Adam Vaughan
@adamvaughan.bsky.social
Environment Editor at The Times. Clean it Up water campaign. Planet Hope podcast host. When not working, usually running. Previously New Scientist and Guardian.
[email protected]
Signal: adamvaughan.53
[email protected]
Signal: adamvaughan.53
Ministers are considering gutting a scheme to restore England’s habitats for wildlife, leading the former environment secretary Lord Gove to accuse Labour of a retreat on protecting nature.
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Michael Gove accuses Labour of ‘profound biodiversity mistake’
The former environment secretary has criticised the government over plans to exempt small plots from biodiversity net gain rules
www.thetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Ministers are considering gutting a scheme to restore England’s habitats for wildlife, leading the former environment secretary Lord Gove to accuse Labour of a retreat on protecting nature.
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Latest on biodiversity net gain here:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
There's a fire underway at #COP30 (a literal one, not a metaphorical one about climate change or state of talks).
I'm told delegates are being evacuated.
Video here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6G...
I'm told delegates are being evacuated.
Video here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6G...
Fire breaks out in pavilion at COP30 climate talks: AFP journalists | AFP
YouTube video by AFP News Agency
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
There's a fire underway at #COP30 (a literal one, not a metaphorical one about climate change or state of talks).
I'm told delegates are being evacuated.
Video here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6G...
I'm told delegates are being evacuated.
Video here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6G...
Punchy language from the Environment Agency.
England can no longer take water for granted, the EA has warned after finding an average person's water use is "unacceptably high".
The regulator said household water efficiency should be a "national priority".
Sign of how intense drought worries are.
England can no longer take water for granted, the EA has warned after finding an average person's water use is "unacceptably high".
The regulator said household water efficiency should be a "national priority".
Sign of how intense drought worries are.
November 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Punchy language from the Environment Agency.
England can no longer take water for granted, the EA has warned after finding an average person's water use is "unacceptably high".
The regulator said household water efficiency should be a "national priority".
Sign of how intense drought worries are.
England can no longer take water for granted, the EA has warned after finding an average person's water use is "unacceptably high".
The regulator said household water efficiency should be a "national priority".
Sign of how intense drought worries are.
Four years ago a bunch of deals were made on the sidelines of the #COP26 climate summit in Glasgow
We already knew the deforestation one was off track
Today we've found out the methane one is too. The world is headed for an 8% cut in methane by 2030 versus promised 30% cut, @unep.org report says
We already knew the deforestation one was off track
Today we've found out the methane one is too. The world is headed for an 8% cut in methane by 2030 versus promised 30% cut, @unep.org report says
Global Methane Status Report 2025
The 2025 Global Methane Status Report provides updates on global progress on methane mitigation and the remaining work needed to achieve the Global Methane Pledge, as well as the potential for further...
www.unep.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:53 AM
UK will take a "fresh look" at contributing to Brazil TFFF fund to protect the world's rainforests, says top climate envoy
www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-rec...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-rec...
UK to reconsider paying into Brazil TFFF fund to protect the world's rainforests
Britain’s climate envoy has said that the government will take a “fresh look” at paying into a new fund to protect the world’s rainforests, in a sign that a decision not to contribute could be reverse...
www.linkedin.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM
UK will take a "fresh look" at contributing to Brazil TFFF fund to protect the world's rainforests, says top climate envoy
www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-rec...
www.linkedin.com/pulse/uk-rec...
Global CO2 emissions have hit another record high.
The glimmer of good news it there is now a “green club” of 35 countries including Britain that are cutting emissions while growing GDP. A decade ago there were just 18. And another 19 are on the verge of joining.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/global...
The glimmer of good news it there is now a “green club” of 35 countries including Britain that are cutting emissions while growing GDP. A decade ago there were just 18. And another 19 are on the verge of joining.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/global...
November 13, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Global CO2 emissions have hit another record high.
