January 7, 2025 Growing up by the sea in the U.K., Amy Campbell was an adventurer from an early age. Whether she was spending days surfing and sailing off the coasts of Cornwall, or channeling her close connection with nature through creative writing, Campbell always felt a deep sense of wonder about the world—and a desire to make it better. In the years since, Campbell has been channeling this goal, by participating in global climate negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and now as a Fulbright scholar in the M.A. in Climate and Society program at the Columbia Climate School , specializing in disaster preparedness. Learn more about Campbell’s journey in the Q&A below. Amy Campbell Tell us a little about your background. I was born and raised by the sea in Cornwall, U.K., where my life revolved around the rhythm of the tides. Sailing and surfing became second nature, as did exploring the rugged beauty of my surroundings. My father and I would embark on voyages to the Isles of Scilly—sometimes enduring treacherous weather—and those experiences shaped my connection to nature. After graduating from university with a degree in geography, I joined the U.K.’s Civil Service Fast Stream—a competitive graduate development program—which placed me in various roles, including advising senior officials on energy and net-zero policies. This led to a position on the U.K.’s UNFCCC negotiation team, where I worked on mitigation strategies before pivoting to adaptation. Currently, I’m pursuing my master’s degree in Climate and Society at Columbia University, where my focus is on climate risk and disaster preparedness. How did you find your way into the climate space? My initial dreams revolved around becoming an author, fueled by my love of creative writing. I wrote fiction, often dystopian, but being rejected […]
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