Blackdog development raises energy, environment and AI data centre questions Another month, another multi-billion pound giant data centre announcement. And where is the energy coming from? Is this what offshore wind is for?

Blackdog is just the latest. So many data centres seem positioned to use offshore wind. Is this really what the big clean energy roll out is for? www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2604...

Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought Scientists say finding is ‘very concerning’ as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas

Collapse of the AMOC was one of the most chilling tipping points in a recent talk by Tim Lenton at Edinburgh Science. He pecifically addressed impact on Scotland (-30C winter)❄️

New research suggests Atlantic current more likely to collapse than thought 😱 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Could £2 diesel finally push drivers to go electric? ⚡️🚗 Oil prices are swinging wildly as tension rises in the Middle East. Could now be the right time to ditch petrol and shift to an EV?

Pump prices for diesel at nearly £2 per litre? Just one of the reasons now could be the right time to get an electric car.
Check others out here in my @heraldscotland.bsky.social newsletter⚡️🚗www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/26000655.pump-pr...

Was great to get along to the launch of the Our Power campaign and hear big idea-sharing around public ownership. Shout out to some of the orgs involved @foescot.bsky.social @futureeconscot.bsky.social @sccscot.bsky.social @platform1983.bsky.social @scottishtuc.bsky.social @cescotland.bsky.social

Could public ownership of energy be the answer to soaring bills? In the midst of an energy price crisis, in which oil and gas companies are seeing huge profits, a new campaign is calling for more public ownership

'Renewables are the future of Scotland’s energy but we’re at risk of repeating the mistakes of the past. We let the profits from oil and gas disappear into the pockets of corporations. We need to see more ambition from government so it doesn't happen again.'
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2599203...

🤣 but also 😠
Loving this approach by APRS to raising the serious issue of what we put up into space

The difficult question posed by one of the world’s largest Scottish windfarms 12,000 people have signed a petition to stop the development of Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, because of its impact on seabirds. Are they right?

Berwick Bank looks set to kill thousands of birds. But climate change, which is why we are building offshore wind, also threatens them.
The difficult question posed by one of the world's largest windfarms
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2594...

UK data centre job claims slammed as ‘ludicrously inflated’ amid AI expansion Charity report claims UK Government job projections for hyperscale data centres are hugely inflated, warning they deliver far fewer long-term jobs.

Good piece from @vickyallan.bsky.social on important research from @aprscotland.bsky.social showing that jobs claims made for data centres in Scotland are unrealistically high.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2593164...

UK data centre job claims slammed as ‘ludicrously inflated’ amid AI expansion Charity report claims UK Government job projections for hyperscale data centres are hugely inflated, warning they deliver far fewer long-term jobs.

Now here's another issue over data centres. Jobs. Or lack of them.
UK data centre job claims slammed as ‘ludicrously inflated’ amid AI expansion - following analysis by
@aprscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2593164...

Looking forward to chairing this hustings on April 8th - your chance to ask the big questions of political parties about what you would like to see change in Scotland's food system

☝️ above

🚲🚲 Favourite #BikeRides - super new #Spokes booklet

@alastairdalton.bsky.social @lauralaker.bsky.social @carltonreid.com @smcarthurreports.bsky.social @vickyallan.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social @reizkultur.bsky.social @jarlathflynn.bsky.social

The price of petrol is a problem - but here's what's going to kill your food bill We can tell from oil and gas prices that we are going to feel this war in our pockets. Here's what it looks set to do to our food bills

The US-Israel war on Iran is already impacting petrol forecourt prices and heating oil... but if protracted more will be to come.
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2592...

British Columbia paused salmon farms. Why won’t Scotland? MSPs must decide whether to expand salmon farming or pause growth to protect Scotland’s endangered wild salmon and marine ecosystems.

MSPs must decide whether to expand salmon farming or pause growth to protect Scotland’s endangered wild salmon and marine ecosystems, says Nick Underdown from Wildfish

The Future of Scotland's salmon industry in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social 7/7
www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2585...

Eight innovations reshaping Scottish salmon farming’s future From AI feeding systems to bubble curtains and closed containment, we examine eight innovations reshaping Scottish salmon farming.

From AI feeding systems to bubble curtains and closed containment, we examine eight innovations reshaping Scottish salmon farming 6/7
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2585433...

'Millions of salmon deaths are effectively hidden - that creates a false picture' Animal Equality UK claims Scotland’s salmon mortality reporting system hides culls, transport losses and early sea deaths.

Are fish deaths being hidden in Scotland’s salmon industry? A charity claims serious gaps in official mortality

From The Herald's Future of the Scottish salmon industry series 5/7
reporting.www.heraldscotland.com/news/25851026.charity-wa...