The glimmer of good news it there is now a “green club” of 35 countries including Britain that are cutting emissions while growing GDP. A decade ago there were just 18. And another 19 are on the verge of joining.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/global...
The glimmer of good news it there is now a “green club” of 35 countries including Britain that are cutting emissions while growing GDP. A decade ago there were just 18. And another 19 are on the verge of joining.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/global...
Ministers have chosen the Welsh island of Anglesey as the location for the UK’s first “mini” nuclear power stations. Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Anglesey chosen to host UK’s first ‘mini’ nuclear power stations
Three small modular reactors will be built by Rolls-Royce at Wylfa, the site of a previous nuclear power station
www.thetimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Ministers have chosen the Welsh island of Anglesey as the location for the UK’s first “mini” nuclear power stations. Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
I saw a Peacock butterfly in the South Downs at the weekend.
Is anyone else in the UK seeing weird signs of a "second summer for nature" because of the mild weather?
E.g. flowers blooming again, insects that wouldn't normally be out in November.
Would love to hear your examples...
Is anyone else in the UK seeing weird signs of a "second summer for nature" because of the mild weather?
E.g. flowers blooming again, insects that wouldn't normally be out in November.
Would love to hear your examples...
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I saw a Peacock butterfly in the South Downs at the weekend.
Is anyone else in the UK seeing weird signs of a "second summer for nature" because of the mild weather?
E.g. flowers blooming again, insects that wouldn't normally be out in November.
Would love to hear your examples...
Is anyone else in the UK seeing weird signs of a "second summer for nature" because of the mild weather?
E.g. flowers blooming again, insects that wouldn't normally be out in November.
Would love to hear your examples...
International talks in Brazil to curb climate change will prove doubters wrong and show that most countries are shifting towards clean energy, UK energy secretary Ed Miliband has said
Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Ed Miliband: Cop30 will prove net zero doubters wrong
The environment secretary has countered claims the world is turning its back on clean energy, which he says is vital for economic growth
www.thetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:18 AM
International talks in Brazil to curb climate change will prove doubters wrong and show that most countries are shifting towards clean energy, UK energy secretary Ed Miliband has said
Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Story:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Not a single country has joined a global clean power alliance launched by Britain and Brazil a year ago
It was billed by Sir Keir Starmer as an “inverse Opec”, in a nod to the powerful cartel of Saudi Arabia and other major oil-producing countries
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
It was billed by Sir Keir Starmer as an “inverse Opec”, in a nod to the powerful cartel of Saudi Arabia and other major oil-producing countries
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
No countries sign up for Keir Starmer’s global clean power alliance
The prime minister and President Lula of Brazil had set up the ‘inverse Opec’ at Cop29 to boost renewables
www.thetimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Not a single country has joined a global clean power alliance launched by Britain and Brazil a year ago
It was billed by Sir Keir Starmer as an “inverse Opec”, in a nod to the powerful cartel of Saudi Arabia and other major oil-producing countries
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
It was billed by Sir Keir Starmer as an “inverse Opec”, in a nod to the powerful cartel of Saudi Arabia and other major oil-producing countries
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Britain’s red-tailed bumblebees may have an unlikely saviour in solar farms
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain’s red-tailed bumblebees may have an unlikely saviour in solar farms
Though intensive farming has ravaged its habitat, could sensitive planting at energy sites aid the species’ revival?
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Britain’s red-tailed bumblebees may have an unlikely saviour in solar farms
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A quarter of Britain’s native plants are now at risk of extinction
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 AM
A quarter of Britain’s native plants are now at risk of extinction
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The first update in two decades to a “red list” of plants found a substantial increase in the number of threatened species
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The EU has finally agreed an NDC ahead of COP30 (although it's not submitted it yet as the bloc only agreed it late last night!)
