Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Catherine MItchell

@catherinemitchell.bsky.social

3.8K followers 1.5K following 26 posts

Professor Emerita of Energy Policy, University of Exeter. My views only.

Videos

Environmental science 23%

Energy 21%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Sep 8

So good to meet you too. Your research / work sounds great. We can only do what we can do. All the best

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Iain Soutar @isoutar.bsky.social · Nov 12

There is this, too...

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Dec 13

Luigi Mangione is the median American voter | Peter Rothpletz

He’s a highly educated, heterodox, politically homeless moderate – and that fact should terrify us all The vast majority of the US population rarely – if ever – lapses into murderous fantasias wherein they gun down an unsuspecting father of two. One need…

www.theguardian.com

29 51 210

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

When Is Trump Gone? @daysleft4trump.bsky.social · Jan 20

4 years

░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 0%

6 54 180

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Nicki Lygo @drlygo.bsky.social · Jan 26

Potential banger of a job
jobs.northyorkmoors.org.uk/Home#2

Post advertising a National Trails Officer job in the North Yorks Moors National Park Authority

7 16

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Ellis, James Muldoon , and 1 more Catherine Mitchell, Elizabeth Ellis, James Muldoon, Clara Bermúdez‐Tamayo

Karen Hao @karenhao.bsky.social · Jan 27

As someone who has reported on AI for 7 years and covered China tech as well, I think the biggest lesson to be drawn from DeepSeek is the huge cracks it illustrates with the current dominant paradigm of AI development. A long thread. 1/

210 2.4K 6.2K

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Edgar G. Hertwich

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Apr 13

It's a straightforward relationship: high #inequality leads to the triumph of the far right. It will keep winning until governments deliberately seek to make societies more equal. I'm looking at you, Keir Starmer.
This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot

Economic inequality breeds resentment and a desire to get even. That’s what fuels support for even incompetent regimes, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

91 910 2.7K

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Danny Sriskandarajah @dhnnjyn.bsky.social · May 17

Why it's time to set an extreme wealth line. Here's my piece for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

It’s not a rich list – it’s gone far beyond that. We need to talk about ‘extreme wealth’ | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah

We recognise extreme poverty as ruinous, but this turbo-charged affluence is deeply damaging too. Treat it as such, says Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation

www.theguardian.com

2 5

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Jul 13

Yup - completely right.

At Glastonbury, I saw what England’s silent majority really looks like. Why aren’t politicians listening?

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, John W. Williams, Kevin J. Anchukaitis

Kevin Anchukaitis @thirstygecko.bsky.social · Jul 7

I hope a journalist on the climate beat will report on this - this may be only one piece of the general awfulness that is happening to federal science, but the NOAA Climate and Global Change Fellowship has trained many of the current leaders in weather and climate: cpaess.ucar.edu/cgc/current-...

1 34 58

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research @tyndallcentre.bsky.social · Jun 19

Come to our #ClimateChange conference to hear cutting-edge ideas from top interdisciplinary, policy-relevant speakers, including:

@clequere.bsky.social‬
@catherinemitchell.bsky.social‬
@aliceclimate.bsky.social‬ ‪
@neiladger.bsky.social‬

Book your spot ➡️ tyndall.ac.uk/events/criti... #AcademicSky

Graphic image of the Critical Decade for Climate Action Conference and event details with Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research branded orange banner against the backdrop of the climate stripes image, created by Professor Ed Hawkins at the University of Reading

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · May 17

Great article

Danny Sriskandarajah @dhnnjyn.bsky.social · May 17

Why it's time to set an extreme wealth line. Here's my piece for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

It’s not a rich list – it’s gone far beyond that. We need to talk about ‘extreme wealth’ | Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah

We recognise extreme poverty as ruinous, but this turbo-charged affluence is deeply damaging too. Treat it as such, says Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation

www.theguardian.com

1 2

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · May 17

‘We need to talk about extreme wealth’ - great article in Guardian by CEO of NEF

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Apr 26

Well done @theguardian.com and @dpcarrington on the 89% campaign - trying to give voice to the silen global majority who would like stronger climate action

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Apr 13

I agree with this.

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Apr 13

Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot

Economic inequality breeds resentment and a desire to get even. That’s what fuels support for even incompetent regimes, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Helen Gunter, Duncan Morrow

Alan Rusbridger @arusbridger.bsky.social · Apr 6

What if tech bros had held their nerve? What if ABC had told Trump they’d see him in court? What if Ivy League Universities had defended Columbia? What if big law firms had sued Trump? Cowardice is contagious. Welcome to the Great Grovel www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...

Since Trump came to power cowardice has become contagious

From the tech bros to the leaders of Ivy League universities, the great grovel to Donald Trump is well underway. What America needs now more than ever...

www.prospectmagazine.co.uk

62 370 1.2K

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · Mar 26

Two very brave young people have climbed the threatened trees in Trelawney Road in Falmouth, #Cornwall. Police are now threatening us all with arrest. But won't show anyone the report that justifies the felling as lawful.

