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Laith Whitwham

@laithw.bsky.social
2.4K followers 92 following 90 posts

UK climate and industrial policy at E3G, Co-Founder af the BAME Climate Professionals Forum, and part-time (very) amateur ceramicist.

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Reposted by Laith Whitwham
Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Two technologies that competed for the future of heating and transport. The race is over. In 2025, 19m heat pumps were sold globally. Hydrogen-ready boilers: 237 units. The picture in transport is identical. 21m electric vehicles were sold last year. Hydrogen fuel cell cars: roughly 10,000 units.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
The UK's housing is among the least energy-efficient in Europe. This means it costs more to heat our homes that it needs to and we're wasting money on extra gas and electricity instead of spending it on the things that truly matter. www.ft.com/content/fce6...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
“If the UK wants to compete for clean industry and investment, electricity prices must come down,” said Laith Whitwham of E3G. “Moving legacy policy costs into general taxation is a fast, fiscally sound fix.” Coverage of our letter to the Chancellor: www.energylivenews.com/2025/05/14/c...
energylivenews.com
Cut electricity prices or lose clean industry boom - Energy Live News
Coalition urges Chancellor to shift green levies off bills to unlock growth and drive industrial electrification
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Today a coalition of 17 businesses, investors, trade bodies & climate orgs wrote to the Chancellor urging the UK gov to remove policy costs from #electricity bills. The public letter 👇 is a bold show of support across the board from 'green' groups to the private sector. www.e3g.org/news/cut-ele...
e3g.org
Cut electricity prices now or miss the Clean Industry Boom, say leading businesses and climate groups
A coalition of manufacturers, investors, and climate groups have called on the Chancellor to slash electricity prices to unlock growth, drive electrification, and secure Britain’s place in the global ...
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E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism @e3g.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
As Labour moves to rescue British #Steel, debate over the UK’s industrial future heats up. E3G’s @laithw.bsky.social says it’s not decarbonisation to blame, but the lack of a coherent industrial strategy. Read the full piece in @politico.eu here👇 www.politico.eu/article/keir...
politico.eu
The big unanswered questions from Keir Starmer’s British Steel takeover
How far is Labour willing to go to prop up Britain’s struggling industries? And will it be enough to see off the Farage threat?
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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
A Starling murmuration, thousands of birds moving as one. A moment of wonder, a feeling of connection. What does it make you feel? #ThoughtfulThursday 💌
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
E3G's has just published new research on the cost of hydrogen for home heating and, unsurprisingly, it is not an attractive proposition - unless you own a gas network... Fantastic research into the cold, hard numbers from @chrisgalpin.bsky.social, with a thread well worth checking out.
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Reposted by Laith Whitwham
Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
A reminder that the only way for Europe to reduce exposure to volatile fossil gas prices is to significantly reduce gas consumption.
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James Huw Dyson @jamesdyson.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Countless renters have similar stories. Appalling landlords think it is Okay to let homes in these conditions. In one story, Brighton City Council was contacted but did nothing; resource is the problem. We should levy ~£125 / property to fund local enforcement. 1/5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
'Black mould is making my son ill' - the private renters struggling to be heard
Families tell BBC their mould-infested homes are making them ill - Panorama investigates.
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Juliet Phillips @julietphillips.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Given the media circus around nuclear & CCS, this is a timely analysis from BNEF that new wind & solar are already undercutting new fossil plants in almost every market globally. Cost of clean technologies are expected to fall further by 2-11% this year💰 about.bnef.com/blog/global-...
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Reposted by Laith Whitwham
James Huw Dyson @jamesdyson.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
UK heat pump sales increased 63% last year and 15% more people completed a recognised heat pump training qualification! This is great news in a sector which has taken a while to get going. 1/4 www.heatpumps.org.uk/record-year-...
heatpumps.org.uk
Record year for UK heat pump sales and training
New data from the Heat Pump Association (HPA) reveals that 2024 saw a significant 63% increase in hydronic heat pump sales, and a 15% increase in individuals completing a recognised heat pump training...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
In this article the 'offshore energy' association @oeuk.bsky.social say CCS 'is the only way to protect heavy industrial activity and the jobs they support in our industrial heartlands.' This is simply not true and plays off fears around job losses. Short thread...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
NEW: Our research shows that biomass will not be needed to achieve clean power by 2030. Short thread on why this is significant. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Burning wood for power not necessary for UK’s energy goals, analysis finds
Experts say UK should stop biomass burning as electricity sector decarbonisation by 2030 can be achieved without it
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Reposted by Laith Whitwham
Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
This would be exceptional stupidity by UK Labour government: * airport expansion ineffective for growth * damages climate, environment & health * highly divisive - could use political capital more productively * would require huge state subsidy when money's tight www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for Growth
