Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Press Gazette energy & environment journalist of the year 2022
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
[email protected]
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
[email protected]
Pinned
Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
· Nov 23
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED: CARBON BRIEF’S #COP30 SUMMARY 🚨
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Simon Evans
An editorial in today's Guardian cites new analysis published by Carbon Brief showing that, as China bets of renewables, its emissions have now been flat or falling for almost two years.
Meanwhile, "Trump's policies enrich oil billionaires"...
Meanwhile, "Trump's policies enrich oil billionaires"...
February 16, 2026 at 8:35 AM
An editorial in today's Guardian cites new analysis published by Carbon Brief showing that, as China bets of renewables, its emissions have now been flat or falling for almost two years.
Meanwhile, "Trump's policies enrich oil billionaires"...
Meanwhile, "Trump's policies enrich oil billionaires"...
Reposted by Simon Evans
The Dawlish - Teignmouth railway line feels like the absolute front line of climate adaptation in Britain (a test we are not passing so far).
And yet somehow, somehow, this article manages to go in-depth on the problems with the line without mentioning the climate once. The sea is literally higher!
And yet somehow, somehow, this article manages to go in-depth on the problems with the line without mentioning the climate once. The sea is literally higher!
Fresh fears for South West's rail link in Dawlish after storms
Taxpayer money has flowed into fixing the rail line connecting Cornwall with the rest of the UK - but the elements have other ideas.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
The Dawlish - Teignmouth railway line feels like the absolute front line of climate adaptation in Britain (a test we are not passing so far).
And yet somehow, somehow, this article manages to go in-depth on the problems with the line without mentioning the climate once. The sea is literally higher!
And yet somehow, somehow, this article manages to go in-depth on the problems with the line without mentioning the climate once. The sea is literally higher!
Reposted by Simon Evans
"important not only for the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen"
"the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen"
February 14, 2026 at 11:10 PM
"important not only for the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen"
"the political acumen he brought to No10"
"the political acumen"
Reposted by Simon Evans
China's Xinhua news agency has just published this editorial cartoon in response to Trump's rejection of climate policies.
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
February 14, 2026 at 12:20 PM
China's Xinhua news agency has just published this editorial cartoon in response to Trump's rejection of climate policies.
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
It is pretty clear that China views this as a HUGE geopolitical fumble by the US leaving the field clear for China's to win the global race to clean-tech hegemony
Reposted by Simon Evans
Don’t know if anyone else but me remembers this, but in the 1990s MTV used to have these little spoof intermissions between programmes that said things like “Nuclear waste isn’t dangerous and it’s ok to dump it into the sea”.
This is like the script for one of those
This is like the script for one of those
February 14, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Don’t know if anyone else but me remembers this, but in the 1990s MTV used to have these little spoof intermissions between programmes that said things like “Nuclear waste isn’t dangerous and it’s ok to dump it into the sea”.
This is like the script for one of those
This is like the script for one of those
SPACE-BASED SOLAR?! Sounds like an Elon Musk fantasy – but UK govt just published a study on the idea.
Yes, it would be wildly expensive, at up to £595/MWh in 2030 (!!)
But the study says it could be cost-competitive by the 2040s…🤔
assets.publishing.se...
Yes, it would be wildly expensive, at up to £595/MWh in 2030 (!!)
But the study says it could be cost-competitive by the 2040s…🤔
assets.publishing.se...
February 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
SPACE-BASED SOLAR?! Sounds like an Elon Musk fantasy – but UK govt just published a study on the idea.
Yes, it would be wildly expensive, at up to £595/MWh in 2030 (!!)
But the study says it could be cost-competitive by the 2040s…🤔
assets.publishing.se...
Yes, it would be wildly expensive, at up to £595/MWh in 2030 (!!)
But the study says it could be cost-competitive by the 2040s…🤔
assets.publishing.se...
Interesting – UK govt has signed a new 4yr deal with 420MW Lynemouth biomass plant, capping subsidies at ~1/2 current levels
Similar to Drax deal, requires 100% "sustainable" feedstock & pushes Lynemouth towards peaking power
www.gov.uk/governmen...
1/2
Similar to Drax deal, requires 100% "sustainable" feedstock & pushes Lynemouth towards peaking power
www.gov.uk/governmen...
1/2
February 13, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Interesting – UK govt has signed a new 4yr deal with 420MW Lynemouth biomass plant, capping subsidies at ~1/2 current levels
Similar to Drax deal, requires 100% "sustainable" feedstock & pushes Lynemouth towards peaking power
www.gov.uk/governmen...
1/2
Similar to Drax deal, requires 100% "sustainable" feedstock & pushes Lynemouth towards peaking power
www.gov.uk/governmen...
1/2
Reposted by Simon Evans
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
FACTCHECK: Centrica's Chris O'Shea got blanket coverage for claiming electricity will cost more in 2030 than in energy crisis (Chris Stark: "he's wrong on this")
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
February 13, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
FACTCHECK: Centrica's Chris O'Shea got blanket coverage for claiming electricity will cost more in 2030 than in energy crisis (Chris Stark: "he's wrong on this")
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 AM
FACTCHECK: Centrica's Chris O'Shea got blanket coverage for claiming electricity will cost more in 2030 than in energy crisis (Chris Stark: "he's wrong on this")
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
Reposted by Simon Evans
The Tony Blair Institute out there today calling for more oil and gas drilling in an absolute gift for Farage and Badenoch. Government will be forgiven for thinking, with friends like these... www.businessgreen.com/news/4525624...
