Ben Cooke
@ben-cooke.bsky.social
Environment correspondent at the Times. Always on the lookout for stories about the mess we're in and how to get out of it. DMs open or drop me a line at benjamin.cooke(at)thetimes.co.uk.
Pinned
Ben Cooke
@ben-cooke.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Hello Bluesky! I'm covering the environment and clean energy at the Times so am looking to connect with climate people as they move over to here from the other place. Always on the lookout for stories about the mess we're in and how to get out of it, so do feel free to DM with tips!
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Happy COP-mas Eve!
To celebrate, on 1st day of COP-mas morn, under the tree you may find a sparkly chat with our friend @ben-cooke.bsky.social to set the expectations for the season.
Check out wickedproblems.earth and/or your favourite media platform and Inshallah we will be there.
To celebrate, on 1st day of COP-mas morn, under the tree you may find a sparkly chat with our friend @ben-cooke.bsky.social to set the expectations for the season.
Check out wickedproblems.earth and/or your favourite media platform and Inshallah we will be there.
November 9, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Happy COP-mas Eve!
To celebrate, on 1st day of COP-mas morn, under the tree you may find a sparkly chat with our friend @ben-cooke.bsky.social to set the expectations for the season.
Check out wickedproblems.earth and/or your favourite media platform and Inshallah we will be there.
To celebrate, on 1st day of COP-mas morn, under the tree you may find a sparkly chat with our friend @ben-cooke.bsky.social to set the expectations for the season.
Check out wickedproblems.earth and/or your favourite media platform and Inshallah we will be there.
Pick up a copy of today's Times for 12 pages of in-depth coverage of the Cop30 talks, and the wider state of play for climate change and clean energy. It's got some brilliant stuff in it.
November 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Pick up a copy of today's Times for 12 pages of in-depth coverage of the Cop30 talks, and the wider state of play for climate change and clean energy. It's got some brilliant stuff in it.
The US and China both have ambitions for energy dominance. But they're betting on very different visions of the global energy future. With China pumping out solar panels and batteries, and the US doubling down on gas, only one can be right. www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
Trump wants energy dominance — is he just drilling US into a hole?
The president is betting on fossil fuels while his superpower rival China is racing ahead on renewables
www.thetimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The US and China both have ambitions for energy dominance. But they're betting on very different visions of the global energy future. With China pumping out solar panels and batteries, and the US doubling down on gas, only one can be right. www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
We must be patriotically proud to be British but not to learn about or contribute to any of the culture that pride might be based on
How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.
October 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
We must be patriotically proud to be British but not to learn about or contribute to any of the culture that pride might be based on
Reposted by Ben Cooke
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
September 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
my takeaway from climate week nyc is that "climate storytelling" is a little too much "we must reimagine our deepest souls in relationship to mother nature and the moral abyss of the polycrisis into which we must now stare" and not enough "ok but get a heat pump"
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Excellent must-read by @ben-cooke.bsky.social clearest exposition I have yet seen of how problems with the #grid are holding up the Uk’s energy transition and imperiling Ed miliband’s #renewables ambitions. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
The grid is struggling — and our green future hangs in the balance
Idle wind farms, a lack of batteries and protests by nimbys are hampering Britain’s clean energy drive. What are our options?
www.thetimes.com
August 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Excellent must-read by @ben-cooke.bsky.social clearest exposition I have yet seen of how problems with the #grid are holding up the Uk’s energy transition and imperiling Ed miliband’s #renewables ambitions. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Every day Britain loses 3 billion litres of water through leaky pipes - a big problem as Britain's summers become more arid. But water companies have some new tech with which to find them, including satellites that can spot leaks from space. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Can satellites help these leaky pipe hunters end hosepipe bans?
A start-up is helping water companies to pinpoint leaks, saving millions of litres a day as the country faces more severe droughts
www.thetimes.com
August 4, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Every day Britain loses 3 billion litres of water through leaky pipes - a big problem as Britain's summers become more arid. But water companies have some new tech with which to find them, including satellites that can spot leaks from space. www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
We had the pleasure to welcome @ben-cooke.bsky.social in our CLEW team for 2 months for an IJP fellowship
Ben’s stay was a truly enriching experience that showed just how powerful cross-border collaboration and exchange can be
Read more about his experience: www.cleanenergywire.org/blog/why-wor...
Ben’s stay was a truly enriching experience that showed just how powerful cross-border collaboration and exchange can be
Read more about his experience: www.cleanenergywire.org/blog/why-wor...
Why the world needs CLEW now more than ever
www.cleanenergywire.org
July 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
We had the pleasure to welcome @ben-cooke.bsky.social in our CLEW team for 2 months for an IJP fellowship
Ben’s stay was a truly enriching experience that showed just how powerful cross-border collaboration and exchange can be
Read more about his experience: www.cleanenergywire.org/blog/why-wor...
Ben’s stay was a truly enriching experience that showed just how powerful cross-border collaboration and exchange can be
Read more about his experience: www.cleanenergywire.org/blog/why-wor...
