Nathalie Seddon
Professor of Biodiversity
The Agile Initiative
at the Oxford Martin School
The Agile Initiative at the Oxford Martin School aims to revolutionise how world-class, high-impact research supports environmental policymaking.
For governments to make sound decisions about the environment, policymaking must be informed by the very best research. Yet science does not always seek to answer the same questions directly facing policymakers, nor does it move at the speed with which policy decisions need to be made.
Established with a major £10 million grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Agile Initiative is an ambitious effort to meet this challenge by responding to specific environmental policy questions with fast-paced research ‘Sprints’. In these Sprints, Oxford's world-leading academics and partners work together to feed evidence and science-led solutions into the policy cycle in real-time.
Sprints are chosen for their environmental importance to policy, potential impact, time-scale deliverability, and commitment to EDI considerations. More information on the Sprint research, including on how we do fast-paced impact-focused research, can be found on the Agile website.
Visit the Agile Initiative website
We don’t have much time to get humanity onto a sustainable trajectory. We need to act more swiftly and flexibly. The Agile Initiative intends to change how research and evidence guide environmental policy, whilst also catalysing a shift in the research culture. Agile is building a genuinely demand-led interdisciplinary research structure, able to work more efficiently and more cooperatively. There is a huge opportunity here for researchers in any discipline, especially early career researchers, to get involved and be the change they want to see.
The Agile Initiative's Sprints
Can we solve the ‘spin-up’ problem in Earth System Modelling?
This sprint developed a scalable and robust algorithm to speed up climate model simulations to over 10 times faster than conventional methods. The Sprint team was led by Professor Samar Khatiwala and collaborated with the UK Met Office. Publications include the paper ‘Efficient spin-up of Earth System Models using sequence acceleration’ and a ‘user manual for andacc python software for fast spin-up of Earth System Models’.
How can Brazil reach Net Zero emissions?
This Sprint designed a country-specific credible Net Zero pathway for Brazil that also supports biodiversity, wildlife conservation, human quality of life and food security. The Sprint research was conducted by Dr Aline Soterroni, which led to her being seconded to an advisory role at the Brazilian Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation. Publications include the paper ‘Nature-based solutions are critical for putting Brazil on track towards net-zero emissions by 2050’ and the policy brief ‘Nature-based solutions are key for meeting Brazil’s climate goals and supporting the economy’.
How can maritime shipping transition to green ammonia as fuel?
This Sprint brought together experts in green ammonia production, shipping and transport infrastructure to determine a pathway that industries and governments can follow to transition to green ammonia. The Sprint was led by Professors Rene Bañares-Alcántara and Jim Hall, offering expertise from the engineering and environmental sciences. Publications include the paper ‘Green ammonia imports could supplement long-duration energy storage in the UK’ and the recording of webinar which explains how maritime shipping can transition to green ammonia as fuel.
Latest news
Reflections on COP30 in Belém
Researchers from across the University of Oxford were at COP30 in Belém, taking part in side events, presenting new research, and working with partners to support the negotiations and inform the wider political process. They included the Directors of two of our major programmes, Nathalie Seddon from our Agile initiative and Thomas Hale from the Oxford Martin Programme on Climate Policy.
New plan aims to make public procurement a force for climate action
Today at COP30 in Belém, the Government of Brazil announced an ambitious plan to drive action on climate change using the power of public procurement. The Belém Declaration on Sustainable Public Procurement establishes concrete measures to move high-impact markets and production chains into alignment with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, including targets up to 2030 and sustainability indicators.
Pre-COP dialogue cements Oxford and Brazil partnership in forest conservation and climate finance innovation
Brazil’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Antonio Patriota, highlighted the country’s groundbreaking Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)—an ambitious financing mechanism that will reward nations for preserving tropical forests.
New algorithm supercharges climate models and could lead to better predictions of future climate change
Professor Samar Khatiwala, from the University of Oxford’s Department of Earth Sciences, has led a major advance to solve a critical issue in modelling future climate change. The findings have been published in Science Advances.
Publications
Advancing nature-based solutions through enhanced soil health monitoring in the United Kingdom
Efficient spin-up of Earth System Models using sequence acceleration
Optimal fuel supply of green ammonia to decarbonise global shipping
Nature-based solutions are critical for putting Brazil on track towards net-zero emissions by 2050
Forthcoming events
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