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Julia PG Jones

@juliajones.bsky.social
3.5K followers 919 following 251 posts

Professor of conservation science, commenting on environment & development, nature markets, impact evaluation, & Welsh life.

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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Thanks to my coauthors Ivonne Salamanca, Tyler Hallman, @ewt.bsky.social, Julia Baker and Ben Benatt. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reducing variability in habitat condition assessments is critical if nature‐market metrics are to represent true biodiversity change
There is growing interest in condition-area metrics to measure gains and losses in biodiversity to support policies for development, such as England's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We model the impact...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
More importantly, despite inevitable measurement challenges, the #BNG policy in England gives biodiversity a seat at the table at a much earlier stage in the planning of new developments: a good thing for nature. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reducing variability in habitat condition assessments is critical if nature‐market metrics are to represent true biodiversity change
There is growing interest in condition-area metrics to measure gains and losses in biodiversity to support policies for development, such as England's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We model the impact...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Interviews with practioners reveal a range of approaches being developed to reduce variability in condition assessments, and new technology will also help. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
So in conclusion, the metric is not brilliantly sensitive at measuring change because of inevitable variability in habitat condition assessment. Does this undermine the Biodiversity Net Gain Policy? In short, no. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reducing variability in habitat condition assessments is critical if nature‐market metrics are to represent true biodiversity change
There is growing interest in condition-area metrics to measure gains and losses in biodiversity to support policies for development, such as England's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We model the impact...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Then tested BNG practitioners to try and estimate variability in condition assessments. Overall, the variability is enough to record a 10% increase in biodiversity units for some habitats between two assessments, even if there has been no change. www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
This is not an image from this study-it is just to illustrate an ecologist in the field.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Our work asks a different question: how good is the statutory metric at measuring change? We show that the metric is highly sensitive to variability in habitat condition assessments. This is not just random noise but introduces bias. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reducing variability in habitat condition assessments is critical if nature‐market metrics are to represent true biodiversity change
There is growing interest in condition-area metrics to measure gains and losses in biodiversity to support policies for development, such as England's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We model the impact...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
There has been some excellent work, e.g., by Natalie Duffus, Cicely Marshall, Lynn Dicks, Jakob Poffley ... which looked at how well the statutory metric correlates with other measures of biodiversity (species richness of various groups). besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
A globally influential area‐condition metric is a poor proxy for invertebrate biodiversity
Our results highlight the need to incorporate factors beyond habitat type and condition into site evaluations, and to complement metric use with species-based surveys.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Since early 2024, many new developments in England have been required to deliver a 10% uplift in 'biodiversity'. Such a policy, of course, requires a metric with which to measure 'biodiversity'. Hence the UK has a statutory biodiversity metric. #BNG conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Are you interested in Biodiversity Net Gain, biodiversity credits, or biodiversity metrics more broadly? If so then this thread (our new paper) is for you! We explore how good England's statutory biodiversity metric is at measuring change. #BNG conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reducing variability in habitat condition assessments is critical if nature‐market metrics are to represent true biodiversity change
There is growing interest in condition-area metrics to measure gains and losses in biodiversity to support policies for development, such as England's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). We model the impact...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Great thread for anyone struggling to keep up with the recent flurry of papers about social dimensions of the 30 by 30 target.
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Sophie Jago @sophiejago.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Ethiopia’s protected areas are working — and that is worth celebrating. Our new paper in @natecoevo.nature.com looks at what Ethiopia’s experience can teach us about the challenges in turning global conservation targets into effective and equitable national action. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Trade-offs between nature and people in Ethiopia’s protected areas demonstrate challenges in translating global conservation targets into national realities - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Quasi-experimental analysis of the effects of Ethiopia’s protected areas on environmental and human wellbeing is combined with surveys of conservation professionals to explore why improving protected ...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Our paper is not just for those who care about the integrity of REDD+ credits. It is for anyone interested in robust impact evaluation in conservation. We encourage everyone to test for the influence of hidden confounders (the newish R package Sensmakr really helps). www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Unobserved confounders cannot explain over-crediting in avoided deforestation carbon projects - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Causal inference should quantify the sensitivity of results to hidden confounders (variables affecting both the location of projects and outcomes). The importance of this is illustrated using analysis...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
It is awkward to be publishing another negative paper on REDD+ credits. Many of the projects that issued too many credits slowed deforestation, & I also believe there is a role for the carbon market in funding forest conservation. But sunlight is the best disinfectant. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Scandal in the voluntary carbon market must not impede tropical forest conservation - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Recent media coverage gives the impression that the very idea of tackling climate change by slowing tropical deforestation is a scam — this is not true and the idea could harm forests.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
While hidden confounders could explain some of the observed differences, we suggest they would need to be unrealistically large. An excellent News and Views piece by Erin Sills and Sunhrendu Pattanayak explores this in more detail. @natecoevo.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
A stress test for unobserved confounders - Nature Ecology & Evolution
REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) project...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
This reminded us of the Fisher/Cornfield arguement. We decided to explore how big a hidden confounder would have to be to explain the discrepancy between what the projects claimed, and how much deforestation independent analysis suggested was delivered? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Unobserved confounders cannot explain over-crediting in avoided deforestation carbon projects - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Causal inference should quantify the sensitivity of results to hidden confounders (variables affecting both the location of projects and outcomes). The importance of this is illustrated using analysis...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Some in the industry have rejected these findings, saying such studies fail to account for local drivers of deforestation. If these local drivers also influence where projects are placed in the landscape, they are indeed hidden confounders. arxiv.org/abs/2312.06793
arxiv.org
Serious errors impair an assessment of forest carbon projects: A rebuttal of West et al. (2023)
Independent retrospective analyses of the effectiveness of reducing deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) projects are vital to ensure climate change benefits are being delivered. A recent study...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
(note, the Nats Coms paper essentially confirms the finding of a expose by @theguardian.com @pgreenfielduk.bsky.social back in 2023, which claimed 90% of rainforest carbon offsets were 'worthless'.) www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows
Investigation into Verra carbon standard finds most are ‘phantom credits’ and may worsen global heating
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I’ve become rather embroiled in the debate surrounding over-crediting in the voluntary carbon market. As our recent paper in @natcomms.nature.com shows, 1st generation REDD+ projects sold more credits than justified (10 times too many!). www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Learning lessons from over-crediting to ensure additionality in forest carbon credits - Nature Communications
REDD+ projects reduced deforestation, but less than claimed. Synthesising 44 projects, this study finds about 11 times over-crediting due to selection bias in control areas and modelling approaches an...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
An American statistician, Cornfield, pointed out that for a confounder to be responsible, the association between the confounder & smoking, and the confounder & cancer, must be as strong as the association between smoking & cancer. No candidate could be identified. academic.oup.com/ije/article/...
academic.oup.com
Smoking and lung cancer: recent evidence and a discussion of some questions*
Abstract. Summary This report reviews some of the more recent epidemiologic and experimental findings on the relationship of tobacco smoking to lung cancer
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
By the late 1950s, it was well known that smokers were 9 times more likely to get cancer than non-smokers. However, the idea that smoking caused cancer was rejected by many, including the famous statistician RA Fisher* who argued that a hidden confounder was to blame. *had some tobacco funding
1950s smoking advert
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Why is the old debate about whether smoking causes cancer relevant to settling the controversy surrounding over-crediting in forest carbon offsets? Read our paper in natureecoevo.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Forest frontier landscape1950s smoking advert
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Fully-funded PhD with me in beautiful North Wales (field work in Sumatra). From conflict to coexistence: how can new biodiversity finance approaches promote elephants and humans living in harmony? With @wwf.org.uk, @bangoruniversity.bsky.social www.bangor.ac.uk/conservation...
