Olivier Beys
@olivierbeys.bsky.social
Works at EU Parliament on circular economy and green industry transition | Founder of Tournevie tool library | Fond of commons projects and Brussels | www.tournevie.be
Pinned
Olivier Beys
@olivierbeys.bsky.social
· Nov 23
Four simple steps on how to argue intelligently and how to criticize with kindness, by the inimitable Daniel Dennett.
It's an invaluable little gem I cannot recommend enough for anyone making an argument on online plaforms.
brainpickings.org/2014/03/28/d...
It's an invaluable little gem I cannot recommend enough for anyone making an argument on online plaforms.
brainpickings.org/2014/03/28/d...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Finally some fresh ideas in the talks about ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Finally some fresh ideas in the talks about ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Reposted by Olivier Beys
EU 2035 latest: The oil lobby’s push for an EU biofuels loophole could create an unsustainable demand for animal fats and used cooking oil – the equivalent of 120 pigs per car.
A 🧵 on what this loophole would mean for Europe’s limited supply of advanced biofuels 👇
A 🧵 on what this loophole would mean for Europe’s limited supply of advanced biofuels 👇
November 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
EU 2035 latest: The oil lobby’s push for an EU biofuels loophole could create an unsustainable demand for animal fats and used cooking oil – the equivalent of 120 pigs per car.
A 🧵 on what this loophole would mean for Europe’s limited supply of advanced biofuels 👇
A 🧵 on what this loophole would mean for Europe’s limited supply of advanced biofuels 👇
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Very good interview and important fact-checking.
November 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Very good interview and important fact-checking.
Reminder for EU Commission not to touch its CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans (a foolish move that’s on the cards, unfortunately). Slowing down incentives to bring EVs on the market will only hurt EU industry making them lose out to Chinese manufacturers.
the European ICE (petrol + diesel) auto market is in a death spiral while EV sales boom...except TSLA. September saw some quarter-end window dressing but October was a return to the regularly scheduled declines of more than 40% YoY. Elon + diesel are dead letters in the EU auto market at this point.
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reminder for EU Commission not to touch its CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans (a foolish move that’s on the cards, unfortunately). Slowing down incentives to bring EVs on the market will only hurt EU industry making them lose out to Chinese manufacturers.
Hoping to see another wave of people moving from the cesspit to Bsky! www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors
How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Hoping to see another wave of people moving from the cesspit to Bsky! www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
The Conservatives and the far right have just torpedoed legislation in the European Parliament that would hold businesses accountable for mismanagement and human and environmental right violations. Adults take their responsibility, but that’s not what the right does apparently 😒
🇨🇩 Hier en #RDC, une mine de cobalt s’est effondrée : 70 vies perdues pour alimenter l’industrie des smartphones et ordinateurs
🇧🇩 Comme le #RanaPlaza, il y a 12 ans… 1.100 morts pour la fast fashion
L’UE avait créé une directive pour éviter ces drames.
😡Le Parlement UE vient de la détricoter
🇧🇩 Comme le #RanaPlaza, il y a 12 ans… 1.100 morts pour la fast fashion
L’UE avait créé une directive pour éviter ces drames.
😡Le Parlement UE vient de la détricoter
November 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The Conservatives and the far right have just torpedoed legislation in the European Parliament that would hold businesses accountable for mismanagement and human and environmental right violations. Adults take their responsibility, but that’s not what the right does apparently 😒
Reposted by Olivier Beys
"data centers already accounted for 22% of Ireland's total electricity consumption in 2024. In the Dublin/Meath area, where a third of Ireland's population lives, 48% of the electricity was used by data centers in 2023." @abeba.bsky.social & @krisshrishak.bsky.social
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"data centers already accounted for 22% of Ireland's total electricity consumption in 2024. In the Dublin/Meath area, where a third of Ireland's population lives, 48% of the electricity was used by data centers in 2023." @abeba.bsky.social & @krisshrishak.bsky.social
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
✍🏼 www.iccl.ie/press-releas...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
[wild speculation voice] a significant portion of LA's hyper obsessive health, fitness, and hiking culture can likely be attributed to the primal subconscious compensating reaction of living in a car dependent wasteland that is antithetical to the existence of people or even life itself.
November 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
[wild speculation voice] a significant portion of LA's hyper obsessive health, fitness, and hiking culture can likely be attributed to the primal subconscious compensating reaction of living in a car dependent wasteland that is antithetical to the existence of people or even life itself.
