Biography (link to his university web-page)

Chris is currently researching for a PhD in Climate Change and Sustainability at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at Manchester University. His research is into governance of bioenergy and agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how it can access to clean, sustainable energy in the Global South. He has previous expertise in modelling, having gained his MSc in Climate Modelling and Policy from Bristol and his BSc in Biology in Manchester.

He has been part of an Eden team in Salford for the past 4 years with his wife Lucy based around the Islington and Trinity estates.

Abstract

Chris will talk about some of his experiences in Malawi in places where climate change is already directly impacting vulnerable communities and how we in the UK can engage with these issues. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and it represents a significant challenge to provide communities classed as ultra-poor with access to clean energy and related financial and health benefits. The vast majority of the population of Malawi (in 2010 91.3%) reside in rural areas, with limited infrastructure and energy access (approx. 1% have access), and even in urban areas electricity access (although growing) is low. Many Malawians still rely on charcoal and other forms of biomass to cook, leading to health impacts and significant deforestation. He will explain how good systems of governance of in the bioenergy and agricultural practice sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, and how it can stimulate sustainable development and improve access to clean, sustainable energy in the Global South.

He will reflect on how we can pray for resilience in vulnerable communities as well as making ourselves more aware of the global impacts of climate change.