Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
Day job: climate change, heat pumps, energy at Nesta
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Other stuff: low-fi economics on growth, cities & economic geography, general UK policy, occasional basic charts
Bristol, he/him, lots of parenting / caring.
Personal account.
Pinned
Andrew Sissons
@acjsissons.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Delighted to publish this personal essay by me and John: Getting Britain out of the hole.
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
We wanted to write something quite readable that covers the big picture of the UK’s economic struggles. Hopefully we’ve managed at least one of those!
@johnspringford.bsky.social
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
Excited for the launch of this year’s Big February tomorrow.
It’s been a pretty miserable January. But to be fair to it, when the skies are clear, the light is wonderful
It’s been a pretty miserable January. But to be fair to it, when the skies are clear, the light is wonderful
January 31, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Excited for the launch of this year’s Big February tomorrow.
It’s been a pretty miserable January. But to be fair to it, when the skies are clear, the light is wonderful
It’s been a pretty miserable January. But to be fair to it, when the skies are clear, the light is wonderful
Weekend plug for my new personal post: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
A sewage outfall pipe in the River Solway, Cumbria, with (probably) a regulator in the background. Photo by John Collins
acjsissons.medium.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Weekend plug for my new personal post: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
There is a traffic apocalypse in Bristol this evening - gridlocked traffic down residential roads, no one going anywhere.
It is incredible how bad our transport system is
It is incredible how bad our transport system is
January 30, 2026 at 6:05 PM
There is a traffic apocalypse in Bristol this evening - gridlocked traffic down residential roads, no one going anywhere.
It is incredible how bad our transport system is
It is incredible how bad our transport system is
So much this.
A foundational belief of #TeamMorePlanning is that you need a strong local or regional authority who can, if not build the infrastructure, at least plan and coordinate it
A foundational belief of #TeamMorePlanning is that you need a strong local or regional authority who can, if not build the infrastructure, at least plan and coordinate it
Neoliberals (like me) put too much thought into how much the planning system explains why we used to build more stuff, and not enough into how we used to have muscular local authorities and actually nationalised industries doing it all
Brilliant letter in The Economist from Professor Ian Wray
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place, University of Liverpool
www.economist.com/letters/2026...
January 30, 2026 at 12:40 PM
So much this.
A foundational belief of #TeamMorePlanning is that you need a strong local or regional authority who can, if not build the infrastructure, at least plan and coordinate it
A foundational belief of #TeamMorePlanning is that you need a strong local or regional authority who can, if not build the infrastructure, at least plan and coordinate it
New personal piece: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
The news is full of businesses behaving badly and seeming to get off very lightly. Why? As someone who used to work for a regulator, I wanted to set out some of the very simple reasons regulators struggle…
The news is full of businesses behaving badly and seeming to get off very lightly. Why? As someone who used to work for a regulator, I wanted to set out some of the very simple reasons regulators struggle…
Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
It has become a common complaint that regulators in the UK are toothless and ineffective. Unable to keep up with the pace of the internet…
acjsissons.medium.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:36 AM
New personal piece: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
The news is full of businesses behaving badly and seeming to get off very lightly. Why? As someone who used to work for a regulator, I wanted to set out some of the very simple reasons regulators struggle…
The news is full of businesses behaving badly and seeming to get off very lightly. Why? As someone who used to work for a regulator, I wanted to set out some of the very simple reasons regulators struggle…
I've got a new personal blog up: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
By me, a former regulator (!)
I'll plug it properly in the morning, but dive in if you fancy some late night reading
acjsissons.medium.com/why-does-reg...
By me, a former regulator (!)
I'll plug it properly in the morning, but dive in if you fancy some late night reading
acjsissons.medium.com/why-does-reg...
Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
It has become a common complaint that regulators in the UK are toothless and ineffective. Unable to keep up with the pace of the internet…
acjsissons.medium.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:43 PM
I've got a new personal blog up: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
By me, a former regulator (!)
I'll plug it properly in the morning, but dive in if you fancy some late night reading
acjsissons.medium.com/why-does-reg...
By me, a former regulator (!)
I'll plug it properly in the morning, but dive in if you fancy some late night reading
acjsissons.medium.com/why-does-reg...
Agree with a lot of this. AI benefiting all industries is the key test of whether it’s economically transformative.
It feels like so far the strongest use cases are geared towards coding. Which would make the exam question: is “abundant code” a viable mechanism for transforming most industries?
It feels like so far the strongest use cases are geared towards coding. Which would make the exam question: is “abundant code” a viable mechanism for transforming most industries?
AI tools are immensely powerful. The use of AI as a general purpose chat bot that is used like an encyclopaedia is the worst possible use of AI. AI is now, given good instructions from a knowledgeable user, capable of doing absolutely vast amounts of work extremely fast.
lots of people, especially on here, are fastened onto the idea that it's just AI bro marketing or whatever to consider it a fixture of the information landscape. it's easy to think that when everyone in your circles is an ethical AI refuser. but I'm afraid it really has been mass adopted.
