Pieter de Pous
@pieterdepous.bsky.social
Nature, environment, climate, food and farming, energy, German/EU politics, interested in lots more, views my own | Thinktanker
@E3G, former NGO I EN-DE-NL
@E3G, former NGO I EN-DE-NL
The domestic cost of China's global ambition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Opinion | The China That the World Sees Is Not the One I Live In
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The domestic cost of China's global ambition www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/o...
Gonna use that line next time I mess up something specularly
Exclusive: My interview with Dutch economy minister Vincent Karremans on what exactly went on at Nexperia.
"It is a wake up call" for Europe
I would do it all again.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
"It is a wake up call" for Europe
I would do it all again.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘I’d do it all again,’ says Dutch minister at heart of car chip standoff with China
Exclusive: Vincent Karremans says six-week row with Beijing that threatened global car production is ‘wake-up call’
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Gonna use that line next time I mess up something specularly
Remarkable but also begging the question when Poland stops behaving like a climate laggard politically when it’s economy is clearly cleaning up
Truly remarkable: Poland used to be a climate laggard.
Today, wind and solar are increasingly replacing coal in the Polish electricity mix with almost 30% of all electricity generated to date this year from wind and solar.
In 2000 coal provided 95% of Polish electricity.
Today it is at 51%.
Today, wind and solar are increasingly replacing coal in the Polish electricity mix with almost 30% of all electricity generated to date this year from wind and solar.
In 2000 coal provided 95% of Polish electricity.
Today it is at 51%.
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Remarkable but also begging the question when Poland stops behaving like a climate laggard politically when it’s economy is clearly cleaning up
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.
I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
This is good news, both EU and UK already have incredibly ambitious plans for offshore wind in the North Sea that need them to work together to succeed also on things like security, it would have been an enormous act of self harm not to reach a deal, avoiding it not exactly a given these days
EU countries have agreed to fast-track talks on an electricity trading deal with the UK — a major win for Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset.
UK scores Brexit win as EU fast-tracks electricity trading talks
The breakthrough comes after days of wrangling in Brussels over the extent to which London might be expected to pay for access to the EU’s single market.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is good news, both EU and UK already have incredibly ambitious plans for offshore wind in the North Sea that need them to work together to succeed also on things like security, it would have been an enormous act of self harm not to reach a deal, avoiding it not exactly a given these days
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Incredible graphic here: showing the huge potential for coal-to-gas switching in Asia in 2030 ON THE CONDITION that gas becomes so cheap that gas producers operate at a massive, crippling loss when they produce, liquefy and ship it to Asia
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Incredible graphic here: showing the huge potential for coal-to-gas switching in Asia in 2030 ON THE CONDITION that gas becomes so cheap that gas producers operate at a massive, crippling loss when they produce, liquefy and ship it to Asia
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Also see: www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
How Spanish conservatives are driving forward the cooperation between centre and far-right forces in Europe, targeting a policy that Spain has been doing really well from domestically (clean energy/climate)
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
El PP español vota junto la ultraderecha en la Eurocámara contra el objetivo de emisiones de 2040
La renuncia al pacto verde es una de las condiciones que ha puesto Abascal para negociar la investidura del nuevo presidente valenciano
elpais.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:50 AM
How Spanish conservatives are driving forward the cooperation between centre and far-right forces in Europe, targeting a policy that Spain has been doing really well from domestically (clean energy/climate)
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
elpais.com/espana/2025-...
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
November 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: Global fossil fuel use will peak before 2030 – unless 'stated policies' are abandoned
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Contra some terrible news coverage, IEA World Energy Outlook shows coal near peak, oil peaking by 2030 & gas by 2035 (see chart)
What's going on? 🧵 + cool charts
www.carbonbrief.org/iea-fossil-f...
Generally careful with historical parallels but think this one has relevance (would just note that it wasn’t only the Italians getting poorer back then but Dutch also got a lot richer)
OPINION: Once the envy of the world, the European Union’s lead has eroded.
