iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I find it hard to believe that Andy Burnham would announce this big, bold statement policy to the nation (National Care Service) if he wasn't going to start to deliver it sooner than 2029-2034. What will he do for the next 3 years? My money is on a May 2027 general election.

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Awful. Capital overrides communities once again. Frome's bid for a community-led housing & regeneration project at Saxonvale lies in tatters: the council's agreed a deal with a London-based real estate company instead. Similar story in Totnes with Atmos project www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

theguardian.com

‘Devastating’: council rejects Frome residents’ bid for regeneration project

Locals raised £1m for Mayday Saxonvale scheme involving homes and park but Somerset officials agreed deal with London-based real estate company

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Michael Burchert @michaelburchert.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

People often think I work for an industry, big straw? The reason I promote straw bale construction in particular is that it is currently the most sustainable building practice available to humankind. This is clear to anyone who takes an open-minded look at the figures and our collective past.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

81 housing units, Mellinet development zone, Nantes - built with hempcrete and a timber frame I've posted this before but reposting as there's a lot more info and images on the architects website: palastarchi.fr#/mellinet-na...

Exterior view of hemp and timber apartment block in Nantes

Exterior view of balconies at timber and hemp apartment block, nantes

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

More images from the timber-earth-hybrid construction in Berlin, by B&O, Sauerbruch Hutton & Bauhaus Earth. More details and further research around the project published by Bauhaus Earth www.bauhauserde.org/projects/hol...

Earth block used in the floor construction of a B&O building in Berlin

Earth blocks being craned in to the building site of B&O's timber-earth campus in BErlin

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

In the UK this summer, of the 10,000 mentions of wildfires in the press, 4280 linked the fires to Net Zero, and 1620 to arson. Climate disinformation on an industrial scale open.spotify.com/episode/6uNL...

open.spotify.com

The Weaponisation of Disaster: Inside the New Security Thinking

Outrage + Optimism · Episode

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Sauerbruch Hutton's latest project looks set to be an incredible demonstrator of timber, earth and straw construction in Berlin All ceilings are load-bearing timber beams infilled with extruded earth blocks. Two load-bearing bracing walls are built using an earth block construction.

Sauerbruch Hutton timber and earth structural floor system from below

Construction site image of Sauerbruch Hutton's Timber Earth Campus. Presumably non load bearing earth wall at the far end of a space with timber beams spanning above

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In Berlin there was amazement when the new building for the German parliament was ready for use after construction of only 15 months. achieved by modular timber construction. The new building consists of 470 prefab modules British parliamentarians take note! www.ubm-magazin.com/en/luisenblo...

ubm-magazin.com

Luisenblock West uses modular timber construction - ubm magazin.

The German Bundestag chose prefabricated timber modules by specialists Kaufmann Bausysteme in Vorarlberg, Austria, for Luisenblock West.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I quite like the look of these, biobased homes designed by Orga Architects in Marknesse in the Netherlands, but I question the logic of having timber cladding laid on the roof like that. It looks to be struggling with the moisture exposure already? www.archdaily.com/1041137/orga...

archdaily.com

ORGA Completes Carbon-Negative Biobased Housing Prototype in Marknesse, Netherlands

Explore affordable homes in Marknesse, featuring sustainable design and biobased materials, by Netherlands-based ORGA architecture.

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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

This is a critical point that’s repeatedly ignored. If you’re under 45 there’s a good chance you’re still working in 2050 when we should be at net zero. If you’re under 25 there’s a good chance you’re alive in 2100 when current trends suggest we’ll be at 3C of warming and all that comes with it.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Now this is smart! A new tool by Russel Curtis of RCKA Architects with an exceptionally clever use of AI for societal purpose More than a decades worth of planning appeal decisions ingested and regurgitated into a fully searchable database Inc. live feed of planning appeals needles.cloud

needles.cloud

Needles — Planning Appeal Cases

Browse planning appeal cases from the Planning Inspectorate — searchable by LPA, inspector, procedure and outcome.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Electrification of transport, heating & industry Decentralised solar powered clean cooking Fixing methane leaks Global deforestation-free product regulation High impact rapid climate solutions highlighted by @exeter.ac.uk Global Systems Institute: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Climate solutions most likely to reach ‘positive tipping points’ revealed by scientists

Global shift towards clean electricity could trigger ‘cascade’ of progress, helping reduce air pollution, cut waste and revive oceans

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

In Paris an extraordinary building is nearing completion above Austerlitz where developer Cogedim is building 177 apartments with a hybrid timber/steel structure. Innovation spurred on by progressive environmental regulation introduced in 2022 which mandates developers reduce embodied carbon.

