Climate Realism: time for a reset

We face a grim reality: the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere continues to rise, and fossil fuels still underpin 80% of our energy system. There are solutions – but are we focused on the right ones?

Join renowned Oxford Professor of Economic Policy, Dieter Helm for a dose of ‘climate realism’ on the UK’s most pressing issues, including how to achieve sustainable growth, how to reduce the costs of net zero, and what the UK should do in a world without US leadership.

Professor Helm will be joined by Cameron Hepburn, Professor of Environmental Economics, for discussion and Q&A.

We face a grim reality: the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere continues to rise, and fossil fuels still underpin 80% of our energy system. There are solutions – but are we focused on the right ones?

Join renowned Oxford Professor of Economic Policy, Dieter Helm for a dose of ‘climate realism’ on the UK’s most pressing issues, including how to achieve sustainable growth, how to reduce the costs of net zero, and what the UK should do in a world without US leadership.

Professor Helm will be joined by Cameron Hepburn, Professor of Environmental Economics, for discussion and Q&A.

About the 2025 Battcock Lecture

Oxford Smith School Director, Professor Mette Morsing, welcomes Professor Helm as this year’s guest speaker.

Dieter Helm is Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford. From 2012 to 2020, he was Independent Chair of the Natural Capital Committee, providing advice to the government on the sustainable use of natural capital. In the New Year 2021 Honours List, Dieter was awarded a knighthood for services to the environment, energy and utilities policy.

He provides extensive expert advice to UK and European governments, regulators and companies across three key areas: Energy & Climate; Regulation, Utilities & Infrastructure; and Natural Capital & the Environment.

The Humphrey Battcock Lecture is a joint collaboration of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford and host, New College, Oxford.

The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube. 

New College

Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham, New College is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Oxford, and the first to admit undergraduate students. New College retains a reputation for the exceptional academic performance of its students. Academics at New College work on environmental issues, including green steel, green ammonia, and economic policy. New College is home to the new Gradel Institute of Charity, the first research centre in the world to focus on the study of charity.