Pieter de Pous
@pieterdepous.bsky.social
Nature, environment, climate, food and farming, energy, German/EU politics, interested in lots more, views my own | Thinktanker
@E3G, former NGO I EN-DE-NL
@E3G, former NGO I EN-DE-NL
I really, sincerely hope that S/D and Renew lawmakers think of something they can do about it, at the very latest before the next elections when they need to explain to their voters why they should bother voting for them again
The leaders of Europe’s center-left and liberal groups say the European People’s Party has gone too far in working with the far right.
They also say there’s nothing they can do about it.
They also say there’s nothing they can do about it.
‘It’s an abusive marriage’: EPP’s far-right flirtation leaves its centrist allies stuck
“They betray us, but we keep going back to them,” a Socialist lawmaker said.
www.politico.eu
November 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I really, sincerely hope that S/D and Renew lawmakers think of something they can do about it, at the very latest before the next elections when they need to explain to their voters why they should bother voting for them again
There were plenty who wanted it initially (same ones who usually decry EU bureaucracy) until they realised how silly it made them look
A “veggie burger” ban nobody wanted is becoming one Brussels might actually pass.
How a ‘veggie burger’ ban nobody wanted became one Brussels might actually pass
A fringe amendment to protect meaty vocabulary has become a test of Europe’s loyalty to tradition and its waning appetite for food innovation.
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 1:22 PM
There were plenty who wanted it initially (same ones who usually decry EU bureaucracy) until they realised how silly it made them look
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
This is particularly stunning because the sheer number of times we demonstrated Bjorn Lomborg was just flat-out lying grew so large that it almost became literally pointless to keep doing it, because he just ignores it and keeps on going
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is particularly stunning because the sheer number of times we demonstrated Bjorn Lomborg was just flat-out lying grew so large that it almost became literally pointless to keep doing it, because he just ignores it and keeps on going
Only a Pyrrhus win if at all; choice with exiting fossil fuels is one between managed/fair and messy/brutal, the less it’s talked about the messier it will be for major producer countries, not a single EV will be sold less as a results of this #COP30
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
Oil Producers, but Maybe Not the Planet, Get a Win as Climate Talks End
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Only a Pyrrhus win if at all; choice with exiting fossil fuels is one between managed/fair and messy/brutal, the less it’s talked about the messier it will be for major producer countries, not a single EV will be sold less as a results of this #COP30
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/c...
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Divide over fossil fuels phaseout can be bridged, Cop30 president says
Divide over fossil fuels phaseout can be bridged, Cop30 president says
Exclusive: André Corrêa do Lago says rise of clean energy must be acknowledged and rich countries need to give more assurances on finance
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Cop30 live –latest updates
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Cop30: click here for full Guardian coverage of climate talks in Brazil
Oil-producing countries need to acknowledge the rise of clean energy, and rich countries will have to provide more assurances on finance if the chasm between negotiating nations at Cop30 is to be bridged, the president of the summit has said.
André Corrêa do Lago, the veteran Brazilian climate diplomat in charge of the talks, said: “Developing countries are looking at developed countries as countries that could be much more generous in supporting them to be more sustainable. They could offer more finance, and technology.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Divide over fossil fuels phaseout can be bridged, Cop30 president says
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Razom We Stand and 30+ European organisations have sent a joint letter urging #EU leaders to finally close the loopholes that still allow Russian fossil fuels into Europe and to uphold a strong, loophole-free Regulation: razomwestand.com/ukrainian-ca...
@caneurope.org
@caneurope.org
Ukrainian and European NGOs Urge EU Leaders to Close the Loopholes to End Dependency on Russian Fossil Fuels | Razom We Stand
Ukrainian campaign group Razom We Stand, together with more than 30 European civil society organisations, is urging European Union leaders […]
razomwestand.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Razom We Stand and 30+ European organisations have sent a joint letter urging #EU leaders to finally close the loopholes that still allow Russian fossil fuels into Europe and to uphold a strong, loophole-free Regulation: razomwestand.com/ukrainian-ca...
