Iain Soutar
@isoutar.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Energy Policy at the University of Exeter, UK. Researching change, inertia and public engagement in energy transitions.
https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/19656-iain-soutar
https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/19656-iain-soutar
Pinned
Iain Soutar
@isoutar.bsky.social
· Feb 23
There's a really healthy community of sustainable energy posters on here now. If you're still on the hunt for new posters to follow, here are some starter packs...🧵
Reposted by Iain Soutar
We've got some Nesta reaction to the Budget up, underpinned by some brilliant speedy analysis by my colleague Dan Lewis.
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
What does the Budget mean for energy bills?
Major changes to energy bills in the Budget will affect households across the country
www.nesta.org.uk
November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
We've got some Nesta reaction to the Budget up, underpinned by some brilliant speedy analysis by my colleague Dan Lewis.
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
📉 What does the budget mean for energy bills?
www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-do...
@nestauk.bsky.social
Reposted by Iain Soutar
This raises a very real question about how we talk about AI. To call this slop is to downplay the fact that it was published in an esteemed journal. We used to call such things fraud, but this suggests the publisher is innocent. AI has changed the terms of debate. We urgently need new norms.
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
November 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This raises a very real question about how we talk about AI. To call this slop is to downplay the fact that it was published in an esteemed journal. We used to call such things fraud, but this suggests the publisher is innocent. AI has changed the terms of debate. We urgently need new norms.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
If you want some good news this morning, I showed my three boys the PM doing the six/seven thing and now they have all stopped doing it.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
A DESNZ CLEAN SWEEP
A package that saved at least £150 off the average household bill was the minimum this Budget needed to achieve to give Labour at least a fighting chance of getting to their £300 target, given the price rises next year. /1
A package that saved at least £150 off the average household bill was the minimum this Budget needed to achieve to give Labour at least a fighting chance of getting to their £300 target, given the price rises next year. /1
November 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A DESNZ CLEAN SWEEP
A package that saved at least £150 off the average household bill was the minimum this Budget needed to achieve to give Labour at least a fighting chance of getting to their £300 target, given the price rises next year. /1
A package that saved at least £150 off the average household bill was the minimum this Budget needed to achieve to give Labour at least a fighting chance of getting to their £300 target, given the price rises next year. /1
Reposted by Iain Soutar
If you are a PhD or MSc student interested in seasonal heat storage, then you need to know about the 2026 PUSH-IT Summer School.
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
November 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you are a PhD or MSc student interested in seasonal heat storage, then you need to know about the 2026 PUSH-IT Summer School.
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Reposted by Iain Soutar
Heat pump for the win. @janrosenow.bsky.social always says you can heat a tent with a heat pump. Well, I can confirm you can very comfortably keep a vintage caravan warm with one in a snowy windy night. 🔌💡
Camping De Nachtegaal, Rodeberg, BE
Camping De Nachtegaal, Rodeberg, BE
November 23, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Heat pump for the win. @janrosenow.bsky.social always says you can heat a tent with a heat pump. Well, I can confirm you can very comfortably keep a vintage caravan warm with one in a snowy windy night. 🔌💡
Camping De Nachtegaal, Rodeberg, BE
Camping De Nachtegaal, Rodeberg, BE
Reposted by Iain Soutar
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
Reposted by Iain Soutar
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
"Warming is going to exceed 1.5°C. We are heading into “overshoot” within the next few years. The world is going to become more turbulent and more dangerous. So, what comes after failure?" Some thoughts from Johan Rockstrom & me 10 years after Paris Agreement.
theconversation.com/the-world-lo...
theconversation.com/the-world-lo...
The world lost the climate gamble. Now it faces a dangerous new reality
The world bet on collective but voluntary action to keep global warming at a safe level.
theconversation.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
"Warming is going to exceed 1.5°C. We are heading into “overshoot” within the next few years. The world is going to become more turbulent and more dangerous. So, what comes after failure?" Some thoughts from Johan Rockstrom & me 10 years after Paris Agreement.
theconversation.com/the-world-lo...
theconversation.com/the-world-lo...
Reposted by Iain Soutar
What would be your UK county's official smell? Cornwall is pasty with a hint of sea air, surely.
What would your state's state smell be?
(Nice answers only)
(Nice answers only)
New Mexico is the only state to have a “state smell”
A bunch of grade school kids said that roasting green chile should be our state smell so their teacher had them write our state Congress and in a shocking display they all came together, wrote the bill, and passed it in a matter of weeks
A bunch of grade school kids said that roasting green chile should be our state smell so their teacher had them write our state Congress and in a shocking display they all came together, wrote the bill, and passed it in a matter of weeks
November 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
What would be your UK county's official smell? Cornwall is pasty with a hint of sea air, surely.
Global lung cancer summit drops mention of tobacco smoking.
COP30: UN climate summit drops mention of fossil fuels from draft deal
A row over fossil fuels has broken out at COP30 but this is also likely to be a negotiating tactic.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Global lung cancer summit drops mention of tobacco smoking.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
COP30: "Best available science" = IPCC is back
The second draft "mutirão" text "recognises the centrality of equity and the best available science…as provided by the IPCC"
The second draft "mutirão" text "recognises the centrality of equity and the best available science…as provided by the IPCC"
November 21, 2025 at 11:15 AM
COP30: "Best available science" = IPCC is back
The second draft "mutirão" text "recognises the centrality of equity and the best available science…as provided by the IPCC"
The second draft "mutirão" text "recognises the centrality of equity and the best available science…as provided by the IPCC"
Reposted by Iain Soutar
Scientists are becoming more visible in public climate debates, but the effects of this engagement are far from straightforward. We often hear strong claims about credibility and trust, yet what does the evidence say? Our new preprint explores this osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 1/n
Thread 1/n
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Scientists are becoming more visible in public climate debates, but the effects of this engagement are far from straightforward. We often hear strong claims about credibility and trust, yet what does the evidence say? Our new preprint explores this osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 1/n
Thread 1/n
What would be your UK county's official smell? Cornwall is pasty with a hint of sea air, surely.
