Leo Barasi
@leobarasi.bsky.social
Mostly climate change & public opinion.
Book: The Climate Majority http://amzn.to/3h73dfm
Book: The Climate Majority http://amzn.to/3h73dfm
Reposted by Leo Barasi
Very easy for Treasury to characterise heat pump grants as being kickbacks for middle class families, but they are primarily a mechanism for catalysing a market that will then benefit everyone. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Hundreds of thousands to lose heat pump subsidies in Reeves’s budget plan
Exclusive: Supporters say grants largely going to middle-class households, but experts warn move will slow transition from gas boilers
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Very easy for Treasury to characterise heat pump grants as being kickbacks for middle class families, but they are primarily a mechanism for catalysing a market that will then benefit everyone. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
If Andrew is right - as he usually is - it once again reflects the problem with political journos covering policy, where they don't ask the question a specialist would think of. In this case, "how will you meet legal climate targets after this change?"
But what HMT won't do, unless it is completely crazy, is scrap the Boiler Upgrade Scheme altogether, or restrict it only to fuel poor homes.
That would mean no support for heat pumps for most homes. It would kill the heat pump market. The UK would have no chance of meeting its climate commitments.
That would mean no support for heat pumps for most homes. It would kill the heat pump market. The UK would have no chance of meeting its climate commitments.
November 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
If Andrew is right - as he usually is - it once again reflects the problem with political journos covering policy, where they don't ask the question a specialist would think of. In this case, "how will you meet legal climate targets after this change?"
Reposted by Leo Barasi
The average water level measured at Virginia Key (near #Miami) set a new monthly record high in October, which is also the new *all-time* record high month.
I also feel confident that it was the highest monthly water level there since the last interglacial period... ~120,000 years ago.
🤯🌊🧪
I also feel confident that it was the highest monthly water level there since the last interglacial period... ~120,000 years ago.
🤯🌊🧪
November 2, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The average water level measured at Virginia Key (near #Miami) set a new monthly record high in October, which is also the new *all-time* record high month.
I also feel confident that it was the highest monthly water level there since the last interglacial period... ~120,000 years ago.
🤯🌊🧪
I also feel confident that it was the highest monthly water level there since the last interglacial period... ~120,000 years ago.
🤯🌊🧪
Reposted by Leo Barasi
Why are British signs like this? Are the writers paid per word?
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Why are British signs like this? Are the writers paid per word?
Why are British signs like this? Are the writers paid per word?
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Why are British signs like this? Are the writers paid per word?
On this subject, you should all buy @susannahfisher.bsky.social’s book on what needs to happen with climate adaptation www.amazon.co.uk/Sink-Swim-wo...
Can confirm she is a GOD
Can confirm she is a GOD
October 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
On this subject, you should all buy @susannahfisher.bsky.social’s book on what needs to happen with climate adaptation www.amazon.co.uk/Sink-Swim-wo...
Can confirm she is a GOD
Can confirm she is a GOD
A thing I find remarkable here is there was a bunch of Independent Minded journalists who kept posting that ice volumes were stable until the mid 2010s, and then... just moved on to something else
October 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A thing I find remarkable here is there was a bunch of Independent Minded journalists who kept posting that ice volumes were stable until the mid 2010s, and then... just moved on to something else
Reposted by Leo Barasi
That England has had its three worst harvests on record inside the past five years really should be being treated as a much bigger cause for concern than is currently the case. www.businessgreen.com/news/4520171...
'This is what farming with climate change looks like': England endures second worst harvest on record
New analysis confirms three of the five worst harvests on record have occurred in the past five years on the back of extreme heat, drought, and rainfall
www.businessgreen.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
That England has had its three worst harvests on record inside the past five years really should be being treated as a much bigger cause for concern than is currently the case. www.businessgreen.com/news/4520171...
