Welsh farmers launch landmark claim against ‘intimidating’ pylon firm About 500 farmers challenge Green Gen Cymru in high court over alleged disregard for landowners and biosecurity

A wildly predictable example of why you need to do renewables with people and not to people.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

The strategy so far seems to be to promote renewables but we can't build enough in time to save us from this oil crisis.

There's lots of @edrc-uk.bsky.social research into how we can reduce energy use without sacrificing quality of life. It's probably a good time to get into this.

Energy crisis: why ‘keep calm but cut down’ may be a better message for Labour Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumption

The biggest reason to warn people imo is so they can start saving energy and switching away from oil and gas in the most efficient ways possible - especially ahead of next winter.

Good to speak to @guardianheather.bsky.social about that earlier in the week

Heat pumps for all new homes and plug-in solar in green tech drive Solar panels that can be plugged in at home could be available to buy in supermarkets in the coming months.

FINALLY

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

How the UK can Protect Households from Spiking Fuel Prices As another energy crisis takes hold, the UK must take action to reduce energy demand to limit impacts on households...

As another energy crisis begins to take hold, the UK must take action to reduce energy demand to limit impacts on households that are already suffering.

This blog explores how we should redefine energy security to address demand in addition to supply.
ukerc.ac.uk/news/how-the...

Reeves vows to ‘crack down’ on energy and fuel bosses exploiting Britons through ‘rip-off’ prices – UK politics live The chancellor is set to meet with energy bosses over concerns that companies are profiteering from oil and gas prices

Or we could reduce our structural reliance on these "bosses" by making electricity cheaper, and better supporting electrification and energy demand reduction.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

‘Nothing off the table’ as Rachel Reeves considers ‘targeted support’ over energy costs Chancellor does not rule out ditching fuel duty rise but tells MPs it is too early to gauge if consumers need extra help

Reeves says “Over the next few years we will be even more insulated as more of that renewable energy comes online ”

This is amazing and true but what if we invest in demand-side measures like actual home insulation to make us even less exposed to energy shocks??

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

How the UK can protect households from spiking fuel prices - Energy Demand Research Centre

📈 Energy prices are rising again. How can the UK better protect households from global fuel price shocks? In this new blog, @mcbrisbois.bsky.social and Caroline Kuzemko argue that reducing energy demand must be central to energy security: www.edrc.ac.uk/news-blog/ho...

@ukerc.bsky.social

War in Middle East ‘could wipe out growth in UK living standards’ Rising oil and gas prices may affect increase of £300 a year for typical working-age households, says leading thinktank

The UK needs to get off gas now.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

The Representation of the People Bill MUST scrap First Past the Post First Past the Post can no longer deliver real mandates - only chaos. 60% of Brits want it scrapped. Yet the new Representation of the People Bill won’t even touch our rotten voting system, which lea...

First Past the Post can no longer deliver real mandates - only chaos. 60% of Brits want it scrapped.

Yet the Representation of the People Bill won’t even touch our voting system, which leaves millions unrepresented.

Tell Keir Starmer to change this.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/th...

Global economy must move past GDP to avoid planetary disaster, warns UN chief Exclusive: António Guterres says world’s accounting systems should place true value on the environment

Someone needs to tell the Labour Party.....

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Flawed economic models mean climate crisis could crash global economy, experts warn States and financial bodies using modelling that ignores shocks from extreme weather and climate tipping points

Fundamentally flawed economic models mean #climatecrisis could crash global economy, experts warn

- Shocks from extreme weather disasters and tipping points are entirely missed by the current models used by governments and financial institutions

Story by me
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio) YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Join me in conversation with @carolinelucas.bsky.social @andrewsimms.bsky.social & Jean McLean to discuss hope & despair in building progressive futures together.
February 18th 5.30pm at the @attenboroughac.bsky.social Sussex University. Register here:
www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5651/...

Mine's going the same way but I do very much miss the old Twitter community. The move to different platforms has shaken up and broken lots of connections - it's probably good for my efficiency though:)

Building energy resilience in an uncertain world Cutting demand is emerging as one of the most powerful and overlooked options for strengthening energy security

Energy security isn’t just about supply. ⚡

New @financialtimes.com report featuring Dr Marie Claire Brisbois on why energy demand-side policies are key to resilience, reduced imports & stronger communities.

#UCLGeography #EnergyPolicy #EnergySecurity @edrc-uk.bsky.social @ukerc.bsky.social

In this week's newsletter:

New podcast: @laurasandys.bsky.social & Rob Gross on big ideas for affordable energy.

