Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · 21h

😡 The Government wants to ban repeated protests & jail those who defy them. Stand up for our democratic right to protest - sign the petition now! you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/do...

Don’t crush our right to protest!

The right to protest is the heartbeat of democracy. It lets us speak out, challenge injustice, and hold those in power accountable. The Government’s plan would give police sweeping powers to ban repea...

you.38degrees.org.uk

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · Sep 8

How can the UK's Planning and Infrastructure Bill be amended to reduce damage to nature?
Summary of the 184 page list of amendments and their impacts on nature and people.
www.eci.ox.ac.uk/news/eci-res...

ECI Researcher highlights vital amendments to the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill

www.eci.ox.ac.uk

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · Sep 5

Our new briefing note highlights crucial amendments to make the Planning and Infrastructure Bill less damaging and more positive for nature
@peersfortheplanet.bsky.social @wwf.org.uk @wclnews.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @cieem.bsky.social

Nature-based Solutions Initiative @naturebasedsols.bsky.social · Sep 5

How can the Planning and Infrastructure Bill bring positive outcomes for people and #naturerecovery?

➡️ New Briefing Note highlights priority amendments to make the Bill less damaging and more nature-positive 📜

Read here: www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/plannin...

@eci-bio.bsky.social

1

Reposted by Alison Smith

Nature-based Solutions Initiative @naturebasedsols.bsky.social · Sep 5

Currently being debated in the House of Lords, the Bill is intended to speed up planning and deliver new housing and infrastructure...

But the proposed mechanisms in Part 3 risk enabling the destruction of some of England’s most precious habitats and species 🏗️🌳

Read the priority amendments 👆

2 4

Reposted by Alison Smith

Nature-based Solutions Initiative @naturebasedsols.bsky.social · Sep 5

How can the Planning and Infrastructure Bill bring positive outcomes for people and #naturerecovery?

➡️ New Briefing Note highlights priority amendments to make the Bill less damaging and more nature-positive 📜

Read here: www.naturebasedsolutionsinitiative.org/news/plannin...

@eci-bio.bsky.social

1 1 4

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · Jun 26

Nature offers durable carbon storage at landscape scale and risk of reversal can be managed - let's not undermine investing in nature because of misleading arguments about 'permanence'.

www.weforum.org/stories/2025...

Why we must act on natural climate solutions now

Read the joint letter from 10 top scientists on why we can no longer seek perfection or permanence in natural climate solutions, and must instead take action.

www.weforum.org

1

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · Jun 17

Just read this great article showing local stakeholder preferences for more scrub and scattered trees in the hills, rather than solid woodland blocks. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@rspb.bsky.social @tfinch.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com

2

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · Jun 6

FINALLY - a victory for common sense as @ed-miliband.bsky.social promises solar panels on all new homes in the UK (unless the roof is shaded) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Most new build homes must be fitted with solar panels - Miliband

The energy secretary says the move will cut energy bills, but house builders caution against burdensome regulations.

www.bbc.co.uk

2

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · May 27

Please sign this urgent petition to support an easy win for nature: just put a £35 swift nest brick in every new UK home. 38d.gs/ky2i

Sign the petition: Save Our Swifts

Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition ...

38d.gs

Reposted by Alison Smith

Ellie Chowns MP @elliechowns.bsky.social · May 15

“[Chalk streams] are globally significant ecosystems and are largely restricted to our shores. So we have a huge responsibility to protect them.”

Really disappointing for this amendment I moved in the Planning & Infrastructure Bill Committee to be vetoed.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Attempt to protect rare chalk streams in planning bill rejected by Labour MPs

Government vetoes cross-party effort to protect threatened waterways from push to rip up environmental red tape

www.theguardian.com

24 160 370

Reposted by Alison Smith

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · May 15

Could this be the biggest climate story of the year?

For the first time on record, China's emissions are falling due to clean energy growth, not slow power demand

Full analysis + outlook by Lauri Myllyvirta:

www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/7

29 450 1.3K

Alison Smith @eci-bio.bsky.social · May 15

Check our our tool for finding suitable indicators to monitor biodiversity and soil health - the paper is published today!
www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/news/researc...
@naturerecovery.bsky.social @naturebasedsols.bsky.social

5 8

Reposted by Alison Smith

Zero Hour for the Climate & Nature Bill @zero-hour.bsky.social · Apr 15

📢 @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social: MPs must pause Part III of the Planning Bill—consult widely—and align it with the spirit and substance of the Environment Act and #CANBill. Housing’s urgent—but it doesn’t need to happen at #nature’s expense. Nature isn’t a “nice to have”. It’s all we have.

The Labour Government’s Planning Bill proposals lack the safeguards necessary to preserve key ecosystems, including chalk streams and woodlands, warns Prof E.J. Milner-Gulland.

17 26

Reposted by Alison Smith

Ember @ember-energy.org · Apr 16

🚨 EU solar overtook coal for the FIRST TIME last year

The BIGGEST fall in coal generation globally was in the EU in 2024, with many EU countries ranking among the world’s leaders in solar and wind 📉

ember-energy.org/lat...

