Prof Richard Betts
@richardabetts.bsky.social
Climate scientist, University of Exeter and Met Office. Expert Adviser to the Adaptation Committee of the Climate Change Committee. Lead author IPCC AR4, AR5 & AR6. Live music lover, supporter of grassroots venues. Cycles a lot, rock climbs occasionally.
Pinned
Three University of Exeter scientists have been appointed as authors for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report
Read more here 👇
Read more here 👇
Three Exeter experts appointed for new IPCC report
Three University of Exeter scientists have been appointed as authors for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report. The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate
news.exeter.ac.uk
Looking forward to a 4th term an IPCC Lead Author! I've dotted around a bit over the years:
AR4 - WG1 Radiative Forcing (focussing on land use)
AR5 - WG2 Terrestrial Ecosystems
AR6 - WG2 Water
AR7 - WG1 Global Projections
Always fantastic to work with international colleagues and learn from them
AR4 - WG1 Radiative Forcing (focussing on land use)
AR5 - WG2 Terrestrial Ecosystems
AR6 - WG2 Water
AR7 - WG1 Global Projections
Always fantastic to work with international colleagues and learn from them
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
The sad thing is, I remember sketching changes in temperature and heavy precip distributions in exactly this way in the early 2000s, just to now watch it play out.
The animation very much reminds me of an angry beast pulling on its chains; and they are tearing loose...
The animation very much reminds me of an angry beast pulling on its chains; and they are tearing loose...
Exactly! Which makes the real climate shift way scarier. Like shown by the data from svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5452/
November 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The sad thing is, I remember sketching changes in temperature and heavy precip distributions in exactly this way in the early 2000s, just to now watch it play out.
The animation very much reminds me of an angry beast pulling on its chains; and they are tearing loose...
The animation very much reminds me of an angry beast pulling on its chains; and they are tearing loose...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Our big experiment in the Amazon rainforest
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
Como funciona o AmazonFACE, megaexoerimento inédito com torres gigantes que 'cospem' CO2 na Amazônia
YouTube video by Folha de S.Paulo
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Our big experiment in the Amazon rainforest
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
Our big experiment in the Amazon rainforest
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
Como funciona o AmazonFACE, megaexoerimento inédito com torres gigantes que 'cospem' CO2 na Amazônia
YouTube video by Folha de S.Paulo
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Our big experiment in the Amazon rainforest
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
AmazonFACE will use Free Air CO2 Enrichment ("FACE") methods to study the effect of elevated CO2 on the forest
We'll study the impacts on carbon, water and nutrient cycles and biodiversity, and use this to improve models
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaq0...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
*** 1 metre of rain ***
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring catastrophic damage to parts of the Caribbean
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
October 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
*** 1 metre of rain ***
*** 1 metre of rain ***
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring catastrophic damage to parts of the Caribbean
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
October 27, 2025 at 6:03 PM
*** 1 metre of rain ***
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring catastrophic damage to parts of the Caribbean
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
October 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, is forecast to bring catastrophic damage to parts of the Caribbean
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
The mountains of Jamaica could receive 1 metre of rain, resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and landslides
Destructive winds and storm surges are also likely
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Last year the driver of this van illegally passed through a bus gate, deliberately drove at people holding a “Safe Streets Now” banner, hit one of them, then drove off
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Exeter: Van filmed being driven through traffic protest
Police investigate after it was reported that a Safe Streets Now protester was struck by the van.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Last year the driver of this van illegally passed through a bus gate, deliberately drove at people holding a “Safe Streets Now” banner, hit one of them, then drove off
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Last year the driver of this van illegally passed through a bus gate, deliberately drove at people holding a “Safe Streets Now” banner, hit one of them, then drove off
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Exeter: Van filmed being driven through traffic protest
Police investigate after it was reported that a Safe Streets Now protester was struck by the van.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Last year the driver of this van illegally passed through a bus gate, deliberately drove at people holding a “Safe Streets Now” banner, hit one of them, then drove off
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Today at Exeter Crown Court he was found guilty of dangerous driving and banned for 12 months
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Of course! Leaving the EU was a huge mistake. It took away our freedom of movement, created extra bureaucracy and damaged trade, and didn’t “save money” as falsely promised. The UK is quite clearly worse off as a result. We should rejoin as soon as possible 🇪🇺
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
POLL: Is Rachel Reeves right to blame Brexit for state of UK economy? | Politics | News | Express.co.uk
The Chancellor's comments come ahead of expected tax hikes in the autumn Budget next month.
www.express.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Of course! Leaving the EU was a huge mistake. It took away our freedom of movement, created extra bureaucracy and damaged trade, and didn’t “save money” as falsely promised. The UK is quite clearly worse off as a result. We should rejoin as soon as possible 🇪🇺
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
October 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
October 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Yes the CO2 rise 2023-2024 was faster than we predicted at Mauna Loa and was a record rise there - now the WMO confirm the global mean rise was also a record
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Also the rate of CO2 rise is now above the IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5C
www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Happy to reshare our new Annual Review paper, which explores what it really means to exceed and return to 1.5 °C.
