How to Choose our Future
March 2026
The Speaker: Halle Krieger
Halle is a PhD candidate and member of Prof Tim Lenton’s research group at the University of Exeter exploring tipping points in climate and society. She is studying how positive tipping points can drive rapid climate action. For her masters research (‘23), Halle identified early signals of an approaching tipping point in the UK automobile market from petrol-powered to electric vehicles, which she presented at the 2025 Global Tipping Points Conference.
Halle is especially interested in the collective processing of climate-related emotions (ie eco-anxiety) as a core condition for successful societal transformation. As a student experiencing these feelings herself, Halle is starting a dedicated space where students at Exeter can build emotional resilience as a foundation for communal action.
The Talk
Halle explained the concept of tipping points and explained why we need positive tipping points in the drive to reduce carbon emissions. She gave examples of where tipping is happening now in social norms and technology adoption such as the move to electric cars.
Halle led a simple interactive activity to demonstrate in a fun way how a new behaviour can become the norm, and the factors that can encourage or discourage this change.
Halle used historical examples of sudden societal change and present-day data from electric vehicles and the rise of renewable energy. The talk illustrated how desirable transformation can move from apparently impossible to inevitable.
Halle shared the following further information during her talk:
- Link to 2025 Global Tipping Points Report (which includes a section on Positive Tipping Points): Global Tipping Points | understanding risks & their potential impact
- Link to Tim Lenton’s book (no need to use Amazon):
- Waterstones: Positive Tipping Points by Tim Lenton OBE | Waterstones
- World of Books: Positive Tipping Points By Tim Lenton Obe | World of Books GB
For those in the US, you can buy the e-book or a print copy from Barnes & Noble
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