Why expertise alone isn't enough in climate policy

"Scientists often have this naïve idea that if we generate information and provide it to the decisionmakers in our society, then they will use that information to make wise decisions that benefit us all. This assumes that we scientists are the only people that decisionmakers listen to, but the reality is that many private, corporate interests are also trying to influence political decisionmaking, and they are doing it not with graphs and data, but huge amounts of money... Ultimately scientists alone cannot bring about the transformative policies we need because policy-making is not just about information. It’s about power and influence, and I think the only way to challenge the power of these corporate interests is through collective action and people power." My interview with Design Decode - If any of this rings true to you, please join Scientist Rebellion or, in the UK, Scientists for Extinction Rebellion https://lnkd.in/emGMweY3

"We're canceling the project." Those words hit hard. Not because the technology wasn't solid - it was. The efficiency gains were also impressive. “But why?!?” I sputtered as I struggled to understand Chevron’s decision, powerless to change the outcome. Shortly after that day I found myself out of a job... and I finally realized the problem. Technical expertise alone isn't enough. You must use words your audience cares about. I hadn’t explained to the decision-makers the financial impact the project would have. I focused solely on the technology itself and the features, barely mentioning the efficiency gains. Worse yet, I completely failed to translate the time savings into actual dollars, the metric they cared about the most. I discovered the deadliest career-breakers are the gaps you don’t even know you have. Things like: - Attention to the macro forces shaping energy - Financial awareness - Communicating with non-technical people Spend some time thinking about how you communicate the valuable work you do. Translate those activities into impact. And then calculate a dollar amount for each item, no matter how fuzzy you think the math is. Your career will thank you.

Nobody tells you this about breaking into climate policy & global advocacy. You work hard. Attend the conferences. Build experience. But somehow, it still feels like you’re on the outside looking in. Because this field doesn’t just run on expertise. It runs on a whole set of unspoken rules no one warns you about. Here are a few I’ve learned along the way: 1. Your voice matters more than your title. I’ve been in rooms with world leaders, policymakers, and industry giants. The people who make an impact? They aren’t always the most senior. They’re the ones who speak up, ask the right questions, and bring fresh ideas to the table. 2. Most opportunities don’t come from applications- they come from action. Some of the biggest breaks in my career didn’t come from filling out forms. They came from showing up, contributing, and building relationships. The best way to get noticed is to do the work before anyone asks you to. 3. Visibility isn’t bragging- it’s how change happens. You can be working on the most incredible projects, but if no one knows about them, they won’t open doors. Share your insights. Document your journey. Talk about the work that matters to you. The right people will notice. 4. Adaptability is more valuable than expertise. Climate policy, energy transition, and global negotiations move fast. Strategies shift, funding changes, crises emerge overnight. The people who thrive? They’re the ones who can pivot, communicate clearly, and find solutions in real time. Stop waiting for permission. There’s no “perfect moment” to start. If you have an idea, an initiative, a perspective that needs to be heard- put it out there. The people making a difference aren’t waiting for approval. They’re creating their own space. Speaking of opportunities- if you’re looking to step into this space, here are a few worth exploring: 📌 Global Climate Fellowships – Programs designed to equip young leaders with the tools to shape policy and drive climate action.(https://lnkd.in/g5qqTZXi) 📌 International Climate Conferences – If you want to influence global policy, you need to be where decisions happen. Find ways to attend, contribute, and engage. (https://lnkd.in/gs_BsZSA) 📌 ImpactShip – A curated list of funding, fellowships, and climate leadership opportunities straight to your inbox. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/g-KGP9qi You don’t need to wait for someone to give you a seat at the table. Start building your own !! Follow me Zainab Bie for more such content !

Climate change is not just a carbon problem— It’s a systems problem. A justice problem. A behavior and governance problem. As scientists, we often bring deep expertise to these challenges. But sometimes, we fall into a quiet trap: 👉 We frame the problem to fit our tools. 👉 We mistake precision for completeness. 👉 We forget that being right is not the same as being effective. In this short reflection, I share what I’m learning—and unlearning—about how scientific expertise can help or hinder climate and air quality solutions.