January 29, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Agree with a lot of this. AI benefiting all industries is the key test of whether it’s economically transformative.
It feels like so far the strongest use cases are geared towards coding. Which would make the exam question: is “abundant code” a viable mechanism for transforming most industries?
It feels like so far the strongest use cases are geared towards coding. Which would make the exam question: is “abundant code” a viable mechanism for transforming most industries?
Should not be allowed to give these things real people’s names
JFC "Andrew" the "AI-generated expert on artificial intelligence" on this Microsoft course is the worst teacher and my already dim view of AI in education and training has plummeted even further now.
January 28, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Should not be allowed to give these things real people’s names
My friend and I did a student radio show and tried to do a recurring feature on surprising music genres. We did Ghettotech for week one, Grindcore week two and then entirely ran out of ideas
Grindcore is taken guys
January 28, 2026 at 6:01 PM
My friend and I did a student radio show and tried to do a recurring feature on surprising music genres. We did Ghettotech for week one, Grindcore week two and then entirely ran out of ideas
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Grindcore is taken guys
January 28, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Grindcore is taken guys
Interesting new analysis by the UK Energy Research Centre, which suggests that most of the increase in electricity bills since 2021 is still because of gas.
Nice wrote up by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/expensive-ga...
Nice wrote up by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/expensive-ga...
Expensive gas still biggest driver of high UK electricity bills, says UKERC - Carbon Brief
High gas prices are responsible for two-thirds of the rise in household electricity bills since before the global energy crisis.
www.carbonbrief.org
January 28, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Interesting new analysis by the UK Energy Research Centre, which suggests that most of the increase in electricity bills since 2021 is still because of gas.
Nice wrote up by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/expensive-ga...
Nice wrote up by @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/expensive-ga...
Just jumped over a puddle by the side of the road that was bigger than I thought and honestly, as I was hanging in the air, I felt like Jonathan Edwards in 1995.
Almost did a little fist pump and a wave to the crowd of pedestrians waiting at the crossing
Almost did a little fist pump and a wave to the crowd of pedestrians waiting at the crossing
January 27, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Just jumped over a puddle by the side of the road that was bigger than I thought and honestly, as I was hanging in the air, I felt like Jonathan Edwards in 1995.
Almost did a little fist pump and a wave to the crowd of pedestrians waiting at the crossing
Almost did a little fist pump and a wave to the crowd of pedestrians waiting at the crossing
This is sad - the West of England mayor won’t fund the scheme to make Park Street in Bristol a no-through road for cars (unless it is only a trial at peak hours)
January 26, 2026 at 7:31 AM
This is sad - the West of England mayor won’t fund the scheme to make Park Street in Bristol a no-through road for cars (unless it is only a trial at peak hours)
I mean, generally wages *are* pegged to GDP per capita
'I’m not always convinced [growth] is the number one mission of every government department,' business secretary Peter Kyle told the FT. ft.trib.al/IhcOUcZ
January 25, 2026 at 6:17 PM
I mean, generally wages *are* pegged to GDP per capita
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
This. Although I think it undersells the level of chaos India, the most powerful cricketing nation have wrought on almost every major tournament in recent years.
They didn't confirm they wouldn't play in Pakistan until a couple of months before last year's Champions Trophy.
They didn't confirm they wouldn't play in Pakistan until a couple of months before last year's Champions Trophy.
Might be worth just setting out the background to this very unfortunate situation as I understand it, with Bangladesh not playing the T20 World Cup.
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
Obvs a silver lining for Scotland. But this is quite the cloud over the T20 World Cup.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
January 24, 2026 at 9:08 PM
This. Although I think it undersells the level of chaos India, the most powerful cricketing nation have wrought on almost every major tournament in recent years.
They didn't confirm they wouldn't play in Pakistan until a couple of months before last year's Champions Trophy.
They didn't confirm they wouldn't play in Pakistan until a couple of months before last year's Champions Trophy.
Might be worth just setting out the background to this very unfortunate situation as I understand it, with Bangladesh not playing the T20 World Cup.
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
Obvs a silver lining for Scotland. But this is quite the cloud over the T20 World Cup.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke...
Bangladesh boycott T20 World Cup as ICC replace them with Scotland
Bangladesh decide to boycott next month's T20 World Cup and their place at the tournament will be taken by Scotland.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Might be worth just setting out the background to this very unfortunate situation as I understand it, with Bangladesh not playing the T20 World Cup.
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
(It’s complicated, but I’m not sure I would have described Bangladesh as “boycotting” the World Cup fwiw)
Completely agree with Anthony - and I worry that ignoring crises (past, ongoing and future ones) is becoming a national trait
I have to say in the various debates on young people's mental ill health that are going on currently it's shocking gaslighting that the pandemic barely features in the discussion despite the clearest of evidence imaginable.
January 24, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Completely agree with Anthony - and I worry that ignoring crises (past, ongoing and future ones) is becoming a national trait
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
I have to say in the various debates on young people's mental ill health that are going on currently it's shocking gaslighting that the pandemic barely features in the discussion despite the clearest of evidence imaginable.
