The King's Birthday Honours 2026
The King's Birthday Honours 2026 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people for their outstanding contributions, including Dr Steve Smith of the University of Oxford.
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Dr Steve Smith has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Climate Science.
He is Arnell Associate Professor of Greenhouse Gas Removal at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment.
He is Executive Director Oxford Net Zero and CO2RE – the Greenhous Gas Removal Hub: two programmes both focussed on stabilising the climate both rapidly and sustainably. He joined the Smith School from the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) where he co-led the Climate Science Team and played a role in the legislation of the UK's net zero target. Before that he was Head of Science at the Committee on Climate Change.
His research covers a range of topics, including metrics for comparing emissions of different greenhouse gases, and the governance of carbon dioxide removal. He is also passionate about turning the latest science into usable tools, such as the Net Zero Tracker and the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal reports.
Dr Smith says: 'I am grateful and surprised to find myself in such distinguished company. While many receive an honour for extraordinary achievements, I feel I have simply been doing my job, and it is a privilege to have such an engaging and fulfilling one. Particular thanks to my brilliant colleagues past and present who have made my work possible.'