3 24 65

Reposted by Alison Smith

Oxford Medical Sciences Division @medsci.ox.ac.uk · Mar 24

NEWS: Oxford tops QS World University Rankings in English, Physiology and Geography

Congratulations! Faculty of English, @oxforddpag.bsky.social and @oxfordgeography.bsky.social

DPAG is No1 for six consecutive years, top of over 170 universities in this year’s rankings.

www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/...

Oxford tops QS World University Rankings in English, physiology and geography

The University of Oxford has secured the top place in the QS World University Rankings 2025 in three subjects: English Language and Literature, Physiology and Geography.

www.medsci.ox.ac.uk

2 4

Reposted by Alison Smith

School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford @oxfordgeography.bsky.social · Apr 11

As EVs become more affordable and the technology more mature, more diverse and inclusive messaging from trusted sources is needed to truly widen their appeal in the wake of backlash against Elon Musk, says Hannah Budnitz from the Transport Studies Unit.

Why the Tesla backlash could help electric cars finally go mainstream

Elon Musk marketed EVs to wealthy early-adopter men – but in the long run, more diverse messaging will help the industry.

theconversation.com

1 2

Reposted by Alison Smith

Richard Benwell @richardbenwell.bsky.social · Apr 9

🧵Planning reform that speeds up sustainable development *and* restores nature is worth fighting for. The #PlanningBill is currently one sided, weakening nature laws with scant benefit for biodiversity. But Ministers could get back on track for a win-win.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Planning bill ‘throws environmental protection to the wind’, say UK nature chiefs

Heads of 32 charities warn proposals could push species towards extinction and lead to irreversible habitat loss

www.theguardian.com

4 23 36

Reposted by Alison Smith

Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · Apr 8

NEW – Analysis: Nearly 60 countries have ‘dramatically’ cut plans to build coal plants since 2015 | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social @globalenergymon.bsky.social

Read here: buff.ly/ndBmRxQ

Chart | Proposals for new coal plants have been drastically scaled back in some of the most coal-reliant countries over the past decade: Change in proposed coal power capacity (announced, pre-permit and permitted) from 2015 to 2024, gigawatts (GW), in all countries that saw declines over this period. Red arrows indicate countries that no longer have any plans to build coal power plants. Source: Global Energy Monitor.

2 34 83

Reposted by Alison Smith

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Apr 10

Air pollution has dropped significantly in #Paris in the last 15 years as a result of a deliberate strategy. Mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social’s leadership has traded car space for green space, safe bike space, kid space.. and traded pollution for people.

Good trade.

Air pollution graphics for central Paris between 2007 and 2023.

42 1.3K 4.3K

Reposted by Alison Smith

Zero Hour for the Climate & Nature Bill @zero-hour.bsky.social · Apr 1

🐝 @carolinelucas.bsky.social is 100% right.

🌍 The #CANBill is essential to protect climate and nature with stronger, joined-up law.

❌ We can’t afford delays.

🌳 We need to make time to advance the Climate and Nature Bill in Parliament.

📰 👉 www.theguardian.com/environment/... @theguardian.com

15 27

Reposted by Alison Smith

Zero Hour for the Climate & Nature Bill @zero-hour.bsky.social · Apr 1

⏸️ Pausing Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill isn’t obstructionism—it’s a plea for due process.

👇 Read more in the op-ed written by @ejmilnergulland.bsky.social, @natduffus.bsky.social, Alexa Culver and Sophus zu Ermgassen.

🌳 www.zerohour.uk/planningbill...

Obstructionism? This is a plea for due process

Why MPs must pause Part III of the Planning Bill

www.zerohour.uk

3 11 17

Reposted by Alison Smith

Rage Against the Miocene @organiccarbon.bsky.social · Apr 1

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Average person will be 40% poorer if world warms by 4C, new research shows

Experts say previous economic models underestimated impact of global heating – as well as likely ‘cascading supply chain disruptions’

www.theguardian.com

2 5

Reposted by Alison Smith

Zero Hour for the Climate & Nature Bill @zero-hour.bsky.social · Mar 25

🌍 Steve Reed wanted the Climate & Nature Bill to proceed. Ed Miliband promised to work on the #CANBill's objectives. Mary Creagh pledged to deliver “binding nature commitments”.

🚨 Labour Ministers are speaking out.

⏳ What’s the delay for new, joined-up, science-led climate and nature legislation?

🌿 Steve Reed MP on Climate and Nature Bill | Environmental Audit Committee, 24 March 2025

YouTube video by Zero Hour: Climate and Nature Bill

www.youtube.com

16 130 110

Reposted by Alison Smith

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Mar 31

Government to extend ban on moorland burning - closing loopholes in existing rules

Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding

Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻

Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/

www.gov.uk/government/n...

19 200 660

Reposted by Alison Smith

Hugo @nonviolence.bsky.social · Mar 31

🎵
bsky.app/profile/nonv...

3 15 35