Richard Carmichael, CPsychol, FRSA

In 2025, the Government introduced a range of policies to advance its Mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower

In the Review of Energy Policy, we assess the latest developments in our sector.

Read the Review in full: ukerc.ac.uk/publication/...

New publication!

Gas-linked revenues accounted for 90% of generation & 2/3 of costs in 2024, but this will fall to 60% & under 1/2 of costs by 2028.

But this reduction in the share of gas prices in bills has limited effect. Find out why⤵️
ukerc.ac.uk/publications...

Applications are now open for our MSc programmes in Conservation Science and Practice and Environmental Technology at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social 🌍✨

Join a community shaping solutions for a sustainable future.

Apply now 👇

#Sustainability #Conservation #EnvironmentalPolicy #StudyAtImperial

Explore our new background briefing, which shares insights from the Better Futures Retrofit Accelerator programme to explore the opportunities for climate innovation in the building retrofit sector.

Explore the briefing by Clare Lowe, reviewed by @drrcarmichael.bsky.social & Alyssa Gilbert and edited by @cait-hewitt.bsky.social: ow.ly/w9Wp50WROIV

The way that I was raised, being Jewish meant believing that every human life was sacred; to save a single human life meant saving all of humanity. That no law or ritual was more important than saving a single human life.

It's unfathomable that any Jew can accept what Israel is doing in Gaza.

👍🏽🇵🇸

ICJ climate ruling, which holds states accountable, will shape future climate lawsuits, say experts ‘This is the first time that the world’s highest court—the International Court of Justice—addresses legal obligations of states with respect to climate change,’ says law professor at University of Osl...

👍🏾
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that states can be held accountable for climate harm, a decision that some experts believe will shape future climate lawsuits around the world

www.aa.com.tr/en/environme...

NEW: Getting to net-zero will be much cheaper than thought for the UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly, says OBR

Quick piece / thread with 4 key charts showing, yet again, why climate action is far less costly than inaction

🧵

www.carbonbrief.org/...
1/6

Study Finds No Difference In Muscle Fiber Protein Synthesis Between Vegan And Omnivore Diets A new study suggests that there is no difference in the synthesis of muscle fiber protein between omnivorous and vegan diets

"...the best type of food for muscle building is 'the kind you put in your mouth' right after doing exercise..." Also, "...protein intakes higher than 1.1g of protein per 1kg of bodyweight per day make no difference to muscle gains while training" plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/he...

👍🏽 ...and biodiversity too 👍🏼

We have had the second worst UK harvest on record last year and just last week 4 times the size of the UK was flooded in Australia - killing hundreds of thousands of animals.

YouTube video by LEAP Professor Paul Behrens: plenary talk, 2025 LEAP conference

Climate impacts means lower yields and less land for food in the future, but what can we do? How do we provide healthy food using fewer inputs, less land, less capital etc?

I argue that biophysical limits mean we'll likely go much more plant based in this keynote 🧵

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2nl...

WHY ARE WE STILL BEING TOLD TO EAT MORE MEAT? CEO CIWF

Despite being advised by the Climate Change Committee to reduce the production & consumption of meat/dairy, the UK government has funded, every year, campaigns to *increase* their consumption: shorturl.at/mWMkq
So here's a petition to ask for the promotion of plant-based foods: shorturl.at/HS5Ig

The Way We Eat Is About To Change—Whether We Like It Or Not Oxford’s Paul Behrens says global diets will shift toward plant-based foods as a structural response to rising environmental and economic risks.

This piece in @forbes.com describes the keynote I gave at the @oxmartinschool.bsky.social LEAP conference this week

I make the case that biophysical limits and a shrinking safe climatic space means an inevitable plant-based shift. Video of the talk coming soon!

www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...

Developing an energy security monitoring framework fit for UK Net Zero This paper proposes the ‘4+4 Framework’ for comprehensive and transparent monitoring of energy security, comprising...

The impact of the war in Ukraine on wholesale and retail energy prices has revealed the extent of energy security vulnerabilities in the UK.

New UKERC research proposes a framework for the comprehensive and transparent monitoring of energy security.
ukerc.ac.uk/publications...

The 4+4 Framework is relatively complex but could better support users to capture all risks, avoid double-counting, make decisions that account for trade-offs and synergies, and continue to improve data and governance.

Poor metrics and data jeopardise energy security by limiting risk assessment and the ability to respond and manage them. We propose two dashboards – one to show levels of energy security risks and one showing the quality of current data and metrics (example here).

This paper proposes the ‘4+4 Framework’ for monitoring UK energy security. It comprises eight dimensions - the familiar “4 As”, plus 4 more: Sustainability, Independence, Governance, and Data & Metrics. 72 indicators and corresponding data sources are tagged against these.

In our newsletter:

Research into skills for a low carbon heat transition

Regulating electricity distribution networks for net zero

Spatial conflict in offshore wind farms in the commercial fishing industry

Join our webinar on March 20th

Read it all: mailchi.mp/f1fb73ab4e59...

CEP Director comments on 2050 #netzero target.

Read our research:
➡️https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/centreforenergypolicy/ourpublications/policybriefs/ ⬅️

@edrc-uk.bsky.social @ukerc.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social @strathpolir.bsky.social @strathhumanities.bsky.social

Today's Energy Headlines:

Gas, not net zero, has driven up UK power bills⚡️

Heathrow had enough power to avoid shutdown, says National Grid🛬

Solar panels for schools and hospitals must meet high security standards – No 10☀️

Read them all & subscribe: mailchi.mp/615c511e8600...

Gas, not net zero, has driven up UK power bills Britain has been unhelpfully exposed to international price shocks

"But it is not true that renewables are the chief reasons British bills have soared."

The @financialtimes.com discusses how UK energy prices have been influenced by international price shocks, and what solutions are on offer, including from UKERC Director Robert Gross.
www.ft.com/content/2f25...

The Loopholes That Allow MPs’ Corrupt Conflicts of Interest to Go Undetected New research exposes the gaps in parliamentary rules which allow MPs to hide their donations, financial interests and client relationships from voters

🔴The Loopholes That Allow MPs’ Corrupt Conflicts of Interests to Go Undetected

New research exposes the gaps in parliamentary rules which allow MPs to hide their donations, financial interests and client relationships from voters

bylinetimes.com/2025/03/05/t...

From nuts to kelp: The 'carbon-negative' foods that help reverse climate change Eating low-carbon foods helps reduce emissions, but some foods actually suck up carbon from the atmosphere for good, leaving the climate in a better place. Could we eat more of them?

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

My latest for @theguardian.com

Great to see government finalising junk food ad regulations to tackle childhood obesity, due to come into effect in 2025.

#TheFoodConversation shows citizens are concerned about the impacts of ads on children – and want government to regulate businesses to ensure health comes before private profit.