Former Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees has a new job – as an honorary professor at Bristol University. Mr Rees, who stepped down as mayor of Bristol in May after eight years in the role, has been appointed as an ‘honorary industrial professor’, and will work for the university’s Cabot Institute for the Environment to continue his work with cities around the world to overcome the challenges posed by climate change.
Mr Rees said he was ‘very excited’ about the role and it was ‘an honour to be joining the team’.
A spokesperson for the university said that the term ‘industrial professor’ is used for individuals who are ‘not academics but who are distinguished in their field’ and the status is initially conferred for three years. The vice-chancellor of Bristol University, Prof Evelyn Welch said Mr Rees would be welcomed onto the team.
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“The new role further builds on existing work with partners in Bristol and across the globe to help cities address and adapt to the adverse consequences of climate change,” a spokesperson for the uni said. “Marvin will be working closely with researchers from all academic disciplines including climate policy and climate justice specialist Dr Alix Dietzel, who has been driving forward the just transition and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with One City Partners,” he added.
Mr Rees’ time as Mayor of Bristol saw the city council forge close links with the University of Bristol, and perhaps one of the longest lasting legacies of his eight years at City Hall will prove to be the expansion of the University of Bristol after the council deal with university bosses to develop a site next to Temple Meads station.
“The world is increasingly coming to terms with the twin realities that the battle against climate change will largely be won or lost in our cities, while its far-reaching repercussions will have the biggest impact on the greatest number through the cities where we live,” the former mayor said.
“I’m very excited about this role and it’s an honour to be joining the team. The University of Bristol has been a really important City Partner during my time in office and the Cabot Institute has an excellent reputation for its world-leading climate research.
“I look forward to further raising the profile of these expertise and strengthening these alliances on a global scale for the benefit of all, especially those most disadvantaged by the effects of climate change,” he added.
“I’m from a family of migrants who lived in slums and I grew up poor myself, living in deprived areas of Bristol. It has always been my mission to make the world a fairer, better place, and this work to supercharge social change is another expression of that,” he said.
At this point, a month after leaving City Hall, Mr Rees had hoped to be on the campaign trail to be elected as an MP in Bristol. Last summer, he stood to be the Labour candidate in the new Bristol North East constituency, and would be favourite to be elected to Parliament, however, the Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan, beat him to the Labour nomination and it is he that is currently canvassing for votes ahead of the July 4 General Election.
Mr Rees forged a name for himself, sometimes controversially, as a champion of the role of cities across the world, often travelling around the globe to attend conferences on the subject of climate change, while Mayor of Bristol.
It was a role this new job at Bristol University looks set to continue. “The problems will be most concentrated in cities, but they also have immense potential to generate solutions,” Mr Rees said.
“More than just political will, it will take billions of pounds to pay for these seismic changes. So getting much-needed finance to the Global South, where urbanisation is happening faster and the devastating impacts of climate change are most acute, is absolutely essential. I’m looking forward to working together with colleagues, supporting city, national, and international leaders to meet these challenges which will take a huge one team approach,” he added.
Prof Guy Howard, the director of the Cabot Institute, said Mr Rees’ contacts book will come in useful in the role. “Marvin has a strong track record of working on climate and environment issues, especially on ensuring a just transition to net zero and climate adaptation, which are key aims of the Cabot Institute,” he said.
“Through his work with the global network of City Mayors, Marvin has developed a fantastic network of key decision-makers. We will now be able to engage with these networks, sharing crucial evidence from the research at the University and making a greater impact thanks to these new relationships.
“Marvin’s experience and knowledge of how cities work combined with how to effect change brings the Cabot Institute – and the University more widely – new insights, which will be a fantastic resource for our academic community and partners,” he added.
Mr Rees will be working most closely with Dr Dietzel, the associate director for Impact and Innovation, at the Cabot Institute. She said: “My focus is ensuring the great research done here reaches policy makers and experts who can enact positive change. Cities and Mayors play a very important role in realising a just transition and sustainable development. Marvin’s experience and knowledge gained during his time as Bristol Mayor is invaluable and will help us to translate our research into policy action.
“Marvin is very well connected to strong networks of city leaders and climate policy makers at the highest levels. I very much look forward to working with him and ensuring that the Cabot Institute’s important work is represented in the most important decision-making spaces,” she added.
The boss of Bristol Uni, Prof Evelyn Welch, added: “I am delighted to welcome Marvin Rees to the Cabot Institute and University as a whole. He brings a great deal of unique experience into this new role, and we are all looking forward to working with him.
“The Cabot Institute is respected across the world for its leading research to improve our understanding of climate change and identify possible solutions. Marvin Rees has been a leader in creating a global network of Mayors who are committed to a just transition to Net Zero. He will be a great addition to our work on cities and climate change,” she said.