We the undersigned represent diverse academic disciplines, and the views expressed here are those of the signatories and not their organisations. While our academic perspectives and expertise may differ, we are united on one point: we will not tolerate the failure of this or any other government to take robust and emergency action in respect of the worsening ecological crisis. The science is clear, the facts are incontrovertible, and it is unconscionable to us that our children and grandchildren should have to bear the terrifying brunt of an unprecedented disaster of our own making.

We are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, with about 200 species becoming extinct each day. Humans cannot continue to violate the fundamental laws of nature or of science with impunity. If we continue on our current path, the future for our species is bleak.

Our government is complicit in ignoring the precautionary principle, and in failing to acknowledge that infinite economic growth on a planet with finite resources is non-viable. Instead, the government irresponsibly promotes rampant consumerism and free-market fundamentalism, and allows greenhouse gas emissions to rise. Earth Overshoot Day (the date when humans have used up more resources from nature than the planet can renew in the entire year) falls ever earlier each year (1 August in 2018).

When a government wilfully abrogates its responsibility to protect its citizens from harm and to secure the future for generations to come, it has failed in its most essential duty of stewardship. The “social contract” has been broken, and it is therefore not only our right, but our moral duty to bypass the government’s inaction and flagrant dereliction of duty, and to rebel to defend life itself.

We therefore declare our support for Extinction Rebellion, launching on 31 October 2018. We fully stand behind the demands for the government to tell the hard truth to its citizens. We call for a Citizens’ Assembly to work with scientists on the basis of the extant evidence and in accordance with the precautionary principle, to urgently develop a credible plan for rapid total decarbonisation of the economy.

Dr Alison Green Pro vice-chancellor (academic), Arden University, National Director (UK) Scientists Warning

Professor Joy Carter Vice-chancellor, University of Winchester

Dr Rowan Williams

Danny Dorling Halford Mackinder professor of geography, University of Oxford

Jem Bendell Professor of sustainability leadership, University of Cumbria

Dr Ian Gibson Former Chair, House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee

Dr Susie Orbach Consultant psychoanalyst, The Balint Consultancy

David Drew MP, Shadow minister (environment, food and rural affairs)

Professor Molly Scott Cato MEP

Shahrar Ali PhD, Green Party home affairs spokesperson



Peter Belton Professor emeritus of chemistry, University of East Anglia

Dr Simon Boxley Centre for Climate Change Education & Communication, University of Winchester

Erik Buitenhuis Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia

Dave Humphreys Professor of environmental policy, Open University

Andrew Simms Centre for Global Political Economy, University of Sussex; NEF

Arran Stibbe Professor of ecological linguistics, University of Gloucestershire

Dr Rupert Read Reader in philosophy, University of East Anglia

Richard House PhD (Env sci) Chartered psychologist, Stroud

Ronald Barnett Emeritus professor of higher education, University College London Institute of Education

Emeritus Professor Michael Bassey Nottingham Trent University

Professor Woody Caan Editor, Journal of Public Mental Health

Claire Callender, Professor of higher education, Birkbeck and UCL Institute of Education

Simon Capewell MD DSc, Professor of clinical epidemiology, University of Liverpool

Professor Andrew Cooper Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust; University of East London

Emeritus Professor Tricia David

Windy Dryden Emeritus professor of psychotherapeutic studies, Goldsmiths University of London

Suman Fernando Honorary professor, London Metropolitan University

Professor Mark Ford, University College London

Professor Gary Francione

Harvey Goldstein Professor of social statistics, University of Bristol

Jonathan Gosling Emeritus professor of leadership studies, University of Exeter

Paul Hoggett Emeritus professor of social policy, UWE, Bristol

Wendy Hollway Emeritus professor of psychology, Open University

Professor John Hughes University of Gloucestershire

Professor Simon Kelley University of Edinburgh

Adrian Kendry Visiting Chair in economics and security, University of Winchester

Karin Lesnik-Oberstein Professor of critical theory, University of Reading

Del Loewenthal Emeritus professor in psychotherapy, University of Roehampton

Professor Mark Maslin FRGS, FRSA University College London

Martin Milton Professor of counselling psychology, Regents University London

Professor Dany Nobus Brunel University London

Professor Jayne Osgood Middlesex University, mother, feminist, activist

Professor Ann Phoenix University of London

Richard Pring Emeritus professor, University of Oxford

Peter Reason Professor emeritus, University of Bath

Professor Diane Reay University of Cambridge

Lynne Segal Anniversary Professor of psychosocial studies, Birkbeck, University of London

Farzana Shain Professor of sociology of Education, Keele University

Prem Sikka Professor of accounting and finance, University of Sheffield

Professor Ernesto Spinelli ES Associates, London

Dr Guy Standing Professorial research associate, SOAS, University of London

Brian Thorne Emeritus professor (counselling), University of East Anglia

Frederick Toates Emeritus professor of biological psychology, Open University

Dr Steve Tombs Professor of criminology, Open University

Tony Watts OBE Emeritus professor of career development, University of Derby

Michael J. Wright Ph.D., Emeritus professor in cognitive neuroscience, London

Dr Ruth Adams Senior lecturer in cultural & creative industries

Dr Meg-John Barker senior lecturer in psychology, Open University

Robert Basto Ph.D., software consultant, scientist, activist

Dr Teresa Belton author of Happier People, Healthier Planet

Dr Gail Bradbrook mother, NGO consultant

Dr Onel Brooks Senior lecturer in psychotherapy, counselling and counselling psychology

Dr Dominique Chadwick independent researcher and film-maker, Cambridge

Dr Anne Chapman

Dr Red Chidgey Lecturer in gender and media, King’s College London

John Christensen Director and Chair of the Board Tax Justice Network

Dr Christopher D. Coath University of Bristol

Dr Mick Cooper Chartered psychologist, Brighton

Dr Virginia Crisp Lecturer in culture, media & creative industries, King’s College, London

Jonathan Dawson Coordinator of economics, Schumacher College

Richard Eke Ph.D., Associate lecturer, UWE, Bristol

Dr Peter Elfer Principal lecturer, Early Childhood Research Centre

Dr Jonathan Gross King’s College London

Andy Halewood CPsychol., Senior lecturer in counselling psychology, UWE, Bristol

Dr Wiebina Heesterman Ph.D. Law (human rights), activist

Dr Jason Hickel Department of Anthropology, Goldsmiths, University of London

Dr Abby Innes London School of Economics

Dr Nicholas James FASS, Open University

Peter Lipman Fellow, Cabot Institute for the Environment, Bristol University

Ed Lord Ph.D., RMN, RCBC Wales, Fellow, Swansea University

Rachel Lunnon PhD (mathematical logic), software engineer

Dr Michael McEachrane University College London; visiting researcher, Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Lund)

Dr Kate McMillan King’s College, London

Dr Gerry Mooney Open University in Scotland

Dr Calum Neill Associate professor of psychoanalysis & cultural theory, Edinburgh Napier University

Dr Eva Novotny retired, University of Cambridge

Dr Christine Parkinson Retired biologist, Scientists for Global Responsibility

Dr Volker Patent CPsychol, lecturer and coach

Dr Gerald Power PhD, management consultant

Dr Gillian Proctor CPsychol., Programme leader, MA in counselling and psychotherapy, University of Leeds

Dr Jay Watts Consultant clinical psychologist

Dr David Whitebread Retired senior member, Homerton College, Cambridge

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition