Dr Harriet Thew

Profile

I am a Lecturer in Climate Change in the School of Earth and Environment and Place Lead for West Yorkshire for the Joined Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) Research Centre.

Responsibilities

• Place Lead (West Yorkshire) for Joined Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) Research Centre

Research interests

My research interests include:

• Non-state actor participation in global governance, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• Normative aspects of participation including, justice, legitimacy and representation
• Climate Change Education (CCE), training, communication and outreach
• Place-based approaches to Climate Justice

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Committee member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Climate Change Research Group and a member of the University of Leeds’ UNFCCC Task Force and Sustainable Curriculum Steering Group.

I am also affiliated with the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures for which I was the Deputy Director for Education from 2023-2024.

Professional Background

I have worked at the University of Leeds in the School of Earth and Environment since 2014. Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I managed the Global Environment Programme for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, coordinating international environmental education and outreach projects across 145 countries and advocating for the rights of women and youth at UN conferences on climate change and sustainable development, including Rio+20. My early career included project management and stakeholder engagement roles in climate change adaptation and flood risk management for the UK Environment Agency and delivering teacher CPD for the Climate Change Schools Project, based at the Science Learning Centre North East.

I have been closely following the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since 2012, tracking the negotiations, advocating for and speaking as an invited expert on Article 6 of the Convention/Action for Climate Empowerment on: Climate Change Education, Training, Public Participation, Public Awareness, Public Access to Information and international co-operation. I am also interested in capacity building and the participation of Non-State Actors, particularly youth, in climate change policies and programmes. Ongoing engagement in global governance processes informs both my research and my teaching.

• YES TO Net Zero (Youth, Education, Skills and Training to Operationalise Net Zero)

Qualifications

• PhD, Youth Participation in the UN Climate Change Negotiations (PhD with Research Excellence)
• MSc, Sustainability: Environment and Development, University of Leeds (Distinction)
• BA (hons), History, University of Leicester (2:1)

Professional memberships

• Royal Geographical Society Climate Change Research Steering Group member
• UK Universities Climate Network Education Skills Steering Group member
• HEA Fellow
• University of Leeds Sustainable Curriculum Steering Group
• University of Leeds EdExE Steering Group

Student education

I design and deliver climate-facing modules and programmes across the School of Earth and Environment.

Research groups and institutes

• Social and Political Dimensions of Sustainability