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
More Amazon sustainability science at COP30 today!
November 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
More Amazon sustainability science at COP30 today!
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
Our next COP30 event -
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Our next COP30 event -
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
Our next COP30 event -
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Our next COP30 event -
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
tomorrow (Saturday)
Global Carbon Budget
AmazonFACE
Science Panel for the Amazon
Science Panel for Borneo
Science Panel for the Congo Basin
Today!
If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃
November 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Today!
Reposted by Prof Richard Betts
If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃
If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
If you’re at COP30 please join us to discuss what the world would be like without forests! UK pavilion Thursday 16:30 - 18:00 including food and drink after 😃
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...