John Barrett

Professor John Barrett is a leading academic in Energy and Climate Policy at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. He serves as a Theme Leader at the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC) and previously directed the Centre for Industrial Energy, Materials and Products (CIE-MAP), a £4 million UKRI-funded initiative. He was also Co-Director of the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS), where he led efforts to define the role of energy demand in achieving net zero emissions.

His research focuses on modeling production and consumption systems to enable low-carbon transitions. Key areas include energy demand, resource efficiency, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable materials use. Barrett's work bridges academia and policy, informing UK government departments, Select Committees, and the Committee on Climate Change.

Barrett was awarded an OBE in 2022 for his contributions to climate policy and served as a Lead Author for the IPCC Working Group III. His research has been instrumental in shaping national strategies for carbon reduction.

• Theme Leader, Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC)
• Former Director, Centre for Industrial Energy, Materials and Products (CIE-MAP)
• Former Co-Director, Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS)
• Lead Author, IPCC Working Group III
• Advisor to UK Government and Climate Change Committee

He has led major collaborative research grants focused on redefining how energy and materials are used across sectors to meet climate targets. His work emphasizes systemic change, policy integration, and transdisciplinary research approaches.

Barrett is affiliated with the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of Leeds, contributing to postgraduate research supervision and academic leadership in sustainability science.