Christopher Lyon

Christopher Lyon is a Research Fellow in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York. His interdisciplinary work integrates environmental science, social science, and humanities to address Anthropocene challenges, focusing on long-term human-environmental futures, climate adaptation, and sustainable food systems. Previously, he held postdoctoral roles at McGill University and the University of Leeds, with a PhD in Geography from the University of Dundee (2017).

Education includes a PhD exploring 'Exploring power in the theory and practice of resilience' under Prof. Ioan Fazey, an MSc in Rural Sociology from the University of Alberta (2011), and a BA in International Development Studies from the University of Winnipeg (2008). His research combines empirical analysis with transdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing actionable insights for policy and practice.

Key projects include the White Rose-funded Refugia of Futures Past, modeling climate scenarios to 2500 to inform adaptation strategies. His work bridges climate science and societal adaptation, with contributions to journals like Global Change Biology and policy briefs for the Canadian Parliament. Media engagement includes The Conversation and international science news outlets.

Research interests span climate change mitigation/adaptation, phosphorus use in food systems, resilience theory, and stakeholder-driven sustainability transitions. He advocates for extended temporal horizons in climate research and ethical governance in healthcare policies like Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).