January 24, 2026 at 9:58 AM
I have to say in the various debates on young people's mental ill health that are going on currently it's shocking gaslighting that the pandemic barely features in the discussion despite the clearest of evidence imaginable.
I know Blue Monday is not a thing, but omg this has been a difficult week hasn’t it?
Rained almost non-stop, most days barely even got light, exhausting news cycle even by current standards…
We should get a medal just for taking part
Rained almost non-stop, most days barely even got light, exhausting news cycle even by current standards…
We should get a medal just for taking part
January 23, 2026 at 10:32 AM
I know Blue Monday is not a thing, but omg this has been a difficult week hasn’t it?
Rained almost non-stop, most days barely even got light, exhausting news cycle even by current standards…
We should get a medal just for taking part
Rained almost non-stop, most days barely even got light, exhausting news cycle even by current standards…
We should get a medal just for taking part
This is really excellent by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk on Airport Book Brain.
On how simplifying ideas take over business and politics - until they’re jettisoned for the next catch idea
On how simplifying ideas take over business and politics - until they’re jettisoned for the next catch idea
Airport Book Brain
How faddish ideas keep seducing.
www.joxleywrites.jmoxley.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 8:44 AM
This is really excellent by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk on Airport Book Brain.
On how simplifying ideas take over business and politics - until they’re jettisoned for the next catch idea
On how simplifying ideas take over business and politics - until they’re jettisoned for the next catch idea
According to More or Less, you can turn an oil tanker round in under 5 minutes.
So if the Titanic was, you know, afloat, you could definitely turn it around overnight
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
So if the Titanic was, you know, afloat, you could definitely turn it around overnight
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Vance on the economy:
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
January 22, 2026 at 6:54 PM
According to More or Less, you can turn an oil tanker round in under 5 minutes.
So if the Titanic was, you know, afloat, you could definitely turn it around overnight
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
So if the Titanic was, you know, afloat, you could definitely turn it around overnight
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
To what extent is the Board of Peace going to be a fossil fuel-based alliance?
Is this going to divide the world into petro-state and electro-state spheres?
Is this going to divide the world into petro-state and electro-state spheres?
January 22, 2026 at 10:47 AM
To what extent is the Board of Peace going to be a fossil fuel-based alliance?
Is this going to divide the world into petro-state and electro-state spheres?
Is this going to divide the world into petro-state and electro-state spheres?
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
We have our Nesta reaction to today's Warm Homes Plan up!
What does it mean for heating, fabric and electrification? What funding is available? What gaps are there in the plan?
Read all about it here:
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
What does it mean for heating, fabric and electrification? What funding is available? What gaps are there in the plan?
Read all about it here:
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
How will the Warm Homes Plan change home heating?
Prioritising electric technologies like heat pumps and solar, and backed by £15 billion investment, the plan will mandate minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes and create the new Warm H...
www.nesta.org.uk
January 21, 2026 at 3:47 PM
We have our Nesta reaction to today's Warm Homes Plan up!
What does it mean for heating, fabric and electrification? What funding is available? What gaps are there in the plan?
Read all about it here:
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
What does it mean for heating, fabric and electrification? What funding is available? What gaps are there in the plan?
Read all about it here:
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
So today the screenshot function on my work laptop stopped working (bad day for that to happen…)
I think it was because they want to make me sign in to the Microsoft Store. Taking screenshots is pretty basic functionality. Honestly, why is tech so determined to make everything worse?
I think it was because they want to make me sign in to the Microsoft Store. Taking screenshots is pretty basic functionality. Honestly, why is tech so determined to make everything worse?
January 21, 2026 at 9:05 PM
So today the screenshot function on my work laptop stopped working (bad day for that to happen…)
I think it was because they want to make me sign in to the Microsoft Store. Taking screenshots is pretty basic functionality. Honestly, why is tech so determined to make everything worse?
I think it was because they want to make me sign in to the Microsoft Store. Taking screenshots is pretty basic functionality. Honestly, why is tech so determined to make everything worse?
Reposted by Andrew Sissons
Happy Warm Homes Plan day (for those who celebrate).
We have been working through the plan here at @nestauk.bsky.social, and we have some thoughts.
More numbers and analysis will follow!
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
We have been working through the plan here at @nestauk.bsky.social, and we have some thoughts.
More numbers and analysis will follow!
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
How will the Warm Homes Plan change home heating?
Prioritising electric technologies like heat pumps and solar, and backed by £15 billion investment, the plan will mandate minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes and create the new Warm H...
www.nesta.org.uk
January 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Happy Warm Homes Plan day (for those who celebrate).
We have been working through the plan here at @nestauk.bsky.social, and we have some thoughts.
More numbers and analysis will follow!
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...
We have been working through the plan here at @nestauk.bsky.social, and we have some thoughts.
More numbers and analysis will follow!
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/how-wil...