Dave Lowe’s journey with the atmosphere began in 1970 as a 23-year-old physics graduate, where he made the first measurements of carbon dioxide levels in New Zealand. The data he collected at Baring Head became an important part of David Keeling’s research into the seasonal changes of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere – and, due to the steadily increasing levels he charted over the years, an inescapable record of what humans were doing to the planet.

“I think everyone’s aware now that the climate is changing very rapidly, but this is a horror I’ve had to live with for over 50 years,” Lowe says.

So can we turn the tide? “The thing that Covid-19 has taught us was that when there’s an existential threat that’s in your face, human beings can collectively get up and do some remarkable things. And in the same way, human beings can get to grips with global heating and dramatically reduce carbon emissions. We know how to do this.”

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