Barry McMullin
@autofac.bsky.social
Stranger in a strange land - aren't we all? Engineering academic #Decarbonisation #ComplexSystems. #CarbonAbolitionist #AndACyclist he/his
Why "autofac" you say? Well ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac
And: http://www.eeng.dcu.ie/~mcmullin/
Why "autofac" you say? Well ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac
And: http://www.eeng.dcu.ie/~mcmullin/
Pinned
Barry McMullin
@autofac.bsky.social
· Nov 16
postcarbonireland.org: GE2024
www.postcarbonireland.org
Update on petition for a dedicated #IE
#GE2024 Leaders' Debate on the Climate & Biodiversity emergency:
www.postcarbonireland.org/GE2024/
#GE2024 Leaders' Debate on the Climate & Biodiversity emergency:
www.postcarbonireland.org/GE2024/
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Saw a LinkedIn post today from a Serious Person who hailed progress on Ireland's planned LNG import terminal, and hilariously suggesting the gas could be sourced from cheap overseas biomethane.
Sadly, they weren't joking.
It might as well be powered by vibes.
Sadly, they weren't joking.
It might as well be powered by vibes.
November 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Saw a LinkedIn post today from a Serious Person who hailed progress on Ireland's planned LNG import terminal, and hilariously suggesting the gas could be sourced from cheap overseas biomethane.
Sadly, they weren't joking.
It might as well be powered by vibes.
Sadly, they weren't joking.
It might as well be powered by vibes.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
The most on-the-money statement you’ll read today.
November 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The most on-the-money statement you’ll read today.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Thanks to @sioldridge.bsky.social @nickoldridge.bsky.social & the team for their monumental efforts in pulling together yesterday’s National Emergency Briefing www.nebriefing.org on climate change. Thanks also go to those MPs, journalists & others who attended.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Scientists warn of severe climate-related risks to UK economy and security
Experts lay out scale of changes needed in ‘first-of-its-kind national emergency briefing’ in Westminster
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Thanks to @sioldridge.bsky.social @nickoldridge.bsky.social & the team for their monumental efforts in pulling together yesterday’s National Emergency Briefing www.nebriefing.org on climate change. Thanks also go to those MPs, journalists & others who attended.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
"ETH researchers estimate the cost of removing 1 tonne of CO2 from the air in the year 2050 to be between 230 and 540 US dollars. This is twice as high as previous estimates"
"The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped.
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
This is the conclusion reached by @ethz.ch researchers on the basis of new calculations. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions should therefore continue at pace"
Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped
The cost of removing large quantities of CO2 from the air will fall in the medium term, but not as much as previously hoped. This is the conclusion reached by ETH researchers on the basis of new calcu...
ethz.ch
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
"ETH researchers estimate the cost of removing 1 tonne of CO2 from the air in the year 2050 to be between 230 and 540 US dollars. This is twice as high as previous estimates"
Reposted by Barry McMullin
We Are Eating the Earth is a must read.
There's no viable future on Earth without deep agricultural reform. It's our largest and least talked about planetary impact, especially meat production. @mikegrunwald.bsky.social cuts thru the feel good "regenerative ranching" promos show it doesn't scale.
There's no viable future on Earth without deep agricultural reform. It's our largest and least talked about planetary impact, especially meat production. @mikegrunwald.bsky.social cuts thru the feel good "regenerative ranching" promos show it doesn't scale.
Author @mikegrunwald.bsky.social explains how good intentions have led us astray. Our obsession with meat, myths about biofuels and regenerative agriculture, feel-good ideas based on bad science — he argues it’s time for a fundamental shift in values. #SEJournalBookShelf www.sej.org/publications...
November 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We Are Eating the Earth is a must read.
There's no viable future on Earth without deep agricultural reform. It's our largest and least talked about planetary impact, especially meat production. @mikegrunwald.bsky.social cuts thru the feel good "regenerative ranching" promos show it doesn't scale.
There's no viable future on Earth without deep agricultural reform. It's our largest and least talked about planetary impact, especially meat production. @mikegrunwald.bsky.social cuts thru the feel good "regenerative ranching" promos show it doesn't scale.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
This rant from the British newspaper columnist and broadcaster Melanie Phillips is insane. It is hateful. It is nauseating. And it is instructive.
