Policy in a Changing Climate | Helen Tatlow

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Helen Tatlow (2013 Geography) works in the Oxford Net Zero Department, where she leads the Net Zero Tracker, examining the climate and sustainability commitments of countries, cities, and over 2,000 companies worldwide. Alongside her professional work, she lives in the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, where she also works as an outdoor instructor. Prior to this, Helen completed a master’s in public health at the University of Edinburgh, then working as data systems manager on the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker at the Blavatnik School of Government. Hannah Poultney (2024 Geography) interviewed Helen about her time at Keble and subsequent career.

What are some of your favourite memories from Keble?

I remember having dinner together in our rooms. There was this weird kitchen with just one microwave, so we had to get creative when cooking meals. I loved running around University Parks and Port Meadow. And, finishing finals, I remember thinking, ‘I’ve done it’. We went to Port Meadow and jumped off the bridge into the river to celebrate.

What moments felt particularly formative?

We had a tutor called Joe. Three of us had submitted an essay that wasn’t very good. I remember him telling us we needed to do better but it was the kind of tough love that’s exactly what you need to hear. In some ways it built my confidence. It felt like he was saying, ‘I know you can do this – you just have to put in the work’. I’ve carried that with me throughout my career: there are moments where you have to tell yourself to up your game.

What have been the biggest rewards and challenges in your career?

Tracking COVID-19 policies across every country in the world was pretty full on. Policies were changing constantly, and the data needed to be delivered in real time because it was being used in real time. It was intense. But it was also incredibly rewarding. The data were being used by the UK Cabinet Office, and I remember watching Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand during the pandemic, reference the stringency index in a briefing. It was clear that our work was genuinely informing policy.

What has motivated you throughout your career?

Being deeply connected to the land makes you want to protect it. The effects of climate change are becoming more and more obvious in the Cairngorms. For example, the weather is way more difficult to predict. The last five years have had barely any snow, and there has been a lot more flooding.

I’ve always been interested in social inequality and inequity: with climate change, those least responsible are often most vulnerable. That injustice also really drives me.

What advice would you give to current Keble students?

I have this analogy of rocks in the sand. It’s about friendship. Prioritising your friends when you are planning your year, the rocks are the non-negotiables. This means that, whatever happens this year, my friend Rachel’s going to come and see me in the summer. Once you have the rocks in place, you pour the sand in, and it fits around them. This is because friends are worth their weight in gold, so prioritise them.