Scientist · Author · Speaker

Climate and nature futures — with realism and hope

How our food, energy and economic systems can change fast enough to avoid the worst of the climate crisis — told through evidence, honesty about the risks, and clarity about where real progress is already happening.

British Academy Global Professor, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford

Visiting Professor, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University

Senior Research Fellow, Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford

Frontiers Planet Prize International Champion, 2023

Paul Behrens speaking on stage
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times — book cover

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

Futures from the frontiers of climate science, told in paired chapters of pessimism and hope. The Indigo Press, 2020.

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Food and Sustainability — book cover

Food and Sustainability

The interdisciplinary textbook, edited and co-authored. Oxford University Press, 2020.

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Latest research

All research →
Dietary environmental impacts and quality differ by socio-demographic characteristicsNature Food · 2026Dietary environmental impacts and quality differ by socio-demographic characteristicsMaps the climate, water and land footprints of diets in 165 countries, finding healthier diets consistently have lower impacts. Vertical farming economics: crop performance targets for cost-competitive vertical farmingFrontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · 2026Vertical farming economics: crop performance targets for cost-competitive vertical farmingVertical-farmed lettuce can already undercut Dutch greenhouse costs; tomatoes still need faster cycles and better light-use efficiency. Small-scale farmers critical to curbing deforestation linked to forest-risk commoditiesEnvironmental Research Letters · 2026Small-scale farmers critical to curbing deforestation linked to forest-risk commoditiesShows that small farms under 2 ha account for most forest-linked production of EUDR-listed commodities (91% of rubber, 81% of palm oil, 53% of coffee, 60% of… Guidance on integrating marine environmental impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement into life cycle assessmentThe International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment · 2026Guidance on integrating marine environmental impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement into life cycle assessmentHow ocean alkalinity enhancement affects marine ecosystems, and why current life-cycle models capture it only partly. Demand-side factors as dominant drivers of resource efficiency in the concrete aggregates cycleNature Sustainability · 2026Demand-side factors as dominant drivers of resource efficiency in the concrete aggregates cycleDemand-side levers such as longer building lifespans, reuse and lower stock intensity drive resource efficiency more than cleaner production. Environmental damages of the top ten percent consumers exceed global climate and biodiversity funding gapsCommunications Sustainability · 2026Environmental damages of the top ten percent consumers exceed global climate and biodiversity funding gapsThe richest 10% of consumers cause environmental damage that exceeds global climate and biodiversity funding gaps.
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