November 27, 2025 at 11:35 AM
This rant from the British newspaper columnist and broadcaster Melanie Phillips is insane. It is hateful. It is nauseating. And it is instructive.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
An Amoc shutdown later this century could see millions of Irish people become #climate migrants; this is something our politicians talking tough on cracking down on migration to Ireland should keep in mind, as I discuss in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
John Gibbons: A big freeze could turn the Irish into climate refugees
We should reflect on 'get-tough' proposals on immigration: If the Amoc currents that moderate Ireland’s climate fail, temperatures will plunge, making grass-based agriculture impossible
www.irishexaminer.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
An Amoc shutdown later this century could see millions of Irish people become #climate migrants; this is something our politicians talking tough on cracking down on migration to Ireland should keep in mind, as I discuss in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
“Just leave MY town ALONE”, they say, but what does preserving the status quo really mean?
Comment & Analysis: "For goodness sake, just leave Skerries ALONE" and "Leave Skerries alone" are common themes from some in the comments section of Facebook posts about the Skerries Active Travel Plan,…
Comment & Analysis: "For goodness sake, just leave Skerries ALONE" and "Leave Skerries alone" are common themes from some in the comments section of Facebook posts about the Skerries Active Travel Plan,…
“Just leave MY town ALONE”, they say, but what does preserving the status quo really mean?
Comment & Analysis: "For goodness sake, just leave Skerries ALONE" and "Leave Skerries alone" are common themes from some in the comments section of Facebook posts about the Skerries Active Travel Plan, which this website covered two weeks ago. But in a growing town, what does that really mean? I think it's worth exploring the question, given that it's a common enough feeling expressed when changes are planned in towns and cities around the country (and around the world).
irishcycle.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
“Just leave MY town ALONE”, they say, but what does preserving the status quo really mean?
Comment & Analysis: "For goodness sake, just leave Skerries ALONE" and "Leave Skerries alone" are common themes from some in the comments section of Facebook posts about the Skerries Active Travel Plan,…
Comment & Analysis: "For goodness sake, just leave Skerries ALONE" and "Leave Skerries alone" are common themes from some in the comments section of Facebook posts about the Skerries Active Travel Plan,…
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Key point from the brilliant Prof @kevinclimate.bsky.social at the National Emergency Briefing, the UK's climate plans are based on the wildly untenable assumption that the country can have 3x its equitable share of the remaining global carbon budget for meeting the 1.5C guardrail.
November 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Key point from the brilliant Prof @kevinclimate.bsky.social at the National Emergency Briefing, the UK's climate plans are based on the wildly untenable assumption that the country can have 3x its equitable share of the remaining global carbon budget for meeting the 1.5C guardrail.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Professor Kevin Anderson delivers some granite hard truths @kevinclimate.bsky.social
"We need profound shifts in our social norms.
It is too late for non-radical solutions.
The UK is emitting far more than its fair share of greenhouse gases.
We need deep cuts in energy use."
"We need profound shifts in our social norms.
It is too late for non-radical solutions.
The UK is emitting far more than its fair share of greenhouse gases.
We need deep cuts in energy use."
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Professor Kevin Anderson delivers some granite hard truths @kevinclimate.bsky.social
"We need profound shifts in our social norms.
It is too late for non-radical solutions.
The UK is emitting far more than its fair share of greenhouse gases.
We need deep cuts in energy use."
"We need profound shifts in our social norms.
It is too late for non-radical solutions.
The UK is emitting far more than its fair share of greenhouse gases.
We need deep cuts in energy use."
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Ten years ago at #COP21 Kevin Anderson @kevinclimate.bsky.social was making climate reality very clear :
'It is too late for even a small chance of avoiding 1.5ºC without highly speculative tech, getting lucky with climate sensitivity and immediate global action'
www.antaisce.org/news/report-...
'It is too late for even a small chance of avoiding 1.5ºC without highly speculative tech, getting lucky with climate sensitivity and immediate global action'
www.antaisce.org/news/report-...
