Mike Berners-Lee is an English researcher and author on carbon footprinting. He is well known for his work on climate change and sustainability. His books include How Bad Are Bananas (2010), The Burning Question (2013), and There Is No Planet B (2019).
Mike Berners-Lee, son of Mary Lee Woods and Conway Berners-Lee, was born in 1964. His parents were mathematicians and computer scientists. His brother, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, invented the World Wide Web. He studied physics at Oxford University and graduated in 1986.
Berners-Lee completed a PGCE in physics and outdoor education at Bangor University in 1988. In 2001, he obtained a Masters in Organisational Development and Consulting from Sheffield Hallam University.
Berners-Lee has researched carbon emissions and sustainability. He has developed carbon accounting for supply chains. His work at Small World Consulting combines process-based life cycle analysis with environmentally extended input-output analysis. He has been a Professor in Practice at Lancaster University since 2016.
His book How Bad Are Bananas? explores the carbon footprint of everyday actions. Bill Bryson said: "I can't think of the last time I read a book that was more fascinating, useful and enjoyable at the same time". The book was updated in 2020 and published in North America as The Carbon Footprint of Everything (2022).
In The Burning Question, co-written with Duncan Clark, Berners-Lee examines global energy use. The book argues that reducing the demand for fossil fuels is not enough and that supply must also be limited. Al Gore called it "fascinating, important and highly recommended".
His book There Is No Planet B (2019) is a guide to global challenges. It covers climate change, food production, and political action and suggests practical steps for individuals, businesses, and governments.
Berners-Lee contributed to The Climate Book (2022), edited by Greta Thunberg. His chapter, How [Not] to Buy, discusses consumer choice and environmental impact. He has spoken on sustainability in the media and academia and appeared in Climate Change: The Facts alongside Sir David Attenborough.
Mike Berners-Lee says: "Global food production can meet humanity's nutritional needs, but only with a radical shift in dietary choices".
Mike Berners-Lee lives in Lancaster, UK.