Rowan Alcock
@row-a.bsky.social
DPhil at University of Oxford. Currently Post-Doc at Tsinghua University.
Research -- Karl Polanyi, China, Environment.
Research -- Karl Polanyi, China, Environment.
Pinned
Rowan Alcock
@row-a.bsky.social
· Jan 26
Re-embedding Polanyi’s double movement thesis – the non-ideological and destructive countermovement
This article argues that scholarship on Polanyi’s double movement thesis has been disembedded from the arguments laid out by Polanyi in The Great Transformation. Much scholarship claims ideological...
www.tandfonline.com
Really happy to have my new article published in Globalizations - expanding on my previous articles and my re-reading of Polanyi's double movement theory.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/8AB59...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/8AB59...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Former EU commissioner and activists barred from US in attack on European tech regulators
Former EU commissioner and activists barred from US in attack on European tech regulators
State department accuses group of pressuring tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints through regulation of disinformation
The state department has barred five Europeans from the US, accusing them of leading efforts to pressure tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints, in the latest attack on European regulations that target hate speech and misinformation.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio said the five people targeted with visa bans – who include former European Commissioner Thierry Breton – have led “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Former EU commissioner and activists barred from US in attack on European tech regulators
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
UK’s largest proposed datacentre is understating the scale of its planned water use.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK’s largest proposed datacentre ‘understating planned water use’
Analysis suggests consumption at Northumberland site could be 50 times higher than US operator QTS estimates
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
UK’s largest proposed datacentre is understating the scale of its planned water use.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels
buff.ly
December 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM
‘Massive disruption’: UK’s worst-case climate crisis scenarios revealed by scientists
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
Scientists say government must prepare for unlikely but ‘plausible’ 4C rise in temperature and a 2-metre rise in sea levels.
@dpcarrington.bsky.social
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
2025’s AI boom caused huge CO2 emissions and use of water, research finds
2025’s AI boom caused huge CO2 emissions and use of water, research finds
Study’s author says society not tech companies paying for environmental impact of AI and asks if this is fair
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM
2025’s AI boom caused huge CO2 emissions and use of water, research finds
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
New from me: How can China meet its 2030 emission commitments after falling badly off track? The country will have to very substantially overachieve its clean energy targets and limit plans for runaway expansion of coal power & petrochemical expansion in the next 5-yr plan.
December 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
New from me: How can China meet its 2030 emission commitments after falling badly off track? The country will have to very substantially overachieve its clean energy targets and limit plans for runaway expansion of coal power & petrochemical expansion in the next 5-yr plan.
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
The British ESRC aims to put economic growth “at the heart” of the council’s future. Postgrowth research should face a high bar to win grants.
ISEE and ESEE react here: #Postgrowth research is necessary for our very survival - and should be funded generously
www.isecoeco.org/why-academic...
ISEE and ESEE react here: #Postgrowth research is necessary for our very survival - and should be funded generously
www.isecoeco.org/why-academic...
Why Academic Freedom and Post-Growth Research Is Needed
A joint statement from ISEE and ESEE on academic freedom, post-growth research, need for scientific inquiry amid eco and social crises.
www.isecoeco.org
December 18, 2025 at 6:21 AM
The British ESRC aims to put economic growth “at the heart” of the council’s future. Postgrowth research should face a high bar to win grants.
ISEE and ESEE react here: #Postgrowth research is necessary for our very survival - and should be funded generously
www.isecoeco.org/why-academic...
ISEE and ESEE react here: #Postgrowth research is necessary for our very survival - and should be funded generously
www.isecoeco.org/why-academic...
The Plan Is to Make the Internet Worse. Forever. | Novara Media
'Enshittification' explained.
novaramedia.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
“I’ve been amazed by the groundswell of grassroots, bipartisan opposition to this....everyone is affected by this, the opposition has been across the political spectrum. A lot of people don’t see the benefits coming from AI and feel they will be paying for it"
More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US datacenters
Exclusive: Congress urged to act against energy-hungry facilities blamed for increasing bills and worsening climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
“I’ve been amazed by the groundswell of grassroots, bipartisan opposition to this....everyone is affected by this, the opposition has been across the political spectrum. A lot of people don’t see the benefits coming from AI and feel they will be paying for it"
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Deep sea mining is very bad for deep sea ecosystems.