Will hydrogen be the next LNG? That's the hope of a group of companies who want to ship the fuel from Oman to Amsterdam to power European industry. Tata Steel is onboard, but many analysts believe it's a fool's errand to ship the fuel thousands of miles. www.cleanenergywire.org/news/green-h...
Green hydrogen from Oman could power European industry - but at what cost?
www.cleanenergywire.org
July 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Will hydrogen be the next LNG? That's the hope of a group of companies who want to ship the fuel from Oman to Amsterdam to power European industry. Tata Steel is onboard, but many analysts believe it's a fool's errand to ship the fuel thousands of miles. www.cleanenergywire.org/news/green-h...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
It is remarkable that the west is committing to spending 5% of GDP on defence, and almost no one has made the case that the most pressing threat to our security this century is climate change and we should be spending more on tackling that.
June 27, 2025 at 8:36 AM
It is remarkable that the west is committing to spending 5% of GDP on defence, and almost no one has made the case that the most pressing threat to our security this century is climate change and we should be spending more on tackling that.
Electricity is the power source of decarbonisation. But in Germany it's expensive, hindering industries's efforts to go green. As Germany prepares to discount its steelmakers' bills, can it subsidise its way to a green future? Or is steelmaking going to move to places with more abundant renewables?
How Germany’s steel titans are powering ahead in push to go green
Ministers have handed out huge subsidies to give companies a headstart in the race to electrify the industry. Will the same work for Britain?
www.thetimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Electricity is the power source of decarbonisation. But in Germany it's expensive, hindering industries's efforts to go green. As Germany prepares to discount its steelmakers' bills, can it subsidise its way to a green future? Or is steelmaking going to move to places with more abundant renewables?
In recent years London has been hit repeatedly by flash flooding. This has been due to climate change, but also due to its 32 boroughs trying to plan their flood defences separately. I spoke to Elizabeth Rapoport about a new strategy to change that. www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...
London ‘needs £2 billion to save it from surface water flooding’
The Thames Barrier provides welcome respite from storm surges, but infrastructure to deal with heavy rain is lacking
www.thetimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
In recent years London has been hit repeatedly by flash flooding. This has been due to climate change, but also due to its 32 boroughs trying to plan their flood defences separately. I spoke to Elizabeth Rapoport about a new strategy to change that. www.thetimes.com/uk/london/ar...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Europe experienced two sides of climate change last year, with wet weather hitting western countries while eastern countries became exceedingly dry, a study has found.
@ben-cooke.bsky.social reports on @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social research:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
@ben-cooke.bsky.social reports on @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social research:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Europe suffers weather extremes as climate change drives up temperatures
2024 was Europe’s hottest year on record, leading to fatal flooding in Valencia and dangerously dry spells in the continent’s southeast, research reveals
www.thetimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Europe experienced two sides of climate change last year, with wet weather hitting western countries while eastern countries became exceedingly dry, a study has found.
@ben-cooke.bsky.social reports on @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social research:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
@ben-cooke.bsky.social reports on @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social research:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
Across the next week, the Times will be publishing a series about climate adaptation and the clean tech revolution. It'll be looking at the solutions that can help Britain prosper, even as the climate heats up. They're free to read, and will appear in print in next Thursday's Times Earth supplement.
March 6, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Across the next week, the Times will be publishing a series about climate adaptation and the clean tech revolution. It'll be looking at the solutions that can help Britain prosper, even as the climate heats up. They're free to read, and will appear in print in next Thursday's Times Earth supplement.
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Wind and solar power overtake coal in US for first time
- Milestone highlights the rapid growth of renewable energy despite political headwinds since President Trump’s re-election
HT @carbonbrief.org
www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
- Milestone highlights the rapid growth of renewable energy despite political headwinds since President Trump’s re-election
HT @carbonbrief.org
www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Wind and solar power overtake coal in US for first time
The milestone highlights the rapid growth of renewable energy despite political headwinds since President Trump’s re-election
www.thetimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Wind and solar power overtake coal in US for first time
- Milestone highlights the rapid growth of renewable energy despite political headwinds since President Trump’s re-election
HT @carbonbrief.org
www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
- Milestone highlights the rapid growth of renewable energy despite political headwinds since President Trump’s re-election
HT @carbonbrief.org
www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
This survey by E3G is a counterpoint to the narrative of ESG backlash. Turns out institutional investors are actually quite fond of the climate in which all civilisation has evolved, and would invest more in the UK if the gov was clearer on its plans to preserve it. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Institutions ‘will invest more in UK if climate change risk is cut’
Of UK-based institutional investors, 82 per cent are worried about climate change risks to their portfolios but government could help companies manage that
www.thetimes.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This survey by E3G is a counterpoint to the narrative of ESG backlash. Turns out institutional investors are actually quite fond of the climate in which all civilisation has evolved, and would invest more in the UK if the gov was clearer on its plans to preserve it. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
I write a weekly 'new reader' column in the Times on babies; if anyone's interested in being featured message me!
January 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I write a weekly 'new reader' column in the Times on babies; if anyone's interested in being featured message me!
Reposted by Ben Cooke
What's better than spending time with an interesting author writing about the wicked problem of climate? Having the right glass of something to accompany. So we bring you the Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations Books of 2024 (non-fiction). open.substack.com/pub/wickedpr...
