Andy Middleton
@andymiddleton.bsky.social
Climate, biodiversity and systems connector. Helping progressive leaders to calibrate shared ambition against the scale of challenge coming their way. Live in Wales. Radical collaborator & mischief maker.
Reposted by Andy Middleton
"In this episode of Weathered Maiya May talks with civilization collapse researcher @lukekemp.bsky.social & strategic climate risk expert @laurielaybourn.bsky.social about why high-end warming scenarios are often dismissed as “doomerism,” even though worst-case planning is standard in most fields"
This Is How the World Ends According to Science
YouTube video by PBS Terra
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 1:05 AM
"In this episode of Weathered Maiya May talks with civilization collapse researcher @lukekemp.bsky.social & strategic climate risk expert @laurielaybourn.bsky.social about why high-end warming scenarios are often dismissed as “doomerism,” even though worst-case planning is standard in most fields"
Reposted by Andy Middleton
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Ocean heat content increased by 23 billion trillion joules, which was around 39 times greater than global primary energy use this year. This is the largest rise in OHC since 2017; overall OHC has increased by over 500 zettajoules since the 1940s.
January 14, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Reposted by Andy Middleton
This thread responds to Prof. Christian Dunn’s Telegraph piece on #climate communication.
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 8:58 AM
This thread responds to Prof. Christian Dunn’s Telegraph piece on #climate communication.
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
Plastic Unfantastic
Pollution from this illegitimate child of the fossil fuel industry looks like it's reducing photosynthesis by 12%.
Nothing to see here. Move on.
www.theguardian.com/environment/....
Pollution from this illegitimate child of the fossil fuel industry looks like it's reducing photosynthesis by 12%.
Nothing to see here. Move on.
www.theguardian.com/environment/....
Microplastics hinder plant photosynthesis, study finds, threatening millions with starvation
Researchers say problem could increase number of people at risk of starvation by 400m in next two decades
www.theguardian.com
March 10, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Plastic Unfantastic
Pollution from this illegitimate child of the fossil fuel industry looks like it's reducing photosynthesis by 12%.
Nothing to see here. Move on.
www.theguardian.com/environment/....
Pollution from this illegitimate child of the fossil fuel industry looks like it's reducing photosynthesis by 12%.
Nothing to see here. Move on.
www.theguardian.com/environment/....
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus
Happy St.Davids day to friends and fellow citizens of this fragile world. David was born on the coast near the tiny jewel of a city that bears his name, his last words were 'do the little things you remember me by. Good advice.
Happy St.Davids day to friends and fellow citizens of this fragile world. David was born on the coast near the tiny jewel of a city that bears his name, his last words were 'do the little things you remember me by. Good advice.
March 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus
Happy St.Davids day to friends and fellow citizens of this fragile world. David was born on the coast near the tiny jewel of a city that bears his name, his last words were 'do the little things you remember me by. Good advice.
Happy St.Davids day to friends and fellow citizens of this fragile world. David was born on the coast near the tiny jewel of a city that bears his name, his last words were 'do the little things you remember me by. Good advice.
Reposted by Andy Middleton
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, assured his support to Zelenskyy, saying: “We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war.” (Guardian)
March 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, assured his support to Zelenskyy, saying: “We must never confuse the aggressor and the victim in this terrible war.” (Guardian)
Reposted by Andy Middleton
📣 New guide! Climate Outreach, with support from @green-alliance.org.uk conducted interviews with leading experts, from policy to journalism, campaigns to research, to get their insight on the most important comms challenges & opportunities for 2025 and beyond:
climateoutreach.org/reports/what...
climateoutreach.org/reports/what...
What is the climate story in 2025? - Climate Outreach
This short report consolidates our findings from 20 interviews with diverse leading experts from policy to journalism, campaigns to research who shared their thoughts. Thank you to our partners Green ...
climateoutreach.org
February 11, 2025 at 11:06 AM
📣 New guide! Climate Outreach, with support from @green-alliance.org.uk conducted interviews with leading experts, from policy to journalism, campaigns to research, to get their insight on the most important comms challenges & opportunities for 2025 and beyond:
climateoutreach.org/reports/what...
climateoutreach.org/reports/what...
Reposted by Andy Middleton
Welcome to #EduSky 🍎 a communuty for educators!
