Imagine UEFA's statement about FIFA's plans to sell off the World Cup, but replace all the references to FOOTBALL with WATER Can you now see the absurdity of water privatisation? Andy Burnham has called the FIFA president to go. But our water is still in private hands: vist.ly/5d5x8

1/ Kemi Badenoch says she isn't a climate denier. Let's take her at her word. Here are five findings she wrote around this week as though they don't exist. 🧵

Half the country officially in drought - the 3rd in 5 years. Fires raging across Europe. Battles being fought over AI data centres, New episode of *When Nature Becomes A Security Threat*,my podcast series for @therestpolitics.bsky.social, out now. It couldn’t be more timely. Pls do give a listen

Data Centres vs. Drinking Water: What Matters To Us Most?

Podcast Episode · The Rest Is Politics · 30 July · 16min

podcasts.apple.com

++BREAKING++ The UK and Spanish governments have issued a joint statement overnight: "[We] agreed that this summer’s wildfires demonstrated that climate change was now a national security emergency facing Europe and threatening our way of life." www.gov.uk/government/n...

As Ed Miliband leaves his post as energy and net-zero secretary, a final tally: There have been an incredible 251 newspaper editorials attacking him and his approach to net-zero since the start of 2024 That amounts to two editorials a week, mainly in the Sun, Daily Mail, Times and Daily Telegraph.

Under a Binface government, anyone who doesn’t accept human-made climate change as fact will be sent back to school, from Year 1 right the way to A Levels, to see if anything goes in the second time round. #VoteBinface

The 20th Century was a deadly Age of Extremes for humanity in its own right. We are now responsible for the 21st Century Age of Nature Extremes. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'Extreme' marine heatwave expected for parts of UK with risk to sea life

Scientists fear that high sea temperatures could have wide-ranging consequences for marine life.

bbc.co.uk

"UK newspapers have already printed 63 editorials in 2026 backing North Sea drilling" Sickeningly stupid and short-sighted...but then they are being funded by the 1% that profit from more oil and gas... #ClimateActionNOW #MakePollutersPAY #TaxTheSuperRich NOW! www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-...

Analysis: UK newspapers have already printed 63 editorials in 2026 backing North Sea drilling  - Carbon Brief

UK newspapers have already published 63 editorials this year calling for more oil and gas extraction in the North Sea, according to Carbon Brief analysis.

carbonbrief.org

What if Andy Burnham could raise £15bn – without a tax rise? There's one catch. He'd need to solve the UK’s biggest and least-discussed tax problem. Almost half of all small business corporation tax isn't being paid - and nobody knows why. Thread:

Gas plants for US data centers to be major source of climate change-linked emissions, report says reut.rs/4xZUWzO

Gas plants for US data centers to be major source of climate change-linked emissions, report says

Dozens of planned gas plants to ​directly power data centers in the United States could emit as much greenhouse gas annually as ‌Australia or France, according to a report by an environmental group published on Wednesday.

reut.rs

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Brexit cost 6% of UK economy, Bank of England company data suggests

Analysis showed how much the UK could have grown if it had not exited the EU.

bbc.co.uk

Air pollution affects everyone’s health. It’s linked to a range of health problems throughout our lives – from premature birth and childhood asthma to heart and lung disease, diabetes and strokes in later life. I’ve pledged to be a @Global Action Plan Clean Air Champion on #CleanAirDay

This is promising news, so far. The next best steps would be for Thames Water to be taken into Special Administration, and broken up into a number of smaller publicly-owned organisations. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Thames Water moves step closer to nationalisation after government objects to rescue deal

A government spokesman tells the BBC that the current offer "does not do enough to protect consumers or the environment".

bbc.co.uk

Absolutely crucial piece of research on misinformation in local news on Facebook, X and Nextdoor by @smfthinktank.bsky.social Full report is here (www.smf.co.uk/publications...) but these are some key findings:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... This is good news! Driven by wider protections and greater appreciation of their role in protecting against storms and tsunami.