December 23, 2024 at 1:48 PM
What's better than spending time with an interesting author writing about the wicked problem of climate? Having the right glass of something to accompany. So we bring you the Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations Books of 2024 (non-fiction). open.substack.com/pub/wickedpr...
The carbon credits market has had a rough ride the last couple of years, as reports have revealed many credits to be worthless. But a new group of "carbon removal" companies believe they can rebuild it. Here's my piece on their efforts in today's Times. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Should I offset my business’s carbon emissions?
Many carbon credits have been shown to be worthless but by ditching avoidance schemes for removal offsets there may be a fix
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2024 at 11:18 AM
The carbon credits market has had a rough ride the last couple of years, as reports have revealed many credits to be worthless. But a new group of "carbon removal" companies believe they can rebuild it. Here's my piece on their efforts in today's Times. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
The startup Material Evolution has cleared one of the biggest hurdles to net zero - making genuinely low carbon cement. But they've got a long way to go if they're to clean up an industry that produces 4 billion tonnes a year, and far more CO2 than aviation. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Sustainable cement pioneers have a concrete plan
Liz Gilligan and her Material Evolution co-founder Sam Clark are on a mission to reduce the industry’s environmental impact
www.thetimes.com
December 18, 2024 at 12:17 PM
The startup Material Evolution has cleared one of the biggest hurdles to net zero - making genuinely low carbon cement. But they've got a long way to go if they're to clean up an industry that produces 4 billion tonnes a year, and far more CO2 than aviation. www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Nice story on a UK startup producing low-carbon cement in Wrexham, by @ben-cooke.bsky.social:
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Cement is soooo hard to decarbonise because of the chemistry. I did a big read on this here:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg24...
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Cement is soooo hard to decarbonise because of the chemistry. I did a big read on this here:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg24...
Sustainable cement pioneers have a concrete plan
Liz Gilligan and her Material Evolution co-founder Sam Clark are on a mission to reduce the industry’s environmental impact
www.thetimes.com
December 18, 2024 at 9:21 AM
Nice story on a UK startup producing low-carbon cement in Wrexham, by @ben-cooke.bsky.social:
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Cement is soooo hard to decarbonise because of the chemistry. I did a big read on this here:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg24...
www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Cement is soooo hard to decarbonise because of the chemistry. I did a big read on this here:
www.newscientist.com/article/mg24...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
A while ago I realised that a baby girl born in Spain in 2016 can expect to live 85 years, which is beyond the time horizon of most climate scenarios (that range from 'not looking good, but maybe manageable for most' to 'chaotic hothouse hell-planet'). Also, that baby girl is my daughter.
November 27, 2024 at 9:19 PM
A while ago I realised that a baby girl born in Spain in 2016 can expect to live 85 years, which is beyond the time horizon of most climate scenarios (that range from 'not looking good, but maybe manageable for most' to 'chaotic hothouse hell-planet'). Also, that baby girl is my daughter.
Reposted by Ben Cooke
More poorly informed takes on climate from The Rest Is Politics as they assess COP29.
Rory Stewart says climate finance for developing countries is "completely the wrong way" to "stop global warming".
Instead G20 should have met for a couple more days to "crack this".
A few problems with this...
Rory Stewart says climate finance for developing countries is "completely the wrong way" to "stop global warming".
Instead G20 should have met for a couple more days to "crack this".
A few problems with this...
December 4, 2024 at 12:41 PM
More poorly informed takes on climate from The Rest Is Politics as they assess COP29.
Rory Stewart says climate finance for developing countries is "completely the wrong way" to "stop global warming".
Instead G20 should have met for a couple more days to "crack this".
A few problems with this...
Rory Stewart says climate finance for developing countries is "completely the wrong way" to "stop global warming".
Instead G20 should have met for a couple more days to "crack this".
A few problems with this...
Here's my piece about the enormous lobbying battle about to commence to save Biden's climate agenda, and why its supporters believe they can salvage it by reframing it as an energy security agenda.
www.thetimes.com/world/us-wor...
www.thetimes.com/world/us-wor...
Why Trump may not be such a disaster for the environment
Energy lobbyists think they can reframe Biden’s green policies as a way of securing supply and bringing jobs back to America
www.thetimes.com
November 30, 2024 at 10:41 AM
Here's my piece about the enormous lobbying battle about to commence to save Biden's climate agenda, and why its supporters believe they can salvage it by reframing it as an energy security agenda.
www.thetimes.com/world/us-wor...
www.thetimes.com/world/us-wor...
Reposted by Ben Cooke
Made my first starter pack! These are the climate journalists I know and love and highly recommend following on BlueSky so far. Please tell me who I'm missing (and apologies in advance if I've missed you, I swear it's not intentional!)
go.bsky.app/1ivUnG
go.bsky.app/1ivUnG
November 11, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Made my first starter pack! These are the climate journalists I know and love and highly recommend following on BlueSky so far. Please tell me who I'm missing (and apologies in advance if I've missed you, I swear it's not intentional!)
go.bsky.app/1ivUnG
go.bsky.app/1ivUnG