Ben Barclay
@benbarclay.bsky.social
Translator and textbook writer. Post on climate, energy, health, Spain, Brexit and other stuff.
Produce VoiceMap audio tours of Andalucía: https://voicemap.me/publisher/ben-barclay#tours
Substack: https://thegreentransition.substack.com/
Produce VoiceMap audio tours of Andalucía: https://voicemap.me/publisher/ben-barclay#tours
Substack: https://thegreentransition.substack.com/
Pinned
Ben Barclay
@benbarclay.bsky.social
· Dec 31
It’s been a year of ups and too many downs for the world, but on a personal level it’s been fantastic criss-crossing Andalucia to research and test 7 new audio tours.
Here’s a quick reminder why you should visit these 7 fantastic places even if you have no interest in doing one of my tours.
🧵
Here’s a quick reminder why you should visit these 7 fantastic places even if you have no interest in doing one of my tours.
🧵
This is pretty unexpected - one of the big reasons was that demand hardly rose: 12 TWh is ~0.75%. Not sure why.
#India saw fossil generation FALL in the first half of 2025, as clean power grew rapidly ⚡️🇮🇳
Coal generation and emissions fell, even as India’s economy kept growing.
Can #COP30 keep this momentum going?
https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/
Coal generation and emissions fell, even as India’s economy kept growing.
Can #COP30 keep this momentum going?
https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
This is pretty unexpected - one of the big reasons was that demand hardly rose: 12 TWh is ~0.75%. Not sure why.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
#Spain
‘We’re proud to be pioneers’: inside Spain’s community energy revolution
From Taradell to Galicia, cooperatives are supplying cheap, clean electricity to homes and helping tackle fuel poverty
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘We’re proud to be pioneers’: inside Spain’s community energy revolution
From Taradell to Galicia, cooperatives are supplying cheap, clean electricity to homes and helping tackle fuel poverty
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘We’re proud to be pioneers’: inside Spain’s community energy revolution
From Taradell to Galicia, cooperatives are supplying cheap, clean electricity to homes and helping tackle fuel poverty
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
#Spain
‘We’re proud to be pioneers’: inside Spain’s community energy revolution
From Taradell to Galicia, cooperatives are supplying cheap, clean electricity to homes and helping tackle fuel poverty
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘We’re proud to be pioneers’: inside Spain’s community energy revolution
From Taradell to Galicia, cooperatives are supplying cheap, clean electricity to homes and helping tackle fuel poverty
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Nice piece about the Alpujarra(s) by Chris Stewart in the FT.
A life less ordinary in the mountains of Andalucía
Client Challenge
www.ft.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Nice piece about the Alpujarra(s) by Chris Stewart in the FT.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK set to limit refugees to temporary stays
Shabana Mahmood is expected to say the era of permanent protection for refugees is over, in major changes to the UK's asylum and immigration system.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This is as bad as anything proposed by Reform.
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Leaving refugees in permanent limbo and unable to build a new life in the UK would be a complete abdication of our humanitarian responsibilities
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Do you want the police to find your stolen phone or to spend their time investigating something like this?
The man who dressed up as an admiral to place a wreath on Remembrance Day was clearly doing something wrong…I am not sure society is well served by hauling him in front of the courts …
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Do you want the police to find your stolen phone or to spend their time investigating something like this?
Reposted by Ben Barclay
So incredibly sad. She was a brilliant, brilliant journalist.
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
So incredibly sad. She was a brilliant, brilliant journalist.
Very true of Granada, and even more so of other places in Andalucia.
Kingdoms come and go, human settlements endure:
Prehistoric settlement, Phoenician colony or Iberian oppidum, Roman then Moorish then Castilian town, finally Spanish.
Kingdoms come and go, human settlements endure:
Prehistoric settlement, Phoenician colony or Iberian oppidum, Roman then Moorish then Castilian town, finally Spanish.
Banal observation, sorry, but conversations in Prague really brought home to me that while countries come and go, cities have a historical existence and character that typically is far more resilient.
November 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Very true of Granada, and even more so of other places in Andalucia.
Kingdoms come and go, human settlements endure:
Prehistoric settlement, Phoenician colony or Iberian oppidum, Roman then Moorish then Castilian town, finally Spanish.
Kingdoms come and go, human settlements endure:
Prehistoric settlement, Phoenician colony or Iberian oppidum, Roman then Moorish then Castilian town, finally Spanish.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This is true.
The husband just found me having a little cry in my studio.
He’s making me a hot Vimto and I’m having a word with myself.
Have a look at my website and please repost.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Thank you.
The husband just found me having a little cry in my studio.
He’s making me a hot Vimto and I’m having a word with myself.
Have a look at my website and please repost.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Thank you.
November 14, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is true.
The husband just found me having a little cry in my studio.
He’s making me a hot Vimto and I’m having a word with myself.
Have a look at my website and please repost.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Thank you.
The husband just found me having a little cry in my studio.