External view of Woodeum Paris Rive Gauche, a residential development in Paris by the developer Cogedim, which when completed will provide 177 apartments built using timber and steel

Internal view of Woodeum Paris Rive Gauche, a residential development in Paris by the developer Cogedim, depicting the ongoing construction. The image shows timber structure of CLT floor slabs, Glulam columns hybridised with steel structural elements and a concrete core.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

In Barcelona the city commissions and builds public housing schemes which are 100% for social rent and just look at the quality. They do this for around €2400 per m2 which is very cheap compared to UK! Oh - and this project has a secret. The structure is timber. Low-carbon. Quick to build.

View of the internal courtyard at a public housing scheme in Barcelona with a bold colour scheme of pale green render, bright red window frames and dusty pink external shading. Terracota tiles provide the floor finish of the external deck access.

View of the external deck access at a public housing scheme in Barcelona showing the generous and tastefully designed front entrance for the apartments, with set back bright red entrance doors and external furniture.

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Nina Markl 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 @ninamarkl.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

this is what happens when centrist parties run with the far-right talking points until they’re entirely normalised — the only people who win in that scenario are far right extremists and everyone else gets hurt (yes, every time, trust me, i’ve witnessed many austrian elections)

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Sian Berry MP @sianberry.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Trying to find a compromise position with the physics of extreme weather and climate chaos is not the winning strategy the new Prime Minister thinks it is…

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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

EXC - Andy Burnham will face an immediate test of his backing for electoral reform in his first week in parliament as prime minister, with almost 100 Labour MPs supporting a bid for a new national commission. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Labour MPs will push Burnham to back voting reform in first 100 days

Exclusive: Nearly 100 Labour MPs support commission on changing the system used for Westminster election

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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 21/08/2026

Bloomberg just estimated that planned data centre gas plants will increase US power emissions by 20%. For some perspective: by my calcs, that is the same as the UK's entire economy-wide 2025 emissions.

Bar chart comparing annual country CO2 emissions (gray bars) to emissions from proposed gas-powered data centres (purple), highlighting that planned gas data centres would produce roughly the same emissions as the entire United Kingdom.

Ninety-nine proposed plants tracked by BloombergNEF would emit about 318 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually if run at industry-standard rates, according to a Bloomberg News analysis. The entire US electric power industry emitted about 1,485 million metric tons of carbon last year, according to Energy Information Administration data, meaning one slice of data center infrastructure has the potential to lift US power sector emissions by 20%, and as much as a third should the new plants run flat out.
The data center building boom has already strained the US electricity system, prompting reliability concerns and moratoriums on new project approvals. With even greenlit facilities facing yearslong delays connecting to regulated electricity grids, data center developers are seeking alternatives. These include so-called behind-the-meter projects that can be permitted and built without the approval of utilities or the independent system operators charged with ensuring grid reliabilit

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Good. Gov now needs to go further in the other direction: to boost social housing construction. 1.3 million on waiting lists for council homes 2 million council homes sold through right to buy 300k + homeless 180k children in temp accommodation

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Repeat: Until we stop burning fossil fuels this summer will be one of the coolest of our lifetimes.

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Summer 2026 on course to be UK’s hottest on record, says Met Office. Until we stop burning fossil fuels, this summer will be one of the coolest of the rest of our lifetimes. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Summer 2026 on course to be UK’s hottest on record, says Met Office – latest news

Prediction comes amid warning of ‘extreme heat’ this week with temperatures of 38C possible

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The density of Paris is c. 20k people pet km2 London = 5k / km2 In Paris most streets are lined with shops, bakeries, cafes etc In London high streets are 15 minutes apart and empty shops exist Density works

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Paddy O Connel and guests on BBC R4 this morning discussed, uncritically, Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe's ethno-nationalist belief that being a Muslim makes you less British. "Worth discussing this idea" says Paddy. "Queasy" says guest No mention of fascism, racism, Nazis, neo-nazi etc.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

"We haven't built a new reservoir since 1992" Schools closed due to heat. Thousands of excess deaths. Farmers desperate for rain. Kemi says drill baby drill. Burnham considering expanding oil licenses. open.spotify.com/episode/0Esb...

open.spotify.com

Heatwave Britain: why are politicians so slow to act?

