Varyl Thorndycraft
@varylt.bsky.social
Geographer - Geomorphologist - Experimental music. He/him. Born 330ppm Dad 416ppm.
Today's essential AI read... ... and I've never downloaded ChatGPT either. Kate beautifully articulates how I feel about it.
Kate Manne@katemanne.bsky.social · yesterdayGenerative AI is catnip to the men who miss female sycophants katemanne.substack.com/p/a-culture-...
My editor asked me to write about what happened to summer:
We launched a war on nature. Now we are in a climate warzone | Rebecca Solnit
Summer is not what it once was. We have been robbed of one of life’s great joys
theguardian.com
“It’s frustrating when hearing about Andy Burnham & Angela Rayner creating a new language around localism but giving so much power to landlords, directly pushing out locals” www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Approval of east London datacentre labelled ‘slap in the face’ for local democracy
Campaigners decry Angela Rayner’s backing for Brick Lane project that has only 11 affordable homes
theguardian.com
Every now and then someone takes a run at me along the lines of "I don't understand why you, a scifi writer, don't appreciate 'AI'," and I'm all, motherfucker, it's *because* I'm a science fiction writer I have the positions I have, how many times do we have to fucking yell "torment nexus," my dude
I'm not sure folks have realized just how crazy the second half of 2026 and 2027 will be for global temperatures – on the back of a record-smashing El Niño event. Here is my latest estimate of where both years will end up compared to global temperatures since 1850.
“The climate emergency kills,” he said on Monday. “And that’s why it’s not enough to address the consequences, which we do; what we have to do is reduce its causes, anticipate its effects, and, consequently, better prepare our country to protect people’s lives.”
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers
PM has long history of speaking out on realities of global heating but political opponents remain unnmoved
theguardian.com
"...he has been one of the most vociferous European leaders when it comes to criticising Israel’s conduct in Gaza & Trump’s war in Iran - & defending the benefits of immigration...Sánchez has long deployed unvarnished language to raise awareness of... climate.." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers
PM has long history of speaking out on realities of global heating but political opponents remain unnmoved
theguardian.com
1/ @mjflepage.bsky.social argues in @newscientist.com that more North Sea drilling doesn't matter for the #climate, because what counts is how much we burn. He's usually excellent as a climate writer and I found the piece a real let-down. A thread on why. 🧵
Neoliberalism in a nutshell. UEFA on FIFA's proposal: “The moment external investors acquire ownership interests ... football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. ... Every decision is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.”
Of all the many impacts of climate change, it is the collapse of food security that haunts me the most. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘It’s too fast, too big’: speed of climate crisis is devastating crops, say farmers
Drought and extreme heat are killing plants, driving up prices while also making some farms economically unviable
theguardian.com
In fifteen years, the UK has deleted coal power from their power system, halved fossil gas use, replaced most of that with wind and solar, and the country has not suffered the hellish blackout apocalypse conservatives and media outlets promised would happen. ember-energy.org/data/electri...
the four stages: 1. Allister Heath's columns are not real 2. Allister Heath's columns are not serious 3. OK, they are real and serious but it's too late to do anything about them 4. Our only hope is to find a way of adapting to Allister Heath's columns
A succession of heatwaves and very dry conditions - both driven by human-induced climate change, fueld the severe wildfires in Spain and France - new @wwattribution.bsky.social study www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
#GlobalHeating greatly increases #wildfire risk. That‘s been established scientifically for a long time (see IPCC reports) but has now been shown again for the current fires 🔥 in France and Spain in a new World Weather Attribution study. www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-chan...