bangor.ac.uk
PhD project: From conflict to coexistence - How can new biodiversity finance approaches promote elephants and humans living in harmony? | Bangor University
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
I really liked @matthayward.bsky.social 2019 piece arguing that that rewilding/restoration are equivalent concepts & critizising the endless search 4 novelty. You write as if it's self evident they are distinct. Would be interesting to hear your reflections. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Reintroducing rewilding to restoration – Rejecting the search for novelty
Rewilding is emerging as a major issue in conservation. However, there are currently a dozen definitions of rewilding that include Pleistocene rewildi…
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David Cooper @hdavidcooper.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Congratulations Prof. @juliajones.bsky.social MBE for services to the environment. Julia's contibutions span the academic, policy and practical, supporting action locally, nationally and globally. @jncc.bsky.social we are very proud.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
Thanks so much David. It's such a lovely surprise!
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Dan Brockington @danbrockington.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Profits from scientific publishing are eye-watering, costing us billions. In ‘The Drain of Scientific Publishing’ (arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820), (building on ‘The Strain of Scientific Publishing’ doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00327) we show how it is harmful – and unnecessary.
arxiv.org
The Drain of Scientific Publishing
The domination of scientific publishing in the Global North by major commercial publishers is harmful to science. We need the most powerful members of the research community, funders, governments and ...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Today we have Nick Salafsky talking about “The Role of ‘Gold-Standard’ vs. ‘Aluminium Standard’ Impact Assessments in Conservation Practice” (3pm UK time, 10am ET). Join us! (and share far and wide) @society4conbio.bsky.social
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
#TuesdayswithTeamCounterfactual (from the impact evaluation working group of the Society for Conservation Biology) has been my favourite seminar series since it started 3 years ago. I am delighted to have taken over as co-host. Register here to know more scb-impact.org/seminar-seri...
scb-impact.org
Virtual Seminar Series - SCB Impact Evaluation Working Group (IEWG)
Virtual Seminar Series Virtual Seminar Series Dive deep into the critical question of "what actually works in conservation?" by joining the free, Virtual
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
If you know researchers with expertise in forestry/agro forestry please share this permanent lectureship @bangoruniversity.bsky.social. The quality of life in north wales is fabulous: great colleagues & a stunning location. jobs.bangor.ac.uk/details.php....
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Some 'easter eggs' for Beetles fans in this latest Ecology explainer from @billsutherland.bsky.social. Everything you wanted to know about Albedo. youtu.be/6MUXGS-qaOM?...
youtu.be
Albedo and its environmental consequences
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
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Action to Protect Rural Scotland @aprscotland.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
How misinformation brought down a National Park. APRS Director @kat-jones writes in The Herald about the vested interests that brought down the proposed Galloway National Park and why this is a sobering lesson for all environmental campaigners. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...
heraldscotland.com
Powerful vested interests killed new national park at birth - SNP should be ashamed
The news that Galloway is no longer under consideration to be Scotland’s next National Park should send a chill down the spine of everyone…
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
The US National Park Service 'junior ranger' scheme is a fabulous initiative. I was proud to be sworn in this weekend after completing a variety of assignments in a really informative booklet. Who says it's not aimed at professors? We loved it & learned alot.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee does such important work advising the UK and devolved governments on nature conservation. I'm delighted to have been appointed to the board.
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Markus Eichhorn @markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
We are looking for a research ecologist to join the Board of @britishecologicalsociety.org. This influential role will help to set the strategic direction and priorities of the Society. Deadline 30 June with the role to start in December.
