Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.

EPISODE 37: Why nature loss is a national security risk, with James Bullock

Recorded live at an Extinction Rebellion Love & Rage event, Clare and Charlie are joined by Professor James Bullock for a special "live" episode to unpack what climate breakdown is already doing to nature in Britain and beyond and what it means for our security. They explain how extreme heat, drought and fire are scorching ecosystems, why species can't keep pace as the seasons shift out of sync, and why collapse is "a process, not an event". They explore what failing ecosystems mean for our food and livelihoods and why the government's redacted report on nature collapse and national security matters. Finally, they ask: what can we actually do about all this?

REFERENCES

Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security (UK Government national security assessment, January 2026, redacted version)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0eae719d837d69afc7de/National_security_assessment_-_global_biodiversity_loss__ecosystem_collapse_and_national_security.pdf

Zack Polanski demands full release of report warning of ecosystem collapse (Novara Media, 9 Sept 2026)
https://novaramedia.com/2026/09/09/zack-polanski-demands-full-release-of-report-warning-of-ecosystem-collapse/

In the Climate Emergency, Conservation Must Become Survival Ecology (Gardner & Bullock, Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2021)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.659912

Tritrophic phenological match-mismatch in space and time: oaks, caterpillars and birds (Woodland Trust Nature's Calendar) https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/analysis/research-reports/2017/tritrophic-phenological-match-mismatch-in-space-and-time/

Mountain pine beetle outbreaks and climate change in British Columbia (Forests.org)
https://forests.org/foresters-blog-mountain-pine-beetle/

The continuing plight of Lough Neagh (British Wildlife)
https://www.britishwildlife.com/?p=30154

30x30: guide to Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (IUCN)
https://iucn.org/resources/grey-literature/30x30-guide-inclusive-equitable-and-effective-implementation-target-3

Zero Hour campaign
https://www.zerohour.uk

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Charlie Gardner
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James Bullock @jmbecologist.bsky.social

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Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.

EPISODE 36: Net Zero boosts economy and Trump accelerates transition

In this week's episode Clare and Charlie discuss the boost to the economy the push for Net Zero is delivering in the UK. They also discuss how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is accelerating decarbonization around the world.

REFERENCES The Race for Net Zero - CBI Economics

https://ca1-eci.edcdn.com/The_UK_Net-Zero-Economy_in_202_June_2026.pdf?v=1780384001

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Please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate!
https://ko-fi.com/worldinflux

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.

EPISODE 35: A food crisis is coming this year and the government is unprepared

In this episode Clare and Charlie discuss how a perfect storm is brewing that will result in a coming food crisis this year and what you can do to prepare. They cover how the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting fertilizer supplies and increasing fuel prices, while a developing El Niño weather event is going to exacerbate already difficult growing conditions. All this against a background of a fragile food system and an unprepared government means we need to organise to keep ourselves safe.
This isn't the final word in terms of things to think and do. It's really important to think about the near term impacts, but it's a huge topic and there is much more to cover in future episodes.

REFERENCES

Britain ‘sleepwalking into a food crisis’ without urgent action, experts say - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/28/britain-sleepwalking-into-a-food-crisis-without-urgent-action-experts-say

Steve Keen – Things Fall Apart - Brave New Europe
https://braveneweurope.com/steve-keen-things-fall-apart

Industry body warns fuel crisis could leave crops rotting in UK fields - The Guardian
https://www.farminguk.com/news/industry-body-warns-fuel-crisis-could-leave-crops-rotting-in-uk-fields_68483.html

'Unpredictable and extreme’: Asia braces for El Niño - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/05/el-nino-asia-unpredictable-extreme-weather-climate-change-crisis

Pro-Social Hoarding - George Monbiot
https://www.monbiot.com/2025/03/20/pro-social-hoarding/

A food revolution: campaigners in Liège want all the region’s produce to be grown locally. Can they do it? - The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jul/16/the-good-life-in-liege-the-start-of-a-food-revolution

Planting Value in the Food System - The Vegan Society
https://www.plantingvalueinfood.org/

Eating Away at Climate Change with Negative Emissions - Helen Harwatt and Matthew Hayek
https://animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/Eating-Away-at-Climate-Change-with-Negative-Emissions%E2%80%93%E2%80%93Harwatt-Hayek.pdf

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Please, share, comment, subscribe, like, mobilise, and donate! https://ko-fi.com/worldinflux