Government hits back at Tony Blair Institute call to ditch clean power targets
Think tank calls for 'energy strategy reset' to permit more drilling in the North Sea and drop clean power by 2030 goal, sparking criticism from government and analysts
www.businessgreen.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The Tony Blair Institute out there today calling for more oil and gas drilling in an absolute gift for Farage and Badenoch. Government will be forgiven for thinking, with friends like these... www.businessgreen.com/news/4525624...
NEW ANALYSIS: Donald Trump has overseen more coal closures than any other US president
That must be why he was just crowned "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal” (10/10 no notes, I am not making this up)
www.carbonbrief.org/...
That must be why he was just crowned "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal” (10/10 no notes, I am not making this up)
www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 12, 2026 at 3:47 PM
NEW ANALYSIS: Donald Trump has overseen more coal closures than any other US president
That must be why he was just crowned "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal” (10/10 no notes, I am not making this up)
www.carbonbrief.org/...
That must be why he was just crowned "undisputed champion of beautiful clean coal” (10/10 no notes, I am not making this up)
www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Simon Evans
We really need to understand more about China's development rather than just simply discussing the scare stories. Though this is not made easy by their own limited engagement.
NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 12, 2026 at 9:45 AM
We really need to understand more about China's development rather than just simply discussing the scare stories. Though this is not made easy by their own limited engagement.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Not easy to ignore what Trump is doing to the US right now in terms of attacking climate polices and climate science.
But this below is the biggest and most consequential climate story in the world right now.
Period.
But this below is the biggest and most consequential climate story in the world right now.
Period.
NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 12, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Not easy to ignore what Trump is doing to the US right now in terms of attacking climate polices and climate science.
But this below is the biggest and most consequential climate story in the world right now.
Period.
But this below is the biggest and most consequential climate story in the world right now.
Period.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Absolutely amazing - and to be shown immediately if someone says "what about China?"
NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Absolutely amazing - and to be shown immediately if someone says "what about China?"
Reposted by Simon Evans
If China's emissions had kept growing at previous levels emissions would like, what, maybe a full GIGATONNE higher....the area of avoided emissions here is like deleting the emissions of entire countries. This is happening at a scale that will very clearly have an effect in lessening disasters
February 12, 2026 at 8:18 AM
If China's emissions had kept growing at previous levels emissions would like, what, maybe a full GIGATONNE higher....the area of avoided emissions here is like deleting the emissions of entire countries. This is happening at a scale that will very clearly have an effect in lessening disasters
NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 12, 2026 at 7:38 AM
NEW ANALYSIS: China's CO2 has now been 'flat or falling' for 21 months
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
* Down in 2025
* Still below Mar 2024
* Clean energy wave a key factor
If this is China's peak (TBC) it's the climate story of the century so far…
www.carbonbrief.org/...
🤡🤡🤡
Burgum: "CO2 was never a pollutant. When we breathe, we emit CO2. Plants need CO2 to survive and grow. They thrive with more CO2. So the whole endangerment thing opens up an opportunity for the revival of clean, beautiful, American coal."
February 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
🤡🤡🤡
NEW: UK's "AR7" renewable auction was the biggest ever – more than 50% larger than 2024's record
AR7 = enough electricity to offset 3/4 of UK LNG imports
Labour's AR6+AR7, combined, contracted more GW than all other rounds put together
More: www.carbonbrief.org/...
AR7 = enough electricity to offset 3/4 of UK LNG imports
Labour's AR6+AR7, combined, contracted more GW than all other rounds put together
More: www.carbonbrief.org/...
February 11, 2026 at 3:14 PM
NEW: UK's "AR7" renewable auction was the biggest ever – more than 50% larger than 2024's record
AR7 = enough electricity to offset 3/4 of UK LNG imports
Labour's AR6+AR7, combined, contracted more GW than all other rounds put together
More: www.carbonbrief.org/...
AR7 = enough electricity to offset 3/4 of UK LNG imports
Labour's AR6+AR7, combined, contracted more GW than all other rounds put together
More: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Simon Evans
Grazalema, Spain, received over 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain in just the last 20 days.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
February 9, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Grazalema, Spain, received over 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain in just the last 20 days.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
Reposted by Simon Evans
A great day for cheap power enthusiasts as 5GW of solar comes in at £65/MWh and 1.3GW of onshore wind comes in at £72.24/MWh. Both prices are in £2024 and are below the wholesale price, meaning that these projects will cut costs.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
February 10, 2026 at 7:42 AM
A great day for cheap power enthusiasts as 5GW of solar comes in at £65/MWh and 1.3GW of onshore wind comes in at £72.24/MWh. Both prices are in £2024 and are below the wholesale price, meaning that these projects will cut costs.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
Reposted by Simon Evans
Good to see solar and onshore wind coming in a lot cheaper than offshore here. They are by some distance the cheapest new electricity generation capacity we can build in Britain.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Good to see solar and onshore wind coming in a lot cheaper than offshore here. They are by some distance the cheapest new electricity generation capacity we can build in Britain.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 AM
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
Reposted by Simon Evans
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
…as well as being supported by the vast majority of Lab/Lib/Gn voters, almost all Labour MPs, a 2-1 majority of voters overall and – even now – a healthy majority of Con voters
February 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Going to reconcile myself to the fact that the “cost of net zero” debate will always be annoying.
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
February 8, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Going to reconcile myself to the fact that the “cost of net zero” debate will always be annoying.
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard