He took his MA in Philosophy at the University of Surrey and has an M.Soc.Sc. in Development Studies from Birmingham University. He gained his PhD at the Department of Environmental, Societal and Spatial Change at the University of Roskilde, Denmark. He was the co-founder of the Sustainable Human Development thematic group of the Human Development and Capability Association. Dr Crabtree publishes on a wide range of issues including sustainability, climate change, disasters, mental health and ethics.