Goal of 66.25%-72.5% cut below 1990 levels until 2035
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
Goal of 66.25%-72.5% cut below 1990 levels until 2035
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
EU countries agree weakened 2040 climate goal and target for COP30
The deal avoids the EU going empty handed to the COP30 climate summit starting on Nov. 10.
www.politico.eu
November 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The EU has finally agreed an NDC ahead of COP30 (although it's not submitted it yet as the bloc only agreed it late last night!)
Goal of 66.25%-72.5% cut below 1990 levels until 2035
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
Goal of 66.25%-72.5% cut below 1990 levels until 2035
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
How is the world getting on with its promise to end deforestation by 2030?
Here's my stocktake as countries prepare for the #COP30 climate conference in the Amazon rainforest next week
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Here's my stocktake as countries prepare for the #COP30 climate conference in the Amazon rainforest next week
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
November 4, 2025 at 10:07 AM
How is the world getting on with its promise to end deforestation by 2030?
Here's my stocktake as countries prepare for the #COP30 climate conference in the Amazon rainforest next week
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Here's my stocktake as countries prepare for the #COP30 climate conference in the Amazon rainforest next week
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
China's 2035 emissions target (NDC) has been formally submitted to the UN (unfccc.int/NDCREG?field...)
Follows Xi Jinping announcement in September (www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...)
Confirms target of 7-10% emissions cut by 2035, says 30% of power will come from solar and wind by then
Follows Xi Jinping announcement in September (www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...)
Confirms target of 7-10% emissions cut by 2035, says 30% of power will come from solar and wind by then
unfccc.int
November 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
China's 2035 emissions target (NDC) has been formally submitted to the UN (unfccc.int/NDCREG?field...)
Follows Xi Jinping announcement in September (www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...)
Confirms target of 7-10% emissions cut by 2035, says 30% of power will come from solar and wind by then
Follows Xi Jinping announcement in September (www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...)
Confirms target of 7-10% emissions cut by 2035, says 30% of power will come from solar and wind by then
The British public's concern about climate change bounced back up this summer
It's now roughly in line with where it stood during 2023 and 2024
But it's still slightly down from 2021 in the run-up to the #COP26 climate summit at Glasgow
www.gov.uk/government/s...
It's now roughly in line with where it stood during 2023 and 2024
But it's still slightly down from 2021 in the run-up to the #COP26 climate summit at Glasgow
www.gov.uk/government/s...
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The British public's concern about climate change bounced back up this summer
It's now roughly in line with where it stood during 2023 and 2024
But it's still slightly down from 2021 in the run-up to the #COP26 climate summit at Glasgow
www.gov.uk/government/s...
It's now roughly in line with where it stood during 2023 and 2024
But it's still slightly down from 2021 in the run-up to the #COP26 climate summit at Glasgow
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Humanity has failed to limit global heating to 1.5C and must change course immediately, the secretary general of the UN has warned.
Quite a story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social. Others have said same before, but big deal coming from Guterres.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Quite a story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social. Others have said same before, but big deal coming from Guterres.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Change course now’: humanity has missed 1.5C climate target, says UN head
Exclusive: ‘Devastating consequences’ now inevitable but emissions cuts still vital, says António Guterres in sole interview before Cop30
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Humanity has failed to limit global heating to 1.5C and must change course immediately, the secretary general of the UN has warned.
Quite a story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social. Others have said same before, but big deal coming from Guterres.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Quite a story by @jonathan-watts.bsky.social. Others have said same before, but big deal coming from Guterres.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Recent downpours have not done enough to alleviate drought in England, leading to warnings that hosepipe bans affecting millions could last deep into winter
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Hosepipe bans affecting 8 million could stretch into winter
The Environment agency said the wet September failed to alleviate the drought in large parts of England and reservoirs have fallen lower
www.thetimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Recent downpours have not done enough to alleviate drought in England, leading to warnings that hosepipe bans affecting millions could last deep into winter
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Story 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Water companies’ environmental performance last year was the worst since a government star rating scheme started 14 years ago.
