Prof. Christian Dunn

Natural scientist · Professor · Speaker · Former reporter & news editor · BBC documentary maker

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

I went to Ukraine to investigate how missile and drone strikes are contaminating farmland.

Are explosions poisoning the soil? Could it ruin future harvests?

Our @BBCRadio4 documentary uncovers startling results.

A sobering trip to a country at war.
https://t.co/juNfOZf3MZ

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Government announces nearly £50million boost to protect England's peatlands.

Good to see some of this is earmarked for training so we will have the skills to deliver much-needed peatland restoration projects.

https://t.co/3hPT541Llb

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Dealing with #climatechange is too important an issue to be so politicised.

[GB News @GBNEWS]

‘An ill-throughout policy when it comes to cutting emissions.’

Professor Christian Dunn says it is ‘ridiculous’ that air conditioning is being politicised, believing it’s turning the public against the need to do something for the planet.

📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Natural England isn't about to start strafing Dartmoor's ponies.
In places over-grazing is affecting biodiversity, it needs to be carefully reduced if we want to restore parts of Dartmoor (& other areas of the UK).
Some @NaturalEngland clarification:

https://t.co/F6TWbWRtAu

[Steven Swinford @Steven_Swinford]

Exclusive from @oliver_wright

Dartmoor ponies could be subject to mass culling to reduce the impact on biodiversity after a controversial ruling by the government’s environmental quango

Natural England has demanded that all livestock grazing on the moor is reduced by about 75 per cent to protect other habitats, plants and species

The move looks set to result in the culling of up to nine in ten of the semi-wild ponies as farmers prioritise their own cattle and sheep to remain within Natural England’s limit to minimise the impact on their own livelihoods

Natural England argued that the move was necessary to protect the diversity of Dartmoor, which is a designated site of special scientific interest

However, the plan goes against a government commissioned review into the future of Dartmoor, published two years ago, which concluded that Natural England “should not take actions likely to result in a reduction in pony numbers”, adding they were “invaluable for conservation grazing”

The move has led to claims that the quango is acting as judge, jury and executioner of the ponies — a species which is itself seen as endangered

Dartmoor ponies could be put to death under biodiversity plans

https://t.co/s8L8nBJwlk

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

I've had a quick drink with Paul and heard him speak at an event. He is dangerously inspirational!!
This can be what happens when the State comes up against a very switched on, knowledgeable and passionate individual, who is able to speak its language.

[Paul Powlesland @paulpowlesland]

“I don’t give a shit what your system is, what does it mean for the river?”

I genuinely never thought I would have to challenge the British state in order to protect the river I love, but here we are. Massive thanks to Channel 4 for spending so much time & care in detailing the incredible work done by volunteer river guardians on the River Roding: I am going to use the description of us descending on litter like a “squadron of community-minded locusts” again!

Whilst I no longer shocked at the indifference of public bodies like the EA & local councils to the desperate plight of our rivers, it has genuinely surprised me that @EnvAgency thinks it is a good use of their powers to prosecute volunteers for doing their job for them by restoring rivers, especially when there are serious illegal sewage discharges nearby that they have done nothing about. Please withdraw your prosecution threats EA & work with us instead. The Roding could genuinely be a test case in how government & river guardians can work together to protect & restore our rivers.

https://t.co/vCBY3cPxmE

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Our Chester Wetland has been granted planning permission and has pulled together over £1m to make it a reality!

Not bad for an idea we came up with in the pub six years ago...

Great team effort by so many fantastic individuals and organisations!
https://t.co/BWitDRpcsl

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Should we nationalise the UK water sector? Let's be careful we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Good to give my thoughts on this to the BBC. Publicly owned doesn't necessarily mean better - but a serious, evidence-based debate is essential.

https://t.co/CSPdYDjmO2

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Golden eagles to be reintroduced to England.
This is fantastic. Ignore the doomsayers - we're never going to be inundated with these glorious birds causing slaughter & chaos. Let's have a little bit more wild in our country where we can!

https://t.co/2pqnQQ4yGL

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

USA could class microplastics & pharmaceuticals as contaminants in drinking water.

Lot to do here eg. identify harm each compound is doing, & toxic levels. However, this could lead to good things for water quality - especially, eventually, our rivers.

https://t.co/zhaM8pcLno

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

The latest Wetland News is out!
· Wool to help Irish bogs.
· Peat preserves Bronze Age shield.
· Beaver reintroduction "astonishing".

Plus why we need a wetland animal on our new bank notes!

https://t.co/9K6WTZmncL

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Today, all being well, British woman Dr Nicky Fox - head of science at @NASA - will get to say during the launch set-up for Artemis: "NASA Science is go for the moon".

And that's pretty much the coolest thing any scientist could ever say!!

[NASA @NASA]

We're going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II's four-astronaut crew is lifting off from @NASAKennedy on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC). https://t.co/X27QJejNDt

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

"Why should we bother cutting UK emissions, when China just keeps pumping them out?"

Is a question I get asked a lot by parts of the media, when I say we must look at reducing our carbon emissions.

Well, here's yet another reason. China's are falling.

https://t.co/usmTIC3B0Z

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

@TTTMediaXR Thank you - very interesting! As we all ultimately want the same thing (meaningful action!), let's hope our different thoughts & approaches, on the best way to achieve this, can combine to have the desired result.

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

"Every bit of fly-tipping is a monument to societal failure."

My comments to @LBC on the rise and environmental consequences of fly-tipping.

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Kids love being in nature! But we all need to spend more time outside - we spend around 90% of our time indoors!

Enjoying more time outdoors could be the single most important action we can all take to be healthier and happier!

[NE Chief Scientist @NEChiefSci]

93% of children and young people agree that ‘Being in nature makes me happy'. Read the latest findings on children's connections with nature in @NaturalEngland's new report from the Children’s People and Nature Survey for England👇#ConnectingWithNature #PeopleAndNature

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Being outside makes us happier and healthier - yet research shows we spend around 90% of our time indoors.

Kids need nature, we all need nature. Get outside!

[NE Chief Scientist @NEChiefSci]

93% of children and young people agree that ‘Being in nature makes me happy'. Read the latest findings on children's connections with nature in @NaturalEngland's new report from the Children’s People and Nature Survey for England👇#ConnectingWithNature #PeopleAndNature

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

We spend around 90% of our time indoors - research suggests.

Yet we know being outdoors makes us happier and healthier. Kids know this instinctively.
Spend more time outside!!

[NE Chief Scientist @NEChiefSci]

93% of children and young people agree that ‘Being in nature makes me happy'. Read the latest findings on children's connections with nature in @NaturalEngland's new report from the Children’s People and Nature Survey for England👇#ConnectingWithNature #PeopleAndNature

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Our energy grid is similar to much of our water industry infrastructure - out of date and in serious need of investment.
We need a major national rethink of our essential systems, & crucially, how we pay for what we want/need.

https://t.co/mhoCduTiM6

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

There will be a talk on the Chester Wetland project at the Chester Community Energy group's AGM this evening (October 2) 7.30pm at the Hoole Community Centre. Come along to find out more about both these great projects!

@ShitChester

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Does this picture highlight the "de-environmentalising" of UK politics?

Few years ago Boris Johnson had a single-use cup snatched off him by an aide, now Kier Starmer is happy to be filmed holding one.

Are we moving away from environmental policies being critical for Parties?

[Prof. Christian Dunn @christiandunn]

Wetland loss could cost the world $39 trillion - and other news in this week's Wetland News!

If you're not already, please subscribe to make sure you're up-to-date with all things wetland and Nature-based Solutions!

https://t.co/jdagdoRZwO