James Murray
@james-bg.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief of BusinessGreen, writing for a couple of decades or so about the environment, the economy, green politics, and the Climate Theory of Everything
Pinned
James Murray
@james-bg.bsky.social
· Dec 23
Climate change isn't 'woke'
Donald Trump's victory has triggered fresh calls for a rolling back of climate action, but such arguments are based on lazy and dangerously flawed assumptions - in an end of year essay BusinessGreen e...
www.businessgreen.com
Climate change isn't woke. Or rather, it's a bit woke and there's nothing wrong with that, but that's not all it is. Political and business leaders urgently need to reject the lazy thinking that is trying to paint climate action as an elite endeavour. www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/43...
This would be the right decision, as there are better ways to cut energy bills that do not incentivise burning more gas. But after briefing a VAT cut on energy bills for so long, you have to ask what the hell is going on in there? www.ft.com/content/82f0...
Rachel Reeves decides against cutting VAT on energy bills in Budget
Chancellor expected to continue with support package for households, including easing of electricity costs
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This would be the right decision, as there are better ways to cut energy bills that do not incentivise burning more gas. But after briefing a VAT cut on energy bills for so long, you have to ask what the hell is going on in there? www.ft.com/content/82f0...
All this, plus fuel duty revenues are actually already falling as sales of new petrol and diesel cars start to fall. Surreal that the government does not want to claw some of this back.
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
All this, plus fuel duty revenues are actually already falling as sales of new petrol and diesel cars start to fall. Surreal that the government does not want to claw some of this back.
Reposted by James Murray
beginning to believe I would actually vote for a dead pigeon on a stick if it just promised to restore the fuel duty escalator
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
beginning to believe I would actually vote for a dead pigeon on a stick if it just promised to restore the fuel duty escalator
Tried to feel optimistic while listening to the potential solutions to enshittification, but can’t help feeling we’re so fucked. Fascinating conversation though.
open.spotify.com/episode/0pK9...
open.spotify.com/episode/0pK9...
Why Tech Sucks – Cory Doctorow on Enshittification and how to fix it
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Tried to feel optimistic while listening to the potential solutions to enshittification, but can’t help feeling we’re so fucked. Fascinating conversation though.
open.spotify.com/episode/0pK9...
open.spotify.com/episode/0pK9...
Reposted by James Murray
Brilliant thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Brilliant thecritic.co.uk/auntie-in-th...
Nissan Leaf qualifies for Electric Car Grant scheme. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522334...
'Proudly built right here in the UK': Nissan LEAF becomes latest EV to qualify for £3,750 grant
Sunderland-manufactured EV secures maximum grant through government scheme, with nearly 40 models are now eligible for discounts
www.businessgreen.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Nissan Leaf qualifies for Electric Car Grant scheme. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522334...
UK government pumps $150m into African transition finance projects.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4522330...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4522330...
British International Investment commits $150m to transition finance in Africa
UK government-owned international development investor to provide capital and assistance to help FirstRand establish new transition finance facility
www.businessgreen.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
UK government pumps $150m into African transition finance projects.
www.businessgreen.com/news/4522330...
www.businessgreen.com/news/4522330...
Want to make a Heathrow third runway compatible with climate goals? There's an obvious solution... www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/44...
A third runway, but only for electric planes
The government insists airport expansion can be made compatible with climate goals, but how would you go about proving that will be the case?
www.businessgreen.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Want to make a Heathrow third runway compatible with climate goals? There's an obvious solution... www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/44...
Reposted by James Murray
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Coffee pod recycling news... www.businessgreen.com/news/4522306...
Co-op and Podback launch coffee pod recycling trial
Latest partnership brings Podback’s network of drop-off points to 1,100 retail locations
www.businessgreen.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Coffee pod recycling news... www.businessgreen.com/news/4522306...
There's real concern this Budget could be very bad for nature (and do little to actually deliver more homes) www.businessgreen.com/news/4522276...
'Perfect storm': RSPB and Wildlife Trusts warn Budget could push nature into 'freefall'
Conservation groups warn Planning and Infrastructure Bill and proposals to water down Biodiversity Net Gain scheme are set to badly undermine Labour's pre-election promises to drive nature recovery ef...
www.businessgreen.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:50 AM
There's real concern this Budget could be very bad for nature (and do little to actually deliver more homes) www.businessgreen.com/news/4522276...
If it hadn't been overshadowed by the row over the proposed roadmaps, this would have been quite a strong signal from the COP30 agreement. Also underscores the self-harming nature of those governments that want to restrict planning for a transition they acknowledge is inevitable.
