Rate My Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh

Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh is a Professor of Environmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath. She earned her BA in Theology and Religious Studies with French from the University of Kent in 1997, MSc in Science, Culture and Communication from the University of Bath in 2000, PhD in Psychology from the University of Bath in 2005, and a Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning from Cardiff University in 2010. Currently, she serves as Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change since 2024. Whitmarsh is recognized for her contributions to climate change research, having been awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List.

Her research focuses on perceptions and behaviours related to climate change, energy, and transport, encompassing studies on energy efficiency, waste reduction, electric vehicles, low-carbon lifestyles, and climate responses. She has secured prestigious European Research Council grants, including the Starting Grant for Low-Carbon Lifestyles and Behavioural Spillover (CASPI, 2014–2019) and the Consolidator Grant for Moments of Change for pro-environmental behaviour shifts (MOCHA, 2019–). As a Lead Author for the IPCC Working Group II Sixth Assessment Report, she influences global climate policy. Key publications include "Barriers perceived to engaging with climate change among the UK public and their policy implications" (Global Environmental Change, 2007), "Green identity, green living? The role of pro-environmental self-identity in determining consistency across diverse pro-environmental behaviours" (Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2010), "Scepticism and uncertainty about climate change: Dimensions, determinants and change over time" (Global Environmental Change, 2011), "Behavioural responses to climate change: Asymmetry of intentions and impacts" (Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2009), and "Psychological research and global climate change" (American Psychologist, 2015). Whitmarsh advises governmental bodies, provides expert evidence to Parliament, chairs committees, and serves on editorial boards for journals such as WIREs Climate Change and Energy Research & Social Science.