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Water firms given worst rating on record for environmental performance
England’s nine main water companies collectively scored 19 stars out of a possible 36 — the worst since the rating system was set up 14 years ago
www.thetimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Water companies’ environmental performance last year was the worst since a government star rating scheme started 14 years ago.
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Water companies may be forced to pay out automatic fines worth more than £30 million a year for failing to prevent illegal sewage spills under reforms to end water industry “rule-breaking”
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Sewage spills could carry automatic £500,000 fines
The environment agency is to get new powers to punish water companies for releasing sewage, but campaigners say the changes don’t go far enough
www.thetimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Water companies may be forced to pay out automatic fines worth more than £30 million a year for failing to prevent illegal sewage spills under reforms to end water industry “rule-breaking”
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
A UN meeting to impose a carbon price on shipping for the first time has been adjourned for a year
The IMO net zero framework meeting was due to adopt a carbon price first agreed in the spring
But the US opposed the adoption, calling it a "scam". Trump appears to have got his way and won a delay
The IMO net zero framework meeting was due to adopt a carbon price first agreed in the spring
But the US opposed the adoption, calling it a "scam". Trump appears to have got his way and won a delay
October 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A UN meeting to impose a carbon price on shipping for the first time has been adjourned for a year
The IMO net zero framework meeting was due to adopt a carbon price first agreed in the spring
But the US opposed the adoption, calling it a "scam". Trump appears to have got his way and won a delay
The IMO net zero framework meeting was due to adopt a carbon price first agreed in the spring
But the US opposed the adoption, calling it a "scam". Trump appears to have got his way and won a delay
@elpinchbeck.bsky.social: "Over 80% of the rise over the last 10 years in energy bills has been about the price of gas"
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org interview here
www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-b...
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org interview here
www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-b...
The Carbon Brief Interview: UK Climate Change Committee’s Emma Pinchbeck - Carbon Brief
Emma Pinchbeck has been the chief executive of the UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) since...
www.carbonbrief.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
@elpinchbeck.bsky.social: "Over 80% of the rise over the last 10 years in energy bills has been about the price of gas"
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org interview here
www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-b...
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org interview here
www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-b...
Phone4u founder John Caudwell: "As someone with decades of business experience, I can tell you that scrapping the Climate Change Act isn’t bold or pragmatic. It’s failure dressed up as freedom."
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Britain deserves better than net zero gamesmanship from o...
Politicians are trading our children’s futures for a few votes. It’s cynical and shortsighted – not to mention economic nonsense
observer.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Phone4u founder John Caudwell: "As someone with decades of business experience, I can tell you that scrapping the Climate Change Act isn’t bold or pragmatic. It’s failure dressed up as freedom."
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
UK hit by first ‘mega fire’ in worst year on record for wildfires
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
UK hit by first ‘mega fire’ in worst year on record for wildfires
Dry conditions to blame for Dava Moor fire in Scotland, say UK researchers as they find wildfires are menacing global forests used for carbon offsets
www.thetimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:14 AM
UK hit by first ‘mega fire’ in worst year on record for wildfires
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increased by a record amount last year, says @wmo-global.bsky.social.
The record annual rise comes amid growing signs that forests, peatlands, oceans and other natural "sinks" are failing to absorb as much CO2 as they normally do.
wmo.int/publication-...
The record annual rise comes amid growing signs that forests, peatlands, oceans and other natural "sinks" are failing to absorb as much CO2 as they normally do.
wmo.int/publication-...
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increased by a record amount last year, says @wmo-global.bsky.social.
The record annual rise comes amid growing signs that forests, peatlands, oceans and other natural "sinks" are failing to absorb as much CO2 as they normally do.
wmo.int/publication-...
The record annual rise comes amid growing signs that forests, peatlands, oceans and other natural "sinks" are failing to absorb as much CO2 as they normally do.
wmo.int/publication-...