What Scientists Found When a Deep Sea Mining Company Invited Them In
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Deep sea mining is very bad for deep sea ecosystems.
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
The death toll from climate-fuelled floods in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand is now more than 1,750 with heavy rains continuing
My latest for @aljazeera.com
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
My latest for @aljazeera.com
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
Heavy rains hamper recovery as death toll from floods in Asia exceeds 1,750
Hundreds more people are still missing as intensive rains pose new dangers in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
www.aljazeera.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:47 AM
The death toll from climate-fuelled floods in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand is now more than 1,750 with heavy rains continuing
My latest for @aljazeera.com
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
My latest for @aljazeera.com
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
How likely is an #AMOC shutdown? Here's our latest study based on 768 runs with 38 standard climate models (the CMIP6 models). Note these do not include any meltwater from Greenland mass loss, so might underestimate the risk a bit. 2/2
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
December 5, 2025 at 11:42 AM
How likely is an #AMOC shutdown? Here's our latest study based on 768 runs with 38 standard climate models (the CMIP6 models). Note these do not include any meltwater from Greenland mass loss, so might underestimate the risk a bit. 2/2
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
'Our task is to build a wide and deep movement, as spiritual as it is political... A movement rooted in a steadfast commitment to one another, across our many differences and divides, and to this miraculous, singular planet'
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The rise of end times fascism | Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:50 AM
'Our task is to build a wide and deep movement, as spiritual as it is political... A movement rooted in a steadfast commitment to one another, across our many differences and divides, and to this miraculous, singular planet'
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
A new study warns that climate change, sea-level rise and land subsidence will significantly worsen typhoon-driven flooding in #Shanghai, #China – highlighting the urgent need for stronger, layered defences in vulnerable #delta cities➡️ tyndall.ac.uk/news/flood-r...
December 4, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A new study warns that climate change, sea-level rise and land subsidence will significantly worsen typhoon-driven flooding in #Shanghai, #China – highlighting the urgent need for stronger, layered defences in vulnerable #delta cities➡️ tyndall.ac.uk/news/flood-r...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
When are we going to have a special on:
• The rise of the far-right
• The state of the NHS
• The severe lack of trans+ healthcare
• The constantly hiking rent
• The 1% who own half this country's wealth
• Stagnant wages for the working class
• The state of council homes
• The housing crisis
...
• The rise of the far-right
• The state of the NHS
• The severe lack of trans+ healthcare
• The constantly hiking rent
• The 1% who own half this country's wealth
• Stagnant wages for the working class
• The state of council homes
• The housing crisis
...
December 4, 2025 at 11:20 PM
When are we going to have a special on:
• The rise of the far-right
• The state of the NHS
• The severe lack of trans+ healthcare
• The constantly hiking rent
• The 1% who own half this country's wealth
• Stagnant wages for the working class
• The state of council homes
• The housing crisis
...
• The rise of the far-right
• The state of the NHS
• The severe lack of trans+ healthcare
• The constantly hiking rent
• The 1% who own half this country's wealth
• Stagnant wages for the working class
• The state of council homes
• The housing crisis
...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
From Copernicus: This shows how the expected date for breaching 1.5C has been creeping ever closer in recent years. The orange date shows the baseline for the extrapolation; the red date shows when 1.5C is breached based on the trend...
November 30, 2025 at 6:34 PM
From Copernicus: This shows how the expected date for breaching 1.5C has been creeping ever closer in recent years. The orange date shows the baseline for the extrapolation; the red date shows when 1.5C is breached based on the trend...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hello, foreign oligarchs and corporations! Please come and sue the UK for billions | George Monbiot
The case of a planned Cumbrian coalmine shows how governments around the world are being threatened by litigation in shadowy offshore courts, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Sovereignty? Democracy? Sorry, but we can't afford those anymore. We'll be sued if we try to defend them.
