Chris Jones

A SCIENCE teacher has quit the classroom to become a full-time climate activist after finding his inspiring school lessons were not having the impact he had hoped for.

Chris Jones, who lives in Camden Town and was head of chemistry at East Barnet secondary school, now tours the country raising awareness about the environmental disaster.

e has also set up a company that carries out research for groups including Extinction Rebellion that looks at practical solutions to the climate crisis, including future technologies like developing hydrogen as an energy source.

Mr Jones said: “At school we did a lot of climate projects, so I spent a lot of time teaching the next generation. Then I met some of my students who were now 30-year-olds and I thought: ‘Have you saved the world, have you solved these crises? No.’

“I sought out Extinction Rebellion three years ago and started working on climate change projects as well, looking at the solutions for climate change. That’s really my passion now.”

He added: “We’ve dealt with ozone depletion, the ozone layer is significantly fixing itself, acid rain – we’ve dealt with that problem. As a species we have not dealt with this much more significant problem. Why is that, why is it still here? That was the problem that kept hitting me.”

Mr Jones takes part in a climate change talk series that met with Camden and north London residents last summer. The talks are around half an hour long and are followed by short stories from activists about global warming and a vegan meal.

Mr Jones set up Hexis Plus, a company that carries out climate research for Extinction Rebellion and other groups, investigating potential solutions and looking at public responses to the emergency.

He has interviewed 20 leading scientists about climate change and proposed future technologies, including carbon capture, extensive tree planting, and hydrogen energy. His most recent work is on the impact of reducing “atmospheric pollutants” during the pandemic when everyone “stopped driving and flying and moving boats around”.

Now, as emissions continue to rise, people need to work together to put pressure on governments to urgently cut carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, he said.

Mr Jones said: “Being present on the streets or taking part in activism, these are solutions. I’m here because I want to make a difference, as do a lot of people. I’ve never been happier than around activists and people working together to achieve change.”