britishecologicalsociety.org
Join the BES Board of Trustees - British Ecological Society
We are seeking an ecologist working in academic research
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
The weather was fab for this week's field course for the conservation masters students @bangoruniversity.bsky.social. What a place to live and study north wales is! This is all on the doorstep.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
I love being involved in this initiative to help decide how 'Nature' spends the royalties she earns by collaborating with human artists.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
The deadline for these two fully-funded phd projects is fast approaching (5th May). Do share far and wide.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Lovely story about a man walking a long way dressed as a curlew to raise money for conservation. I couldn't see a link to donate which seems a real shame. If anyone knows him do share. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Man sets off on Nidderdale walk dressed as a curlew - BBC News
Matt Trevelyan made the Eurasian curlew costume out of polystyrene and bamboo.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
"It’s not species being revived, it’s a few of their characteristics being borrowed. It’s like claiming to have brought Napoleon back from the dead by asking a short French man to wear his hat." Rich Grenyer on 'deextinction' in @theconversation.com theconversation.com/why-de-extin...
theconversation.com
Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature
Extinction is, for the time being, forever – and a symptom of our global economic system.
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Neal Hockley @nealhockley.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
👆 Fully-funded #PhD opportunity as part of the @WGSSSDTP researching the social and economic aspects of restoring the Celtic rainforests. Would particularly suit a Welsh-speaking researcher! bangor.ac.uk/conservation...
bangor.ac.uk
New PhD project: Restoring the Celtic Rainforest for Net Zero – A Just Land Use Transition?  | Bangor University
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Neal Hockley @nealhockley.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Cymraeg? Diddordeb mewn ymchwil gwyddorau cymdeithasol mewn cyd-destun amgylcheddol? Dyma #PhD efo ysgoloriaeth llawn, gweithio efo fi Sophie Wynne-Jones @juliajones.bsky.social a Ruth Swetnam i astudio agweddau cymdeithasol/economaidd o adfer y goedwig law Geltaidd www.bangor.ac.uk/cy/cadwraeth...
bangor.ac.uk
Prosiect PhD newydd: Adfer y Goedwig Law Geltaidd ar gyfer Sero Net – Trawsnewid Defnydd Tir Cyfiawn? | Bangor University
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Rosaleen Duffy @rosaleenduffy.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
📣. Calling all conservation social scientists. Check out these fantastic opportunities- funded PhDs with a brilliant team 📆 application deadline 5 May ⬇️
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The Oxford Nature Network @biodivoxford.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
It's so rare to see fully-funded PhDs, let alone with this wonderful team!
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Fully-funded PhD project on "Restoring the celtic rainforest for net zero: a just land use transition?" Based @bangoruniversity.bsky.social but working in close collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts. www.bangor.ac.uk/conservation...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Fully-funded PhD project on "The social & environmental consequences of climate-driven migration to the forest frontier in Madagascar". Based @bangoruniversity.bsky.social but working in close collaboration with @chesterzoo.bsky.social and Madagasikara Voakajy www.bangor.ac.uk/conservation...
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Two fully-funded PhD scholarships @BangorUni in conservation social science. Deadline 5th May. If you have conservation scientists, geographers, economists, sociologists in your network do share. Details in thread below (1/3) www.bangor.ac.uk/conservation...
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BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
New Job Alert! 📢 Join BTO as a Database Developer. Apply online ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📝 Salary: £34,578 📅 Full time role, part-time will be considered 🏠 Hybrid working policy
Cut out image of a Robin perched on a rock in front of a purple background. Wording to the left of the image reads: Work with us! Database Developer. www.bto.org/jobs. BTO logo is top right of the image.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The book comes out next week: www.amazon.co.uk/Climate-Trut...
amazon.co.uk
A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How To Get It
Buy A Climate of Truth: Why We Need It and How To Get It by Mike Berners-Lee (ISBN: 9781009440066) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
The central thesis is that an increase in truthfulness is more important than technological advances as a solution to climate change & related threats. An interesting proposal. Read my review (or the book). To learn more.
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Julia PG Jones @juliajones.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Is a revolution of standards in public life the key to tackling the intertwined environmental crises we face? My review of the new book by @mikebernerslee.bsky.social, published in @nature.com www.nature.com/articles/d41....
nature.com
A radical manifesto for truth
Is a revolution of standards in public life the key to tackling our intertwined environmental crises? A compelling book argues it is.
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