Politics Weekly UK · Episode

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Extremely welcome that Zack Polanski is focusing attention to climate adaptation and how we pay for it. Calls for higher taxes on fossil fuel producers. First party leader to talk about wildfire preparation www.ft.com/content/535d...

ft.com

Zack Polanski calls for higher taxes on oil and gas profits to fund wildfire prevention

Demand comes as both Shell and BP declared their highest quarterly profit in 4 years

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Damian Carrington @dpcarrington.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

BP profits more than double to $5.7bn in three months as Iran war sends oil prices soaring - "While BP banks enormous profits, millions of households are paying the price" #energycrisis #climatecrisis www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

BP profits more than double as Iran war sends oil prices soaring

Energy company’s $5.73bn quarterly profits come after Shell posted second highest quarterly earnings on record

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

"They returned home to find their house standing but the olive grove devastated, the garden scarred by the flames, the vines scorched and desiccated and the forest behind the house burned to the ground. No grape harvest this year" www.newstatesman.com/world/europe...

newstatesman.com

Europe’s age of fire

Is it finally time to panic?

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Economic & societal impacts of climate change are ramping up in UK & Europe this summer Rampant wildfire Widespread drought Excess deaths Food shortages Nuclear & hydro shutdowns The need to urgently & entirely decarbonise our economy has never been clearer www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

theguardian.com

South-eastern Europe faces heatwave energy crunch as Romania detonates Danube rock to increase water flow – Europe live

Explosives used to move a large rock and let more water flow to cool nuclear power plant

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

We live in an age of villains and fools. How newspapers blame the wildfires on Net Zero and rewilding. Great work by Simon Evans:

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Tim Ellis, TDSB Ward 2 candidate 🍁 @djdynamic.ca · 03/08/2026

Fairly rapid action on methane should have almost immediate impact on actual average temps and functionally "buy us time" on the carbon front. Of course that still requires actually, you know, doing something about the methane lol

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Zeke Hausfather @zekehausfather.com · 02/08/2026

I'm not sure folks have realized just how crazy the second half of 2026 and 2027 will be for global temperatures – on the back of a record-smashing El Niño event. Here is my latest estimate of where both years will end up compared to global temperatures since 1850.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

"We have to recognise that water security is a critical part of our food security and food security is our national security" Farmer's union head says. "other countries that we rely on to produce food, their climates are changing as well." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Prolonged drought could cause shortage of some foods, farmers' union head says

NFU president Tom Bradshaw calls on the government to take action to prevent extreme weather affecting the UK's food supply.

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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Crumbling infrastructure & lack of water jeopardising govt plans for new homes. Privatisation of England's water prioritised shareholder returns. No new reservoirs, desalination plants, or national grid of water. Companies don't do national planning. Yet govts intoxicated with privatisation

theguardian.com

‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at risk

Council leaders say crumbling infrastructure and lack of water are jeopardising government’s plans for new homes

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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Govt planning c. 100 new data centres by early 2030s, mostly in already water stressed areas. They have no legal obligation to disclose how much water they use. Meanwhile Govt launches £75m publicity campaign to urge us to reduce water use & privatised water companies waste 19% thro leaks. Madness

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Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Is “pragmatic” the new, “grown up” word? Andy, there’s nothing “pragmatic” about drilling for more oil & gas - to even consider it with the planet literally on fire is total madness. How many times must we say it will do nothing for energy bills or security? It would be an act of utter recklessness

theguardian.com

Burnham promises ‘pragmatic’ approach to North Sea oil and gas

PM tells reporters the government cannot ignore the energy resource ‘when people are struggling’

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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Very good animation from #C4News explaining how some countries are going backwards on climate change

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It's noticeable, too, that there wasn't a single question on the climate, at a time when Europe is experiencing catastrophic wild-fires & record-breaking heat. It's astonishing how low down the political agenda this remains in Britain, when all the environmental indicators are signalling disaster.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I used to live in Copenhagen. On Thursday the office closed at 4pm, on Friday at 3pm.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Right, now the heatwave is over shall we get back to business?

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Iain Graham @gestalht.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Good way to tank any goodwill you had going into the job, i suppose.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

- England in the quarter finals of the world cup... - Brit Arthur Fery reaching the semis at Wimbledon... - Keir Starmer on his way out of Downing Street... - A summer byelection between Nigel Farage & Count Binface Whisper it... but things are looking up?

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Absolutely wonderful to witness the spectacle of Nigel Farage imploding so publicly.

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Joe Giddings @joegiddings.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

After many days of prolonged heat our indoor temperature is not dropping below 25. That's even with fully opening windows for hours to purge. 1970s build with solid concrete walls - the building is like a heat battery, which keeps soaking it up through heatwaves

Image showing temperature of bedroom and living room at around 25

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