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Earl Russell LD

@earlrussell.bsky.social
1.5K followers 2.1K following 1.2K posts

🔶Liberal Dem 🔶 Spokesperson on Energy & Climate Change. House of Lords Life Peer. Photographer. Environment and Social Justice. Walker & Mountain Biker. 🇺🇦🏳️‍⚧️

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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 10h
Since the Hormuz crisis, EU gas prices are up 132% and oil 52%. Electricity is up 44%, after falling through spring. Every boiler, car and furnace that switches to electricity is less exposed to the energy crisis. Electrification is increasingly energy security.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Turns out we don’t have to invoke weapons of mass destruction when talking about ocean heat uptake. The ocean absorbed a record-breaking 23 zettajoules of heat last year, equivalent to 40 times the energy used by humanity. It’s not going to end well.
theguardian.com
World’s oceans absorbed record heat equal to 40 times annual global energy use
The injection of thermal energy comes amid an increasing rise in sea levels and continuing acidification
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Ben Maguire MP @benmaguiremp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🚨 Brilliant to see our Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillors rallying together to campaign against the plight of constant (and illegal) sewage dumping onto North Cornwall's beaches.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 30/09/2026
Some people say UK should stop building clean energy and should extend its reliance on gas power instead Choosing my words carefully, I would say that it's an interesting time to be making that argument www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-win...
carbonbrief.org
Analysis: Wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis - Carbon Brief
The UK has avoided gas imports worth £5.9bn since the start of the Hormuz crisis as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
National Centre for Atmospheric Science @ncas-uk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
While the impacts on UK weather are still uncertain, the assessment points to a higher chance of wetter, stormier conditions through autumn and early winter, followed by an increased risk of colder spells later in the season.
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Possible @wearepossible.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW 🚨 | Our polling with @MoreInCommon_ finds that 79% of Brits back a fair tax on private jets. ▪️Backed by voters of all parties ▪️Believed to be good for the economy ▪️Seen to be fair Read more: bit.ly/4dOWqV1
independent.co.uk
Majority of British voters back private jet tax to help fill Budget black hole
Exclusive: Polling by More in Common has revealed support for a new tax on billionaires as chancellor John Healey attempts to balance his books in next month’s Budget
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
‘Burnham plans to expand the rights of developers and businesses to build their own infrastructure to connect projects to the grid.’ How about every new data centre needs to fund and build their own grid connections and fund equal amounts of work on curtailment. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham promises to roll back privatisation with government-backed grid plan
Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Based on current building patterns 115,000 new homes will be built in England’s flood zones in the next 10 years Many could become uninsurable in the future due to the risk of flooding, says Insurance company Aviva Which would make those houses essentially useless www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Aviva boss warns more homes will be uninsurable due to flood risk
Aviva boss Amanda Blanc said England was "for sure" building homes that might be uninsurable at some point in the future.
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Not certain this is a great idea or that it will do much to reduce bills. Great British Energy has alread had a third of its budget taken by the Treasurey to creat GBE Nuclear. Now this. What is left for community energy? What we need is energy market reform. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham to announce government-backed body to invest in electricity grid
Exclusive: Creation of GB Grid will be major step towards putting Britain’s utility companies into public control
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Robin Whitlock @robinwhitlock66.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Lithium-ion batteries inside discarded vapes are creating thousands of battery fires across the UK www.renewableenergymagazine.com/storage/lith...
renewableenergymagazine.com
Lithium-ion batteries inside discarded vapes are creating thousands of battery fires across the UK
Lithium-ion batteries hidden inside discarded vapes are creating a growing challenge for waste operators - with thousands of battery fires occurring across the UK's waste system.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 28/09/2026
Price of diesel on UK forecourts reaches all-time high
theguardian.com
Price of diesel on UK forecourts reaches all-time high
Fallout from Iran conflict continues to drive up bill for motorists with record average cost now at 199.18p a litre The price of diesel on UK forecourts has hit an all-time high average of 199.18p a litre, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to drive the cost of fuel to record levels. The price, which previously peaked at 199.09p in June 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could soon top the £2 mark after Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day peace deal to reopen the critical oil and gas shipping route through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
82% of Britons say protecting nature is important to them, new polling by @moreincommonuk.bsky.social shows “You don’t often get that degree of consensus” on any issue, says @luketryl.bsky.social - speaking at an event at Labour Party Conference with the heads of the big nature NGOs
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ALDC @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
⚡ Help local residents cut their energy bills this winter. With energy costs rising, ALDC's new template motion - inspired by Bristol Lib Dems - calls on councils to boost advice and practical support on efficient heating for local households. Download the motion 🔗 www.aldc.org/2026/09/counci...
