Skip to content
University of Oxford
School of Geography and the Environment

 School of Geography and the Environment

Dr Murray Simpson

Academic Profile

Dr Murray Simpson is a Senior Research Associate at the School of Geography and the Environment, Chairman of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change-UK. (IHDP-UK), and Chairman of the Caribbean Sectoral Approach to Vulnerability and Resilience (The CARIBSAVE Partnership); a Not-for-Profit organisation based in the Caribbean, the UK and the USA. Murray is also an Extraordinary Associate Professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the experts in Climate Change and Tourism network (eCLAT), an Associate of Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM) and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Current Research and Professional Profile

Murray has extensive experience in sustainable development, climate change, the environment and livelihoods. He has over 20 years experience leading and working on projects with international organizations including the United Nations (UNEP, UNDP, UNWTO, WMO, UNFCCC), development banks, international development agencies, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and regional organisations such as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), CARICOM, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs), the British Academy, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the European Commission,.

He has worked at chief executive management level in industry and in the public sector at board level. He works with the public and the private sector and communities in a range of initiatives including climate change adaptation and mitigation projects, sustainable tourism development, business development, strategic environmental assessment, risk management, corporate responsibility, and strategic planning and analysis in developed, developing countries, and in small island states; bridging the gaps between research, policy and implementation.

Murray's work includes regular liaison with Ministers, Heads of State and senior government officials in numerous nations and the negotiation of substantial contracts with development banks, international development agencies and donor organizations around the world. Murray has worked on sustainable development projects in Africa, Asia, Central America, Australasia, Europe, USA, Central America and over 25 countries in the Caribbean Basin. Possessing excellent negotiation, stakeholder participation and consultation skills he is also equipped with strong management, strategic planning, budgetary and motivational abilities. He has facilitated and chaired working groups in projects and international workshops and conferences and held positions on international boards for many years.

Most recently Murray has been leading innovative work on the interrelations between climate change, the environment and the human dimensions of global environmental change; examining inter-sectoral links and developing practical strategies to address the challenges of climate change. He is conducting and managing international development work into climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation; including work on the key sectors of biodiversity, water, agriculture, health, disaster management, infrastructure and energy (inc. carbon offset projects, energy policies and carbon trading).

As part of his work Murray regularly deals with the international media, has authored and co-authored many technical reports on climate change and sectoral impacts and conducted presentations to national governments, Heads of State, Ambassadors, multi-lateral organisations and private sector organisations. Murray also works with economists, business consultancies, governments, communities and private investors specializing in sustainable development in the context of climate change. Activities include strategic planning, risk assessment, analysis and evaluation of impacts, assessment of operations and best practice and the development of public/private partnerships.

Murray has also worked closely with researchers and practitioners from around the world on the interactions of climate change, tourism and the environment. On this topic he has worked in conjunction with the UNWTO, UNEP, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), European Science Foundation (ESF), NATO, the EU, the European Forum for Environmental Assessment (EFIEA), UNDP and the British Academy. His work has also involved benchmarking of sustainable development indicators for tourism and the analysis of 'best practice' for destinations. With colleagues he has developed a quantification system for monitoring sustainable development in Caribbean destinations for the Association of Caribbean States and the European Development Fund under INTERREG for implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC). Murray was also a member of the steering committee for the EU COST Action E33 FORREC (The use of Forests for nature tourism and recreation) and Chair of Working Group One in this Action.

