Voice of the People

[Voice of the People @Voftheppl]

Building more roads does not reduce congestion (if anything it’s the opposite)

We need to encourage the use of public transport - we can do this but building more trains, increasing bus frequency and routes etc.

[Jan Rosenow @janrosenow]

A remarkable transition:

Kenya is Africa's leading country when it comes to renewables.

In 2000 fossil fuels contributed 60% to electricity generation.

Today it is 6%. In 2023 electricity was from almost 50% geothermal, 20% wind+solar and 22% hydro.

[Ant Breach @AntBreach]

Quick thread on the biggest planning reform the Government has announced so far. Removing councillor vetoes from projects that already comply with the local plan is a big step towards a more rules-based and certain system, and so higher supply and cheaper housing.

[Sam Bowman @s8mb]

Great step. We need cheap, fast nuclear for everything, but there is a short window of opportunity for us to sort out nuclear permitting for data centres.

If we can make approvals for data centre nuclear projects quick, easy and *certain* we might not miss the boat on AI.

[Jesse Walker @notjessewalker]

YIMBYism on the high seas https://t.co/nQPDNZvoaT

[Birth Gauge @BirthGauge]

The new monthly birth update is out!

[YIMBY Alliance @yimbyalliance]

NEW: planning applications that comply with the local development plan will bypass planning committees and be decided by officers to speed up building!

Deputy PM Angela Rayner said the current planning process is acting like a "drag anchor" on more housing.

[Samuel Hughes @SCP_Hughes]

Permission in principle just granted for 'Edinburgh West Town'. Edinburgh does what most continental cities do, and what many cities did historically, but what the great cities of England are forbidden: large, carefully planned extensions adjacent to the existing urban area.

[More Births @MoreBirths]

https://t.co/wjkBXYIoyq

[More Births @MoreBirths]

An important new finding by demographer @lymanstoneky, taller buildings were associated with lower fertility in all cases studied.

And for European regions the greater the % of housing that is apartments, the lower the fertility.

How we build affects fertility for generations!

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Nuclear has a crucial role to play in powering Britain’s clean energy future.

We are determined to drive forward plans for nuclear, to create good jobs and bring investment into our communities.

Great to speak at the @NIAUK conference yesterday.

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Nuclear power is vital not just for energy security and climate security, but for economic security for workers and communities across our country.

https://t.co/VOQCILiLHQ

[Sam Bowman @s8mb]

Madrid expanded the metro system on the left into the one on the right in 12 years.

It added 126 miles of track, ending up with Europe's 3rd-longest metro – after London and Moscow.

And it paid only £64–91 million per mile, compared to £609m spent on the Jubilee Line extension.

[Ole Lehmann @itsolelehmann]

Europe is bleeding tech talent, and no one's talking about it.

A senior engineer in Paris makes $65K.
The same role in Silicon Valley? $320K.

This gap is creating the biggest talent exodus in European history.

Here's the brutal reality behind Europe's massive brain drain 🧵:

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer calls the HS2 bat tunnel ‘absurd’

[Alessandro Palombo @thealepalombo]

I'm Italian.

Over the years, it's been painful seeing Europe’s demise:

1960 - EU was 36% of global GDP
2008 - US GDP surpassed EU
Today - US economy 50% larger than EU

But why such a decline and is there any hope?

Here's everything you need to know about the fall of Europe:

[Alessandro Palombo @thealepalombo]

Tech Industry Comparison:

🇪🇺 EU
- 0 trillion-dollar companies
- Average tech salary MUCH lower than US
- 18-24 months startup time
- INSANE regulations

🇺🇸 US
- 9 trillion-dollar companies
- $180k-$300k+ salaries
- 1-2 months startup time
- Founder-friendly

But there's more.

[Alessandro Palombo @thealepalombo]

Recent gap in performance has been staggering…

2010-2023:
🇪🇺 EU productivity: +5%
🇺🇸 US productivity: +22%

GDP Share (1960 vs 2024):
🇪🇺 EU: 34% → 15%
🇺🇸 US: 28% → 25%