Neil Carter

Professor Neil Carter is a faculty member in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York. Specializing in environmental politics and policy, his research focuses on climate policy, political parties, and British politics. He is a Co-Investigator on the Norwegian Research Council-funded project ‘Political Parties and Climate Change: Positions, Polarisation and Policy Relevance’ (PARTYCLIM), led by Dr. Fay Farstad. His work analyzes the interplay between political actors and environmental governance, with notable contributions to understanding party positions on climate change and the implications of Brexit on UK environmental policy.

Professor Carter’s research interests span climate policy dynamics, the role of interest groups, and the evolution of political parties’ environmental stances. His book The Politics of the Environment (3rd ed., 2018) remains a key text in the field. He has also contributed extensively to studies of UK general elections, particularly the role of environmental issues and the Green Party’s influence.

His recent work examines the UK’s transition to net-zero goals, the Conservative Party’s environmental policy shifts, and the challenges of post-Brexit environmental governance in regions like Wales and Northern Ireland. Collaborations with international scholars and institutions underscore his global perspective on climate politics.

Professor Carter holds a prominent role in academic networks, co-authoring studies on environmental governance in China and contributing to EU environmental policy analyses. His interdisciplinary approach bridges political science, environmental studies, and public policy.