Prof Matt Hannon

Forecast 2-m temperatures today in Finland, based on the MEPS regional model.

20 straight days with 30 °C in Finland! Truly unprecedented heatwave still in full swing with maximum today about 32-33 degrees.

Even the Arctic regions (e.g. Sodankylä Tähtelä) have seen three weeks above 25 °C, and may rival tomorrow their August heat records.

Sometimes you just need to look at the data and ignore the noise.

And the more green kit we have on the system, the more the "vested interests" and "big money" are umbillically linked to it (jobs, £ etc.) and the less they resist it.

I believe we are at - or have now passed - that tipping point.

Council recognises right of River Test to flow unimpeded and unpolluted Test is one of only about 200 chalk streams in the world and councillors says biodiversity in and around it has declined

Council recognises right of River Test - one of the finest chalk streams in England - to flow unimpeded and unpolluted

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Local Zero podcast can be found here:

www.localzeropod.com

A taste below of some of our recent episodes.

Rental price rise sparks surge in van-dwelling community The number of people choosing to live in vans across Bristol is up from 150 in 2020 to 680 in 2025.

We'll be exploring Van Dwelling on Local Zero podcast today.

The case of Bristol is a very interesting one.

Sky high, unsustainable rent/house prices are forcing more people to live in vehicles.

But this is creating pressure new pressures on urban green spaces.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘Darkening’ cities is as important for wildlife as greening them Our nights are getting brighter and we are all paying the price.

This is cool and very inspiring. I'm no city planner or architect but I'm a great believer in the power of design to both elevate human wellbeing, whilst creating space for nature to thrive

Co-habiting places with nature is a win-win but it requires some thought

theconversation.com/darkening-ci...

Half of UK councils still use pesticides in public places, research finds Pesticide-free movement has grown, but many local authorities still spray weedkiller linked to wildlife declines and cancer

The discrepancy between these two values is wild. Official estimate 1/4 of what councils reported

"Councils said they used 354 tonnes of pesticides in 2024. This was four times the figure from government data of 84 tonnes of pesticides used by local authorities"

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

She'll be sorely missed today. RIP Janey

Deadline is 31 Aug to apply for the 3-year post below

Join us at the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities, to work on the flagship UKRI-funded project JUST-Systems

You'll work with academics & PhDs across multiple unis to explore the role of communities in sustainability transitions

Following our work on Community Benefit Funds (CBFs) (doi.org/10.17868/str...) I'm often asked "Do CBFs & community-owned energy ever go hand in hand?"

The answer is yes & Westmill is an example of this

This acts as a backstop to ensure that even non community share holders reap some benefit

CCC has now installed it's new permanent chair, who will be Nigel Topping. It's great to see this appointment made. I'm sure Nigel will continue the excellent work of the CCC during one of the most trying times for the UK's climate agenda to date.

We are delighted to share an opportunity to join SISC and the UKRI funded Integrated Systems Approaches for Accelerating a Just Transition (JUST-Systems) project as a 3 year post-doctoral researcher.

The deadline for applications is 31st August 2025.

strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/...

We're delighted to announce that the after dinner speaker at the #BIEE2025 Research Conference is Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, author of More and More and More An all consuming history of energy.

Accelerating the whole #energy system transition in a fractured world
23 & 24 Sep, Oxford
www.biee.org

We're thrilled to announce that Emma Pinchbeck, CEO, @thecccuk.bsky.social, will present the #BIEE2025 Energy Research Conference keynote on Tuesday 23 September.

Accelerating the whole energy system transition in a fractured world
23 & 24 Sep, Worcester College Oxford
www.biee.org

The full programme for the BIEE Energy Research Conference 2025 is now available!

This event provides a unique opportunity for dialogue between academia, business, and policy experts. Secure your spot before the early bird registration ends on 31 July.

Visit buff.ly/sEo0NXg for more details.

Reform-led Durham county council scraps climate emergency pledge Durham is thought to be the first local authority to rescind its declaration, in a move condemned as a ‘very dark day’

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Congrats to the team for this important accolade. Great to see this project continue to be regonised for the important work its done in driving forward a relational approach to energy demand and retrofit.

Developing a relational approach to energy demand: A methodological and conceptual guide In a recent review of research on the role of social relations in shaping energy demand, authors documented increasing interest in relational approach…

Our paper “Developing a relational approach to energy demand: A methodological and conceptual guide” has won a prize: the Energy Research & Social Science Best Paper Award! You can read it here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... thanks to funding from @ukerc.bsky.social

"According to data from the MCS Data Dashboard, there were more than 57,000 certified installations of rooftop solar PV across the first three months of the year. This is the highest figure for the first quarter of a year since 2012, when the feed-in tariff regime was driving exceptional demand."

Best start to a year for rooftop solar panel installations in more than a decade   - MCS Foundation The UK is experiencing a solar boom, with the first quarter of 2025 proving the strongest start to a year for certified solar PV installations on homes and businesses in more than a decade.

Get your good news klaxon out folks. Here we go...

"Best start to a year for rooftop solar panel installations in more than a decade"

The age of subsidy-free roof-top solar has arrived in the UK and it is here to stay.

mcsfoundation.org.uk/news/best-st...

According to World Weather Attribution, "climate change has made a 32C day in the UK 100 times more likely than in the pre-industrial era. A June heatwave of three consecutive days above 28C was 10 times more likely to occur now." www.ft.com/content/650c...

A climate crisis, a ballot, and a chance at a new life in Australia World-first agreement that creates a visa in the context of climate change stirs hope among young people in Tuvalu

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We don't really talk about this enough but the electricity market in the UK has been through dramatic changes over the past 5 years. Octopus and Ovo now make up the new Big 5, with numerous companies failing along the way to enter into that exclusive club (eg Bulb)

www.ofgem.gov.uk/retail-marke...

Insects are dying: here are 25 easy and effective ways you can help protect them From turning out the lights to letting leaves rot, these small steps can create big changes at home or in the wild

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Interesting. This feels like one of those public realm oddities that tour guides will point to in the future. In Glasgow, we mostly have rotting wooden decking that will soon be removed. We need something more permanent.

"The original policy has belatedly found some advocates as people point out that the government will be providing winter fuel cash to pensioners who are markedly better off than many of the working families whose taxes will pay for it."

Yip - we've thrown the baby out with the bath water.

Reeves’ review shows Labour plans to take on the right over net zero By earmarking billions of pounds for the green economy, Labour is setting itself apart from the Tories and Reform

A very good summary of the UK spending review and what it means for climate and the environment

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

It's easy to be ambivalent until you visit a decommission site (e.g. Sellafield, Dounreay) and the sheer enormity of the decommissiong task hits you. The complexity, time and cost are all mindboggling. I doubt we'll hear much about that in the costing of today's announcement but we should.

Fascinating to see the rebound of fossil fuels in 90s but knowing this was gas replacing coal, does suggest a new wave of technology (CCGTs) replacing the old coal.

Renewables only going one way, and that's up!

Most new build homes must be fitted with solar panels - Miliband The energy secretary says the move will cut energy bills, but house builders caution against burdensome regulations.

Most new build homes must have solar panels - Miliband

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...