He is a Chairman of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change-UK (IHDP-UK), Chairman of the Caribbean Sectoral Approach to Vulnerability and Resilience (The CARIBSAVE Partnership); a Not-for-Profit organisation based in the Caribbean, the UK and the USA. Murray is also Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the experts in Climate Change and Tourism network (eCLAT), a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Panel of Tourism Experts, an Associate of Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM) and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Recent Projects
  • 2010 - current; Project Director; UNDP Project Phase II Modelling Climate Change Impacts in the Caribbean Region (all CARICOM nations): Focusing on the impacts of sea level rise; costing of impacts using actuarial approaches; the differentials between 2 and 2.5 degrees C and ice sheet melt. Project and outputs developed and designed in advance and for presentation at COP16 Cancun, Mexico.
  • 2010 - current; Project Leader; UNECLAC The Impacts of Climate Change on the Economics of Tourism in Barbados. Examining the economic impact of climate change using econometric models focused on temperature and precipitation and overlaying other climate change impacts such as coral degradation (bleaching, disease and acidification), sea level rise and the impacts of climate policy in source markets on tourist mobility and behaviour.
  • 2010 - current; Project Director and CEO; DFID and AusAID CARIBSAVE Climate Change Risk Atlas (CCCRA) Phase 1. Comprehensive collection, collation and analysis of verifiable and specific information on the impacts of climate change at regional, country and destination level. Includes comprehensive integration of poverty, gender and livelihoods issues into climate change impacts, vulnerability assessment, adaptation and planning processes. The Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, St Lucia, Anguilla, St Kitts, Suriname, Nevis, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and Grenadines.
  • 2009 - Project Director; UNDP Project for COP15 and beyond: An Overview of Modelling Climate Change Impacts in the Caribbean Region with Contribution from the Pacific Islands. Focusing on the differentials between 1 and 2 degrees C; ice sheet melt; impacts on coral reef, water and agriculture; impacts of sea level rise; costing of impacts; Project and outputs developed and designed in advance and for presentation at COP15 Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • 2008 & 2010 - Project Director; IIED and Oxfam: The Impacts of Climate Change on the Socio-Economics of Tourism in Tobago and Jamaica (respectively) and Agriculture in Jamaica.
  • 2008 - 2009 - Project Director: DFID; Addressing the challenges of climate change and tourism in the Caribbean on a multi-sectoral basis; energy (including CDM), biodiversity, water, agriculture, health, comprehensive disaster management, infrastructure and settlement; development of climate modelling, vulnerability profiles, adaptive capacity assessments and strategic action planning. Caribbean.
  • 2008 - Project Leader European Union funded project; Good Practices: Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean Tourism Sector, part of the Sustainable Tourism Development Programme.
  • 2008 - Adaptation Expert for the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the European Commission conducting a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) carried out for the preparation of a Sea Defence Policy Framework and Sector Programme (SDSP), funded by the European Development Fund.
  • 2007/2008 - Project Leader of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joint international seminar series to facilitate developing countries' tourism stakeholder's efforts to integrate climate change into their broader institutional, policy and national goals and programs, while focusing specifically on building the capacity of the tourism sector and government agencies specific action/awareness on the implementation of the Davos Declaration recommendations (including book publication). (Asia, Africa and the Caribbean).
  • 2007/2008 - Chief Consultant for report on the international policy and market response to global warming and the challenges and opportunities that climate change issues present for the Caribbean tourism sector. National and regional consultations, including institutions and organizations in Belize, Guyana, Barbados, St. Lucia, Jamaica and Trinidad.
