Data, democracy and decarbonisation: inside our latest podcast episode
Isaac Beevor on strategy, scorecards and why democracy isn’t a spectator sport
Isaac Beevor, partnerships director at Climate Emergency UK, is the latest guest on The Decarbonisation Dialogue podcast, where he reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to climate action - from a lifelong love of nature to an unexpected grounding in competitive table tennis.
Founded in 2019, Climate Emergency UK works with residents, councils and campaigners to drive climate action at the local level, while also influencing national policy. In episode 36 of our popular podcast series, Isaac explains how his background in grassroots organising and local government campaigning continues influence his work.
Isaac began his climate career in Metro Vancouver, managing volunteers and supporting campaigns for low-emission buildings policies. He also helped introduce an annual system for measuring and reporting climate action across the region.
Away from policy, Isaac credits sport and nature with shaping how he thinks about strategy and change.
He says: “I used to play table tennis as a junior, which sport was, I guess, foundational and core elements of my life when I was younger.
“It provided me a lot of lessons actually, and I'm really happy to be still involved in it.”
He also recalls a childhood fascination with wildlife documentaries and family camping trips, which helped nurture a deep connection to the natural world.
A turning point for him came after reading the IPCC reports around the 2015 Paris Agreement. He says: “It was kind of terrifying… to actually understand that we were putting at risk the foundations of our society because of the actions of burning emissions and using fossil fuels.”
He says the second catalyst came with the Extinction Rebellion protests in London, which pushed him from concern into action.
I remember seeing this wave of action of people like demonstratively on the streets, calling for more climate action. And it's the first time I'd really, actually paid attention. And I remember thinking that it was just something that I needed to get involved in.
It was something that I needed to do and to take part in, no matter what that looked like.
At Climate Emergency UK, Isaac now focuses on the importance of data and accountability in driving local climate progress.
The organisation’s flagship project, the Council Climate Action Scorecards, compares climate action across every UK council. Crucially, it publishes results for all councils, not just high performers.
He also explains Climate Emergency UK’s Local Climate Academy which is a free training programme for campaigners, councillors and council officers. Drawing on best practice highlighted in the scorecards, the academy equips participants with practical knowledge about councils’ powers and how to accelerate local climate action.
Looking ahead, Isaac stresses the need to keep climate action rooted in everyday benefits. From lower energy bills to improved health and more resilient communities, he argues that the co-benefits of climate action are often the most persuasive.
Ultimately, Isaac believes change depends on participation. “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” he says.
This is a lesson that underpins both his personal choices and Climate Emergency UK’s mission to empower people to push for action where it matters most: locally.
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