Check out the list: tinyurl.com/EduSky
Join the list: tinyurl.com/EduSkyForm
Pin the feed: tinyurl.com/EduSkyFeed
⬇️
Check out the list: tinyurl.com/EduSky
Join the list: tinyurl.com/EduSkyForm
Pin the feed: tinyurl.com/EduSkyFeed
⬇️
November 20, 2024 at 1:32 PM
Welcome to #EduSky 🍎 a communuty for educators!
Check out the list: tinyurl.com/EduSky
Join the list: tinyurl.com/EduSkyForm
Pin the feed: tinyurl.com/EduSkyFeed
⬇️
Check out the list: tinyurl.com/EduSky
Join the list: tinyurl.com/EduSkyForm
Pin the feed: tinyurl.com/EduSkyFeed
⬇️
The Gift of Uncertainty //
What are the skills, mindsets and connections we need to help young people to grow so they can build regenerative futures at a time of greater uncertainty than the world has seen for 75 years?
Do share your top three here.
#EduSky #climate #nature
What are the skills, mindsets and connections we need to help young people to grow so they can build regenerative futures at a time of greater uncertainty than the world has seen for 75 years?
Do share your top three here.
#EduSky #climate #nature
February 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Exporting Extinction //
Seek to understand the footprints and negative externalities of the products and services that you take for granted. Many of them are likely to have a dark side impact that's not on the label.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Seek to understand the footprints and negative externalities of the products and services that you take for granted. Many of them are likely to have a dark side impact that's not on the label.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
February 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Exporting Extinction //
Seek to understand the footprints and negative externalities of the products and services that you take for granted. Many of them are likely to have a dark side impact that's not on the label.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Seek to understand the footprints and negative externalities of the products and services that you take for granted. Many of them are likely to have a dark side impact that's not on the label.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Andy Middleton
H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads Rapidly Through California Dairy Herds
The USDA has confirmed that five more dairy herds in California are infected, bringing the total number to 732.
As of now, 74% of the state's dairy herds have tested positive for the virus.
The USDA has confirmed that five more dairy herds in California are infected, bringing the total number to 732.
As of now, 74% of the state's dairy herds have tested positive for the virus.
January 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads Rapidly Through California Dairy Herds
The USDA has confirmed that five more dairy herds in California are infected, bringing the total number to 732.
As of now, 74% of the state's dairy herds have tested positive for the virus.
The USDA has confirmed that five more dairy herds in California are infected, bringing the total number to 732.
As of now, 74% of the state's dairy herds have tested positive for the virus.
Regulation isn't fit for purpose.
I spent six years on the board of an environmental regulator. It's clear that even if every business adhered to every pice of legislation, nature and communities would die, just more slowly. We need regs that inescapably drive regeneration, not elimination.
I spent six years on the board of an environmental regulator. It's clear that even if every business adhered to every pice of legislation, nature and communities would die, just more slowly. We need regs that inescapably drive regeneration, not elimination.
January 29, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Regulation isn't fit for purpose.
I spent six years on the board of an environmental regulator. It's clear that even if every business adhered to every pice of legislation, nature and communities would die, just more slowly. We need regs that inescapably drive regeneration, not elimination.
I spent six years on the board of an environmental regulator. It's clear that even if every business adhered to every pice of legislation, nature and communities would die, just more slowly. We need regs that inescapably drive regeneration, not elimination.
Reposted by Andy Middleton
My friend/colleague Andrew Boswell is right. Starmer is adopting the very worst HardRight trope:
It’s outrageous of Starmer to say that Andrew is doing this for himself! He doesn’t do all this dangerous, exhausting, expensive work for selfish reasons!! He does it for Nature & our children’s future.
It’s outrageous of Starmer to say that Andrew is doing this for himself! He doesn’t do all this dangerous, exhausting, expensive work for selfish reasons!! He does it for Nature & our children’s future.
"It's quite pathetic of Keir Starmer to think that he will put off the environmental movement .." by attacking campaigners after he attacks me in Daily Mail
I talk to @samcoatessky.bsky.social
See full clip here x.com/SkyPoliticsH...
January 24, 2025 at 9:29 AM
My friend/colleague Andrew Boswell is right. Starmer is adopting the very worst HardRight trope:
It’s outrageous of Starmer to say that Andrew is doing this for himself! He doesn’t do all this dangerous, exhausting, expensive work for selfish reasons!! He does it for Nature & our children’s future.
It’s outrageous of Starmer to say that Andrew is doing this for himself! He doesn’t do all this dangerous, exhausting, expensive work for selfish reasons!! He does it for Nature & our children’s future.