  • 2007/2008 - Project Leader of "Study within the Framework of a Project to Expand the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC)" using sustainability indicators; coordinated by Association of Caribbean States, the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, and funded by European Union (INTERREG). Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, French Guyana.
  • 2007 - Chief Consultant - 'Financial Investment into Tourism' funded by the European Union. British Virgin Islands.
  • 2007 - Co-author and Project Coordinator Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Challenges (Impacts, Adaptation, Emissions and Mitigation) for publication by United Nations World Tourism Organization and United Nations Environment Programme (in press). International.
  • 2006/2007 - Project Partner on European Union 'PESETA' project: To assess, quantify and explain the plausible ranges of the most important climate change impacts on tourism for selected European scenarios, and assess the monetary value of these climate change impacts. (2006/2007) Europe-wide.
  • 2006 - Chairman and Workshop Facilitator for Sustainable Tourism Experts Group of the Caribbean, 7th Meeting. Dominican Republic.
  • 2006 - Co-Principal Developer and Co-Project Leader for project: 'Adaptation to Climate Change in the Tourism Sector in Small Island States' UNWTO for GEF (UNEP/UNDP/World Bank) in Fiji, Maldives and Seychelles.
  • 2005/2006 - Project Leader and Chief Consultant for the 'Elaboration of a Project for Developing and Implementing Sustainability Indicators for the Greater Caribbean' contracted by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Dominica, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic and Panama.
  • 2005/2006 - Lead Author and Project Coordinator of 'The Tourism Forecasting Methodologies Handbook' publication, contracted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC). International.
  • 2005 - Contributor to UN World Tourism Organization's publication "Making Tourism More Sustainable". International.
  • 2004/2005 - Project Manager of a British Academy funded study on the Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism in Tobago, Caribbean. Tobago.
  • 2005 - Co-Project Leader, Strategic Plan and Feasibility Study for Kent County Council on the creation of an East Kent Natural Park, UK (2005) England.
  • 2004 - Contributor to UN World Tourism Organization's publication "Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations". International.
  • 2004/2005/2006/2007 - Chairman of Working Group and Subgroup Leader on European Union (EU) project COST Action E33; 'Forests for Recreation and Nature Based Tourism' (FORREC)) Europe-wide.
  • 2004/2005/2006/2007 - Steering Committee Member on European Union (EU) project COST Action E33; 'Forests for Recreation and Nature Based Tourism' (FORREC) Europe-wide.
  • 2005/2006 - Chief Consultant, Development of a 5 Year Tourism Strategy for the Heart of Kent Consortium. England.
  • 2005 - Educational Consultant advising the University of Madeira (Portugal) on the implementation of Tourism degree programme; graduate and undergraduate (2005) Madeira, Portugal.
  • 2005/2006 - Co-Project Leader on UNWTO and ETC funded project 'The Image of Europe for Chinese Travellers' and evaluating China as a major source market for Europe, working with the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) (2005/2006) Europe-wide.
  • 2003/2005 - Research Scientist, Impacts of Community Benefit Tourism on Poverty Reduction and Rural Livelihoods in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
  • 2005 - Chief Consultant, Market overview of India as a source of business for Europe for the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) (2005).
  • Contributor to the Federation of Tour Operators "Responsible Tourism Handbook" (2005).
  • 2004 - Researcher and Contributor on UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) project; 'Alternative Future Scenarios for Marine Ecosystems' (AFMEC) (2004).
  • 2003 - Project Manager, Development of Sustainable Tourism Monitoring Template for Tourism South East (TSE) England, and 'Green Visitor', Sustainable Business and Community Surveys designed, implemented and analyzed for Tourism South East (2003).

