Chris Aylett
@chrisaylett.bsky.social
Research Fellow @chathamhouse focusing on the geopolitics of climate change and the energy transition. Views my own.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/chris-aylett
Header: 'A List of Antagonisms', Hiba Abdallah
https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/chris-aylett
Header: 'A List of Antagonisms', Hiba Abdallah
Reposted by Chris Aylett
(With apologies for my typos)
Reminder that we should judge COPs for what they are — instruments to bring countries together to discuss how to coordinate climate policies, which will always be glocal (globally minded, locally bounded).
They aren’t magic substitutes for lack of domestic govts.
Reminder that we should judge COPs for what they are — instruments to bring countries together to discuss how to coordinate climate policies, which will always be glocal (globally minded, locally bounded).
They aren’t magic substitutes for lack of domestic govts.
I believe the better question is:
would a world without COPs work better, worse, or the same for climate?
I don’t think if it would crazily different but I for one want an annual timeline in which the climate cards are on the table, however partial and horrific.
would a world without COPs work better, worse, or the same for climate?
I don’t think if it would crazily different but I for one want an annual timeline in which the climate cards are on the table, however partial and horrific.
November 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
(With apologies for my typos)
Reminder that we should judge COPs for what they are — instruments to bring countries together to discuss how to coordinate climate policies, which will always be glocal (globally minded, locally bounded).
They aren’t magic substitutes for lack of domestic govts.
Reminder that we should judge COPs for what they are — instruments to bring countries together to discuss how to coordinate climate policies, which will always be glocal (globally minded, locally bounded).
They aren’t magic substitutes for lack of domestic govts.
Fantastic resource from @ember-energy.org
Tracking exports of solar wafers and cells, as well as assembled panels, allows us to see how China is sharing the 'green tech pie'
www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...
Tracking exports of solar wafers and cells, as well as assembled panels, allows us to see how China is sharing the 'green tech pie'
www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Fantastic resource from @ember-energy.org
Tracking exports of solar wafers and cells, as well as assembled panels, allows us to see how China is sharing the 'green tech pie'
www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...
Tracking exports of solar wafers and cells, as well as assembled panels, allows us to see how China is sharing the 'green tech pie'
www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...
An underappreciated good news story in climate over the last few years has been the development of attribution science, enabling us to link specific extreme weather events to the burning of fossil fuels
👏👏👏 @wwattribution.bsky.social @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
👏👏👏 @wwattribution.bsky.social @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 AM
An underappreciated good news story in climate over the last few years has been the development of attribution science, enabling us to link specific extreme weather events to the burning of fossil fuels
👏👏👏 @wwattribution.bsky.social @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
👏👏👏 @wwattribution.bsky.social @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Completely preposterous. Surely no one anywhere in the world actually believes this
"What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race"
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
"What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race"
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
E&E News: Burgum: Losing AI race is more dangerous than climate change
The Interior secretary indicated that 1 degree of climate change was an acceptable consequence of ramping up fossil fuels for data centers.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Completely preposterous. Surely no one anywhere in the world actually believes this
"What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race"
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
"What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race"
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eene...
Insights from @teevrat.bsky.social in @hindustan-times.bsky.social on how the energy transition is intertwined with the future of 🇮🇳 🇨🇳 relations:
"India and China’s expanding clean-energy trade has the potential to define Asia’s decarbonization trajectory"
www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/c...
"India and China’s expanding clean-energy trade has the potential to define Asia’s decarbonization trajectory"
www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/c...
HT@Belem: China leads the Global South at COP30
India, as part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) and China (G77+China), has been moving in lockstep on all major positions
www.hindustantimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Insights from @teevrat.bsky.social in @hindustan-times.bsky.social on how the energy transition is intertwined with the future of 🇮🇳 🇨🇳 relations:
"India and China’s expanding clean-energy trade has the potential to define Asia’s decarbonization trajectory"
www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/c...
"India and China’s expanding clean-energy trade has the potential to define Asia’s decarbonization trajectory"
www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/c...
Reposted by Chris Aylett
Such an intensely Australian image
November 19, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Such an intensely Australian image
Reposted by Chris Aylett
Old: Climate investments are about emissions reductions
New: Climate investments are a growth and prosperity plan
Brazil has made it clear that transition is moving forward without the WH. The open questions are how fast it will go—& which countries will benefit
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/c...
New: Climate investments are a growth and prosperity plan
Brazil has made it clear that transition is moving forward without the WH. The open questions are how fast it will go—& which countries will benefit
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/c...