Report 9 from #COP21 - Wednesday December 9, 2015
Our ninth from Paul Price, a member of An Taisce's Climate Change Committee. Paul is a conservation carpenter with a MSc in Sustainable Development.
www.antaisce.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Ten years ago at #COP21 Kevin Anderson @kevinclimate.bsky.social was making climate reality very clear :
'It is too late for even a small chance of avoiding 1.5ºC without highly speculative tech, getting lucky with climate sensitivity and immediate global action'
www.antaisce.org/news/report-...
'It is too late for even a small chance of avoiding 1.5ºC without highly speculative tech, getting lucky with climate sensitivity and immediate global action'
www.antaisce.org/news/report-...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
The first time I was knocked off my bike and hospitalised by a driver they drove through a stop sign without stopping (or even looking as far as I can tell). I could have been lit up like Blackpool, it wouldn’t have mattered because they weren’t looking.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The first time I was knocked off my bike and hospitalised by a driver they drove through a stop sign without stopping (or even looking as far as I can tell). I could have been lit up like Blackpool, it wouldn’t have mattered because they weren’t looking.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
I know far too many people who have been knocked off their bikes, and not once has it happened because of poor visibility or because they were not lit up enough. In each case, it was the fault of dangerous driving and/or dangerous infrastructure.
👀 Can you see me now?
The importance of visibility on our roads cannot be understated, particularly for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter drivers and motorcyclists.
#CanYouSeeMeNow #KeepingPeopleSafe
The importance of visibility on our roads cannot be understated, particularly for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter drivers and motorcyclists.
#CanYouSeeMeNow #KeepingPeopleSafe
November 27, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I know far too many people who have been knocked off their bikes, and not once has it happened because of poor visibility or because they were not lit up enough. In each case, it was the fault of dangerous driving and/or dangerous infrastructure.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Just two hours to go to the Irish Book Awards gala event in Dublin’s Convention Centre, suited up and nearly ready to head into town.
Thrilled to be among the six books Shortlisted for the non-fiction Book of the Year, here’s to a fun evening…
Thrilled to be among the six books Shortlisted for the non-fiction Book of the Year, here’s to a fun evening…
November 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just two hours to go to the Irish Book Awards gala event in Dublin’s Convention Centre, suited up and nearly ready to head into town.
Thrilled to be among the six books Shortlisted for the non-fiction Book of the Year, here’s to a fun evening…
Thrilled to be among the six books Shortlisted for the non-fiction Book of the Year, here’s to a fun evening…
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Climate scientist @kevinclimate.bsky.social says “we need to eliminate fossil fuels”.
Societal and ecological collapse at 3-4C warming.
For <2C, the UK has 7 years of current CO2 emissions.
Drax and CCS are delay tech.
Heat pumps, good public transport, and deep cuts of aviation are essential.
Societal and ecological collapse at 3-4C warming.
For <2C, the UK has 7 years of current CO2 emissions.
Drax and CCS are delay tech.
Heat pumps, good public transport, and deep cuts of aviation are essential.
November 27, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Climate scientist @kevinclimate.bsky.social says “we need to eliminate fossil fuels”.
Societal and ecological collapse at 3-4C warming.
For <2C, the UK has 7 years of current CO2 emissions.
Drax and CCS are delay tech.
Heat pumps, good public transport, and deep cuts of aviation are essential.
Societal and ecological collapse at 3-4C warming.
For <2C, the UK has 7 years of current CO2 emissions.
Drax and CCS are delay tech.
Heat pumps, good public transport, and deep cuts of aviation are essential.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Four months after it was promised, we finally have the government's transport investment plan between now and 2030. It's bad. Roads are in, public transport is out. A lot of public transport projects being put on the long-finger to make funding available for new roads.
November 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Four months after it was promised, we finally have the government's transport investment plan between now and 2030. It's bad. Roads are in, public transport is out. A lot of public transport projects being put on the long-finger to make funding available for new roads.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
A packed audience for the #NationalEmergencyBriefing this morning, listening to 9 experts give a hard-hitting and evidence-based view of the state of climate effects to MPs, Lords, and leaders across media, business and culture.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
@nebriefing.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
A packed audience for the #NationalEmergencyBriefing this morning, listening to 9 experts give a hard-hitting and evidence-based view of the state of climate effects to MPs, Lords, and leaders across media, business and culture.
