Jim Watson

A headshot of Jim Watson surrounded by text which says Prof. Jim Watson. Confirmed Speaker. Institute for Sustainable Resources, University College London.

Excited to announce Prof Jim Watson, Director of UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources and leading #energypolicy expert, will speak at our Summer Showcase 2025! Join us @uniofbath.bsky.social to hear insights from this influential climate advisor.

👉 Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-sho...

It's official: Sandra Díaz & Eduardo Brondízio Win the 2025 Tyler Prize!

💬 "The climate crisis, biodiversity loss & inequalities are all connected." – Díaz & Brondízio

Let’s celebrate these changemakers!
#TylerPrize #Biodiversity #Sustainability #ClimateAction #GlobalSouth

How do climate policies and politics affect oil and gas companies? The politics of oil and gas production are at the top of the agenda once again. The energy price shock and increasing climate change impacts have led some countries to strengthen policies to shift awa...

Declining demand for fossil fuels due to the energy transition is a plausible future that could threaten the long-term survival of oil and gas companies. My new article, based on a talk for the NTNU Energy Transition Initiative seminar with Equinor last month: www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do...

Two of the most influential voices in biodiversity and sustainability—Sandra Díaz and Eduardo Brondízio—have been awarded the 2025 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. In recognition of their extraordinary work linking biodiversity, ecosystems, and human well-being @tylerprize.bsky.social

Priorities For The New UK Government: Decarbonising The Power System A new government has been in power in Westminster since July. In our Policy & Practice miniseries, Priorities for the new UK Government, we will explore key ...

A couple of week's ago we held a seminar on decarbonising the UK power system. It's now online: https://buff.ly/4hHbHqx
Big thanks to James Richardson @thecccuk.bsky.social Rebecca Beresford @neso-energy.bsky.social @jessralston.bsky.social @arthurdowning.bsky.social and @watsonjim.bsky.social

We use GWP100, but our model can do GWP20 (which would need further work to implement it). Thanks for your interest in our work.

We don't have fugitive methane in the model, but is worth remembering that gas use declines significantly in scenarios that meet carbon budgets and net zero (including in our scenarios for this publication) - so this effect will diminish over time.

I have discussed with colleagues, and have some brief replies. Q1. LNG is an option for gas supply, but most of gas in our scenarios is from UK / Norway. Supply chain emissions outside UK are not included for energy sources.

Have you already had a look at these European energy experts? Would be great to have a thriving #EnergySky here!

If you think this pack is useful, please repost.
go.bsky.app/PvYmi78
Suggestions still welcome, too.

The new Government is embarking on a pivotal few years for the energy transition.

In our Review of Energy Policy 2024, we highlight the key priorities to achieve a fair and equitable energy transition.

Read the report here: ukerc.ac.uk/publication/...

I will need to check with my colleague Oliver Broad who runs our TIMES model. I’d prefer green hydrogen too - but the cost estimates are currently higher, so the model deploys a mix of blue and green to meet targets.

Hi James. No - we don’t go into performance of existing projects, but we mention that govt needs to be prepared for performance to be worse (and costs higher) than developer estimates. The Clean Air Task force has published a v useful report on existing projects & performance.

Thanks Adam. The first of the five CCS projects the government is funding (Net Zero Teeside Power) has just reached financial close too. By co-incidence, we've just published a new policy briefing that assesses the implications of the government's CCS announcements: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/sus...

NSTA awards Endurance first ever UK carbon storage permit

Bit of a moment. The UK has issued its first permit for carbon capture and storage.

For the Endurance store off the Yorkshire coast.

First CO2 could (*could*) be injected in 2027.

www.nstauthority.co.uk/news-publica...

Other recommendations
- Approach BECCS with caution due to risks of unsustainable fuel supply chains
- Insist on high levels of monitoring to promote innovation
- Do more to reduce energy demand, and the need for CCS
- Ensure value for money in contract negotiations
- Clarify future investment plans

What are the implications of new government spending on carbon capture and storage?

What are the implications of new government spending on carbon capture and storage? Our new policy briefing concludes that extensive CCS investment is not required to achieve Clean Power 2030. But it might have an indirect role in producing hydrogen for system balancing www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/sus...

Keir Starmer waters down UK clean power target in policy reset PM weakens ambition for ‘zero carbon electricity by 2030’ as he sets out policy ‘milestones’ for government

I'm not sure this is a watering down of Clean Power 2030. The government's choice of 'clean' rather than 'zero carbon' is deliberate - and included room for a small amount of unabated gas in 2030. This is reflected in the NESO advice of a few weeks ago: www.ft.com/content/5f02...

*NEW* heat pump installs reached a new record in October, under the Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme

3,800 applications received in October ‼️

following a year of growth after the last Government upped the grant amount to £7,500

Rachel Reeves pushes back multiyear UK spending review until June Delay from planned spring 2025 Treasury announcement will extend period of uncertainty for government departments

FT can reveal that the big spending review has been pushed back from the spring to June

(but Treasury still pretending that June is in the spring lol)

www.ft.com/content/edc2...

UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Come and work at the UCL Energy Institute - We're hiring a lecturer in energy and life-cycle sustainability.

Please share widely!

www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

*taps mic*
Each year, I hear about all the reasons that EVs will fail, and each year sales keep going up.

On track for just under 17 million in 2024, in line with BNEF forecast's from the start of the year
about.bnef.com/blog/are-glo...

Over 1,700 coal, oil and gas lobbyists granted access to Cop29, says report Fossil fuel-linked lobbyists outnumber delegations of almost every country at climate talks in Baku, analysis finds

Over 1,700 coal, oil and gas lobbyists granted access to #COP29Baku, says report

- Fossil fuel-linked lobbyists outnumber delegations of almost every country at climate talks in Baku, analysis finds

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Cumbria coalmine plan blocked by High Court Decision to approve Whitehaven site in 2022 deemed ‘legally flawed’ after Supreme Court’s ruling on future carbon emissions

NEW

The UK has banned new coal mines.

No more licences will be issued, the government said.

In a way, it doesn't change anything. The main big new coal mine planned in the UK was blocked by a court in Sept: www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

But still signal of direction of travel during #COP29

BBC Inside Science - COP29: Are climate summits working? - BBC Sounds What is the point of UN climate conferences, and are they really doing enough?

Are climate summits working? Enjoyed discussing this important question ahead of COP29 with Mark Maslin, Joanna Depledge and host Marnie Chesterton. COP summits have an essential role - but, as we discussed, significant reforms are needed to make them more effective www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Thanks Matt! Look forward to learning the ropes and connecting with people on here.

ESRC Studentships Main Competition - UBEL DTP ESRC Studentships Main Competition The UBEL DTP’s fully funded ESRC studentships cover full payment of tuition fees per year and an annual maintenance stipend. What’s on offer UBEL DTP studentships co...

Interested in doing a PhD in energy/environment research at UCL's Institute for Sustainable Resources?

Check out the UBEL doctoral training partnership. ubel-dtp.ac.uk/esrc-student...

You need to find a supervisor and an outline project, and submit an outline application by December 2nd.