He’s making me a hot Vimto and I’m having a word with myself.
Have a look at my website and please repost.
www.gailmyerscough.co.uk
Thank you.
I’m always overoptimistic.
Scratch “everyone” and replace it with “anyone”.
Scratch “everyone” and replace it with “anyone”.
I can’t help feeling there’s a lot of wishful thinking being invested in Labour.
“It doesn’t matter what they say they’ll do, when they’re in power they’ll [insert personal preference].”
They won’t make everyone happy.
“It doesn’t matter what they say they’ll do, when they’re in power they’ll [insert personal preference].”
They won’t make everyone happy.
November 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I’m always overoptimistic.
Scratch “everyone” and replace it with “anyone”.
Scratch “everyone” and replace it with “anyone”.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Great. Also, the next election is more than three and a half years away.
Do you think the government was right or wrong to decide not to raise income tax at the Budget?
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Right: 58%
Wrong: 21%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Great. Also, the next election is more than three and a half years away.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Another underappreciated way to lower electricity bills? Stop taxing electricity, which in many places is subject to both state and local taxes at rates of 10% or higher. To keep tax revenues intact, state and local governments could shift these taxes onto natural gas, encouraging electrification.
Equalizing electricity prices between residential, commercial, and industrial customers would save households - aka voters - 21% on their electricity bills. Commercial prices would go up 1%. Industrial prices would go up 59% because residential and commercial customers deeply subsidize them today.
7. Residential customers - aka you and me, aka voters - pay 28% more (16.5 c/kWh, 2024 average) than commercial customers (12.9 c/kWh) and 201% more than industrial (8.2 c/kWh). This trend is accelerating: Residential prices rose 27% from 2019-2023, vs. 21% for commercial and 19% for industrial.
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Another underappreciated way to lower electricity bills? Stop taxing electricity, which in many places is subject to both state and local taxes at rates of 10% or higher. To keep tax revenues intact, state and local governments could shift these taxes onto natural gas, encouraging electrification.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The Financial Times has a "Special Report" on "The Electrification of Everything."
6 of the 7 stories they display in this section of the site are negative.
That is a comical level of bias for this topic.
6 of the 7 stories they display in this section of the site are negative.
That is a comical level of bias for this topic.
The electrification of everything
Many countries are moving away from fossil fuels by turning to electricity produced from renewable sources. However, the electrification of areas such as transport, heating and industry will cost bill...
www.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:47 AM
The Financial Times has a "Special Report" on "The Electrification of Everything."
6 of the 7 stories they display in this section of the site are negative.
That is a comical level of bias for this topic.
6 of the 7 stories they display in this section of the site are negative.
That is a comical level of bias for this topic.
This is the "income tax rises are like ERM" argument.
But people also voted for a country where things work better, and if you can't deliver that without breaking the tax pledge, you'll break a different, IMO even more fundamental, pledge.
Of course, it all stems from promising the impossible.
But people also voted for a country where things work better, and if you can't deliver that without breaking the tax pledge, you'll break a different, IMO even more fundamental, pledge.
Of course, it all stems from promising the impossible.
Too much analysis was still treating breaking the tax pledge as “just another unpopular decision” rather than recognising consequence of breaking a promise which defined an election for the public. If is correct the govt won’t now break it they may have avoided a deeply scarring loss of public trust
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This is the "income tax rises are like ERM" argument.
But people also voted for a country where things work better, and if you can't deliver that without breaking the tax pledge, you'll break a different, IMO even more fundamental, pledge.
Of course, it all stems from promising the impossible.
But people also voted for a country where things work better, and if you can't deliver that without breaking the tax pledge, you'll break a different, IMO even more fundamental, pledge.
Of course, it all stems from promising the impossible.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Is AI making job recruitment less meritocratic? We're getting some v interesting research studies on this question now, and the news is... not good. @jburnmurdoch.ft.com & I dive in, in the latest edition of our newsletter The AI Shift www.ft.com/content/e5b7...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
This is very good news - and we should be shouting about it from the rooftops. A properly positive step forward
#BBCNews - Renters’ Rights Act: No-fault evictions banned from May 2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Renters’ Rights Act: No-fault evictions banned from May 2026
The government confirms timeline for reforms to England’s rental market, including ending bidding wars.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 AM
This is very good news - and we should be shouting about it from the rooftops. A properly positive step forward
One thing I've noticed recently when doing some searches on relatively new technology is that the AI summary reads like a marketing piece by the company developing the tech.
This probably isn't nefarious; it's just that the company developing the tech has written more about it than anyone else.
This probably isn't nefarious; it's just that the company developing the tech has written more about it than anyone else.
November 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
One thing I've noticed recently when doing some searches on relatively new technology is that the AI summary reads like a marketing piece by the company developing the tech.
This probably isn't nefarious; it's just that the company developing the tech has written more about it than anyone else.
