Rupert Read
I’m an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, an author, a blogger, and – closest to my heart – a climate and environmental campaigner. I am an author of over a dozen books. Many of my books focus on Wittgensteinian philosophy, others on the climate crisis, and others still on the intersection between the two.
Until recently, I was a frequent spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. Previously, I was a spokesperson, national parliamentary candidate, European parliamentary candidate and councillor for the Green Party of England and Wales. I also formerly chaired the ecological think tank Green House.
I have extensive experience arguing for the environment in media. I have written for The Guardian, The Independent and The Ecologist and many other newspapers and websites. I have also appeared as a frequent guest on Radio 4’s Free Thinking, BBC 2’s Politics Live and several shows on LBC Radio.
I have submitted evidence to parliamentary select committees and provided research briefings to All Party Parliamentary Groups of MPs and Lords. I have met with ministers and shadow ministers and providing briefings to them about the climate crisis and deep green policies.
Our world needs a positive and radical change. We need governments that put our health, wellbeing and shared ecological security before the interests of big business and the pursuit endless economic ‘growth’.
We need action, and soon, against the values of greed and materialism that have placed us upon the precipice of catastrophic climate and ecological collapse. Instead, we need to value the good things about humanity; our ability to share, to care, to have fun, to communicate and to think intelligently and creatively about our own futures.
And we need a new way of thinking, about politics, about philosophy, and about our role in the world. My website contains a collection of my thoughts in these areas. My writings and media appearances address an eclectic mix of issues around the climate and ecological emergencies, and how we ought to respond to them. I hope that you find something here of what you’re looking for.