Salmon boss urges Scotland to back £1bn export success, not ‘talk it down’ Salmon Scotland chief says the £1bn industry should be celebrated as the UK’s top food export, not treated with suspicion amid scrutiny.

Salmon Scotland chief says the £1bn industry should be celebrated as the UK’s top food export, not treated with suspicion

From the @heraldscotland.bsky.social series, The Future of the Scottish salmon industry 4/7 www.heraldscotland.com/news/2585297...

Salmon farms should not expand until mortalities fall, warns Tory MSP Former convener of inquiry, Edward Mountain, says Scotland’s salmon industry must cut mortalities before expanding further.

A Tory MSP who led a key salmon farming inquiry says the industry should not expand until it gets on top of soaring mortalities
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2585100...

Is Scotland’s salmon industry improving? Here is what the data reveals A new analysis examines Scotland’s salmon industry, from mortalities and sea lice to jobs, exports and economic impact.

Is Scotland’s salmon industry really improving? I looked at the the data on mortalities, sea lice, jobs, exports, economic impact, disease 2/7
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2584791...

The Future of Scotland's salmon industry: Why we're looking at the sector now The Herald launches a new series examining Scotland’s salmon industry, from expansion and exports to welfare, regulation and mortalities.

It's the UK's biggest export, but, with parliamentary scrutiny about to turn on it again, how is the salmon farming industry going on other measures?

Find links to the full @heraldscotland.bsky.social series, The Future of Scotland's salmon industry here 1/7
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2585247...

Could this idea solve the housing crisis and save nature? A green entrepreneur has come up with a big idea, he calls “nature prosperity pump”, using woodland creation to drive a new wave of timber…

For day three of the @heraldscotland.bsky.social
New Highland Clearances Revisited series, I'm looking at where climate and net zero meets community and social issues...
For instance, could this idea solve the housing crisis 🏠 and save nature 🌿?
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2583712...

What a lovely post. Thanks, Kirsty. Made my day.

Will the north of Scotland's energy job boom ever happen? Where are the clean energy jobs in the Highlands? The boom might not yet have happened, but there are signs of promise at the freeport - just no rush

Following in the footsteps of @heraldscotland.bsky.social's Caroline Wilson whose New Highland Clearances Revisited series has been a cracker this week.
Here's my first contribution: Will the north of Scotland's energy job boom ever happen? www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2584...

How much renewables is too much? || Environment Correspondent @vickyallan.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/opin...

Petition to stop gannet chick hunt becomes one of the most signed in Holyrood history A petition to end the gannet chick hunt has become one of the most signed in Holyrood history, with more than 67,000 people backing the call.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2577311...

@vickyallan.bsky.social

And, for anyone blocked by the paywall, note that there's a great @heraldscotland.bsky.social subscription deal which ends on Monday. Grab it now!
www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/?u...

Thanks to Spokes for sharing thoughts on the tram consultation.

If you're blocked by the paywall you might like to grab our great subscription deal, which ends on Monday
www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/?u...

Good luck with the campaign!
And, for anyone blocked by the paywall, note that there's a great subscription deal which ends on Monday. Grab it now!
www.heraldscotland.com/subscribe/?u...

‘Toothless’ sewage enforcement sparks calls for national clean-water plan in Scotland Experts warn Scotland’s sewage enforcement is “toothless”, urging a national plan to fix pollution, improve monitoring and protect communities.

Yesterday, @vickyallan.bsky.social wrote about the campaign to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage in @heraldscotland.bsky.social.

Get up to speed on how sewage pollution has become an issue, why communities are struggling with it & what must be done: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563820...

Herald article headline & picture of bike & tram Winds of change ♻️ Why cyclists fear dangers of new Edinburgh tram route 25th November

Start of article When it comes to Edinburgh trams and cycling, I’m probably guilty myself of having focussed all too much on the matter of what the preferred route will mean for the leafy Roseburn Path. It was one of the headline stories in our recent Future of Edinburgh Trams series – and, after cycling up and down its verdant avenue a few times, I wrote about what cyclists were saying about their much-loved route. Some were vehemently against the plan. One described it as "the best commute you can imagine in a city". But Spokes, the Edinburgh cycling campaign, was broadly supportive of the compromise of a single track tram down the path, with cycle and walkway running alongside. What was striking, though, was that, for Spokes, this wasn’t all about the Roseburn Path. They have a wider, more holistic view, and there were other issues that the cyclists involved in this campaign brought up - not least some of the dangers a new tram route might bring for cyclists. Their response to the tram consultation reflects that wider view. Spokes member, Ian Maxwell explains this as informed by the campaign's "previous experience during the planning and construction of Edinburgh’s existing tram routes". "In 2007," he says, "we invited a Dutch planner with extensive knowledge of tram design to visit Edinburgh and review the proposals for Princes Street and Leith Walk. “In his report Hans van der Stok from Goudappel mobility consultants commented that: 'The introduction of a tram system is a chance to emphasise other means of urban transport than private cars.' This would of course always include safe travel by bike” We know that one of the aims of the tram extension is to reduce car traffic and to head off potential traffic growth in development areas such as Granton and the Bioquarter, and, if that is the goal, Spokes suggests that Edinburgh needs to follow the Dutch lead. “The project,” Maxwell says, “should also be accompanied by complementary measures to further e…