The bloc isn’t just politically divided, it’s also falling behind in industries that will define the rest of this century.
The bloc isn’t just politically divided, it’s also falling behind in industries that will define the rest of this century.
Europe today looks like Renaissance Italy — and that’s a problem
Europeans can either wake up or resign themselves to becoming a continent of monuments and echoing memories.
www.politico.eu
November 12, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Generally careful with historical parallels but think this one has relevance (would just note that it wasn’t only the Italians getting poorer back then but Dutch also got a lot richer)
Essential context to this years IEA WEO launched today
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
🤡OIL DEMAND WILL KEEP RISING🤡
What are the IEA assumptions that make rising oil demand so improbable?
What are the IEA assumptions that make rising oil demand so improbable?
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Essential context to this years IEA WEO launched today
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
You need to believe some *really* implausible things to happen in the next 10 years for the FTs headline to be correct.
Clear why the US wanted the underlying scenario in, but a lot less clear why anyone else should take it seriously
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
If that case is winnable, and there is good reason to believe it is, the BBC should fight it.
With his threat of a $1bn lawsuit against BBC, Trump’s assault on the media goes global
With his threat of a $1bn lawsuit against BBC, Trump’s assault on the media goes global
US president’s latest media target comes from across the pond as he continues to scrutinize coverage he does not like
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
If that case is winnable, and there is good reason to believe it is, the BBC should fight it.
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
This 💯💯💯
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
This 💯💯💯
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Do our European leaders ever stop to think about the deep humiliation of constantly allowing the US to dictate our policies here in Europe?
Or they are incapable of shame?
Dunkelflaute weather in Berlin since yesterday and still to see a first post of the local energy mix, trolls are really letting up
November 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Dunkelflaute weather in Berlin since yesterday and still to see a first post of the local energy mix, trolls are really letting up
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
In yet more 'why is Britain pursuing net zero when no one else is', India's electricity capacity is now over 50 per cent low carbon and it just saw peak renewables generation deliver half the country's power. www.businessgreen.com/news/4521481...
'Historic milestone': India's renewables generation peaks to cover over half of power demand
India's Ministry of Power confirms July 29th record, which underscores the 'steady progress' nation is making towards its clean energy and climate goals
www.businessgreen.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
In yet more 'why is Britain pursuing net zero when no one else is', India's electricity capacity is now over 50 per cent low carbon and it just saw peak renewables generation deliver half the country's power. www.businessgreen.com/news/4521481...
Lulas statement here says a lot about Brasils problematic relationship with Russia and is deeply misleading about the impact of Russias war on coal and the energy transition (it sped things up)
Lula: The conflict in Ukraine has reversed years of endeavours to reduce GHG emissions and led to the reopening of coal mines. There will be no energy security in a world that is in conflict.
November 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Lulas statement here says a lot about Brasils problematic relationship with Russia and is deeply misleading about the impact of Russias war on coal and the energy transition (it sped things up)
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Next week,🇪🇺President von der Leyen's centre-right EPP group is preparing to ally with the far right in order to pass the 1st of her deregulation packages.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
Von der Leyen prepares cooperation with far right to implement Trump's deregulation demands
The cordón sanitaire in the EU Parliament has been broken. Next week, the centre right may team up with the far right to rip up EU climate laws. Next on the chopping block: EU digital rules.
davekeating.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Next week,🇪🇺President von der Leyen's centre-right EPP group is preparing to ally with the far right in order to pass the 1st of her deregulation packages.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
A Commission official says these #Omnibus proposals are being sold as "concessions" to Trump.
Our leadership are going down 2 dangerous paths.
The thread I was looking for!
The #COP30 world leaders summit is about to start, and on this thread I'll be tracking how world leaders address energy transition (specifically fossil fuels) in their speeches. Let's go!
November 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The thread I was looking for!
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
I note that concern about the second China shock to Europe is going mainstream.