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Ian Kremer @wolverinebear.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Russia could attack a NATO country within months, Danish intelligence says www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Russia could attack a Nato country within months, Danish intelligence says
Warning comes hours after Poland says fire at Starlink satellite station was ‘act of sabotage’
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Max Wilkinson MP @maxwilkinson.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“We need urgent action to save our democracy.” That’s what I told @lbc.co.uk over the weekend when asked about the massive donations to Farage’s Reform party. The government must act now to stop US-style big money buying our politics.
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Lambeth Liberal Democrats @lambethlibdems.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Good to see Brixton Buzz report on the Lambeth Green's budget crisis www.brixtonbuzz.com/2026/09/unle...
brixtonbuzz.com
‘Unless the Greens get a grip, government will step in’: Lib Dem warning as Lambeth faces £10m overspend
Lambeth’s Liberal Democrat finance lead Chris Nicholson has warned that the government could send in commissioners to run the council unless the Green administration takes urgent action to ta…
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Electricity is 23% of global final energy but delivers 37% of useful energy and powers 46% of the global economy. We don't need to replace every fossil joule. We need to replace the services. A much smaller task. Great to see the @iea.org’s new Electrification report finally measure this.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Lib Dem Peers @libdempeers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Standing room only at Peers All Ears in Brighton, as conference members packed in to hear how Lib Dem peers change the government's bills. This is what you missed. 🧵
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RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Trump once urged Europe to buy more US energy as leverage against Russia. Now he's weighing a diesel export ban to ease record prices at home - and Europe could pay the price. Read Petras Katinas' new RUSI Commentary on Europe's exposure.
rusi.org
Europe’s Diesel Vulnerability to US Export Restrictions
Europe’s reliance on US energy exports was meant to insulate the continent from Russia. But it may result in new and potentially equally powerful vulnerabilities.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Patrick - Here for the craic❗️🤷🏼‍♂️😉 @paddyopatrick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Reform councils focus on Reform For example in Kent they spent £600,000 on just 8 parking spaces for senior Reform Councillors whilst slashing adult care, impacting 18,000 vulnerable adults Another Council shuts down 10 nurseries but I bet the Council has a big stock of Union and St George flags
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ECIU @eciu.net · 25/09/2026
Over 2️⃣4️⃣0️⃣M litres of milk was lost in this year's record summer heat Grass growth also hit, lost growth enough to feed entire UK cattle herd for 2 months What might this mean for farmers and consumers? (spoiler: price of milk unlikely to be what goes up)
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Greenpeace International 🌍 @greenpeace.org · 25/09/2026
97% of people live in countries with enough sun and wind to generate at least 10 TIMES the electricity they use today. Modern, decentralised renewable energy systems are POSSIBLE and AFFORDABLE. Don’t let oil and gas executives, or the politicians enabling them, tell you otherwise.
ember-energy.org
The Age of Power | Ember
How the electrotech and information revolution are converging – and what this means for energy, markets and geopolitics
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Sarah Dyke MP 🔶 @sarahdykeld.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🚜 I’ve written to the Defra Secretary of State following the abrupt closure of SFI ’26 Window 2. Farmers deserve fair, stable support, not another botched closure and more uncertainty. If you’ve been affected, please get in touch and share your experience.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Why is the UK’s suppressed #climate national security report significant? Report warns of food shortages, conflicts, mass migration and other threats to the UK’s national security, including going as far as the risk of nuclear war or the breakdown of society. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Why is the UK’s suppressed climate national security report significant?