Our response to the Scottish Parliament's Draft Climate Change Plan Scrutiny.

@mcbrisbois.bsky.social's blog redefining energy security as a demand issue.

👉 mailchi.mp/18f9e06ebdf1...

Glad to see Green Party Leader Elizabeth May amplifying the demands of the Xinka people to permanently shut down the Escobal mine - owned by Vancouver-based Pan American Silver!

And we are also curious about when the CORE will have a new ombudsperson again, and be given real teeth to do its work.

Governing flexibility: Trust, time and agency in automated demand-side flexibility Aligning electricity demand with renewable energy supply helps lower decarbonisation costs. This can be done through demand-side flexibility (DSF) mar…

Jonathan Mills of DESNZ @biee.org #BIEE2025 conference has noted that the social dynamics behind #flexibility need research.

It's thus a good time to flag Helen Poulter and I's paper on the key role of trust in flexible systems (Helen presenting at 1:15)!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Governing flexibility: Trust, time and agency in automated demand-side flexibility Aligning electricity demand with renewable energy supply helps lower decarbonisation costs. This can be done through demand-side flexibility (DSF) mar…

If we want automated, flexible electricity systems that integrate private assets then we need an energy system that people can trust.

See our latest to understand why we need more attention to people and governance of flexibility.

@edrc-uk.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Solar+storage is so much farther along than you think On how plummeting battery prices make 24/7 solar power a reality today.

Today on Volts: the sun doesn't shine at night, but if you add batteries it might as well! If you're not closely tracking the industry, you're probably not aware of just how cheap solar+storage is getting, and how quickly. I talk with the authors of a new Ember report about the good news.

Developing a relational approach to energy demand: A methodological and conceptual guide In a recent review of research on the role of social relations in shaping energy demand, authors documented increasing interest in relational approach…

Our paper “Developing a relational approach to energy demand: A methodological and conceptual guide” has won a prize: the Energy Research & Social Science Best Paper Award! You can read it here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... thanks to funding from @ukerc.bsky.social

UK climate opinion maps Explore UK climate opinions by country, region and local authority

My favourite @yaleclimatecomm.bsky.social tool for understanding public opinion on climate is now available for the UK! 🇬🇧

Find out how many people in your area are worried about climate change, have experienced its impacts, support action from the government and more. The answers may surprise you!

Compounding injustices can impede a just energy transition - Nature Energy Coal and carbon-intensive regions have lagged behind in socioeconomic development, long before any transition-related structural changes were foreseeable. Acknowledging and tackling the compounding ef...

Now out! Our argument that a "just" transition must address historical and structural inequalities, along with present transition injustices.

With @lukashermwille.bsky.social and many others! @coaltransitions.bsky.social @sussexunibusiness.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Stories - The Bennett Institute An industrial complex

Catch our new research published in Nature Energy today how compounding injustices can impede a just energy transition. Benjamin Sovacool @sovacool.bsky.social Lukas Hermwille @lukashermwille.bsky.social Mare-Claire Brisbois @mcbrisbois.bsky.social
bennettinstitutesussex.org/stories/a-ju...

Planning change makes heat pump installations easier for homes The rule requiring planning permission if a heat pump is within 1m of a neighbours property has been removed.

This is great news - and would have saved me £400.

Although, having the neighbours informed about our heat pump through the planning system has actually been a really effective way of introducing them to how great it is.

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

Group of Energy & Climate MSc students visiting a solar farm.

University of Sussex Energy and Climate Policy MSc students visiting the Meadow Blue community-owned solar PV farm near Chichester today.

Really interesting to see solar powering community benefits across West Sussex! ⚡

Many thanks to Tom Broughton and Anna Glanville-Hearson.

I contributed to this article about how China has just gone and done it on electrification (even if still underpinned by coal for now), while the rest of are still tied up in (fossil-fuel funded) arguments about whether electrification, EVs and heat pumps work.

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Come work with us at @ucl.ac.uk Institute for Sustainable Resources. Looking for a new lecturer in Environmental Policy.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

Marie Claire Brisbois during the ITV interview speaking in front of the camera with the University of Sussex campus in the background

🚗⚡ Ending EVs’ vehicle excise duty exemption raises big questions about pollution & the shift to cleaner transport. Yesterday, @mcbrisbois.bsky.social told ITV News Meridian how EV adoption helps cut fossil fuel pollution in cities.

Watch here (interview at 9:30): 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zKW...