Rebecca Willis is an independent researcher. Her work focuses on environmental politics and policymaking at both a national and local level. Rebecca convenes Green Alliance’s Climate Leadership Programme for MPs, and advises the Lake District National Park on climate change. In May 2011 she was appointed as a Council Member of the Natural Environment Research Council. She writes on issues such as climate change, energy policy, public attitudes to the environment, government spending and taxation, and the environmental and social impact of new technologies.
From 2004-11 Rebecca was Vice-Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, working with government ministers, advisers and officials to ensure that government policy reflects sustainability goals.
Her freelance portfolio has included work with a range of organisations including Co-operatives UK, Ashridge Business School, Cranfield University and The University of Leeds. Current and recent projects include:
- Low-Carbon Lake District: Development of a carbon budget for the Lake District, to ensure a strategic response to climate change action within the National Park.
- The Disrupters: Lessons for low-carbon innovation from the new wave of environmental pioneers, a profile of eight innovators – The Disrupters – who are pioneering solutions to climate change.
- A Green Living Initiative, co-authored with Professor Paul Ekins and published by the Policy Studies Institute, analysing the role of tax incentives in promoting sustainable households.
- Advice to the Cumbria Strategic Partnership on measures to reduce carbon emissions across Cumbria.
- Taking part in the judging panel for NESTA’s Big Green Challenge, a community carbon reduction initiative with a £1 million prize fund.
Rebecca is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars, and has contributed to a range of media including BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme, The Guardian, New Statesman and specialist environmental press. She is an Associate of the think-tank Demos, and of environmental group Green Alliance. From 2001-4 she was Green Alliance’s Director. Previously, Rebecca spent two years as a policy adviser at the European Parliament in Brussels, specialising in international environmental issues.
Rebecca has a degree in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge, and a masters degree in Environment, Development and Policy from the University of Sussex.