Warnings about the catastrophic effects of vital ecosystems collapsing were not published under previous prime minister
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Global climate change will have devastating impacts for humanity. There is no security without environmental security. There is no point in pretending we can safeguard our national security will ignoring the eco systems on which all life depends. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Why is the UK’s suppressed climate national security report significant?
Warnings about the catastrophic effects of vital ecosystems collapsing were not published under previous prime minister
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I have a new essay in the newly relaunched IPPR Progressive Journal. It’s intended as a sober assessment of the political economy of Britain’s energy challenge, as we move from the old, dying fossil fuel system to the new world of electrification onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Screenshot of journal article How Britain Can Eacape Its Energy Trap: Heat and Light at the End of the Tunnel
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Last summer was the most temperate I am likely to experience for the rest of my life. In my part of London the average daily high during June July & August was 26.4C. This is 4C above the long-term summer average between 1991 & 2020. Your area had 34 days above 28C www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
UK summer 2026: BBC postcode lookup shows how hot and dry it was
Most of us experienced drought and heatwaves - but temperatures and rainfall were not the same everywhere.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Andy Burnham has plunged the plan for a third runway at Heathrow into doubt by privately telling MPs he has always opposed the project, and the new prime minister is said to be “open minded” about whether it should go ahead. www.ft.com/content/0206...
ft.com
Burnham’s opposition to Heathrow expansion puts third runway in doubt
New prime minister has been a longstanding critic of the project
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
'The London Strategic Heat Main, a network of water pipes that will run under and alongside the River Thames using recycled excess heat from sources like data centres and factories to warm 650,000 homes, has been awarded £41m in government funding. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Thames tunnel plan to heat 650,000 homes gets £41m funding boost
A new pipeline along the Thames will use heat from industry and redistribute it to homes across London.
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
'It remains a terrible time for anyone driving something not powered by electricity.' www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/a...
thisismoney.co.uk
Diesel price 'could near £3 a litre if Trump brings in US export ban'
Drivers across Britain already now pay an average of 197.75p for a litre of diesel - just over a penny away from the 199.09p record set in June 2022, according to the RAC.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
WATERSHED Investigations @watershed-i.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We organised blood tests for people living near a chemical factory in Thornton-Cleveleys where we uncovered high emissions of PFAS forever chemicals, including internationally-banned, cancer-causing PFOA. Last night, BBC News spoke to people as they received their test results:
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WATERSHED Investigations @watershed-i.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"We need to fight this" How long can people accept ongoing exposure to harmful chemicals, while our governments continue to pursue policies of deregulation? Will legal action be the "spearhead" that accelerates action on PFAS pollution? Our story on ITV News: www.itv.com/news/2026-09...
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Chris Gee / ◣ ◢ \ @chrisgeeuk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
If we electrify faster, we become less vulnerable.... news.sky.com/video/britai...
news.sky.com
Britain is running low on diesel - how worried should we be?
Sky's Ed Conway explains why diesel prices are rising and why the UK is among the most vulnerable if President Donald Trump bans the export of US diesel.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 24/09/2026
Tune into BBC1 after the News at 10 or live on BBC iPlayer from 9pm to catch @JoshBabarinde.bsky.social on Question Time!
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Claire Young MP 🔶 @claireyoungmp.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Sustainable Farming Initiative allows farmers to use some of their land for environmental initiatives. However, local farmer Annalisa Heal says trying to get a slice of the cash was like trying to get a ticket to Glastonbury. Watch the full chat: youtube.com/shorts/k76Lw...
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British Geological Survey @bgs.ac.uk · 24/09/2026
BGS SEISMIC INFORMATION: TALYLLYN, GWYNEDD 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 15:00 UTC 2.7 ML DATE: 24 September 2026 ORIGIN TIME: 15:00 58s UTC LAT/LON: 52.663° North / 3.913° West GRID REF: 270.6 kmE / 309.0 kmN DEPTH: 14 km MAGNITUDE: 2.7 ML
A blue graphic card which says 'seismic activity' in white and 'alert' in gold. A gold s wave runs across the centre of the image. The BGS logo is top right.