@nebriefing.bsky.social
@nebriefing.bsky.social
Reposted by Barry McMullin
In a 2024 paper criticizing the 'billion-dollar-disasters' database, Roger Pielke Jr. published analysis that is best described as a Russian-doll of errors.
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Roger Pielke Jr.’s Appallingly Bad Analysis of Billion Dollar Disasters – Economics from the Top Down
In a recent paper called Scientific integrity and U.S. “Billion Dollar Disasters”, Roger Pielke Jr. published a chart that's so bad I've devoted a whole essay to debunking it.
economicsfromthetopdown.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
In a 2024 paper criticizing the 'billion-dollar-disasters' database, Roger Pielke Jr. published analysis that is best described as a Russian-doll of errors.
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Here's my in-depth take down of his appallingly bad work.
economicsfromthetopdown.com/2025/10/26/r...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
"This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is a paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine. Some of you perhaps have already heard what it contains, but I would just like to read it to you..."
⁉️ Putin says Russia can put in writing it will not attack Europe
Putin says Russia can put in writing it will not attack Europe
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has been ready to state in writing that it does not intend to attack Europe.
www.pravda.com.ua
November 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is a paper which bears his name upon it as well as mine. Some of you perhaps have already heard what it contains, but I would just like to read it to you..."
Reposted by Barry McMullin
National Transport priorities in this weeks NDP dodcument are shown here . But the funding in Galway City is the reverse. The ring road is allocared more money than Busconnects, and I cannot find any active travel projects in the budget! Full document www.gov.ie/en/departmen... 1/3
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
National Transport priorities in this weeks NDP dodcument are shown here . But the funding in Galway City is the reverse. The ring road is allocared more money than Busconnects, and I cannot find any active travel projects in the budget! Full document www.gov.ie/en/departmen... 1/3
Reposted by Barry McMullin
The very first thing the Prime Minister does is use the household budget metaphor.
A metaphor - this report into BBC coverage - said could be "easily misleading."
Why is the government trying to mislead the country?
A metaphor - this report into BBC coverage - said could be "easily misleading."
Why is the government trying to mislead the country?
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The very first thing the Prime Minister does is use the household budget metaphor.
A metaphor - this report into BBC coverage - said could be "easily misleading."
Why is the government trying to mislead the country?
A metaphor - this report into BBC coverage - said could be "easily misleading."
Why is the government trying to mislead the country?
"Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Lorcan Sirr: Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer
We have seen before how cutting ‘red tape’ leads to disaster, especially in planning and housing
www.irishtimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Much good food for thought here. Worth mulling whether any "core" state (say a supposedly "post-colonial" one) is willing to help rather than hinder (yes IE, I'm looking straight at you!).
Useful as always - @jasonhickel.bsky.social short primer on Samir Amin's concept of delinking to consider how it can be achieved in the 21st century.
jasonhickel.substack.com/p/what-is-de...
jasonhickel.substack.com/p/what-is-de...
What is delinking?
A crucial strategy for transformation in the 21st century.
jasonhickel.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Much good food for thought here. Worth mulling whether any "core" state (say a supposedly "post-colonial" one) is willing to help rather than hinder (yes IE, I'm looking straight at you!).
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Suspect many of you know that I didn’t buy into the Islamic teachings of my childhood but one thing I can get on board with is its suggestion that you donate a minimum percentage (2.5?) of your wealth to charity every year.
It may or may not be a large amount but it is by definition a small proportion. Strange that people who obviously think about money all day long can't grasp this.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social wants to introduce a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over £10m & 2% on assets over £1bn & if the super rich want to leave the UK because they are being taxed a tiny amount more then we should wave them goodbye
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Suspect many of you know that I didn’t buy into the Islamic teachings of my childhood but one thing I can get on board with is its suggestion that you donate a minimum percentage (2.5?) of your wealth to charity every year.