Oxford climate scientist gets MBE in King’s Birthday Honours

Dr Stephen Michael Smith, from Oxford, was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list for his services to climate science.

The associate professor of Greenhouse Gas Removal at the University of Oxford and executive director of both Oxford Net Zero and the CO2RE research hub received a Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

He said: “I am grateful and surprised to find myself in such distinguished company.

“While many receive an honour for extraordinary achievements, I feel I have simply been doing my job, and it is a privilege to have such an engaging and fulfilling one.

“Particular thanks to my brilliant colleagues past and present who have made my work possible.”

Dr Smith has a background in atmospheric physics and UK climate policy, and applies climate science to decision-making.

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Oxford Net Zero brings together experts from anthropology to law, focused on achieving net-zero emissions globally.

CO2RE, backed by seven UK universities, develops and evaluates greenhouse gas removal techniques.

Dr Smith helped create tools such as the Net Zero Tracker and the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report, and has contributed to public education through books like Climate Crisis for Beginners and a Ladybird Book on Climate Change.

He previously worked at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), where he co-led the Climate Science Team and supported the UK’s net-zero legislation.

Dr Smith holds a PhD from Imperial College London and is a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.