Selected Publications

Books and Chapters
  • Cover: European Forest Recreation and TourismBell, S., Simpson, M.C., Tyrväinen, L., Sievänen, T. and Pröbstl, U. (eds.) (2009) European Forest Recreation and Tourism. Taylor and Francis. Includes, Simpson, M., Pichler, v., Martin, S. and Brouwer, R., Chap. 3: Integrating forest recreation and nature tourism into the rural economy, pp. 64-85.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2008) The impacts of tourism on poverty reduction and rural livelihoods in South Africa: Mathenjwa and Mqobela. In, Spenceley, A. (ed.) Tourism, Community and Environment in Southern Africa, CABI.
  • UNWTO, UNEP and WMO. Simpson, M.C. co-author (lead author, chapter 3: Adaptation in Destinations) (2008) Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Challenges. UNWTO, Madrid, Spain.
  • Honey, M. (author), Simpson, M.C. (contributor) (2008 - new edition, first printed in 1999) Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who owns paradise? Island Press, Washington D.C.
Papers and Articles
  • Simpson, M.C. et al. (2009) An overview of modelling climate change impacts in the Caribbean Region with contribution from the Pacific Islands. UNDP, Technical Report.
  • Simpson M.C. and McGregor, J. (2009) The socio-economic impacts of climate change on tourism in Tobago International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Technical Report.
  • Simpson, M.C. and Gladin, E. (2008) Good Practices: Natural Hazard and Risk Management in the Caribbean Tourism Sector. European Commission and Caribbean Tourism Organization, Barbados Technical Report.
  • Simpson, M.C., Gossling, S., Scott, D., Hall, C.M. and Gladin, E. (2008) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the tourism Sector: Frameworks, Tools and Practices. UNEP, University of Oxford, UNWTO, WMO: Paris, France.
  • Simpson, M.C. and Ladle, R.J. (2008) Tourism Forecasting Methodologies: A Handbook. United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Madrid.
  • Simpson, M.C. Gossling, S. and Scott, D. (2008) Report on the International Policy and Market Response to Global Warming and the Challenges and Opportunities that Climate Change Issues Present for the Caribbean Tourism Sector. European Commission and Caribbean Tourism Organization, Barbados.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2008) Global Climate Change and the Implications for Tourism Resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In Building Tourism Resilience in SIDS: Maximising Economic Benefits and Sustaining Tourism Development. SIDS Tourism Organization.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2008) Community Benefit Tourism Initiatives: A Conceptual Oxymoron? Tourism Management, 29(1): 1-18.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2008) An Integrated Approach to Assessing the Impact of Tourism on Communities and Sustainable Livelihoods. Community Development Journal
  • Bell, S., Tyrvainen, L., Sievanen, T., Proebstl, U. and Simpson, M.C. (2007) Outdoor recreation and nature tourism: A European perspective. Landscape Research and Living Reviews
  • UNWTO, UNEP and WMO. Simpson, M.C. (co-author) (2007) Climate Change and Tourism: Responding to Global Challenges. WTO, Madrid, Spain.
  • Simpson, M.C. and Ladle, R. (2007) The Tourism Forecasting Methodologies Handbook. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Madrid, Spain.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2007) Rural Tourism and Rural Livelihoods: The Case of Ndumo Wilderness Camp and the Mathenjwa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2007) Conflicts and Challenges in South African Communities: Tourism's Impact on the Livelihoods of Mqobela and Mpukane.
  • Simpson, M.C., et al (2007) Opportunities and Constraints for Private Sector Landowners and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop recreation and nature tourism in forests as businesses contributing to the rural economy.
  • Patterson, T., Simpson, M.C. and Bastianoni, S. (2006) Tourism and Climate Change: a two-way street, or a vicious/virtuous circle? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 14(4): 339-348.
  • UNWTO, Simpson, M.C. (contributor) (2005) Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers. WTO, Madrid, Spain.
  • Simpson, M.C. (2004) Tourism, Livelihoods, Biodiversity and the Climate Change Factor in Africa. NATO Advanced Research Publications 'Climate Change and Tourism: Assessment and Coping Strategies', NATO Publications.
  • UNWTO, Simpson, M.C. (contributor) (2004) Guidebook on Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations. UNWTO, Madrid, Spain.
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, (Defra) Simpson, M.C. (contributor) (2004) Alternative Future Scenarios for Marine Ecosystems. Defra, UK.
  • Tourism South East (TSE) Countryside Agency (CA), South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), and the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Simpson, M.C. (contributor) (2004) South East Sustainable Tourism Project. TSE Publications, UK.
  • Simpson, M.C. and Viner, D. (2004) Alternative Futures for Coastal and Marine Tourism in England and Wales. In Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D. (eds.) Advances in Tourism Climatology. International Institute of Biometeorology University of Freiburg, Germany
Selected Recent Presentations:
