, the world’s driest regions will be hit hardest. Already in a delicate balance with limited rainfall and high temperatures, dryland environments and the societies within them, are now facing immense challenges of adapting to environmental change. -
Making cities more pollinator-friendly
As we face an increasingly urban future, we need to protect and cultivate greater biodiversity in our cities for the sake of people and pollinators alike. -
Changing ice: Developing interdisciplinary research on Earth’s cold places
This project is developing the University of Bristol’s capacity for interdisciplinary research on Earth’s cold places.
What we do and why we have impact
We dissect the effects that humans are having on society and Earth's systems, revealing the rapidly changing character of the planet and its inhabitants.
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Diverse
Our breadth is our strength. With over 200 members, we research all aspects of our changing planet from land, sea, ice, and air – from the wilderness to the cities, human to the physical, from local to global and from the ancient past to the future.
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Impactful leadership
We work with governments, non-governmental organisations and industry to provide advice and set the political agenda. Our research features heavily in leading reports such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports, the National Pollinator Strategy and we verify the amount of greenhouse gases that the UK produces against the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) estimates.
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Cutting edge
We use cutting-edge models, theory, experiments and observations to understand earth system dynamics across all time scales to understand how to limit, manage and adapt to the challenges of our time. From precision greenhouse gas measurements to models of past climates to environmental justice.