🎶 jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled all these things I love so well 🎶
11 NATO aerial refueling aircraft flying coordinated circuits across Europe today. It’s usually fewer than 6.
September 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
🎶 jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled all these things I love so well 🎶
Next time someone says European climate policy just moves pollution abroad - show them this:
This is a direct result of EU's carbon tariffs. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
India to Spend $570 Million to Help Steel Companies Decarbonize
India plans to roll out a 50 billion rupee ($570 million) program to encourage steel producers to cut emissions, a top government official said.
www.bloomberg.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Next time someone says European climate policy just moves pollution abroad - show them this:
Reposted by Leo Barasi
🧵Agree great thread, This is really interesting research (and always good to do reruns to track trends). But like Steve i’d also suggest zooming out a little bit before assuming climate scepticism is the new normal. Some additional thoughts… (long thread sorry!)
Somewhat sensationalist headline here obscures some really interesting research - which tallies with other available tracking data - on shifting attitudes to climate in the UK.
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
September 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🧵Agree great thread, This is really interesting research (and always good to do reruns to track trends). But like Steve i’d also suggest zooming out a little bit before assuming climate scepticism is the new normal. Some additional thoughts… (long thread sorry!)
Reposted by Leo Barasi
Somewhat sensationalist headline here obscures some really interesting research - which tallies with other available tracking data - on shifting attitudes to climate in the UK.
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
September 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Somewhat sensationalist headline here obscures some really interesting research - which tallies with other available tracking data - on shifting attitudes to climate in the UK.
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
Below are a few quick thoughts on how to understand this, in my view 👇 t.co/gDqlQgQBHn
One of the best climate science comms jobs around, helping journalists explain how climate change has influenced extreme weather events, working with a top bunch of scientists at @wwattribution.bsky.social including @frediotto.bsky.social. London based, closes 5 Sep
Media Relations Manager (World Weather Attribution and Grantham Institute) at Imperial College London
Explore professional services job openings, including the Media Relations Manager (World Weather Attribution and Grantham Institute) position, on jobs.ac.uk. Apply today and discover more about this r...
www.jobs.ac.uk
August 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
One of the best climate science comms jobs around, helping journalists explain how climate change has influenced extreme weather events, working with a top bunch of scientists at @wwattribution.bsky.social including @frediotto.bsky.social. London based, closes 5 Sep
Reposted by Leo Barasi
Delighted to see my new book Sink or Swim about the hard choices ahead to adapt to the impacts of climate change reviewed in the @financialtimes.com by @pilitaclark.bsky.social along with @billmckibben.bsky.social's brilliant new book on the rise of solar power.
The true cost of the car and a drive for change — new environment books
The history of snow, power of the sun and our motor vehicle addiction
www.ft.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Delighted to see my new book Sink or Swim about the hard choices ahead to adapt to the impacts of climate change reviewed in the @financialtimes.com by @pilitaclark.bsky.social along with @billmckibben.bsky.social's brilliant new book on the rise of solar power.
What are we really going to have to do to adapt to climate change? It’s the tricky question that a cracking new book, Sink or Swim, grapples with
Sink or Swim: How the world needs to adapt to a changing climate : Fisher, Susannah: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Sink or Swim: How the world needs to adapt to a changing climate : Fisher, Susannah: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
What are we really going to have to do to adapt to climate change? It’s the tricky question that a cracking new book, Sink or Swim, grapples with
Reposted by Leo Barasi
I want to come back properly on this Economist piece that questions Britain's approach to net zero.
It gets three things wrong imo:
1. Ignoring periods of v cheap renewable energy
2. Misdiagnosing the relative costs of renewables
3. Looking backwards, not forwards.
It gets three things wrong imo:
1. Ignoring periods of v cheap renewable energy
2. Misdiagnosing the relative costs of renewables
3. Looking backwards, not forwards.
Is Britain’s net-zero push to blame for its high energy prices?
A mighty rise in electricity costs has complicated the drive for clean power
www.economist.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I want to come back properly on this Economist piece that questions Britain's approach to net zero.
It gets three things wrong imo:
1. Ignoring periods of v cheap renewable energy
2. Misdiagnosing the relative costs of renewables
3. Looking backwards, not forwards.
It gets three things wrong imo:
1. Ignoring periods of v cheap renewable energy
2. Misdiagnosing the relative costs of renewables
3. Looking backwards, not forwards.
In last day: Pakistan flood deaths passed 270, Turkey hit 50C & Tampa 100F for first time, study found climate change will increase UK food prices at least 25% in 25 years. Meanwhile, Tories & Reform planning to scrap climate action.