@caneurope.org
@caneurope.org
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Stellantis chair wants every European to pay more for their electricity.
(EVs are batteries on wheels, they charge on renewables that might otherwise be curtailed thereby lowering overall system costs.)
(EVs are batteries on wheels, they charge on renewables that might otherwise be curtailed thereby lowering overall system costs.)
The EU should relax its green car rules in an upcoming policy update or risk sending the auto industry into a tailspin, Stellantis Chair John Elkann warned in an interview with POLITICO.
Stellantis chair presses EU to gut 2035 combustion engine ban
The sector has three weeks to convince EU policymakers to create flexibilities in its green car rules.
www.politico.eu
November 18, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Stellantis chair wants every European to pay more for their electricity.
(EVs are batteries on wheels, they charge on renewables that might otherwise be curtailed thereby lowering overall system costs.)
(EVs are batteries on wheels, they charge on renewables that might otherwise be curtailed thereby lowering overall system costs.)
South Korea’s 2040 coal phase out plan threatens Australias 2.3 billion export industry, isolates Japan
www.afr.com/world/asia/s...
www.afr.com/world/asia/s...
South Korea coal phase-out to hit Australian exporters
The East Asian nation committed to eliminate such power generation by 2040, which will weaken long-term demand for Australian commodities and isolate Japan.
www.afr.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:43 AM
South Korea’s 2040 coal phase out plan threatens Australias 2.3 billion export industry, isolates Japan
www.afr.com/world/asia/s...
www.afr.com/world/asia/s...
The domestic cost of China's global ambition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Opinion | The China That the World Sees Is Not the One I Live In
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The domestic cost of China's global ambition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Gonna use that line next time I mess up something specularly
Exclusive: My interview with Dutch economy minister Vincent Karremans on what exactly went on at Nexperia.
"It is a wake up call" for Europe
I would do it all again.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
"It is a wake up call" for Europe
I would do it all again.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
Exclusive: Vincent Karremans says six-week row with Beijing that threatened global car production is ‘wake-up call’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Gonna use that line next time I mess up something specularly
Remarkable but also begging the question when Poland stops behaving like a climate laggard politically when it’s economy is clearly cleaning up
Truly remarkable: Poland used to be a climate laggard.
Today, wind and solar are increasingly replacing coal in the Polish electricity mix with almost 30% of all electricity generated to date this year from wind and solar.
In 2000 coal provided 95% of Polish electricity.
Today it is at 51%.
Today, wind and solar are increasingly replacing coal in the Polish electricity mix with almost 30% of all electricity generated to date this year from wind and solar.
In 2000 coal provided 95% of Polish electricity.
Today it is at 51%.
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Remarkable but also begging the question when Poland stops behaving like a climate laggard politically when it’s economy is clearly cleaning up
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
This is good news, both EU and UK already have incredibly ambitious plans for offshore wind in the North Sea that need them to work together to succeed also on things like security, it would have been an enormous act of self harm not to reach a deal, avoiding it not exactly a given these days
EU countries have agreed to fast-track talks on an electricity trading deal with the UK — a major win for Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset.
