patrick willcocks

Urban issues and Climate Change. Also@patrickwillcock

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Interesting blog post by @SimonPirani1 about why The Lower Thames Crossing is not needed. Will Labour cancel it given its poor environmental credentials or will it be ushered through under the false god of growth?
https://t.co/YnLJmcJJnq

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

“Electrification has been touted as a silver bullet: an easy solution that alleviates the GHG burden from car owners worldwide. This isn’t the case. Extensive vehicle electrification only lowers emissions by a portion of what’s needed.” Via @WRIRossCities https://t.co/PzuFpOdJiP

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

It is important to get to the bottom of this issue.

[createstreets @createstreets]

There is a mystery at the heart of Britain's transport. Why does it cost more than twice European average to create trams & >3 times as much as in Germany? Our latest report with @BritainRemade sets out to solve the puzzle & make practical & actionable proposals to fix it & boost productivity and housebuilding. A short🧵
https://t.co/2rbj02aV8t

[Assaad Razzouk @AssaadRazzouk]

Wind and solar are adding new energy capacity faster than LNG or nuclear ever have

And it’s getting quicker, with China leading the way, and as solar module prices, in particular, fall to record lows

https://t.co/z5ZYq1ocms #climate

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Electricity generation is getting more sustainable and for the time being we are using less of it.

[Simon Evans @DrSimEvans]

NEW ANALYSIS

UK electricity in 2023

🔥Fossil fuel gen lowest since 1957
⛰️ Lowest ever fossil share 33%
🌄 Record renewables TWh & %
🏆 Cleanest ever power 162gCO2/kWh
📉 Demand -91TWh since 2005

43% renewable
31% gas
13% nuclear
7% imports
1% coal

https://t.co/TBGnJnEeQN

[Leo Hickman @LeoHickman]

This is a *must-read* thread.

It gets to the v heart of how the anti-net-zero lobbyists based at Tufton St use credulous, client journalists to spread their misinformation

Except, this time, a series of epic clangers has left them all looking *extremely* dumb and naive...

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

This is what it will take.

[Leon Simons 🌍 @LeonSimons8]

Net-zero CO₂ by 2050 is possible if:

-8,500 coal plants stop burning coal.
-we stop heating homes.
-we stop driving the 1.4 billion cars in the world.
-planes stop flying 100,000 times a day.
-we stop eating tens of billions of animals per year.
-we stop shipping stuff.

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

@edcox_devo for @WestMids_CA arguing one needs a much more nuanced strategy focusing on the strengths of the West Midlands as a whole whilst recognising it is very important to grow the City Centre. It was a whistle-stop session which could have done with more time. Thanks @PwC

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Fascinating discussion about Birmingham's under performance in an event held by @resfoundation. They together with @CentreforCities argue that there needs to be much greater focus on growing city centre, public transport to it and attracting in higher valued tradeable services.

[John Raymond Hanger  @johnrhanger]

Is CCS glass half-full or half-empty? It seems more empty than full. In last three decades, over $83 billion has been spent on CCS projects. In 2022, CCS captured 0.1% of global emissions. 78% of CCS projects canceled, with 40 now operating commercially.
https://t.co/0D8geYFJBJ

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

A significant commitment from the EU to increase the share of renewables to 42.5% of Energy used by 2030. (Not just electricity supply). The question is given the worsening climate is this enough?

[Assaad Razzouk @AssaadRazzouk]

EU legislates significantly higher renewables targets: 42.5% of EU energy to be renewable by 2030 (up from 22.1% today)

+ new renewables targets for buildings
+ faster permitting for wind and solar

That’s saving more money and lives, faster

https://t.co/0k6TBTnNTD #climate

[Kate Raworth @KateRaworth]

The Doughnut's ecological ceiling just got updated and the news is not good.

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

@WriterJackWhite @jburnmurdoch But how come other countries can do both. It is not a choice we should have to make. We need both a high speed nationwide network and great intra urban connectivity.

[Sadiq Khan @SadiqKhan]

When you compare national governments to cities, the difference when it comes to taking bold climate action is striking.

Great to have the support of fellow global mayors @BeppeSala @Val_Plante and @RaymondJohansen for London's ULEZ. 🇮🇹 🇳🇴 🇨🇦
https://t.co/2ptAPZ7cKL

[Roger Harrabin @RHarrabin]

A reminder. May 2021: “Development of new #oil and #gas must stop this year and no new coal power stations can be built if the world is to meet the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, said the @IEA. It undertook the report at the request of the UK govt.

[Tom Forth @thomasforth]

"Sunak plans to restrict councils..." - the details of what he wants to restrict don't matter much. It's the urge to restrict that makes the UK an underperforming economy. Everything decided by the centre, its institutions, and its machinery of government. https://t.co/gJMb4k6yRX

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Methane leaks make natural gas (methane) as bad as coal for the climate.

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Climate finance doesn't reach the countries that need it most. Interesting overview. https://t.co/5qA74q9dzX

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Lessons for local authorities and central government on area based housing retrofit.

[Juliet Phillips @_JulietPhillips]

📢NEW @E3G report: How to enable locally led retrofit🏠

There is an intrinsically local dimension to decarbonising our homes, which makes local authorities well-placed to support. However, barriers stand in the way of effective delivery 🧵
https://t.co/IykeEK4Evc

[patrick willcocks @UrbanPivot]

Interesting how vacant IKEA stores are being reused. One in London is going to be a massive club venue. One in Coventry is for storing of the Council's collections as well as units for creatives. Retail shrinks creative uses rise. https://t.co/U84MLzYX9p

https://t.co/iNgW2is27C