Good round up of where the COP31 Summit stands from @michaelholder.bsky.social following the latest pre-COP meeting. www.businessgreen.com/news/4537043...

'We have set the stage': Pre-COP31 talks promise fresh push on electrification, resilience, and finance

Pacific island nations call on governments to place limiting global warming to 1.5C, accelerating pace of electrification, conserving oceans, and boosting climate finance at heart of COP31 talks

businessgreen.com

Kemi Badenoch is speaking at the #conservativepartyconference "There is a fight coming in British politics. A fight that we have not seen for half a century. It will be a battle for the soul of this nation."

While waiting for Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith to speak at #ConservativeConference, we're being treated to Jeremy Clarkson complaining about how bad the weather, fuel & energy costs have been for farming, but without anyone mentioning the culprits: climate change and fossil fuels

Of course we Tories are not climate change deniers …it’s just that we want to abandon the net zero target, scrap environmental controls. and expand Heathrow ….

"Almost five new fully-electric cars were sold in the UK every minute during September, as the zero emission vehicle sector enjoyed yet another record month of sales and secured a 28% share of the overall market." www.businessgreen.com/news/4536682... via @michaelholder.bsky.social

'Major achievement': Almost five new EVs sold in the UK every minute in September

UK car industry hails record electric vehicle sales in September, with almost 100,000 fully-electric vehicles registered

businessgreen.com

Zack Polanski's #GreenPartyConference speech, 25 mins in: "When it comes to priorities, there's one that sits at the heart of all we do... the climate crisis has been taking lives and destroying livelihoods for years. But this summer, the destruction reached our shores like never before."

Andy Burnham announces strengthened Water Bill that will include repeal of Thatcher's "ideological ban on public ownership of water companies" "Water is a symbol of what has gone wrong with Britain." #Labourconference

How it started (a few hours previously) How it's going (go Ukraine, more, more, more)

SPRAVDI - Stratcom Centre@stratcomcentre.bsky.social · 4w ago

This morning, Ukraine successfully targeted Russia’s Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast. The Rosneft facility has capacity to process around 8.5 million tonnes of crude annually, roughly 170,000 barrels per day, producing large quantities of diesel and gasoline.

Having reported on the climate crisis for 20 years I am here to inform you that warnings we've unleashed something with a >10% of destroying humanity will have less of an impact than you'd expect.

"Sales of fully electric vehicles shifted up yet another gear in August, securing a record 30% share of the new car market as they became the UK's biggest selling fuel type for the first time," reports @michaelholder.bsky.social: www.businessgreen.com/news/4535211...

'Economic and environmental success story': EV sales surge to new high in August

Fully electric cars secured a 30 per cent market share in August, making them the biggest selling fuel type for the first time

businessgreen.com

Not wanting to ruin everyone else's week as well, but I've just received a promotional email from a well known supermarket titled "Michael, is it too early to whisper 'Crimbo'?"

I'm in PoliticsHome, talking about Persuasion's work on the electoral calculations at play when it comes to further oil and gas licenses.

PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · last mo.

North Sea drilling is not a significant vote mover in and of itself However, seen in the wider context of climate change and extreme heat, new licenses could damage Andy Burnham's green credentials in the minds of key progressive voters, writes @persuasionuk.bsky.social's @morganj0nes.bsky.social

NEW from me: China's CO2 emissions fell by 1% in the second quarter of 2026, as oil consumption plummeted amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis, with EVs and public transport among the key factors. Oil consumption fell by 9% overall and by 16% for transport. 🧵

Carbon Brief@carbonbrief.org · last mo.

NEW – Analysis: China’s CO2 emissions fall in Q2 2026 due to plummeting oil use | @laurimyllyvirta.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/P3nHdbA

Fascinating long read from @michaelholder.bsky.social on why the UK's heat pump roll out appears to have slowed down. Tl;dr Policy delays and skills bottlenecks have a lot to do with it, which means it's fixable but urgent action is needed. www.businessgreen.com/feature/4534...

'Flatlining': What's holding back the UK heat pump rollout?

The UK's leading source of information for the green economy, delivering the latest news and in-depth analysis on green business and environmental issues.

businessgreen.com

huge, if true www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

China’s Oil Demand ‘Very Likely’ Peaked Last Year, Sinopec Says

China’s oil demand probably peaked last year, earlier than previous estimates, according to the head of the nation’s top refiner.

bloomberg.com

Clean energy makes clear economic sense. A study by Oxford University found the world would collectively save 12 trillion dollars in 2050 compared to the current fossil fuel path.