UK scores Brexit win as EU fast-tracks electricity trading talks
The breakthrough comes after days of wrangling in Brussels over the extent to which London might be expected to pay for access to the EU’s single market.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is good news, both EU and UK already have incredibly ambitious plans for offshore wind in the North Sea that need them to work together to succeed also on things like security, it would have been an enormous act of self harm not to reach a deal, avoiding it not exactly a given these days
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Incredible graphic here: showing the huge potential for coal-to-gas switching in Asia in 2030 ON THE CONDITION that gas becomes so cheap that gas producers operate at a massive, crippling loss when they produce, liquefy and ship it to Asia
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Incredible graphic here: showing the huge potential for coal-to-gas switching in Asia in 2030 ON THE CONDITION that gas becomes so cheap that gas producers operate at a massive, crippling loss when they produce, liquefy and ship it to Asia
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
How Spanish conservatives are driving forward the cooperation between centre and far-right forces in Europe, targeting a policy that Spain has been doing really well from domestically (clean energy/climate)
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
El PP español vota junto la ultraderecha en la Eurocámara contra el objetivo de emisiones de 2040
La renuncia al pacto verde es una de las condiciones que ha puesto Abascal para negociar la investidura del nuevo presidente valenciano
elpais.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 AM
How Spanish conservatives are driving forward the cooperation between centre and far-right forces in Europe, targeting a policy that Spain has been doing really well from domestically (clean energy/climate)
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Generally careful with historical parallels but think this one has relevance (would just note that it wasn’t only the Italians getting poorer back then but Dutch also got a lot richer)
OPINION: Once the envy of the world, the European Union’s lead has eroded.
The bloc isn’t just politically divided, it’s also falling behind in industries that will define the rest of this century.
The bloc isn’t just politically divided, it’s also falling behind in industries that will define the rest of this century.
Europe today looks like Renaissance Italy — and that’s a problem
Europeans can either wake up or resign themselves to becoming a continent of monuments and echoing memories.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Generally careful with historical parallels but think this one has relevance (would just note that it wasn’t only the Italians getting poorer back then but Dutch also got a lot richer)
Essential context to this years IEA WEO launched today
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
🤡OIL DEMAND WILL KEEP RISING🤡
What are the IEA assumptions that make rising oil demand so improbable?
What are the IEA assumptions that make rising oil demand so improbable?
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Essential context to this years IEA WEO launched today
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
If that case is winnable, and there is good reason to believe it is, the BBC should fight it.
With his threat of a $1bn lawsuit against BBC, Trump’s assault on the media goes global
With his threat of a $1bn lawsuit against BBC, Trump’s assault on the media goes global
US president’s latest media target comes from across the pond as he continues to scrutinize coverage he does not like
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
If that case is winnable, and there is good reason to believe it is, the BBC should fight it.
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
This 💯💯💯
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
This 💯💯💯
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Dunkelflaute weather in Berlin since yesterday and still to see a first post of the local energy mix, trolls are really letting up
November 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Dunkelflaute weather in Berlin since yesterday and still to see a first post of the local energy mix, trolls are really letting up
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
In yet more 'why is Britain pursuing net zero when no one else is', India's electricity capacity is now over 50 per cent low carbon and it just saw peak renewables generation deliver half the country's power. www.businessgreen.com/news/4521481...
'Historic milestone': India's renewables generation peaks to cover over half of power demand
India's Ministry of Power confirms July 29th record, which underscores the 'steady progress' nation is making towards its clean energy and climate goals
www.businessgreen.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
In yet more 'why is Britain pursuing net zero when no one else is', India's electricity capacity is now over 50 per cent low carbon and it just saw peak renewables generation deliver half the country's power. www.businessgreen.com/news/4521481...
Lulas statement here says a lot about Brasils problematic relationship with Russia and is deeply misleading about the impact of Russias war on coal and the energy transition (it sped things up)
Lula: The conflict in Ukraine has reversed years of endeavours to reduce GHG emissions and led to the reopening of coal mines. There will be no energy security in a world that is in conflict.
November 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Lulas statement here says a lot about Brasils problematic relationship with Russia and is deeply misleading about the impact of Russias war on coal and the energy transition (it sped things up)
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Next week,🇪🇺President von der Leyen's centre-right EPP group is preparing to ally with the far right in order to pass the 1st of her deregulation packages.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
Von der Leyen prepares cooperation with far right to implement Trump's deregulation demands
The cordón sanitaire in the EU Parliament has been broken. Next week, the centre right may team up with the far right to rip up EU climate laws. Next on the chopping block: EU digital rules.
davekeating.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Next week,🇪🇺President von der Leyen's centre-right EPP group is preparing to ally with the far right in order to pass the 1st of her deregulation packages.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.