November 25, 2025 at 9:52 AM
If it hadn't been overshadowed by the row over the proposed roadmaps, this would have been quite a strong signal from the COP30 agreement. Also underscores the self-harming nature of those governments that want to restrict planning for a transition they acknowledge is inevitable.
Reposted by James Murray
President Donald Trump’s bizarre war on offshore wind is getting worse — and it’s screwing workers and anyone who uses electricity.
Trump's Vendetta Against Wind Is Gutting Jobs and Raising Prices
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
President Donald Trump’s bizarre war on offshore wind is getting worse — and it’s screwing workers and anyone who uses electricity.
And still not a single mea culpa from the architects, many of whom continue to be regarded as sages by much of the press.
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 AM
And still not a single mea culpa from the architects, many of whom continue to be regarded as sages by much of the press.
Reposted by James Murray
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by James Murray
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Still no better heuristic for revealing a politician or public figure's deep unseriousness than checking whether or not they are a climate sceptic.
The so-called “Global Warming Policy Foundation”, generally recognised as a #ClimateDenial lobby group, has Lord #Glasman giving its annual lecture…..
November 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Still no better heuristic for revealing a politician or public figure's deep unseriousness than checking whether or not they are a climate sceptic.
Reposted by James Murray
The so-called “Global Warming Policy Foundation”, generally recognised as a #ClimateDenial lobby group, has Lord #Glasman giving its annual lecture…..
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The so-called “Global Warming Policy Foundation”, generally recognised as a #ClimateDenial lobby group, has Lord #Glasman giving its annual lecture…..
If you want to hear more about the business implications from COP30, you can still sign up to our latest Spotlight webinar tomorrow.
webinars.businessgreen.com/what-your-bu...
webinars.businessgreen.com/what-your-bu...
BusinessGreen Spotlight on Climate Diplomacy: What your business needs to know about the COP30 Climate Summit
This interactive webinar will follow the close of the COP30 Climate Summit and will bring together experts in international diplomacy and climate politics to provide strategic insight on how business ...
webinars.businessgreen.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
If you want to hear more about the business implications from COP30, you can still sign up to our latest Spotlight webinar tomorrow.
webinars.businessgreen.com/what-your-bu...
webinars.businessgreen.com/what-your-bu...
Reposted by James Murray
We saw it with big tobacco, we saw it with the fossil fuels industry. When their own internal research showed the harm from their product, the defunded the research and attacked independent researchers coming to the very same conclusions.
#ScienceUnderSiege
#ScienceUnderSiege
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
We saw it with big tobacco, we saw it with the fossil fuels industry. When their own internal research showed the harm from their product, the defunded the research and attacked independent researchers coming to the very same conclusions.
#ScienceUnderSiege
#ScienceUnderSiege
Reposted by James Murray
My favourite moment during the Brexit negotiations was when David Davis went to the press to complain that none of the EU member states would agree to negotiate trade deals with Britain on a one-on-one basis and would only do so as a bloc – as though they were in some sort of union.
we told you with extreme specificity what would happen if you did brexit and you did not believe us and did it anyway and then it all came true and now youre going to elect nigel farage?? same guy who made the whole country poor once already? sorry but youre just a good punchline rn
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
My favourite moment during the Brexit negotiations was when David Davis went to the press to complain that none of the EU member states would agree to negotiate trade deals with Britain on a one-on-one basis and would only do so as a bloc – as though they were in some sort of union.
Reposted by James Murray
The Beaver Trust is advertising for a new Chief Executive. Not easy finding a link to the job advert other than via Facebook, but here’s the link to the recruitment pack. Closing date for applications is 10th December. #wildlife #beaver #speciesreintroduction beavertrust.org/wp-content/u...
beavertrust.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The Beaver Trust is advertising for a new Chief Executive. Not easy finding a link to the job advert other than via Facebook, but here’s the link to the recruitment pack. Closing date for applications is 10th December. #wildlife #beaver #speciesreintroduction beavertrust.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by James Murray
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
Don't make me agree with Michael Gove. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522257...
'Sustained pattern of retreat': Michael Gove slams proposals to water down Biodiversity Net Gain scheme
Former Environment Secretary accuses government of undermining flagship nature scheme through proposals to exempt developments from new biodiversity market
www.businessgreen.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Don't make me agree with Michael Gove. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522257...
This is good news for the EV market, even if the talk of pay per mile proposals prove accurate. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522256...
Reports: Chancellor to provide £1.3bn boost to electric vehicle grant scheme
Budget expected to extend popular grant scheme through to 2030, as government prepares consultation on pay-per-mile EV tax proposals
www.businessgreen.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
This is good news for the EV market, even if the talk of pay per mile proposals prove accurate. www.businessgreen.com/news/4522256...