Let's hope CAN can.
Today the UK government will hear the second reading of the Climate & Nature Bill. It's landmark proposal places legal responsibility on government to act in line with science, not easy votes. Fingers crossed for nature. & future gen. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Today the UK government will hear the second reading of the Climate & Nature Bill. It's landmark proposal places legal responsibility on government to act in line with science, not easy votes. Fingers crossed for nature. & future gen. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
The Climate and Nature Bill 2024-25
The Climate and Nature Bill 2024-25 will have its second reading on 24 January 2025. This Library briefing provides an overview of the bill and background information.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk
January 24, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Let's hope CAN can.
Today the UK government will hear the second reading of the Climate & Nature Bill. It's landmark proposal places legal responsibility on government to act in line with science, not easy votes. Fingers crossed for nature. & future gen. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Today the UK government will hear the second reading of the Climate & Nature Bill. It's landmark proposal places legal responsibility on government to act in line with science, not easy votes. Fingers crossed for nature. & future gen. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...
Reposted by Andy Middleton
You can say, “gravity isn’t real,” but if you step off the cliff, you’re still going down.
And if you convince other people it’s not real, you are responsible for what happens if they make decisions based on the information you withheld.
And if you convince other people it’s not real, you are responsible for what happens if they make decisions based on the information you withheld.
The White House climate page is now gone. Climate change is not. www.whitehouse.gov/climate
www.whitehouse.gov
January 21, 2025 at 8:53 PM
You can say, “gravity isn’t real,” but if you step off the cliff, you’re still going down.
And if you convince other people it’s not real, you are responsible for what happens if they make decisions based on the information you withheld.
And if you convince other people it’s not real, you are responsible for what happens if they make decisions based on the information you withheld.
Topical Word of the Day...
Word of day is ‘unasinous’ (17th century): united in stupidity.
A riff on ‘unanimous’: which comes from the Latin for ‘one mind’. ‘Unasinous’ means ‘one ass’.
A riff on ‘unanimous’: which comes from the Latin for ‘one mind’. ‘Unasinous’ means ‘one ass’.
January 22, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Topical Word of the Day...
Going the wrong way fast. Time to turn around.
A third of the Arctic’s vast carbon sink now a source of emissions, study reveals
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
A third of the Arctic’s vast carbon sink now a source of emissions, study reveals
Critical CO2 stores held in permafrost are being released as the landscape changes with global heating, report shows
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Going the wrong way fast. Time to turn around.
"perhaps spending potentially trillions to get somewhere that looks like Earth’s most boring disused quarry is the value proposition that Americans concerned over inflated food prices have been looking for" Marina Hyde hit nail on head in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So this is Trump’s ‘golden age’ – chaos, dysfunction and a coalition of creeps | Marina Hyde
Confusing and capricious, he started as he means to go on. To all the leaders pledging to work with him: good luck with that, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"perhaps spending potentially trillions to get somewhere that looks like Earth’s most boring disused quarry is the value proposition that Americans concerned over inflated food prices have been looking for" Marina Hyde hit nail on head in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
PFAS News - Not News //
Those with eyes open have known for years that there's an insidious tide of damaging chemicals seeping into the bodies of life on earth. Companies like 3M make them, profit from them, and walk away. Change is coming. Better late than never.
Those with eyes open have known for years that there's an insidious tide of damaging chemicals seeping into the bodies of life on earth. Companies like 3M make them, profit from them, and walk away. Change is coming. Better late than never.
Environment | The Guardian
Latest Environment news, comment and analysis from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2025 at 8:13 AM
PFAS News - Not News //
Those with eyes open have known for years that there's an insidious tide of damaging chemicals seeping into the bodies of life on earth. Companies like 3M make them, profit from them, and walk away. Change is coming. Better late than never.
Those with eyes open have known for years that there's an insidious tide of damaging chemicals seeping into the bodies of life on earth. Companies like 3M make them, profit from them, and walk away. Change is coming. Better late than never.
Reposted by Andy Middleton
On CBC last night, I spelt out the moral case to keep on trying, however hard it might be. Defending the living planet is not an option we can abandon. Ultimately, it is all that counts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX2V...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX2V...
Author George Monbiot on countering despair amid alarming climate change trends
YouTube video by CBC British Columbia
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
On CBC last night, I spelt out the moral case to keep on trying, however hard it might be. Defending the living planet is not an option we can abandon. Ultimately, it is all that counts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX2V...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX2V...
