Tony Juniper

Academic background

Raised in Oxford, Juniper attended Bristol University, taking a joint honours BSc in psychology and zoology in 1983, followed by a master's degree in conservation from University College, London in 1988. He became a Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, based at the University of Cambridge. In 2013 he was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Bristol and the University of Plymouth.

Parrot conservation

Juniper has been involved in the efforts to save the Spix's macaw, one of the most endangered birds in the world. In his book Spix's Macaw: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird he criticised private holders of birds such as Antonio de Dios's Birds International, arguing that the Spix's macaws should be returned to their native country, Brazil, for captive breeding and reintroduction to their natural habitat, which is still in decline.

Friends of the Earth

Juniper joined Friends of the Earth in 1990. While at Friends of the Earth, Juniper oversaw the campaign that ensured the inclusion of a Climate Change Bill in the Queen's Speech of 15 November 2006. This was supported by his "Big Ask" Campaign throughout 2005 and 2006, when he worked with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. Thom Yorke worked with Juniper again for a one-off benefit gig in his constituency of Cambridge, in 2010.

Recent activities

Juniper has worked in a variety of roles including as a special adviser to the Prince of Wales Charities' International Sustainability Unit, having previously worked (2008–2010) as a special advisor with the Prince's Rainforests Project. He is a fellow of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Juniper has advised companies including Danone, Interserve and Skanska, assisting with their sustainability strategies. He was a founder of The Robertsbridge Group which provides advice to companies on sustainability.

He was chair of 10:10, a member of the advisory board of Sandbag and a board member of Climate for Ideas. He has worked as an ambassador for the National Trust's vision to restore an area of Cambridgeshire wetlands around Wicken Fen. In October 2009 Tony Juniper was elected as a Trustee of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. During 2009–2010 he was a member of the advisory group that helped the Science Museum with the development of their new climate science exhibit called Atmosphere. He has chaired the Advisory Board on the Industry campaign Action for Renewables. He has been a member of the Expert Panel advising Bioregional's One Planet Communities programme.

Juniper was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to conservation.

Political activity

Juniper has worked with all the UK's main political parties, and in January 2009 was selected as the Green Party's parliamentary candidate in the 2010 general election for the Cambridge constituency. He came 4th with 7.6% of the vote, more than doubling the Green Party percentage.

Prior to the 2015 general election, he was one of several celebrities who endorsed the parliamentary candidacy of the Green Party's Caroline Lucas.

Honours and awards

In 2008, Juniper was declared an Honorary Fellow by the Institute of Environmental Sciences and in 2013 an Honorary Fellow of the Society for the Environment. In November 2009 Juniper was the first recipient of the Rothschild Medal, created by the Wildlife Trusts in honour of conservation pioneer Charles Rothschild and his daughter Miriam. In 2011 he became a Patron of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. In 2013, Juniper was awarded Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from the universities of Bristol and Plymouth. He has received the Chromy Award from the Conscience Institute, Monaco.

Publications