Monochrome digital painting of a dramatic cloud formation over a flat landscape, featuring bold, textured brushstrokes and strong contrasts of light and shadow, evoking the clarity of a clean atmosphere and visions of climate futures.

‘The Historical Evolution of ‘Clean’ Bodies and Air in European Cultures: Implications for a ‘Clean’ Atmosphere and Imagined Climate Futures’

Mike Hulme | 15/04/2026

My colleague, Leon Hirt, and I have a review paper published today in WIREs Climate Change. The paper explores the historical evolution of the metaphor of ‘clean’ in the context of energy and climate policy. We show how the...

Book cover for the 2010 climate book "Merchants of Doubt," featuring the title over a background of white smoke rising against a blue sky.

My 2010 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Mike Hulme | 01/04/2026

Naomi Oreskes and Eric Conway (2010) Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. 368pp. This essay continues my series of monthly posts in which...

A word cloud on a black background featuring terms related to oral history, wellbeing, and climate history, such as "oral," "history," "wellbeing," "support," "climate," and "oral history interviews.

‘Making Climate History’ – Oral History Interviews

Mike Hulme | 25/03/2026

As part of the Leverhulme Trust research project ‘Making Climate History’**, which ran from 2019 to 2025, I oversaw the oral history element of the project which enabled us to conduct interviews with eleven climate scientists, and one climate...

Partial book cover with large blue text reading "SCIENCE AS A CONTACT SPORT" and smaller gold text "Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Climate," a 2009 climate book named Book of the Year.

My 2009 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Mike Hulme | 02/03/2026

Schneider,S.H. (2009) Science as a Contact Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Climate. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. 295pp. This essay continues my series of monthly posts in which I select one ‘climate’ book to highlight and review...

Book cover titled "Making Geography Matter: The Past and Present of a Changing Discipline," edited by Noel Castree, Trevor Barnes, and Jennifer Salmond.

‘Beyond Science – Climate Change in a “Wicked” World’

Mike Hulme | 17/02/2026

Following the link below, you can read the above autobiographical essay which appeared as Chapter 17 in the edited collection of essays ‘Making Geography Matter: The Past and Present of a Changing Discipline‘ (Routledge, 2025), edited by Noel Castree,...

The words "Climate Wars" are displayed over a blue-tinted image of the Earth with circular radar lines, evoking the urgency of the acclaimed 2008 Climate Book shortlisted for Book of the Year.

My 2008 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Mike Hulme | 02/02/2026

Dyer,G. (2008) Climate Wars: The Fight for Survival as the World Overheats. Toronto: Random House. 272pp. This essay continues my series of monthly posts in which I select one ‘climate’ book to highlight and review from one of the...

Climate Change: What Are We Allowed To Disagree About?

Mike Hulme | 20/01/2026

In October 2023, the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the American psychology professor, Deborah Prentice, delivered her first Annual Address to Senate House. Her address highlighted the imperative for university students to learn to “disagree well” about...

Line graph showing global surface air temperature changes from 1901 to 1987, illustrating a general rise in this world’s most important index over time.

‘When Temperature Became Global: A Brief History of the World’s Most Important Index’

Mike Hulme | 15/01/2026

Yesterday, my colleague Sarah Dry and I submitted the full manuscript of our forthcoming book ‘When Temperature Became Global’ to Princeton University Press. Following peer review, and any subsequent revisions, the book will enter production later this year and...

A large iceberg against a dark sky with the text, "The Climate Change Challenge and the Failure of Democracy," displayed on the right—nominated for Climate Book of the Year, 2007.

My 2007 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Mike Hulme | 02/01/2026

Shearman,D. and Smith,J.W. (2007) The Climate Change Challenge and the Failure of Democracy. Westport, CT: Praeger. 180pp. This essay continues my series of monthly posts in which I select one ‘climate’ book to highlight and review from one of...

Slide summarizing the 1985 Villach Conference, showcasing a city photo, group photo of scientists, and a diagram about climate change and greenhouse gases—highlighting early progress in addressing the Climate Issue and landmark climate achievements.

Framing ‘the Climate Issue’ 40 Years After the 1985 Villach Conference

Mike Hulme | 08/12/2025

You can find here a recording of this talk, ‘Framing “the Climate Issue” 40 Years After the 1985 Villach Conference: What Has Been Achieved and What is Still to Achieve?’, delivered on Monday 17 November 2025 in the Bradford...

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Mike Hulme

Professor Mike Hulme's Site

Author: Mike Hulme

‘The Historical Evolution of ‘Clean’ Bodies and Air in European Cultures: Implications for a ‘Clean’ Atmosphere and Imagined Climate Futures’

My 2010 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

‘Making Climate History’ – Oral History Interviews

My 2009 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

‘Beyond Science – Climate Change in a “Wicked” World’

My 2008 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Climate Change: What Are We Allowed To Disagree About?

‘When Temperature Became Global: A Brief History of the World’s Most Important Index’

My 2007 ‘Climate Book of the Year’

Framing ‘the Climate Issue’ 40 Years After the 1985 Villach Conference