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ALDC @assoclibdemcllrs.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🔔 Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden, Tunbridge Wells BC Liberal Democrat GAIN from Tunbridge Wells Alliance 🔶 LDM - 697, 37.4% (+22.9) 🔵 CON - 590, 31.6% (-14.6) ➡️ RFM - 392, 21.0% (-4.4) 🟢 GRN - 188, 10.0% (-3.9) Congratulations to Cllr Harry Wormington and the team on a fantastic win! 🥳
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Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · 24/09/2026
NEW – Analysis: EVs are now nine times cheaper than petrol or diesel to drive in the UK ✍️ Written by @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org 📊 Data analysis by Ho Woo Nam Read here: buff.ly/VpxOLE5
EVs are now up to nine times cheaper per mile than diesel cars. Pence per mile. A chart shows diesel highest at around 21p, petrol at 20p, EV at price cap at 7p, and EV off peak lowest at under 2.5p. Source: Carbon Brief analysis, DESNZ, Ofgem, Zapmap. - (alt text generated by Google Gemini)
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Richard Bates @discript.com · 24/09/2026
The #HavantThicket reservoir project adds to growing concerns that the price of UK #infrastructure is spiralling out of control. (Gift link 🎁) Blow for drought-hit England as opening of new reservoir delayed by 5 years giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Blow for drought-hit England as opening of new reservoir delayed by 5 years
Concern over water supplies likely to grow as cost of Havant Thicket project more than doubles
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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The biggest scandal in the energy transition? Huge amounts of energy lost as rejected heat. Great talk with @mliebreich.bsky.social on Cleaning Up about why we may be measuring the transition all wrong. Plus hydrogen, heat pumps and systems thinking. youtu.be/7xDH8ZqJvqo?...
youtu.be
The Scandal at The Heart of The Energy Transition | Ep275: Jan Rosenow
YouTube video by Cleaning Up Podcast
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The next general election will be perhaps the most important one this country has ever faced. The choices are clear.
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Reposted by Earl Russell LD
Liveuamap @liveuamap.com · 24/09/2026
Fire breaks out at Starlink base in Masovian region of Poland on Wednesday evening. The station enables internet access for large parts of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. Initial investigations suggest a possible arson attack. liveuamap.com/en/2026/24-s...
liveuamap.com
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Jonathan Calder @lordbonkers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Liberal England: Local campaigner wants to see the River Teme given rights The Teme rises south of Newtown in Powys, then flows through Knighton, Ludlow and Tenbury Wells before joining the Severn south of Worcester. It forms the border between England and Wales for several miles around Knighton.
liberalengland.blogspot.com
Local campaigner wants to see the River Teme given rights
A Shropshire campaigner says the River Teme should be granted legal rights because it has become "unwell". Inspired by the way the River Wye...
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I am pleased to see this. Climate security is fundamental to the future of humanity on this planet is a global security problem.
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
As far as I can tell about some 17% of UK diesel supply is presently imported from America.
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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 22/09/2026
Fixing our relationship with Europe is the only way to get our economy back on track. We are fighting to do just that. To put Britain back where it belongs. Back at the heart of Europe.
Campaign graphic declaring "WE'LL PUT BRITAIN BACK IN THE SINGLE MARKET." in large white text on an orange diagonal banner over a dark blue patterned background with the Liberal Democrats logo at the bottom right.
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Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 23/09/2026
Britain feels broken because it is being held back. People feel powerless, and they can't hold the powerful to account. Liberal Democrats want to change our politics so that, together, we can fix our country.
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National Trust @nationaltrust.org.uk · 23/09/2026
Our wildfire petition has reached 100,000 signatures in four weeks - that’s 100,000 people urging the Government to take action on climate change.
An Fire and Rescue Service vehicle is parked on a passage between charred remains of heathland
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Earl Russell LD @earlrussell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The well if not this then what plans do the Conservative Party offer; is a critical rebuttal response, as made by the other interviewee. The Conservatives can not rip up all of our climate legislation and offer no alternatives at all.
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