Brazil Tries to Keep Climate Cooperation Alive
At COP30, the global energy transition is moving forward without the United States.
foreignpolicy.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Old: Climate investments are about emissions reductions
New: Climate investments are a growth and prosperity plan
Brazil has made it clear that transition is moving forward without the WH. The open questions are how fast it will go—& which countries will benefit
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/c...
New: Climate investments are a growth and prosperity plan
Brazil has made it clear that transition is moving forward without the WH. The open questions are how fast it will go—& which countries will benefit
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/c...
I shudder to think what the UK's political culture would be like without the BBC
If you've ever worked for or with the BBC, as an employee, contractor, or a freelancer, you should absolutely sign this
www.defendthebbc.org
If you've ever worked for or with the BBC, as an employee, contractor, or a freelancer, you should absolutely sign this
www.defendthebbc.org
Defend The BBC
The BBC serves democracy across the world, it serves the people, and we must act to defend it. Add your name.
www.defendthebbc.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I shudder to think what the UK's political culture would be like without the BBC
If you've ever worked for or with the BBC, as an employee, contractor, or a freelancer, you should absolutely sign this
www.defendthebbc.org
If you've ever worked for or with the BBC, as an employee, contractor, or a freelancer, you should absolutely sign this
www.defendthebbc.org
China has little incentive to position itself as a climate leader and risk assuming 'climate finance' obligations
But China is still channelling large sums into climate-relevant projects around the world
@katelogan.bsky.social + Lily Hartzell explain
backchannel1.substack.com/p/chinas-del...
But China is still channelling large sums into climate-relevant projects around the world
@katelogan.bsky.social + Lily Hartzell explain
backchannel1.substack.com/p/chinas-del...
China’s Delicate Dance on Climate Finance
When it comes to China’s role in accelerating climate finance and the global clean energy transition, the world is grappling with several competing realities.
backchannel1.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM
China has little incentive to position itself as a climate leader and risk assuming 'climate finance' obligations
But China is still channelling large sums into climate-relevant projects around the world
@katelogan.bsky.social + Lily Hartzell explain
backchannel1.substack.com/p/chinas-del...
But China is still channelling large sums into climate-relevant projects around the world
@katelogan.bsky.social + Lily Hartzell explain
backchannel1.substack.com/p/chinas-del...
Reposted by Chris Aylett
this is just such a stark contrast to the general Western mood that climate politics is dead. THIS is what climate politics is about (the political economy of decarbonization). Everything else follows.
Ethiopia last year banned the import of new gasoline-powered cars. Nepal reduced import duties on EVs so much that they are now cheaper than cars with internal combustion engines. Brazil raised tariffs on car imports to compel Chinese automakers to set up plants inside Brazil. Etc
A Flood of Green Tech From China Is Upending Global Climate Politics
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
this is just such a stark contrast to the general Western mood that climate politics is dead. THIS is what climate politics is about (the political economy of decarbonization). Everything else follows.
India, Brazil and China "can turn clean-tech manufacturing, renewable exports, green hydrogen and nature-carbon markets into strategic assets for other emerging economies to follow and ensure that the COP process remains relevant"
www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/cle...
www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/cle...
COP: The rise of a new influential triad
Discover how India, Brazil, and China can lead global climate action at COP30, addressing finance and sustainable solutions.
www.thehindubusinessline.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 PM
India, Brazil and China "can turn clean-tech manufacturing, renewable exports, green hydrogen and nature-carbon markets into strategic assets for other emerging economies to follow and ensure that the COP process remains relevant"
www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/cle...
www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/cle...
Reposted by Chris Aylett
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
EVs put an end to China's usual holiday surge in gasoline use
Tianyu Jiang took a 2,000-km (1,200-mile) road trip this month during China's national holiday week, driving in his electric vehicle from the southwestern Sichuan basin to Beijing for the first time.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
Reposted by Chris Aylett
Elon Musk Is repsonsible for the deaths of 600,000 human beings and yet is being rewarded by capitalists with 1000 billion dollars
bsky.app/profile/newy...
bsky.app/profile/newy...
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Elon Musk Is repsonsible for the deaths of 600,000 human beings and yet is being rewarded by capitalists with 1000 billion dollars
bsky.app/profile/newy...
bsky.app/profile/newy...
Reposted by Chris Aylett
6 Strategies Behind China’s EV Rise in Africa
🇨🇳⚡️🌍 China is not just shipping electric vehicles to Africa, it’s building the ecosystem. In @hakeenah.bsky.social ’s latest analysis, he breaks down 6 plays shaping Africa’s EV market.
Watch: tinyurl.com/4cups9u2
🇨🇳⚡️🌍 China is not just shipping electric vehicles to Africa, it’s building the ecosystem. In @hakeenah.bsky.social ’s latest analysis, he breaks down 6 plays shaping Africa’s EV market.
