He is dedicated to building economic, environmental and social connections at the local community level and to networking, for example through the Transition Towns initiative. He calls his approach 'Dark Optimism', which can be read as a determination to face dark truths while believing unwaveringly in the human potential for change. He was also among the first arrested in the Extinction Rebellion protests in 2018, and has worked with Global Justice Now and has been an advisor to the UK government on climate change.