Professor Myles Allen stands as a preeminent climate scientist whose groundbreaking work has fundamentally reshaped global climate policy frameworks and scientific understanding. He currently serves as Director of Oxford Net Zero and Professor of Geosystem Science at the University of Oxford, holding dual appointments in the School of Geography and the Environment and the Department of Physics. Allen leads the Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics division within the Physics Department, having completed his DPhil at Oxford in 1992 after earning his undergraduate degree in Physics and Philosophy. His distinguished career began with the founding of the Climate Prediction project, which remains the world's largest climate modeling experiment and has engaged millions of citizen scientists worldwide. Allen's professional trajectory exemplifies the critical bridge between rigorous climate science and actionable environmental governance at the highest levels.
Allen's most transformative contribution emerged in 2005 when he introduced the concept of a finite carbon budget, demonstrating that cumulative carbon dioxide emissions directly determine global mean surface warming and establishing the scientific foundation for net zero emissions targets. His pioneering research proved that halting global warming requires reaching net zero CO2 emissions, a principle that has since become central to international climate policy including the Paris Agreement. As a Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, Allen translated this scientific insight into concrete policy pathways that have guided national climate strategies worldwide. His development of statistical methods for climate attribution has enabled precise quantification of human influence on climate change, providing the evidentiary basis for climate litigation and policy accountability across multiple jurisdictions.
Beyond his research, Allen has become a pivotal figure in climate policy through his leadership of Oxford Net Zero, which coordinates interdisciplinary expertise to track and accelerate global progress toward net zero commitments. He actively advocates for scientifically grounded yet politically viable climate solutions, emphasizing the need for Geological Net Zero which balances ongoing carbon dioxide production from geological sources with carbon capture and storage technologies. Allen's influence extends through his numerous accolades including the Appleton Medal and Prize, his CBE for services to climate change attribution and prediction, and his Fellowship in the Royal Society which recognizes his exceptional contributions to science. His recent 2024 lecture at Gresham College addresses the critical need for constructive political dialogue on climate solutions in an increasingly polarized electoral landscape, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to translating complex climate science into actionable pathways for meaningful global climate action.