Climate change increases likelihood of compounding drivers of severe wildfire conditions in France and Spain – World Weather Attribution
worldweatherattribution.org
Is “pragmatic” the new, “grown up” word? Andy, there’s nothing “pragmatic” about drilling for more oil & gas - to even consider it with the planet literally on fire is total madness. How many times must we say it will do nothing for energy bills or security? It would be an act of utter recklessness
Burnham promises ‘pragmatic’ approach to North Sea oil and gas
PM tells reporters the government cannot ignore the energy resource ‘when people are struggling’
theguardian.com
We've been camping in the Thame valley at a site next to the river. According to sewagemap.co.uk Thames Water were releasing sewage the day before we arrived so we didn't swim. My 5yo daughter has written them a letter... ✊
I was not informed by the BBC that they would have a right wing political figure or lobbyist on after me to rebut what I said. The individual in question went on to spout lies about China, etc. to distract attention from the Trump administration's assault on climate action. This is unacceptable.
Michael E. Mann@michaelemann.bsky.social · 6d agoI'll be on BBC News television TODAY ~3:40pm ET (8:40pm London local time) to discuss--what else---the climate change-fueled weather extremes we're seeing around the world this summer. Please join me: www.bbc.com/live
I'm late to this but holy hell, I could write an entire book about this single screenshot. The way the image just perfectly captures the journalists doing luxury, disengaged hand-wringing about blackouts while the ACTUAL THREAT plays out in front of their eyes.
Impact of climate change may be equivalent to 3.3 million years of transformations in tropical vegetation theconversation.com/impact-of-cl...
Impact of climate change may be equivalent to 3.3 million years of transformations in tropical vegetation
Changes that took millions of years can now happen in a matter of decades, and this accelerated rythm can be destructive, with dangerous consequences for the planet
theconversation.com
10,000 fewer on-street car parking spaces. That's the pledge from Amsterdam's new coalition government over the next four years. While many cities still argue whether change is possible, Amsterdam is reclaiming its public realm one tree, bench, bike rack, terrace, playground, and garden at a time.
🚨NEW from me: leading climate scientist @rahmstorf.bsky.social tells me of his anger after witnessing firsthand the devastating Gironde wildfires - which he ties directly to politicians' inaction on fossil fuels.
Climate Scientist Fleeing Wildfires: ‘We’re In A Race Against Time’
Professor Stefan Rahmstorf escapes out-of-control wildfires in France, and warns fossil fuel inaction is supercharging climate disasters.
forbes.com
"As Mayor of Greater Manchester, you oversaw the declaration of a #ClimateEmergency & argued that local government lacked many of the powers necessary to deliver the pace of change demanded by the climate challenge. As Prime Minister, those powers now rest with you"
Kevin Anderson@kevinclimate.bsky.social · last wk.Open letter to the PM on Rosebank & Jackdaw oil and gas fields, covered in the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/... Full letter here: climateuncensored.com/letter-to-th...
Illustrated with a picture of things far more apocalyptic than blackouts.
Adam Schwarz@adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 2w agoWhen the story of why humanity didn't stop climate change is written, it will feature front pages like this. Even as the skies blacken with climate change-induced wildfires, right wing media continue their relentless crusade against measures to tackle it.
I join you from the Blaenavon wildfire in Southeast Wales, brought to you by BP, Shell and Equinor. Though it does not look dramatic, the fire has been out of control for days - for a very particular reason. 🧵
We decided to get out. Not sure whether we would have still made it tomorrow. The main road Lacanau-Bordeaux is already closed. #GlobalHeating #Wildfire
Holiday in the climate emergency. No that’s not AI or edited, just a snapshot I just took with my phone on Lacanau beach in France. What future will this boy grow up in? It is in our hands, but time is running out.
The Dutch equivalent of Cass, (except it’s a proper scientific review not pseudoscientific drivel like Cass) has wholeheartedly endorsed puberty-blockers and full gender affirming care for young trans people.
Landmark Official Dutch Review Recommends Trans Youth Care, Call For Expanding Treatment
The review finds that wait times must be shortened, that few people detransition, and that trans youth care has enormous benefits.
erininthemorning.com
Dwindling reservoirs aren't the result of "bad weather" or "natural cycles". They're a choice our society made. Growing thirsty crops like alfalfa and pecans in the desert is a choice. Refusing to reduce CO2 emissions is a choice. Refusing to change the water laws as reality changes is a choice.