This probably isn't nefarious; it's just that the company developing the tech has written more about it than anyone else.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The news this morning keeps on reinforcing an image of either an incompetent or delusional government
Labour government will propose changes to the asylum system, on grounds it is 'excessively generous'.
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
This government needs to get control in the Channel, clear hotels + secure public confidence.
V little chance that these changes will deliver control or confidence
news.sky.com/story/home-s...
Home secretary to tackle UK's 'excessive generosity' with sweeping immigration reforms
In a statement to MPs on Monday, Shabana Mahmood is expected to tighten up the rules to allow for more deportations, and reduce the "pull factors" that attract migrants to the UK.
news.sky.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:37 AM
The news this morning keeps on reinforcing an image of either an incompetent or delusional government
My underlying concern is really that the enthusiasm for SMRs isn’t driven by an analysis that shows SMRs are the best option, but by a belief it’s a way to support a British champion like Rolls Royce.
In the same way that liquid air and CCS are designed to support energy sector companies.
In the same way that liquid air and CCS are designed to support energy sector companies.
The tech works in principle, and I’m sure it can be implemented safely, but at what cost? And to whom?
Maybe SMRs are the right way to go, but many people who know more about this than me are very sceptical about the economics.
Too big to be truly factory-built, too small to compete with big nukes
Maybe SMRs are the right way to go, but many people who know more about this than me are very sceptical about the economics.
Too big to be truly factory-built, too small to compete with big nukes
November 14, 2025 at 7:16 AM
My underlying concern is really that the enthusiasm for SMRs isn’t driven by an analysis that shows SMRs are the best option, but by a belief it’s a way to support a British champion like Rolls Royce.
In the same way that liquid air and CCS are designed to support energy sector companies.
In the same way that liquid air and CCS are designed to support energy sector companies.
Reposted by Ben Barclay
It makes a complete mockery of the ‘oh the financial markets like us’ argument. A budget that will please no one and do yet more damage to the UK’s policy making credibility (the apparent fact that this is a u turn on response to political pressure is utterly damning).
November 14, 2025 at 6:05 AM
It makes a complete mockery of the ‘oh the financial markets like us’ argument. A budget that will please no one and do yet more damage to the UK’s policy making credibility (the apparent fact that this is a u turn on response to political pressure is utterly damning).
Sigh:
‘Prof Simon Middleburgh, director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said the SMRs would be "built in a modular manner in factories and shipped to the site to be put together a bit like an Ikea chair".’
‘Prof Simon Middleburgh, director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said the SMRs would be "built in a modular manner in factories and shipped to the site to be put together a bit like an Ikea chair".’
Wylfa nuclear power plant plans go ahead, creating Anglesey jobs - BBC News
Three small modular reactors are confirmed for the site, with the potential for up to eight.
www.bbc.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Sigh:
‘Prof Simon Middleburgh, director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said the SMRs would be "built in a modular manner in factories and shipped to the site to be put together a bit like an Ikea chair".’
‘Prof Simon Middleburgh, director of the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University, said the SMRs would be "built in a modular manner in factories and shipped to the site to be put together a bit like an Ikea chair".’
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The NHS waiting list is falling again with Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying the health service is "now on the road to recovery".
NHS waiting list falls as Wes Streeting says service ‘on road to recovery’
www.mirror.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
The NHS waiting list is falling again with Health Secretary Wes Streeting saying the health service is "now on the road to recovery".
Reposted by Ben Barclay
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘A sigh of relief’: New malaria drug succeeds in large clinical trial
As existing drugs falter because of resistance, the world gets a backup—but hard choices loom on how to use it
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I’ve been in Toronto at the #astmh meeting these past few days and last night some very good news was presented here: A new malaria drug has proven efficacious in a large trial and could soon be approved.🧪
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
My story in @science.org (and 🧵on why it's important to come):
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Ben Barclay
It is crazy that there is no testing or licensing regime for these things, dozens of deaths later. A drug which had such serious mental side effects would have been withdrawn instantly
🚨OpenAI’s new “safer” version of ChatGPT actually allows more harm.
We tested GPT-5 and GPT-4o to see if GPT-5 was safer & found that actually GPT-5 gave MORE harmful responses.
Read our new report ⤵️
https://bit.ly/3JgW9OP
We tested GPT-5 and GPT-4o to see if GPT-5 was safer & found that actually GPT-5 gave MORE harmful responses.
Read our new report ⤵️
https://bit.ly/3JgW9OP
November 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
It is crazy that there is no testing or licensing regime for these things, dozens of deaths later. A drug which had such serious mental side effects would have been withdrawn instantly
Reposted by Ben Barclay
The clever thing about going for stuff like the cycle for work scheme is it’s really noticeable, affects people with lots of media access and platforms, annoys green groups, and raises almost no revenue at the same time. Real win/win/win there.
November 13, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The clever thing about going for stuff like the cycle for work scheme is it’s really noticeable, affects people with lots of media access and platforms, annoys green groups, and raises almost no revenue at the same time. Real win/win/win there.