For many in the Global South, overshoot isn’t a temporary “phase” but an existential condition.
This piece asks what it means for justice, recovery & resilience in a world above 1.5 °C
For many in the Global South, overshoot isn’t a temporary “phase” but an existential condition.
This piece asks what it means for justice, recovery & resilience in a world above 1.5 °C
📣 2025 volume of the Annual Review of Environment and Science is online! Most read article is "Overshoot: A Conceptual Review of Exceeding and Returning to Global Warming of 1.5°C" arevie.ws/3IF0OKf @andyreisinger.bsky.social @janfuglestvedt.bsky.social @chrisd-jones.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Happy to reshare our new Annual Review paper, which explores what it really means to exceed and return to 1.5 °C.
For many in the Global South, overshoot isn’t a temporary “phase” but an existential condition.
This piece asks what it means for justice, recovery & resilience in a world above 1.5 °C
For many in the Global South, overshoot isn’t a temporary “phase” but an existential condition.
This piece asks what it means for justice, recovery & resilience in a world above 1.5 °C
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
📣 2025 volume of the Annual Review of Environment and Science is online! Most read article is "Overshoot: A Conceptual Review of Exceeding and Returning to Global Warming of 1.5°C" arevie.ws/3IF0OKf @andyreisinger.bsky.social @janfuglestvedt.bsky.social @chrisd-jones.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
📣 2025 volume of the Annual Review of Environment and Science is online! Most read article is "Overshoot: A Conceptual Review of Exceeding and Returning to Global Warming of 1.5°C" arevie.ws/3IF0OKf @andyreisinger.bsky.social @janfuglestvedt.bsky.social @chrisd-jones.bsky.social
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
The green cross code is the most disastrous public information campaign in history. It has made generations believe that pedestrians are responsible for avoiding crashes. Crashes are actually the responsibility of the operators of the massive motorised lumps of metal.
October 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The green cross code is the most disastrous public information campaign in history. It has made generations believe that pedestrians are responsible for avoiding crashes. Crashes are actually the responsibility of the operators of the massive motorised lumps of metal.
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
This is a good corrective to the BS narrative flowing through the Pielke/AEI/NYP/EID/DOE nexus. Their argument is designed so that we can never ever attribute extreme events to emissions - even singular events that would have *never* [for some suitable finite approximation] have happened before.
Today from @lesleyclark.bsky.social and @saraschonhardt.bsky.social + contribs from me:
www.eenews.net/articles/cli...
www.eenews.net/articles/cli...
Climate critics try to discredit IPCC author for linking disasters to global warming
Roger Pielke Jr. and oil industry supporters are attacking climate scientist Friederike Otto, whose work has been used in lawsuits against polluters.
www.eenews.net
October 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This is a good corrective to the BS narrative flowing through the Pielke/AEI/NYP/EID/DOE nexus. Their argument is designed so that we can never ever attribute extreme events to emissions - even singular events that would have *never* [for some suitable finite approximation] have happened before.
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
UK’s arm’s length public bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation
Seven in ten Britons say it is important for top scientific institutions to be independent in exclusive new polling.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🧵🚨
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
The UK’s independent scientific bodies are highly vulnerable to politicisation - over the past 5 months I've been working with @martinmckee.bsky.social to map out their vulnerabilities and it's not good news.
Today our report is published!
www.ucl.ac.uk/policy-lab/n...
1/11
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Overshoot is here.
Uncertainty is the new normal.
We can’t wait for perfect models before we act.
Adaptation must evolve—especially 4 the most exposed.
EQUITY isn’t charity; it’s the foundation
Deeper question: Who gets left behind—& whose knowledge counts—as we find our way back below 1.5deg C?
Uncertainty is the new normal.
We can’t wait for perfect models before we act.
Adaptation must evolve—especially 4 the most exposed.
EQUITY isn’t charity; it’s the foundation
Deeper question: Who gets left behind—& whose knowledge counts—as we find our way back below 1.5deg C?
NEW – Experts: The key ‘unknowns’ of overshooting the 1.5C global-warming limit | @ceciliakeating.carbonbrief.org and @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Experts: The key ‘unknowns’ of overshooting the 1.5C global-warming limit - Carbon Brief
On the sidelines of a conference, Carbon Brief asked a range of experts what they consider to be the key “unknowns” around overshoot.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Overshoot is here.