Troll level 👌
Despite its reputation, China is in fact smaller than Florida
November 17, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Troll level 👌
The Big Lebowski
November 17, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The Big Lebowski
Het nieuwste speeltuig voor de rijken zal volgens de CEO "de levensstijl van *veel mensen* veranderen.” Een recept uit het klassieke draaiboek: presenteer deze nachtmerrie alsof iedereen het zich kan aanschaffen om publiek protest te vermijden 👎 www.standaard.be/economie/de-...
De vliegende auto waar China jaloers op is: “Hij zal de levensstijl van veel mensen veranderen”
De eerste vliegende auto die voldoet aan alle wettelijke regels komt nu écht binnen bereik. De PAL-V Liberty staat klaar in een Nederlandse loods en is in de laatste testfase. “We hebben al 300 reserveringen, ook uit België.”
www.standaard.be
November 17, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Het nieuwste speeltuig voor de rijken zal volgens de CEO "de levensstijl van *veel mensen* veranderen.” Een recept uit het klassieke draaiboek: presenteer deze nachtmerrie alsof iedereen het zich kan aanschaffen om publiek protest te vermijden 👎 www.standaard.be/economie/de-...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
Very predictable
There is no reason to believe Waymo or Zoox will be any different.
Remember all the hype about how Uber and Lyft would allow people to live car-free?
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
November 13, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Very predictable
Reposted by Olivier Beys
There's an army of people out there telling us change is impossible.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
There's an army of people out there telling us change is impossible.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Really? If there’s one political ‘leader’ who’s proactively dismantled the EU is Manfred Weber - from enabling Viktor Orban, flirting with far-right parties and now governing with them in the EP to scrapping the green deal and next I’ll be the digital rulebook
He should act on what he preaches!
He should act on what he preaches!
EPP leader Manfred Weber just gave a very good keynote speech on the future of Europe in Berlin tonight, putting forward seven principles for a stronger EU.
Quick thread:
Quick thread:
November 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Really? If there’s one political ‘leader’ who’s proactively dismantled the EU is Manfred Weber - from enabling Viktor Orban, flirting with far-right parties and now governing with them in the EP to scrapping the green deal and next I’ll be the digital rulebook
He should act on what he preaches!
He should act on what he preaches!
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Meanwhile, CEOs make 280 times the typical worker today.
The system is rigged.
The system is rigged.
November 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Meanwhile, CEOs make 280 times the typical worker today.
The system is rigged.
The system is rigged.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure
Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Financial consultants Deloitte conclude: the environmental damage done by Dutch agriculture (€18.6 billion/year) exceeds its total economic added value (€13.3 billion/year).
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Financial consultants Deloitte conclude: the environmental damage done by Dutch agriculture (€18.6 billion/year) exceeds its total economic added value (€13.3 billion/year).
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
Reposted by Olivier Beys
What if EU simplification agenda is exactly what Trump wants from Europe? A self defeating move depriving itself of its only super-power
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
What if EU simplification agenda is exactly what Trump wants from Europe? A self defeating move depriving itself of its only super-power
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to do wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables unless onsite.
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to do wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables unless onsite.
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Public understanding doesn't get to be this wrong just by accident !
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
😢
"Perhaps the most striking findings is that the British public vastly overestimates the cost getting to net zero by almost 14,000%, fueling scepticism & a reluctance to pay. On average, they estimate it will need 28% of GDP by 2050, compared to @thecccuk.bsky.social forecast of just 0.2%"
"Perhaps the most striking findings is that the British public vastly overestimates the cost getting to net zero by almost 14,000%, fueling scepticism & a reluctance to pay. On average, they estimate it will need 28% of GDP by 2050, compared to @thecccuk.bsky.social forecast of just 0.2%"
Are the advocates for net zero losing the fight?
The cost of misunderstanding: How public perception shapes the net zero debate
fgsglobal.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Public understanding doesn't get to be this wrong just by accident !
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Wow. Bill Gates Foundation donates millions to long time climate disinformer Bjorn Lomborg and Lomborg advises Gates on climate.
“Here’s the thing, Bill Gates: There’s no ‘patch’ for the climate crisis. And there is no way to reboot the planet if you crash it. The only safe and reliable way out when you find yourself in a climate hole is to stop digging—and burning—fossil fuels.” — @michaelemann.bsky.social
You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it
What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.
thebulletin.org
November 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Wow. Bill Gates Foundation donates millions to long time climate disinformer Bjorn Lomborg and Lomborg advises Gates on climate.