- U.K.
Mike Berners-Lee Keynote Speaker
- Author of 'A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How to Get It' (2025) and 'There is no Planet B, a Handbook for the Make or Break Years'
- Founder of Small World Consulting
- Professor at Lancaster University's Institute for Social Futures
Mike Berners-Lee's Biography
Mike Berners-Lee is an international keynote speaker on sustainability, climate change and on how we can each address this urgent and overarching 21st century challenge. His approach includes high level thinking about policy and best practices along with innovative views on how AI and other tech innovations can be a force for ‘net good’ in this work. In his talks, Mikes combines cutting edge science, pragmatic solutions to building a better world and he delivers always with enthusiasm, positivity and passion.
In February 2025 he was awarded The Planet Earth Award by the Alliance of World Scientists
In March 2025, he saw the publication of his latest book ‘A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How to Get It‘ . In this book, Mike calls for radically-higher standards of honesty in politics, media and business as a catalyst to achieve change.. He look at this challenge from new angles, to gain perspective, digging deeper under the surface to uncover the root causes, joining up every element of the challenges we face and learning from our failures so far.
His book, There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years is a bestselling practical and holistic tour of the 21st century’s biggest challenges, laced throughout with practical guidance for individuals, businesses and politicians. About his first book, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything, Bill Bryson wrote “I can’t think of the last time I read a book that was more fascinating, and useful and enjoyable all at the same time”. His previous book was The Burning Question, explores the big picture on climate change and the underlying global dynamics, asking what mix of politics, economics, psychology and technology are really required to deal with the problem.
Al Gore described it as “Fascinating, important and highly recommended”.
Mike is the founder of Small World Consulting, an associate company of Lancaster University, which is a world leader in the field of supply chain carbon metrics and management. Small World works with organisations of all sizes and sectors, from the world’s largest tech giants to SMEs. Mike is a professor at Lancaster University, where his research includes sustainable food systems and carbon metrics. He has made numerous speaking, radio and television broadcast appearances to promote public awareness of sustainability and climate change issues, and most notably appeared in Climate Change: The Facts alongside Sir David Attenborough.
Mike has a degree in Physics from Oxford University, a PGCE from Bangor, and an MSc in Organisational Development and Consulting from Sheffield Hallam University.
Mike Berners-Lee's Speaking Topics
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Company wide Communications on Sustainability Motivation, Engagement and Cultural Transformation.
Mike is often asked to lay out the big-picture global challenge to internal company audiences, to help enable and encourage staff engagement and cultural transformation on sustainability. Mike’s talks can be the pivotal moment a company culture wakes up to the biggest challenges of our times. He describes the issues we face with realism and without compromise, but leaves his audience motivated, inspired, and knowing what they can do next.
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Investing for a Sustainable Future
Every spend and every investment pushes for a one type of future or another. Mike guides asset managers and financial advisers to better understand the Anthropocene-fitness of their portfolios; the risks and opportunities faced by each company in a transitioning world. How well is each company placed to thrive as carbon is taken out of the economy and the world undergoes deep systemic change. And to what extent does each company enables that change ?
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Energy Transition – the priorities and bottle necks
Mike outlines the technological pathway to global clean energy transition and shows how this is entirely practical, bringing opportunities to almost every industry. He explores the barriers and how these can be overcome. Most importantly, how can we and our companies be part of the solution?
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AI and Climate Impact - Friend or Foe ?
AI presents huge opportunities and risks. Mike explores what it might take for it to be a force for 'net good'in the world including helping us to deal with climate change. He also explores humanity’s relationship with technology, now and how this will change.
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Education for the Anthropocene
The next generation face radically different challenges and opportunities to any before it. These will require new thinking skills, habits and values. What are these and how can how can they be developed in our schools and universities?
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Business Purpose and Ethics for the 2020s
A fresh look at business purpose and ethics as well as the practicalities of low carbon transition.
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