Mangrove forests are healing after decades of human destruction

Swampy mangrove forests are staging a surprise comeback - which is good news for coastal communities and the climate.

bbc.co.uk

Media reaction: UK and Europe’s ‘mind-boggling’ May heat and climate change ✍️ @ayeshatandon.carbonbrief.org @daisydunne.carbonbrief.org @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org Read here ⬇️

Media reaction: UK and Europe's ‘mind-boggling’ May heat and climate change - Carbon Brief

Europe has been hit by a searing heatwave this May, which has shattered temperature records across France, Spain and the UK.

carbonbrief.org

This is rapidly warming the El Niño region. This is how El Niño forms - it’s not new, it’s just supercharged. This matches most computer model forecasts for a historic El Niño pattern, throwing Earth’s climate patterns off-kilter. Expect robust effects of El Niño to begin this summer… 2/

Happy International Day of Biodiversity! 🌿🐝 Last month I met with @ukyouthfornature.bsky.social's creative young campaigners to talk about why pesticides need to buzz-off! Special shout-out to the model tiny town showing what a pesticide-free future could look like (need one for the office!) 👏👏

Special administration of Thames Water is affordable. The Conservative government had a plan to cut 40% of Thames Water's debts. We can cut more. But EVEN IF this government pays off all of Thames Water's £17bn debts, this would be 'trivial' for the bond markets.

JUST RELEASED: 14 million battery-electric cars sold globally in 2025 says @iea.org. China: 8.2m. Europe: 2.9m (28% of new cars). Norway: 97%. US flat at 1.2m. In 2015 the world sold 330,000 BEVs. Ten years later, 14 million. Long-read coming on Bright Spots 👇 janrosenow.substack.com

I'm absolutely delighted that Cabinet has agreed to pilot a locally-led filtered Quiet Lanes policy to improve rural active travel. It's innovative and I'm so proud of my role in it alongside others. Do share, AT policy enthusiasts (short thread) mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/%28S%2803u25...

1/4 Govt needs to get ahead of upcoming fuel crisis in UK & elsewhere Climate & transport groups are calling for ban on private jets, a frequent flyer levy and ban on main short haul routes where direct train exists Would save nearly 1 M tonnes jet fuel per yr www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Ban private jets and cut speed limits to avert UK fuel crisis, say campaigners

Climate and transport organisations warn ministers not to ‘sleepwalk into crisis’ amid Iran war oil and gas shortages

theguardian.com

True, but just TRY to get something like this past the GOP.

Bogs store so much carbon and are a huge water sponge. Accumulating at about 1 mm per year, UK bogs can be >8 m deep, as long as our corer in this photo. As you cross a bog, you walk upon 8000 years worth of carbon, slowly sequestered but vulnerable to catastrophic release by drainage and warming.

At what point do we stop pretending our newspapers are ‘news’ and start calling them what they are… Promotional pamphlets for the billionaires who own them and the agendas they’re selling.

2024, The Sun led with several stories regarding Starmer receiving clothes & glasses from a Labour donor who is in the House of Lords. 2026, The Sun hasn’t published one single story about Farage receiving a £5m gift from a crypto currency billionaire Reform donor

There's no mystery about why Farage, Trump, Boris Johnson and others of their stamp get away with things that would instantly destroy any leftwing politician: they're protected by the oligarchs they serve, who own most of the media and intimidate much of the rest.

Carbon dioxide averaged nearly 431 ppm in April 2026 (new record high) 10 years ago April averaged about 408 ppm. Preliminary data from gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/... This is really concerning, and it isn’t going away. The longer we wait, the worse the impacts get and the harder they are to address.

🚀 Heat pump sales are surging across Europe and high fossil fuel prices appear to be a key driver. Q1 2026 data from the European Heat Pump Association shows: 🇩🇪 Germany: +34% 🇫🇷 France: +21% (300,000+ units in just one quarter - the largest market in Europe) 🇫🇮 Finland: +71% in March alone

A great local petition from a campaigning local Mum wanting the A40 near Sandhills primary to be safer. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ac...

Oxfordshire County Council: Make the A40 safe for the school run!

Kids are walking and cycling next to 50-70mph traffic on the A40 London Road, but the council won't put up a barrier until someone actually gets hurt. I just signed the petition to demand action now. ...

you.38degrees.org.uk