{{Short description|Scottish environmentalist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Jess Pepper | image = Jess Pepper in the video 'Community led, chat and action on climate'.png | alt = | caption = Giving a talk in February 2025 | birth_name = | birth_date = Scotland | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | burial_place = | occupation = Environmentalist | employer = Scottish Environment Link<br>Stop Climate Chaos Scotland<br>WWF Scotland<br>Paths for All | organization = Royal Scottish Geographical Society<br>Royal Society of Arts | known_for = Founder of the Climate Café initiative | awards = | spouse = | children = | education = | signature = | party = }} '''Jess Pepper''' FRSA FRSGS is a Scottish environmentalist, charity worker and founder of the Climate Café initiative. She is an honorary fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
== Biography == Pepper is a Scottish environmentalist who was trained by Al Gore in Chicago, United States, in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jess Pepper |url=https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/about/jobs.asp/board/person-biography/jess-pepper |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Paths for All |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Wilber |first=Jess |date=25 March 2024 |title=Building Friendship and Hope: Jess Pepper and the Story of Climate Cafe |url=https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/building-friendship-and-hope-jess-pepper-and-story-climate-cafe |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The Climate Reality Project |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Pepper founded the Climate Café initiative,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keane |first=Kevin |date=2019-08-11 |title=How to tackle Scotland's 'climate emergency' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-49207097 |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> where people come together in a community-led safe space to drink, talk and act on climate change, at the Arts Centre in the village of Birnam, Perthshire, Scotland.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bremner |first=Joanna |date=2023-10-03 |title=The climate café movement started in Dunkeld and Birnam – do they have what it takes to save the world? |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/environment/4768265/climate-cafe-movement-dunkeld-birnam-john-swinney/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}</ref> As of 2024, there are 16 cafés in Scotland and a network of cafés around the world,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Climate Café® Founder to Speak at Eco-Congregation Gathering |url=https://www.lifeandwork.org/news/news/post/1977-climate-cafa-founder-to-speak-at-eco-congregation-gathering |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Life and Work magazine |language=en}}</ref> which Pepper connects and supports.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-02d9060e-15dc-426c-bfe0-86a6437e5234 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Pepper has discussed tackling climate change with politicians including Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) John Swinney.<ref name=":2" /> Climate Café has also held pop-up cafés at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow<ref name=":2" /> and at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.<ref name=":1" /> In 2024, Pepper was the keynote speaker at The Church of Scotland's Eco-Congregation Scotland gathering in Stirling.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-31 |title=Eco-Congregation Scotland gathering wants to see climate justice on the election agenda |url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/archive/2024/eco-congregation-scotland-gathering-wants-to-see-climate-justice-on-the-election-agenda |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=The Church of Scotland |language=en}}</ref>
Pepper has previously worked for Scottish Environment Link, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and WWF Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=From academics to activists – meet the Scottish women fighting the climate crisis |url=https://www.thenational.scot/politics/24170290.meet-scottish-women-fighting-climate-crisis/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref> She also led the #lovemybus programme for Transform Scotland.<ref name=":0" /> In October 2022, she became Director of the Board of Trustees of the Scottish charity Paths for All.<ref name=":0" />
Pepper was named a BBC 100 Woman in 2023.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcoming Jess Pepper's Inclusion on BBC's List of 100 Inspiring and Influential Women |url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/votes-and-motions-search/S6M-11382 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Scottish Parliament |language=en}}</ref> She is an honorary fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.<ref name=":3" />
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pepper, Jess}} Category:Living people Category:People from Perth and Kinross Category:21st-century Scottish women Category:Scottish environmentalists Category:Scottish women activists Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts Category:Fellows of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society Category:Year of birth missing (living people)