"The United States has doubled down on its opposition to plastic production limits in global treaty talks, pushing to create a broad loophole to disregard the treaty on national security grounds." National security grounds??

Leaked memo shows how U.S. aims to weaken global limits on plastic pollution

A memo reviewed by The Washington Post, circulated by U.S. diplomats, comes as negotiations over a plastics treaty reach a critical point.

wapo.st

After outright climate denial came delayism (‘yes, it’s us, it’s serious, but we have time’). I wonder what will come after that. Based on governments’ silence this summer, it could be: ‘It’s serious, we’re running out of time, but we shouldn’t scare people. They aren’t ready for this.’

Leo Hickman@leohickman.carbonbrief.org · 2mo ago

The daily global average sea surface temperature has just reached its highest level on record, per C3S. "The timing of the record is particularly notable. Global ocean temperatures are typically highest in March and April, following the austral summer, yet this record has been reached in August."

Pull the other one… It was a gas plant that was hacked 🤷‍♂️

This is shocking. The Conservatives' new energy plan goes way past scrapping net zero – they actually want to put emissions up. After a summer of wildfires, it seems the Conservatives have completely given up on the environment and are just taking orders from Donald Trump.

Yes, there is such a thing as #climate comedy and @stuartgoldsmith.bsky.social is rather good at it. You can see him at the @edfringe.bsky.social this month, & then on tour. He even cites @ssteingraber1.bsky.social on the importance of playing with your kazoo 😁

Stuart Goldsmith@stuartgoldsmith.bsky.social · 4mo ago

HUGE NEWS: I'M GOING ON TOUR! 🎉 I'm heading out on my first UK tour in nearly a decade with Canary.

Sobering analysis from WaterAid on what the Super El Nino is likely to bring. www.businessgreen.com/news/4534708...

Study: Key UK industries at risk of severe supply chain disruption from looming 'Super El Niño'

Supply chains crucial to the UK's automotive, clothing, retail, and food and drink sectors could face severe water stress during ‘Super El Niño’, analysis warns

businessgreen.com

Fresh warnings that watering down the ZEV Mandate could put significant investment at risk. www.businessgreen.com/news/4534702...

Study: Watering down ZEV Mandate could delay £1.5bn in home charging investment

Weaker electric vehicle targets could mean up to 12GW less flexible charging capacity being available by 2034, trade body warns

businessgreen.com

Got to love a passivhaus school. www.businessgreen.com/news/4534732...

'Exciting moment': Energy-saving Passivhaus school projects completed in South Gloucestershire

Primary and secondary schools with capacity for 1,300 pupils heralded as two of the most energy efficient buildings in England

businessgreen.com

An ongoing, non-exhaustive thread of things caused by the extreme hot & dry weather that Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice believes we should try to "enjoy" and "celebrate" rather than try to do anything about:

GHG Protocol accused of 'violating its own rules' in forest carbon removals row businessgreen.com/ne...

Richard Tice reckons pension schemes are underperforming because they are investing in a load of 'woke nonsense' and a new UK Sovereign Wealth Fund would instead prosper by investing in AI, nuclear fusion, and small modular reactors. www.businessgreen.com/news/4526068...

Reform UK: Richard Tice vows to ignite bonfire of climate, planning, and employment laws

Reform deputy leader voices support for fracking and trade tariffs as he pledges to 'end lunacy of net zero stupid'

businessgreen.com

Fantastic interview. Everyone should read it:

John Davidson Gives First Interview and Explains Tourette’s Tics After Shouting N-Word and Other Slurs at BAFTAs: ‘I Felt a Wave of Shame’ (EXCLUSIVE)

John Davidson's explains Tourette's tics and the BAFTA N-word incident in his first exclusive interview with Variety.

variety.com

Contrary to what some will tell you, it *is* actually possible – no, necessary – to call out atrocities by the Iranian, Israeli, Russian, US, and other fascist regimes. Those who'll do so purely when it's one lot or another are highly dodgy, to say the least.

George Monbiot@georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 8mo ago

The Iranian regime takes brutality to a whole new level. It will commit any atrocity to maintain its hold on power. The citizens confronting it are among the bravest in the world.

Reform UK's "shadow cabinet" has an opponent of climate action covering the Treasury, a climate denier covering business, trade and energy and, as far as I can tell, no one covering the Defra brief. Forward to the 1950s!