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column is about a massive but scarcely-covered scandal.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Fascinating research on how the fossil fuel industry orchestrates public narratives to maintain its own status in society and delay our transition to a safer energy system
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Fascinating research on how the fossil fuel industry orchestrates public narratives to maintain its own status in society and delay our transition to a safer energy system
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Nature is still by far the only real #CDR game in town. If we want a future, science & our documentary series #TheClimateRestorers all confirm we must invest labor& funds massively in Nature conservation, restoration, & education. Why? A five-part 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Africa’s forests transformed from carbon sink to carbon source, study finds
Alarming shift since 2010 means planet’s three main rainforest regions now contribute to climate breakdown
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Nature is still by far the only real #CDR game in town. If we want a future, science & our documentary series #TheClimateRestorers all confirm we must invest labor& funds massively in Nature conservation, restoration, & education. Why? A five-part 🧵
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
Yes. 8% is the global reduction rate from the start of 2026 &for an “83% chance of not exceeding 2°C” (based on Lamboll et al 2023 budgets). Include a relatively weak interpretation of international equity & the UK reduction rate would be nearer 13%pa; similar to that for most ‘developed’ countries.
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Yes. 8% is the global reduction rate from the start of 2026 &for an “83% chance of not exceeding 2°C” (based on Lamboll et al 2023 budgets). Include a relatively weak interpretation of international equity & the UK reduction rate would be nearer 13%pa; similar to that for most ‘developed’ countries.
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
"Every speaker converged on the same conclusion, delaying action or making only incremental changes are no longer aligned with physical reality, financial prudence, or national security"
Excellent account of yesterday's National Emergency Briefing @nebriefing.bsky.social
Excellent account of yesterday's National Emergency Briefing @nebriefing.bsky.social
UK Security, Food And Economy At Risk Without Climate Action, Experts Say
Experts at the U.K.’s first national emergency briefing on climate and nature shared risks in a world being rapidly destabilised by climate and biodiversity breakdown
www.forbes.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
"Every speaker converged on the same conclusion, delaying action or making only incremental changes are no longer aligned with physical reality, financial prudence, or national security"
Excellent account of yesterday's National Emergency Briefing @nebriefing.bsky.social
Excellent account of yesterday's National Emergency Briefing @nebriefing.bsky.social
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 AM
How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages.
Rolling Stone reports in collaboration with @thefern.org: www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
No agreement reached on new pledges to cut fossil fuels at COP30 in Brazil
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Reposted by Rowan Alcock
It might be true that the world needs to remove ten billion tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere every year but it’s never going to happen for many different reasons: technical, financial, social, environmental, governance, etc. If we don’t reduce CO₂ emissions, we’re screwed. That’s it.
Removing CO2 from atmosphere vital to avoid catastrophic tipping points, leading scientist says
10bn tonnes must be captured from the air every year to limit global heating to 1.7C, says Johan Rockström
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
It might be true that the world needs to remove ten billion tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere every year but it’s never going to happen for many different reasons: technical, financial, social, environmental, governance, etc. If we don’t reduce CO₂ emissions, we’re screwed. That’s it.
Finished all 5 episodes in a couple of days😅. Highly recommended!
Episode 2: Carbon Suckers
Who’s going to clean up the mess?
We hear the story of how all climate plans are dependent on one big idea. But it might not even work, and we didn’t vote for it. And it all started in Swedish paper mills...
Listen to episode 2 now:
open.spotify.com/episode/49H1...
Who’s going to clean up the mess?
We hear the story of how all climate plans are dependent on one big idea. But it might not even work, and we didn’t vote for it. And it all started in Swedish paper mills...
Listen to episode 2 now:
open.spotify.com/episode/49H1...
Episode 2: Carbon Suckers
open.spotify.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Finished all 5 episodes in a couple of days😅. Highly recommended!
Great article by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, Open Access www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In tech we trust: A history of technophilia in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) climate mitigation expertise
This article examines the technocentric bias that characterizes climate mitigation literature, focusing on the reports of the IPCC's Working Group III…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Great article by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, Open Access www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...