Reposted by Andy Middleton
“I feel liberated,” said a top banker. “We can say ‘retard’ and ‘pussy’ without the fear of getting cancelled . . . it’s a new dawn.”
Business in the age of Trump. Sounds liberating.
www.ft.com/content/cf87...
Business in the age of Trump. Sounds liberating.
www.ft.com/content/cf87...
Is corporate America going Maga?
Donald Trump’s election has accelerated a cultural shift in the nation’s boardrooms
www.ft.com
January 14, 2025 at 6:54 AM
“I feel liberated,” said a top banker. “We can say ‘retard’ and ‘pussy’ without the fear of getting cancelled . . . it’s a new dawn.”
Business in the age of Trump. Sounds liberating.
www.ft.com/content/cf87...
Business in the age of Trump. Sounds liberating.
www.ft.com/content/cf87...
Faster = better.
When it comes to action on climate, and reducing negative impacts, that is.
When it comes to action on climate, and reducing negative impacts, that is.
Talking climate change and wildfires on CBC this evening.
The faster we cut emissions and build resilience, the less suffering there will be.
The faster we cut emissions and build resilience, the less suffering there will be.
Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe on the LA fires and how we can prepare for climate change
Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis
www.cbc.ca
January 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Faster = better.
When it comes to action on climate, and reducing negative impacts, that is.
When it comes to action on climate, and reducing negative impacts, that is.
Adapt or Die //
Doing less of the wrong thing isn't going to be enough as our safe ground shrinks around us. Useful provocation and call to action from @rupertread.bsky.social to make adaptation part of the conversation in every organisation, every day.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/adapt-or-die...
Doing less of the wrong thing isn't going to be enough as our safe ground shrinks around us. Useful provocation and call to action from @rupertread.bsky.social to make adaptation part of the conversation in every organisation, every day.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/adapt-or-die...
Adapt or die: why decarbonisation is no longer enough to save us with Rupert Read - Terra Infirma
This post goes live as wildfires ravage Los Angeles, parts of the UK are clearing up after floods and we’re all still traumatised by the images of the deadly flash floods in Valencia. The trends look ...
www.terrainfirma.co.uk
January 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Adapt or Die //
Doing less of the wrong thing isn't going to be enough as our safe ground shrinks around us. Useful provocation and call to action from @rupertread.bsky.social to make adaptation part of the conversation in every organisation, every day.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/adapt-or-die...
Doing less of the wrong thing isn't going to be enough as our safe ground shrinks around us. Useful provocation and call to action from @rupertread.bsky.social to make adaptation part of the conversation in every organisation, every day.
www.terrainfirma.co.uk/adapt-or-die...
Safety always has, and always will, depends on species' ability respond to pattern change.
Homo saps is bottom of the class on that. How well we manage to stick around depends on our ability to change that...
Homo saps is bottom of the class on that. How well we manage to stick around depends on our ability to change that...
2024 was the warmest year on record with an average global temperature 1.6°C above pre-industrial level.
It's the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial level, with every month but one since July 23 surpassing this threshold.
Full Global Climate Highlights 2024: https://bit.ly/40kQpcz
It's the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial level, with every month but one since July 23 surpassing this threshold.
Full Global Climate Highlights 2024: https://bit.ly/40kQpcz
January 10, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Safety always has, and always will, depends on species' ability respond to pattern change.
Homo saps is bottom of the class on that. How well we manage to stick around depends on our ability to change that...
Homo saps is bottom of the class on that. How well we manage to stick around depends on our ability to change that...
Reposted by Andy Middleton
Earth has entered ‘a new era’ with its hottest year on record and its first calendar year 1.5C warmer than the pre-industrial period.
About 1.3C of the 1.5C is due to climate change, so let's not get *too* hung-up on puzzles like clouds, shipping fuels etc!
Story👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
About 1.3C of the 1.5C is due to climate change, so let's not get *too* hung-up on puzzles like clouds, shipping fuels etc!
Story👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
January 10, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Earth has entered ‘a new era’ with its hottest year on record and its first calendar year 1.5C warmer than the pre-industrial period.
About 1.3C of the 1.5C is due to climate change, so let's not get *too* hung-up on puzzles like clouds, shipping fuels etc!
Story👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
About 1.3C of the 1.5C is due to climate change, so let's not get *too* hung-up on puzzles like clouds, shipping fuels etc!
Story👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...