part 2 For Spokes, tram introduction should be about creating “an integrated sustainable transport place-making project”. “It shouldn’t be a tram-only project into which cycling and walking have to be slotted in once all the tramline decisions are taken, as happened with tramline 1 and to a considerable (though lesser) extent in the Newhaven extension.” READ MORE: The future of Edinburgh trams Is Edinburgh tram consultation a ‘false choice’? Here’s what the evidence says I cycled the Roseburn Path - here’s why so many cyclists love and defend it Most strikingly, the campaign note that the proposals could bring new dangers for cyclists, and advocates that it should avoid introducing “any major new risks to cyclists”. Spokes, for instance, highlights the fact that “the kerb-adjacent tram stops proposed at North Bridge and Newington would be intolerably dangerous, forcing on-road cyclists to cross tram tracks at an extremely dangerous angle”. Maxwell also points out that on the route through North and South Bridge, cyclists are “immediately adjacent to tramlines” and observes that this had been “a cause of ongoing crashes, injuries and compensation claims at Haymarket and Princes Street”. He writes: “Given very limited space on the road and for pedestrians, Spokes has suggested a range of alternatives, including single-track tram southbound and Market Street/ Pleasance northbound - there are many similar examples in Nottingham, Dublin and Amsterdam. Another alternative is the Mobility Plan’s long-term ambition of a tramline in Morrison Street and the Meadows, an option also favoured by Edinburgh World Heritage.” Spokes also suggests that the proposed North Bridge tram stop should be replaced by stops at Waverley Steps and at North Bridge arcade. “This would serve,” Maxwell says, “Princes Street, Waverley Station and the Old Town more effectively than tram users having to walk from a congested tramstop in the middle of North Bridge.” “Further sout…

end of article.. Other issues they raise include how, staff and patients at the Royal Infirmary will reach the tram stop. And what of the Roseburn Path? Spokes has pointed out “plusses and minuses to both the Roseburn and the Orchard Brae route options”. “On Roseburn," the campaign says, "the now planned single track running, with battery powered trams, certainly lessens the negatives there, but ecology and ambience suffer a loss even with mitigation measures. "However, since it was Spokes who, years ago, argued to install tarmacked paths on disused railways which were entirely occupied by nature, including draining wetland cuttings, perhaps we cannot complain too much! The Orchard Brae option introduces new onroad tramline dangers, but of course leaves Roseburn untouched.” Sign up for the Winds of Change newsletter and get a weekly update on all things climate and energy. Finally, if Roseburn is the Council’s chosen option, Spokes urges that the plans include a cycle and pedestrian bridge over the tram and mainline railway, linking Roseburn path to the "fantastic new path to the canal", avoiding the long ramps down to road level and up again. "This bridge," Maxwell says, "is already an aspiration in the Council’s Mobility Plan and would be a truly transformative improvement in the city’s offroad network." Roseburn has, of course, its other issues. It’s a wildlife corridor, home to badgers, foxes, rabbits, bats, and arguments about what happens there are much about green space and biodiversity as they are about bikes. I am a fairly nervous cyclist. The virtue, for me, of the Roseburn Path, when I have used it, is partly that it feels safe, and away from the traffic - away from worrying about cars, buses or getting caught in tramlines. But Roseburn is just one path, down a route I take infrequently, and, in reality, what would actually make me into a more regular cyclist is the feeling that all routes are safe, whatever part of town. Nothing comes without d…

#EdinburghTram

@vickyallan.bsky.social @heraldscotland.bsky.social
interviews us

-> www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2564...

@edi.bike @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @sannedd.bsky.social @edinburghtrams.bsky.social @edinpl.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social

'Magnificent formations of nature' at risk from SNP policy Leading scientists and conservationists warn Scotland’s ancient Caledonian pinewoods are at risk from deer, invasive species and flawed forestry…

Efforts to save and expand the Caledonian pinewoods are failing in most places - and a new report, in @heraldscotland.bsky.social lists why and calls for change
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2565758...