What would your state's state smell be?
(Nice answers only)
(Nice answers only)
New Mexico is the only state to have a “state smell”
A bunch of grade school kids said that roasting green chile should be our state smell so their teacher had them write our state Congress and in a shocking display they all came together, wrote the bill, and passed it in a matter of weeks
A bunch of grade school kids said that roasting green chile should be our state smell so their teacher had them write our state Congress and in a shocking display they all came together, wrote the bill, and passed it in a matter of weeks
November 21, 2025 at 8:44 AM
What would be your UK county's official smell? Cornwall is pasty with a hint of sea air, surely.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
Tierney and McLean send Scotland to World Cup with thrilling win against Denmark
Tierney and McLean send Scotland to World Cup with thrilling win against Denmark
Hampden Park has hosted seismic, spine-tingling occasions in a storied history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. Scotland’s long, long wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curler from 22 yards seemed to have sealed victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an even more spectacular fourth.
Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have peered towards men’s World Cups from afar, were obliterated as Denmark fell to defeat in stoppage time. Grown men in kilts shed tears. Denmark’s participation in next summer’s jamboree depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly giddy football nation can start making concrete plans. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Tierney and McLean send Scotland to World Cup with thrilling win against Denmark
Anyone got any tips for cancelling an @xbox.com subscription I didn't know I had, and that XBox or @microsoft.com themselves can't find any records of? Happy to continue banging my head against a wall but have other things to do, alas.
November 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Anyone got any tips for cancelling an @xbox.com subscription I didn't know I had, and that XBox or @microsoft.com themselves can't find any records of? Happy to continue banging my head against a wall but have other things to do, alas.
If you are a PhD or MSc student interested in seasonal heat storage, then you need to know about the 2026 PUSH-IT Summer School.
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
November 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If you are a PhD or MSc student interested in seasonal heat storage, then you need to know about the 2026 PUSH-IT Summer School.
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Open to all students, whether from engineering, geology, or social science disciplines
Please pass on to your networks!
www.push-it-thermalstorage.eu/pre-registra...
Reposted by Iain Soutar
It's not academic hair-splitting to suggest we should be careful about metaphors. If we're on a dangerous path, will guardrails help? Shouldn't we move to a different path? Or is it that our path is through a dangerous place and we mustn't fall off, which is why we need companies to protect us?
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
It's not academic hair-splitting to suggest we should be careful about metaphors. If we're on a dangerous path, will guardrails help? Shouldn't we move to a different path? Or is it that our path is through a dangerous place and we mustn't fall off, which is why we need companies to protect us?
Reposted by Iain Soutar
All (climate) COPs are bastards.
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
All (climate) COPs Are B*stards
On the need to "Defund the COPs"
The ACAB slogan has always jarred with me somewhat.
I understand (and respect) it as a systemic critique, intended to reveal that it's impossible for any individual,...
in-between-days.ghost.io
November 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM
All (climate) COPs are bastards.
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
I've been threatening to write this for years. Here it finally is.
"Just as communities, acting together in concert for common security, can make the cops obsolete, a globe of communities acting in concert for the climate can make the COPs obsolete."
Reposted by Iain Soutar
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Trains in and out of the South West are canceled because of a badger-induced sinkhole. I won't believe it until i see it in black and white.
November 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Trains in and out of the South West are canceled because of a badger-induced sinkhole. I won't believe it until i see it in black and white.
Reposted by Iain Soutar
$170,000 a minute: why Saudi Arabia is the biggest blocker of climate action
- Desert kingdom depends on oil dollars but its people already face a climate ‘at the verge of livability’. What’s going on?
#COP30 #climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
- Desert kingdom depends on oil dollars but its people already face a climate ‘at the verge of livability’. What’s going on?
#COP30 #climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
$170,000 a minute: why Saudi Arabia is the biggest blocker of climate action
Desert kingdom depends on oil dollars but its people already face a climate ‘at the verge of livability’. What’s going on?
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:19 PM
$170,000 a minute: why Saudi Arabia is the biggest blocker of climate action
- Desert kingdom depends on oil dollars but its people already face a climate ‘at the verge of livability’. What’s going on?
#COP30 #climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
- Desert kingdom depends on oil dollars but its people already face a climate ‘at the verge of livability’. What’s going on?
#COP30 #climatecrisis
Story by me
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Linkedin can be useful.
For networking.
And for in-the-weeds discussions on important but niche topics.
But there is one thing I struggle with.
An insidious property that needs to be held in check.
And that is very long posts of seemingly profound sentences, each separated by an empty line.
For networking.
And for in-the-weeds discussions on important but niche topics.
But there is one thing I struggle with.
An insidious property that needs to be held in check.
And that is very long posts of seemingly profound sentences, each separated by an empty line.
November 16, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Linkedin can be useful.
For networking.
And for in-the-weeds discussions on important but niche topics.
But there is one thing I struggle with.
An insidious property that needs to be held in check.
And that is very long posts of seemingly profound sentences, each separated by an empty line.
For networking.
And for in-the-weeds discussions on important but niche topics.
But there is one thing I struggle with.
An insidious property that needs to be held in check.
And that is very long posts of seemingly profound sentences, each separated by an empty line.