July 28, 2025 at 8:21 AM
In last day: Pakistan flood deaths passed 270, Turkey hit 50C & Tampa 100F for first time, study found climate change will increase UK food prices at least 25% in 25 years. Meanwhile, Tories & Reform planning to scrap climate action.
“Climate change will manifest as a series of disasters viewed through phones with footage that gets closer and closer to where you live until you're the one filming it.”
July 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
“Climate change will manifest as a series of disasters viewed through phones with footage that gets closer and closer to where you live until you're the one filming it.”
In the last 24 hours:
- Texas floods death toll passes 100
- Climate change tripled heat deaths in Europe last month, 1500 climate deaths in 12 cities
- Wildfire reaches Marseille, closes airport
- OBR finds net zero is 1/4 the cost previously thought; much cheaper than inaction
- Texas floods death toll passes 100
- Climate change tripled heat deaths in Europe last month, 1500 climate deaths in 12 cities
- Wildfire reaches Marseille, closes airport
- OBR finds net zero is 1/4 the cost previously thought; much cheaper than inaction
July 9, 2025 at 8:53 AM
In the last 24 hours:
- Texas floods death toll passes 100
- Climate change tripled heat deaths in Europe last month, 1500 climate deaths in 12 cities
- Wildfire reaches Marseille, closes airport
- OBR finds net zero is 1/4 the cost previously thought; much cheaper than inaction
- Texas floods death toll passes 100
- Climate change tripled heat deaths in Europe last month, 1500 climate deaths in 12 cities
- Wildfire reaches Marseille, closes airport
- OBR finds net zero is 1/4 the cost previously thought; much cheaper than inaction
Reposted by Leo Barasi
We know heatwaves kill people and climate change makes heatwaves worse, but this rapid calculation really drives home the reality. With recent temperatures of up to 46°C in Europe, 1500 people died who wouldn't have in a world without climate change www.newscientist.com/article/2487...
1500 deaths in the recent European heatwave were due to climate change
We now have the ability to rapidly assess the impact of climate change after extreme weather events – a first of its kind analysis has shown that it nearly tripled the death toll from the most recent ...
www.newscientist.com
July 9, 2025 at 7:54 AM
We know heatwaves kill people and climate change makes heatwaves worse, but this rapid calculation really drives home the reality. With recent temperatures of up to 46°C in Europe, 1500 people died who wouldn't have in a world without climate change www.newscientist.com/article/2487...
Reposted by Leo Barasi
Climate change supercharged last week’s European heat wave and tripled the death toll, a group of scientists said today.
Climate change tripled recent heat deaths in Europe, scientists say
Global warming caused an additional 1,500 deaths in 12 cities during last week’s heat wave, an analysis found.
ow.ly
July 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Climate change supercharged last week’s European heat wave and tripled the death toll, a group of scientists said today.
Reposted by Leo Barasi
NEW – OBR: Net-zero is much cheaper than thought for UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/OTbsfLG
Read here: buff.ly/OTbsfLG
July 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
NEW – OBR: Net-zero is much cheaper than thought for UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/OTbsfLG
Read here: buff.ly/OTbsfLG
Today's OBR report goes big on costs & benefits of climate action. Costs of net zero are much less than previous thought; costs of inaction are much greater.
Main point: slow action is about 2x as expensive as fast action (2.5% GDP vs 1.2%)
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
Main point: slow action is about 2x as expensive as fast action (2.5% GDP vs 1.2%)
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
obr.uk
July 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Today's OBR report goes big on costs & benefits of climate action. Costs of net zero are much less than previous thought; costs of inaction are much greater.
Main point: slow action is about 2x as expensive as fast action (2.5% GDP vs 1.2%)
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
Main point: slow action is about 2x as expensive as fast action (2.5% GDP vs 1.2%)
obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
Reposted by Leo Barasi
A quick🧵about the devastating Texas flooding -- and how it connects to climate change. ⬇️
(Photo cred: @nytimes.com)
(Photo cred: @nytimes.com)
July 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A quick🧵about the devastating Texas flooding -- and how it connects to climate change. ⬇️
(Photo cred: @nytimes.com)
(Photo cred: @nytimes.com)