Kathryn, lately head of climate adaptation at the Climate Change Committee (CCC), receives the honour for her unique and extensive contribution to the UK's evidence base and understanding of climate risk. Her work has been instrumental in driving forward greater recognition across Government and key sectors on the need to adapt to climate change, alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Working within climate change policy and evidence for almost 20 years, Kathryn's standout achievement was her leadership of the Independent Assessment of Climate Risk to inform the government's third Climate Change Risk Assessment. This was a major undertaking, with Kathryn directing over 500 external experts over four years to produce thousands of pages of analysis. It will be a foundation stone of all that the UK Government and devolved administrations will do to adapt to climate change in the coming years.
In previous years, she also acted as head of carbon budgets and technical lead on adaptation evidence in Defra, as well as working as lead negotiator for the European Union under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Kathryn Brown says:
“I was very surprised and thrilled to be awarded an OBE, and I’m delighted that our work at the Climate Change Committee on climate risk and adaptation has been recognised in this way. The need to plan for unprecedented changes in our climate has not had the political attention it should have over the past ten years, but awareness and action are now rising up the agenda in the UK.
“This has been thanks to the work of hundreds of dedicated people – in academia, industry, NGOs and Government – who have spent years improving the evidence base, making the case for better policy and showing how it can be done on the ground. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside them and bring their expertise and deep knowledge into the Adaptation Committee's Independent Assessment of Climate Risk. I'm very proud of all we have achieved together."
As director for climate action for The Wildlife Trusts, Kathryn is supporting the 46 individual Wildlife Trusts to implement both emissions reduction strategies and adaptation plans, as well as representing the federation in calling for much stronger ambition and policy and action on addressing the climate and nature crises jointly.
Kathryn says:
“Progress is still far too slow on ensuring that vital natural carbon stores are protected and that habitats and species can adapt to the inevitable climate change that is already happening. The Wildlife Trusts have called strongly for much greater action across a range of key Government announcements in recent months. The UK signalled its intent to step up as a climate leader at COP26, yet it went on to publish weak strategies on agricultural payments and peatland protection straight afterwards.
“We need to keep making the case for greater action while showing how it can be done on the ground through the brilliant work of the Trusts, who collectively are one of the UK’s top ten land holders.”