Good piece from ING bank: "While stronger Chinese competition can potentially mute eurozone inflation and GDP growth, it is also likely to aggravate problems in key industries"
think.ing.com/articles/eur...
Good piece from ING bank: "While stronger Chinese competition can potentially mute eurozone inflation and GDP growth, it is also likely to aggravate problems in key industries"
think.ing.com/articles/eur...
Rising trade tensions unveil Europe’s China shock 2.0
Increased Chinese competition within Europe and in third markets may intensify as a result of global trade tensions
think.ing.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I note that concern about the second China shock to Europe is going mainstream.
Good piece from ING bank: "While stronger Chinese competition can potentially mute eurozone inflation and GDP growth, it is also likely to aggravate problems in key industries"
think.ing.com/articles/eur...
Good piece from ING bank: "While stronger Chinese competition can potentially mute eurozone inflation and GDP growth, it is also likely to aggravate problems in key industries"
think.ing.com/articles/eur...
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
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
Title is slightly misleading as it is less so about NGO's dying and more about European civil society being re-shaped in a MAGA image but it describes the playbook being deployed chillingly well
euobserver.com/eu-political...
euobserver.com/eu-political...
How NGOs die — Europe's playbook for dismantling democracy
The playbook is brutally efficient: fabricate a scandal, delegitimise and defund organisations into dependency on philanthropic support, then criminalise their new funding as foreign influence — all w...
euobserver.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Title is slightly misleading as it is less so about NGO's dying and more about European civil society being re-shaped in a MAGA image but it describes the playbook being deployed chillingly well
euobserver.com/eu-political...
euobserver.com/eu-political...
It’s bad but its a feature of EU deciding climate ambition by consensus, backtracking is certainly happening and it has something to do with Trump but this is just old fashioned unanimity holding EU back
Now official - the EU has weakened its planned 2040 emissions reduction target at the insistence of national governments.
It is part of the overall story of Europe backtracking on its goals to fight climate change - party because of Trump pressure, partly because of changing public attitudes.
It is part of the overall story of Europe backtracking on its goals to fight climate change - party because of Trump pressure, partly because of changing public attitudes.
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 9:34 AM
It’s bad but its a feature of EU deciding climate ambition by consensus, backtracking is certainly happening and it has something to do with Trump but this is just old fashioned unanimity holding EU back
But also the level of Chutzpah when enacting policies that, certainly in hindsight, were first critical steps towards the loss of global hegemony
Still one of the bleakest quotes I have ever read, from one of George W Bush’s senior advisers.
November 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
But also the level of Chutzpah when enacting policies that, certainly in hindsight, were first critical steps towards the loss of global hegemony
Denke auch das das die richtige Lehre ist wobei es natürlich vor allem darum geht das es nach eine stabile Regierungszeit wieder gelingt.
Auch ist die PVV sehr wohl Putin/Russland nah, nur weniger offen darüber
Auch ist die PVV sehr wohl Putin/Russland nah, nur weniger offen darüber
Interessantes Interview mit dem NL Historiker Cuperus zur NL-Wahl. Der Kernsatz kommt am Schluss: "Die Menschen folgen nicht den Ängstlichen. Sie folgen denen, die Hoffnung vermitteln. Das ist die Lektion dieser Wahl." Geschenklink:
www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-...
www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-...
Erfolg gegen Rechtspopulisten: "Zum ersten Mal hatte jemand keine Angst"
Wie schrumpft man Rechtspopulisten? In den Niederlanden ist dem Liberalen Rob Jetten genau das gelungen. Der niederländische Historiker René Cuperus erklärt das Rezept.
www.zeit.de
November 4, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Denke auch das das die richtige Lehre ist wobei es natürlich vor allem darum geht das es nach eine stabile Regierungszeit wieder gelingt.
Auch ist die PVV sehr wohl Putin/Russland nah, nur weniger offen darüber
Auch ist die PVV sehr wohl Putin/Russland nah, nur weniger offen darüber
Reposted by Pieter de Pous
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching