Bookclub: Hot Air by Peter Stott

Posted by Penny Maher

4 November 2025

For our October Women in Climate event, we had the privilege of welcoming Professor Peter Stott who joined us for a Q&A session centred around his recent book Hot Air, published in 2021, which explores the personal political challenges he faced while fighting against climate change denial.

Peter is a Science Fellow at the Met Office Hadley Centre and a Professor at the University of Exeter. He earned his PhD from Imperial College London, where he studied the atmospheric transport of radioactivity following the Chernobyl disaster. Peter is internationally recognised for his expertise in the field of Climate Change Detection and Attribution, and he was the first to link the 2003 European heatwave to human-induced climate change. He has served as both a lead author and coordinating lead author on recent IPCC Assessment Reports. Beyond his scientific contributions, Peter is deeply passionate about science communication. He has collaborated with artists, musicians, and community groups to craft compelling narratives around climate change. He has written media articles such as for Carbon Brief and The Guardian, and in 2021, he published his book Hot Air.

A Lifelong Passion for Writing

Peter shared that his love for writing began in his childhood and he even had a ghost story published in his school magazine. Although his career led him into science, he always stayed passionate about creative writing and continued to pursue it as a hobby. More recently, he attended a writing retreat at the Arvon Foundation, which gave him the confidence to pursue his goal of publishing a book.

Turning Real-Life Experiences into Narrative

Initially, Peter attempted to write a climate thriller based on fiction, but he soon realised that his real-life experiences including personal attacks on himself and colleagues from climate change deniers for example during the “Climategate scandal” were a more compelling story than anything he could invent. This led him to write Hot Air, a book that not only tells his personal story but also sheds a light on the broader struggle faced by climate scientists.

The Road to Publication

Peter shared some of the challenges on the road to publishing a book, including rejections by agents and negative feedback. His takeaway from this experience was clear: stay positive and persistent – positivity can shine through the page (e.g. when writing to agents) and make a difference! This mindset is also helpful when facing rejections in the process of applying for research funding or publishing scientific papers.

Some Writing Tips

During the Q&A, Peter shared practical writing advice that applies to everything from novels to blog posts:

Establish a routine: While writing the book, Peter reserved regular timeslots in his week for writing, a habit that helped him maintain momentum.
Separate ego from writing: Some days are more productive than others, and that’s okay!
Understand the story structure: Knowing the beginning, middle, and end—and clearly articulating the stakes or “jeopardy”—is key to engaging writing.
Use the “And, But, Therefore” technique: This structure helps avoid repetitive writing and creates a more dynamic narrative. Peter noted that scientific writing often falls into the trap of “and then we did this,” whereas using “but” and “therefore” introduces tension and resolution.

A Call for Creative Expression

Peter encourages everyone to express themselves creatively—whether through writing, art, or music. Sharing our experiences and perspectives helps build connection and resilience in the face of climate challenges.