After nearly 50 years of non-stop activism and advocating both for environmental sustainability and for social justice, I’m more persuaded now than ever that this is our time.

Hope often seems very fragile against such a disaster-strewn backdrop, but it still permeates my life as an incorrigible advocate of a solutions agenda that gets more and more substantive by the day.

But I’m grateful I still have such a diverse portfolio – not least to give full rein to my campaigning instincts (working against the insanity of nuclear power and nuclear weapons, for instance, or in support of progressive family planning, electoral reform and a host of other critical causes). And I remain a Member of the Green Party, as well as being Chancellor Keele University, which is a real privilege.

I know I’ve said this before, but I can’t help but think we’re nearing an inflection point – ecologically, politically and economically. So there are some very turbulent times ahead!’