Watch: tinyurl.com/4cups9u2
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
6 Strategies Behind China’s EV Rise in Africa
🇨🇳⚡️🌍 China is not just shipping electric vehicles to Africa, it’s building the ecosystem. In @hakeenah.bsky.social ’s latest analysis, he breaks down 6 plays shaping Africa’s EV market.
Watch: tinyurl.com/4cups9u2
🇨🇳⚡️🌍 China is not just shipping electric vehicles to Africa, it’s building the ecosystem. In @hakeenah.bsky.social ’s latest analysis, he breaks down 6 plays shaping Africa’s EV market.
Watch: tinyurl.com/4cups9u2
Good that the EU did manage to agree its NDC ahead of COP30
But the concession to revise the 2040 target if climate policy is deemed to be 'bad for the economy' is worrying
Who gets to define that? Will it be possible to make robust causal links?
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
But the concession to revise the 2040 target if climate policy is deemed to be 'bad for the economy' is worrying
Who gets to define that? Will it be possible to make robust causal links?
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
EU countries agree weakened 2040 climate goal and target for COP30
The deal avoids the EU going empty handed to the COP30 climate summit starting on Nov. 10.
www.politico.eu
November 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Good that the EU did manage to agree its NDC ahead of COP30
But the concession to revise the 2040 target if climate policy is deemed to be 'bad for the economy' is worrying
Who gets to define that? Will it be possible to make robust causal links?
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
But the concession to revise the 2040 target if climate policy is deemed to be 'bad for the economy' is worrying
Who gets to define that? Will it be possible to make robust causal links?
www.politico.eu/article/eu-c...
People are quietly rejecting the fully digitized utopia and retreating to the physical world (hurrah for this)
But citing slowing US EV sales as an example of this is ridiculous
The parallel makes no sense
An EV is as physical as an ICE car, just with less environmental damage
on.ft.com/3Ld9xnT
But citing slowing US EV sales as an example of this is ridiculous
The parallel makes no sense
An EV is as physical as an ICE car, just with less environmental damage
on.ft.com/3Ld9xnT
Books, malls and cars: where the physical world still rules
Many consumers are resisting, even turning back the digital revolution
on.ft.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
People are quietly rejecting the fully digitized utopia and retreating to the physical world (hurrah for this)
But citing slowing US EV sales as an example of this is ridiculous
The parallel makes no sense
An EV is as physical as an ICE car, just with less environmental damage
on.ft.com/3Ld9xnT
But citing slowing US EV sales as an example of this is ridiculous
The parallel makes no sense
An EV is as physical as an ICE car, just with less environmental damage
on.ft.com/3Ld9xnT
Sasha Mudd with a compelling characterisation of Trumpian 'governance':
"A fantasy of excretion without consequence, of the unfiltered id released from every restraint"
A ruler who "dominates not by persuasion, but by discharge"
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
"A fantasy of excretion without consequence, of the unfiltered id released from every restraint"
A ruler who "dominates not by persuasion, but by discharge"
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
The politics of the potty
Trump’s defecating fighter jet is an emblem of a man in revolt against civilisation
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Sasha Mudd with a compelling characterisation of Trumpian 'governance':
"A fantasy of excretion without consequence, of the unfiltered id released from every restraint"
A ruler who "dominates not by persuasion, but by discharge"
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
"A fantasy of excretion without consequence, of the unfiltered id released from every restraint"
A ruler who "dominates not by persuasion, but by discharge"
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/united...
Reposted by Chris Aylett
The developing world that could not afford green transition is doing it; the world that had all the money and alleged industrial policies for greening is back to fossil fuels and militarization.
October 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The developing world that could not afford green transition is doing it; the world that had all the money and alleged industrial policies for greening is back to fossil fuels and militarization.
Reposted by Chris Aylett
COUNTRY ANALYSIS: We have downgraded the #US climate action to "Critically insufficient" - it's the most aggressive, comprehensive and consequential climate policy rollback the CAT has ever analysed.
🔗 bit.ly/CAT_US
🔗 bit.ly/CAT_US
September 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
COUNTRY ANALYSIS: We have downgraded the #US climate action to "Critically insufficient" - it's the most aggressive, comprehensive and consequential climate policy rollback the CAT has ever analysed.
🔗 bit.ly/CAT_US
🔗 bit.ly/CAT_US
"Wright said it would be preferable for Europe to get its supplies from “its friends.”"
For the current US administration, Europe is an enemy, until there is an opportunity to sell more fossil fuels, at which point it becomes a friend
For the current US administration, Europe is an enemy, until there is an opportunity to sell more fossil fuels, at which point it becomes a friend
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has called on the EU’s remaining buyers of Russian fossil fuels to drop their campaign against the bloc’s efforts to end dependency on Moscow and buy from America instead.