4 14

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Tom Scott @tom--scott.bsky.social · Mar 26

Stand-off over attempted tree felling between residents, police & contractors in Trelawney Rd Falmouth. Top environmental lawyer @paulpowlesland.bsky.social on the scene. #Cornwall Council refuses to reveal key info on why trees "must go". Why?! WTAF?

5 18 45

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Mar 26

📣 New article by me in @plosclimate.org!

We can’t decarbonize energy by focusing on supply alone—we must tackle demand too.

🔹 Efficiency has cut more emissions than renewables
🔹 Smarter demand = less fossil fuel reliance
🔹 Cleanest energy is energy we don’t use

journals.plos.org/climate/arti...

3 42 110

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Jonathan Berk 🏠 @berkie1.bsky.social · Mar 23

66% of Parisians voted today to create 500 additional pedestrian streets, replacing over 10,000 parking spots with green space and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure.

📍 Paris 🇫🇷

4 79 340

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · Mar 19

65,000 UK companies are unlawfully hiding their beneficial owner. We've just published an interactive map showing them all.

Thread:

11 230 430

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Holly Hassel

Angelo Carusone @goangelo.bsky.social · Mar 15

1. What you see here is clearest illustration why things are so messed up and why it cannot get any better until this asymmetry is addressed.

Put simply: the right-wing has narrative dominance.

My org @mmfa.bsky.social did this study and has been sounding this alarm for years. Some thoughts...

490 2.5K 7.3K

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Mar 1

Sadly I have no idea how to deliver a Guardian picture and headline on BlueSky! But this is a very good article setting out the arguments for European sovereignty and independence from US

‘Trump is abandoning Ukraine and wants a weaker EU’: Dominique de Villepin on Europe’s moment of truth

2 1

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Dominik Wiedenhofer, Martina Angela Caretta

Prof Lisa Schipper 🌍🍉💪 @lisaschipper.bsky.social · Mar 1

This is an unusual opportunity in Germany where the idea of Tenure track is relatively new. A 'W1' is basically an Assistant Professor, (although the Germans translate it to the sad-sounding 'Junior Professor').

haushalt-und-personal.hu-berlin.de/de/personal/...

W1 Professorship in Human Geography and Global Transitions (with tenure track to W3)

haushalt-und-personal.hu-berlin.de

1 30 42

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Ilmo Keskimäki, Laurie S. Goodman , and 12 more Catherine Mitchell, Ilmo Keskimäki, Laurie S. Goodman, Todd Landman, Maarten A. Hajer, Jacky Fayolle, Hugh Roberts, Ireneusz Paweł Karolewski, Pauline Grosjean, Mathias Frisch, Wolfgang Palaver, Jeremy D. Stoddard, Laura Carlson, Emanuela Galasso, Jérôme Vicente

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Feb 28

Here I react to the shameful encounter between American leaders and media and the Ukrainian president. No doubt there were more, but I saw five failures on our side: of hospitality, decency, democracy, strategy, and independence. Please watch and share.
snyder.substack.com/p/five-failu...

Five Failures in the Oval Office (video)

America hurt itself badly today.

snyder.substack.com

1.1K 11K 31K

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Feb 24

V good article in Guardian about Mitch McConnell’s legacy.

Mitch McConnell is retiring from US politics. Good riddance

2 13

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Feb 22

German cities have announced the dismantling of the gas grid. Cities like Mannheim and Hamburg are leading the way. Mannheim plans to shut down its gas network completely by 2035.

More in my article with @ckemfert.bsky.social on The Progress Playbook.

theprogressplaybook.com/2025/02/19/a...

A future without gas: How German cities are managing the transition to climate-neutral energy

Mannheim plans to shut down its gas network by 2035, while transitioning to an expanded district heating network.

theprogressplaybook.com

1 100 270

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell, Martin Heidenreich, Michael E. Rose

Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · Feb 21

Ukraine Fact Sheet - February 21, 2025: isw.pub/UkraineFacts...

34 660 1.5K

Reposted by Catherine Mitchell

David Roberts @volts.wtf · Feb 21

Today on Volts: I talk with the lead utility regulator in Massachusetts about the state's "Future of Gas" proceeding, which lays out a process for phasing methane out of the energy mix over the next 25 years. We discuss the political challenges, utility dynamics, thermal energy networks, and more.

The Massachusetts utility regulator trying to orchestrate a shift away from gas

How can a state deliberately transition off of gas while protecting workers and ratepayers? We dig into the details.

www.volts.wtf

4 13 56

Catherine MItchell @catherinemitchell.bsky.social · Feb 21

For anyone making a submission to the Ofgem Review (end date 28 Feb) key IGov documents are available on a new site igov.exeter.ac.uk it is a gd source of references to show how lax Ofgem has been in dealing with key regulatory challenges. It also sets out solutions for a fit for purpose regulator.

IGov ran from 2012 to 2019 and looked at the level, type and speed of system change within GB and internationally; its drivers; its constraints; how actors across energy systems are responding; and how this is shaping / enabling / undermining energy system change. Our main conclusion was that the GB governance framework was not fit for purpose and we provided a range of insights into how the GB governance framework should be improved to ensure GB can capture the socio-economic and environmental benefits and opportunities that are on offer. These insights are summarised in the four main posts below.

igov.exeter.ac.uk

2 2