Nat Duffus

@natduffus.bsky.social

Ecological economist - interested in nature markets, biodiversity net gain, carabids, raptors, queer science neurodivergent, she/they 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Approving the Jackdaw gas field solves none of our problems, while contributing to the existential crisis of climate breakdown. The government has privileged special interests above the general interest. It's a shameful, cowardly decision.

🚨 BREAKING: The UK Labour Government have approved the Jackdaw gas field. This a devastating betrayal of future generations. Jackdaw will make the UK even more dependent on the global gas market. This will do nothing to lower household energy bills and it is dishonest to pretend that it will.

Article in the Guardian: "UK approves Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea

Decision was widely expected after lobbying by Shell but will dismay environmental campaigners "

“The only sensible solution at this point is a moratorium on datacentres until very basic questions about how many we need, what for, where, and how pollution will be avoided are answered satisfactorily by the government” - @olliehayes.bsky.social 👏

Drax datacentre could create nearly twice the yearly emissions of all Gatwick flights

Exclusive: Campaign group’s analysis of North Yorkshire plans finds datacentre would have to burn 4.9m tonnes of wood a year

theguardian.com

Eagles poisoned. Hen Harriers shot. Buzzards beaten to death. Birds of prey have been legally protected for over 60 years, but the law is still failing them. Our new report reveals 921 confirmed persecution incidents across the UK between 2015–2024. Read more: brnw.ch/21x2Rir

Brainwashing, 2026 edition. This paper shows how X's algorithmic feed shifts people's views rightwards. It's a sophisticated, highly effective form of reorientation. And it is utterly chilling. If you're still on that platform, unhook yourself now. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The political effects of X’s feed algorithm - Nature

Among users initially on a chronological feed, 7 weeks of exposure to X’s algorithmic feed in 2023 shifted political attitudes and account-following behaviour in a more conservative direction compared...

nature.com

Really pleased to have passed my viva yesterday! Officially Dr Nat 🥳. Thank you to my examiners for a really pleasant and interesting viva, and to my supervisors for all their support over the last 4 years! 🪲💚

Bild

An across-government technical assessment published today recognises that "nature is the foundation of national security" and that "every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse". A rational response to this would be to get very serious about nature recovery. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security

This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.

gov.uk

📉 UK biodiversity remains in serious decline—a worrying confirmation of what many suspected. We need an urgent rethink of our approach to protecting ecosystems, safeguarding species, and restoring habitats. It’s time for new, science-led legislation. #CANBill www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK biodiversity continues to decline, 2025 bioindicators show

Wallingford scientists contributed to the 2025 indicators with analysis of animal and plant trends.

bbc.co.uk

Super honoured to have contributed to this paper, led by the brilliant Sophus zu Ermgassen! We use our experience evaluating nature markets from around the world and derive 5 'golden' rules for the design and implementation of markets that deliver scientifically-credible outcomes. 🌱 rdcu.be/eYFx8

Five rules for scientifically credible nature markets

Nature Ecology & Evolution - This Perspective synthesizes insights from the past use of nature markets to identify design factors that are necessary if such markets are to achieve their...

rdcu.be

The programme is out for our Symposium, Exploring Queerness in Natural History, on 5 February. We're excited to hear from our Symposium Curators, Connor Butler and @aquadan1.bsky.social, as well as talks from Simon Goldhill, @canopyrobin.com and @rossbrooks.co.uk. (1/3) buff.ly/jc6Unz7

Symposium | Exploring Queerness in Natural History

A one-day, interdisciplinary symposium centring LGBTQ+ inclusion in the environmental sector.

eventbrite.co.uk

England’s most important nature sites are being failed.❌ Protected sites can and should be driving nature’s recovery. But today’s OEP report exposes the real problem: years of weak delivery, underfunding and political drift have left them unable to do the job the law intended.

A lush green woodland with moss-covered boulders, low ferns and a scatter of bluebells beneath twisting old trees. Sunlight filters softly through the canopy. Landscapes like this should be central to nature’s recovery but without proper support and clear targets, protected sites can’t deliver what they’re supposed to.