  • An overview of modelling climate change impacts in the Caribbean Region; contribution from the Pacific Islands. UNDP, Barbados Technical Report Presentation at Copenhagen COP 15 to Heads of State and UNFCCC Focal Points.
  • Climate Change and Tourism; Global Challenges and the Future of Tourism Carbon Ecostorm, Basecamp, Maasai Mara, Kenya. Presentation.
  • Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC): Further Developments (2008), Association of Caribbean States, Guadeloupe, Caribbean. Presentation.
  • Creating Competitive Advantages in a Changing Climate (2008) "Climate Change and the Bottom-Line The Strategic Business Outlook for the Tourism Sector in Jamaica" Presentation.
  • Global Challenges, Climate Change and Caribbean Coastal Tourism; Impacts, Adaptation, Mitigation (2008) Cayman Islands Annual Tourism Conference, Grand Cayman, Caribbean.
  • Climate Change: Energy and Opportunities (2008) UK/Caribbean Forum, Ambassadors Meeting, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, UK Presentation.
  • International Policy and Market Response to Global Warming: Challenges and Opportunities for Caribbean Tourism (2008) Royal Geographical Society Annual General Meeting, London, UK.
  • 10th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development Caribbean Tourism Organization (2008) Providenciales, Turks and Caicos: Climate Change and Sustainable Coastal Tourism in the Caribbean: Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation. Presentation.
  • Environmental Defence, Federation for Environmental Education and Blue Flag Conference, Beaches World Tour 2007 (October 2007) Toronto, Canada: The Impacts of Climate Change on Beach Destinations and Sustainable Coastal Tourism: Where do we go from here?
  • 'Achieving Sustainable Tourism' (September 2007) Helsingborg, Sweden: Evaluating, Benchmarking and Sustaining Destinations through the use of a Compound Tourism Sustainability Index
  • International Society of Biometeorology (ISB) (September 2007) Alexandroupoulis , Greece: The Impacts of Global Environmental Change on Tourism and Livelihoods in Small Island States
  • International Society of Biometeorology (ISB) (September 2007) Alexandroupoulis , Greece: The Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism and the Socio-Economics of Vulnerable Mountain Regions around the World: A Replicable Methodology
  • International Conference on Climate Change Impacts on Tourism (CLITOP) (September 2007) Lisbon, Portugal: Climate Change in Small Island States: Vulnerability, Resilience and the Implications
  • United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Europe (May, 2007) Bled, Slovenia; Innovation in Tourism: Adapting to Change: The impact of climate change on destinations
  • EU Natura 2000 and Boku University, Vienna(April, 2007) Vienna, Austria; Updating Natura 2000: Contributing to Natura 2000,sustainable development and tourism
  • MHC International (March, 2007) London, England; Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism: Sustainable Tourism in Destinations: Indicators, 'Climate Proofing' and Responsibility
  • Mountain Research Initiative (MRI); The Impact of Climate Change on Vulnerable Mountain Regions (February, 2007) Zurich, Switzerland: Building a consortium for EU FP7 proposal
  • University of Oxford, African Environments Programme (January, 2007) Oxford, England; How does Environmental Governance Affect the Poor? Global and Local Forces Shaping Poverty Alleviation in Africa: Community Benefit Tourism Initiatives: A Conceptual Oxymoron?
  • International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) (October 2006) Bonn, Germany; The Challenge of Integrating Tourism into Current and Future Climate Change Policy: Tobagonian tour operators and impacts of climate change (an interim report).
  • UNWTO, UNEP, University of the West Indies and Bahamas Tourism Organization (June 2006). Nassau, The Bahamas; Maximising Economic Benefits & Sustaining Tourism in Development: Global climate change and implications for tourism resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
  • Association of Caribbean States (ACS) (June, 2006) Bayahibe, Dominican Republic; 7th Meeting of the Experts in Sustainable Tourism Indicators: Selecting and Evaluating Destinations for the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC)
  • ACS and British Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) (February, 2006) Port of Spain, Trinidad; Elaboration of and implementing sustainable tourism indicators in the Greater Caribbean
  • European Forum for Integrated Environmental Assessment (EFIEA) (November 2005) Genoa, Italy) Climate change, environment and tourism in Europe's coastal zones: Summary of proceedings
  • International Society of Biometeorology (ISB) (June 2005) Crete, Greece: The impacts of climate change on eco-tourism in Tobago
  • EU COST Action E33 (January 2004) Edinburgh, Scotland; Forests for Recreation and Nature Tourism: Nature Based Tourism and Sustainable Development
  • NATO (November 2003) Warsaw, Poland, Advanced Research Seminar, Climate Change and Tourism: Assessment and Coping Strategies Tourism, Livelihoods, Biodiversity and the Climate Change Factor in Africa
  • European Science Foundation (ESF) (June 2003) Milan Italy; Climate Change, the environment and tourism: the interactions: Summary of proceedings