Hungary and Slovakia must quit Russian gas and nuclear, Trump envoy warns
“The more we can strangle Russia’s ability to fund this murderous war, the better for all of us,” says U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
ow.ly
September 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM
"Wright said it would be preferable for Europe to get its supplies from “its friends.”"
For the current US administration, Europe is an enemy, until there is an opportunity to sell more fossil fuels, at which point it becomes a friend
For the current US administration, Europe is an enemy, until there is an opportunity to sell more fossil fuels, at which point it becomes a friend
Reposted by Chris Aylett
"Welcoming a potential war criminal to Downing Street is another demonstration of how Keir Starmer and the Labour government are implicated in the ongoing genocide in Gaza."
@zackpolanski.bsky.social calls for the arrest of the Israeli President ahead of Herzog's visit with Labour ministers.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social calls for the arrest of the Israeli President ahead of Herzog's visit with Labour ministers.
September 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
"Welcoming a potential war criminal to Downing Street is another demonstration of how Keir Starmer and the Labour government are implicated in the ongoing genocide in Gaza."
@zackpolanski.bsky.social calls for the arrest of the Israeli President ahead of Herzog's visit with Labour ministers.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social calls for the arrest of the Israeli President ahead of Herzog's visit with Labour ministers.
Much of the world is reliant on American fossil fuels, billed in America's currency.
Is it any wonder that today, many countries are keen to move to machines like solar, batteries and EVs which together can mitigate this brutal double exposure?
The always brilliant @thepolycrisis.bsky.social duo
Is it any wonder that today, many countries are keen to move to machines like solar, batteries and EVs which together can mitigate this brutal double exposure?
The always brilliant @thepolycrisis.bsky.social duo
China is making massive investments in electrification to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and the US dollar.
@katemac.bsky.social and @70sbachchan.bsky.social join @parismarx.com to discuss the geopolitics and how other countries are getting on board.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
@katemac.bsky.social and @70sbachchan.bsky.social join @parismarx.com to discuss the geopolitics and how other countries are getting on board.
Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/291_...
September 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Much of the world is reliant on American fossil fuels, billed in America's currency.
Is it any wonder that today, many countries are keen to move to machines like solar, batteries and EVs which together can mitigate this brutal double exposure?
The always brilliant @thepolycrisis.bsky.social duo
Is it any wonder that today, many countries are keen to move to machines like solar, batteries and EVs which together can mitigate this brutal double exposure?
The always brilliant @thepolycrisis.bsky.social duo
Reposted by Chris Aylett
It's important to assume that Reform in Government would indeed try to do this. The right thing is not to tell the public that this won't happen - so they can therefore vote for Reform without guilt - but rather that a vote for Reform is a vote for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.
None of this will ever happen, and it's incumbent on the BBC to at least indicate that everybody who knows anything about this topic says it's a load of baloney. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK would pay countries for migrant return deals
The party outlines its plans to detain and deport all migrants who arrive in the UK on small boats.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's important to assume that Reform in Government would indeed try to do this. The right thing is not to tell the public that this won't happen - so they can therefore vote for Reform without guilt - but rather that a vote for Reform is a vote for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.
It's deeply depressing that our government feels it can only oppose this on practical grounds - 'it's an unworkable plan!' - and not by calling it out for the brutal, dystopian and dehumanising horror that it is
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reform UK prepared to deport 600,000 under migration plans
The party outlines its plans to detain and deport all migrants who arrive in the UK on small boats.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 4:23 PM
It's deeply depressing that our government feels it can only oppose this on practical grounds - 'it's an unworkable plan!' - and not by calling it out for the brutal, dystopian and dehumanising horror that it is
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This isn't a policy proposal - it's ideological virtue signalling, directed squarely at Washington
Fracking is deeply unpopular in the UK, and extremely challenging to do, certainly at a profit - but Tice claims it can be done with zero public investment!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fracking is deeply unpopular in the UK, and extremely challenging to do, certainly at a profit - but Tice claims it can be done with zero public investment!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Get ready for fracking, Reform UK tells energy firms
The party is serious about going after shale gas - but critics argue it's too difficult and costly.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This isn't a policy proposal - it's ideological virtue signalling, directed squarely at Washington
Fracking is deeply unpopular in the UK, and extremely challenging to do, certainly at a profit - but Tice claims it can be done with zero public investment!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fracking is deeply unpopular in the UK, and extremely challenging to do, certainly at a profit - but Tice claims it can be done with zero public investment!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...