Uncertainty is the new normal.
We can’t wait for perfect models before we act.
Adaptation must evolve—especially 4 the most exposed.
EQUITY isn’t charity; it’s the foundation
Deeper question: Who gets left behind—& whose knowledge counts—as we find our way back below 1.5deg C?
Uncertainty is the new normal.
We can’t wait for perfect models before we act.
Adaptation must evolve—especially 4 the most exposed.
EQUITY isn’t charity; it’s the foundation
Deeper question: Who gets left behind—& whose knowledge counts—as we find our way back below 1.5deg C?
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
NEW – Experts: The key ‘unknowns’ of overshooting the 1.5C global-warming limit | @ceciliakeating.carbonbrief.org and @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Experts: The key ‘unknowns’ of overshooting the 1.5C global-warming limit - Carbon Brief
On the sidelines of a conference, Carbon Brief asked a range of experts what they consider to be the key “unknowns” around overshoot.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 2:29 PM
NEW – Experts: The key ‘unknowns’ of overshooting the 1.5C global-warming limit | @ceciliakeating.carbonbrief.org and @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Read here: buff.ly/yPWMH59
Great to visit the Kransberg ROOF experiment at the Technical University of Munich, studying the effects of drought on a mixed temperate forest 🌲🌳
Always fun to fly above the treetops in a canopy crane 🙂
www.plant-ecology.info/kroof-kranzb...
Always fun to fly above the treetops in a canopy crane 🙂
www.plant-ecology.info/kroof-kranzb...
October 8, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Great to visit the Kransberg ROOF experiment at the Technical University of Munich, studying the effects of drought on a mixed temperate forest 🌲🌳
Always fun to fly above the treetops in a canopy crane 🙂
www.plant-ecology.info/kroof-kranzb...
Always fun to fly above the treetops in a canopy crane 🙂
www.plant-ecology.info/kroof-kranzb...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
📢 Vacancy: I am urgently recruiting a PhD candidate to join a project on selection processes in pedunculate oak.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
October 3, 2025 at 8:09 AM
📢 Vacancy: I am urgently recruiting a PhD candidate to join a project on selection processes in pedunculate oak.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Trust me to be giving a talk at the Moray Climate Action Network Climate Conference on the day a severe storm arrives in the area. I'll be talking about the influence of climate change on storms in this part of Scotland as well as my experiences with climate change denial. www.moraycan.org.uk
October 3, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Trust me to be giving a talk at the Moray Climate Action Network Climate Conference on the day a severe storm arrives in the area. I'll be talking about the influence of climate change on storms in this part of Scotland as well as my experiences with climate change denial. www.moraycan.org.uk
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to repeal the UK’s Climate Change Act, a move so reckless it demands more scrutiny than polite debate. This matters not just for polar bears or coral reefs, but for our people, our economy, our very future.
#ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Kemi Badenoch vows to repeal Climate Change Act
Tory leader says she would replace it with ‘cheap energy’ strategy, ending decades-long consensus on climate
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to repeal the UK’s Climate Change Act, a move so reckless it demands more scrutiny than polite debate. This matters not just for polar bears or coral reefs, but for our people, our economy, our very future.
#ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
This quiet shutdown of one-third of the USA's climate adaptation capacity will happen this week.
Despite broad political support, one third of the nation's Climate Adaptation Science Centers will wind down in coming days due to lack of funds.
The Northeast, South Central, and Pacific Islands will be left without actionable science on drought, floods, wildfire, sea level rise and other hazards.
The Northeast, South Central, and Pacific Islands will be left without actionable science on drought, floods, wildfire, sea level rise and other hazards.
Trump officials shut off funding for climate adaptation centers
A third of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers are expected to drastically wind down and possibly close after Sept. 30.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
This quiet shutdown of one-third of the USA's climate adaptation capacity will happen this week.
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
If 2 years ago UKGov had set a 20mph urban/village default at the same time as Wales then since then there would have been 30,000 fewer injuries and fatalities on English roads and drivers/business would have saved £4bn in insurance premiums. bit.ly/4gIBPlJ
September 29, 2025 at 7:44 AM
If 2 years ago UKGov had set a 20mph urban/village default at the same time as Wales then since then there would have been 30,000 fewer injuries and fatalities on English roads and drivers/business would have saved £4bn in insurance premiums. bit.ly/4gIBPlJ
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Yes! If we want people to listen to science, then don’t put it all behind a bloody paywall.
In general I think it's hard to combat scientific misinformation when some of the best research is locked behind an academic paywall, while lots of nonsense gets published free for everyone to read in predatory journals.
September 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Yes! If we want people to listen to science, then don’t put it all behind a bloody paywall.