Keir Starmer’s government is preparing to approve controversial expansions to three London airports as part of a push to spur growth that’s become more urgent this month after international markets ca...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
This is an absolute magnus opus on the Labour Government's Clean Power Mission from @e3g.bsky.social Here's a run down of the key findings and recommendations, which have massive implications for where we take clean energy in the UK. 1/9 www.e3g.org/publications...
e3g.org
The UK's clean power mission: Delivering the prize
UK government can both achieve its Clean Power 2030 mission and bring down electricity bills for households.
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E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism @e3g.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Tune in to hear E3G's Richard Smith set out how lessons from EU-North Africa energy cooperation can inform future cooperation on clean industry. 📅Wednesday 15 Jan, 09:30 CET, Online Register here👉 stichtingeuropeescentrum-435.webex.com/webappng/sit...
stichtingeuropeescentrum-435.webex.com
Meet virtually with Cisco Webex. Anytime, anywhere, on any device.
Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
The next time someone tells you 'electric vehicles don't work in the cold', send them this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Norway on track to be first to go all-electric
Nine in 10 new cars in the country are now battery-powered, and it aims to hit 100% later this year.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
After Starmer announcement on AI, sharing an illuminating read from @mliebreich.bsky.social Generative AI: The Power and the Glory 💻 🚀 Mostly talks power demand, but an early point on hype vs reality: Gen AI biz need $600B/yr to match chip orders from Nvidia etc... about.bnef.com/blog/liebrei...
about.bnef.com
Liebreich: Generative AI – The Power and the Glory | BloombergNEF
This year will go down in history as the year the energy sector woke up to AI. This is also the year AI woke up to energy. Is the data center power frenzy just the latest of a long line of energy sect...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
It's really exciting to share FOUR new roles in my team at @e3g.bsky.social as we expand our work on industrial transition throughout 2025! They're in our Clean Economy team, which influences countries' industrial and trade policies to shift economic production to a 1.5 °C pathway. The roles:
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Josh Gabbatiss @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
NEW ANALYSIS - Right-leaning UK newspapers have tried very hard to discredit Ed Miliband this year. Since the election, there have been roughly two editorials a week in the Sun, the Daily Mail and others attacking him due to his support for net-zero policies. ➡️ buff.ly/4h3rpN3
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Reposted by Laith Whitwham
Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Amazing to see how suddenly Republicans and conservatives are keen on hiring more government employees (firefighters!), having higher government budgets, and investing more in infrastructure. Surprise!
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Juliet Phillips @julietphillips.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Nice piece articulating the crazy market power of gas plants demanding prices *40 times* the official estimated running cost. Ofgem must take action to limit excess profits; & in the long run, gas shld be moved outside the wholesale market into a back-up reserve. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Why have Britain’s energy costs soared and what does it mean for Labour?
Claims that power plants are gaming the system to charge huge sums to switch on in the UK’s cold weather
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
📣 New job alert! @e3g.bsky.social is looking for a Policy Advisor to work on steel decarbonisation in 🇪🇺 and beyond. They'll campaign on steel decarb and co-convene the European Fossil Free Steel Network. 📆 Deadline: 28th Jan 🌎 Berlin 🤑 €45,000–€50,450pa Apply now 👉 e3g.bamboohr.com/careers/201
e3g.bamboohr.com
Policy Advisor, Steel Transition, Clean Economy, Berlin
POLICY ADVISOR, STEEL TRANSITION, CLEAN ECONOMY, BERLIN E3G is looking for a Policy Advisor to support its Clean Economy Programme in driving our strategy on steel sector transition with a focus on co...
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Simon Oldridge @sioldridge.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
Let’s make this a happy 2025 by being the first major nation to pass genuine science-led climate & nature legislation for real change. UK targets are old & ineffective👇 Key vote for the Climate & Nature Bill on Fri 24th Jan. Will your MP be there to vote for our future? #CANBill www.zerohour.uk
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
UK Gov has launched a new #Steel Council ahead of a sector strategy in Spring. The decisions of this Council will help to shape the sector for decades. But what are these decisions, and does today's announcement give us any clues about where the UK is heading? 🧵 1/14 www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Government sets out plan to secure the long-term future of steelmaking and safeguard steel communities
The Government has launched a new Steel Council, made up of steel sector leaders, industry experts, trade unions, trade associations and devolved governments.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
This is a terrible decision that will disrupt an iconic London skyline and release 1000’s of tonnes of CO2. The South Bank and National Theatre are rare treasures. Crowding them out with a dismal ‘slab’ for the sake of investment is cynical and misguided. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
theguardian.com
Court clears way for ‘the Slab’ office block to be built on London’s South Bank
Judge dismisses challenge that argued development failed to provide housing and could damage London landmarks
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
If all you want for Christmas is a new job... we're hiring! @e3g.bsky.social is looking for someone to work on trade & climate - an area that's really kicking off! 🚀 Position: Policy Advisor, Trade & Climate 🌐 Location: Brussels or London 📅 Deadline: Monday 13 Jan www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/40...
linkedin.com
E3G hiring POLICY ADVISOR, TRADE & CLIMATE, CLEAN ECONOMY, BRUSSELS OR LONDON   in Brussels Region, Belgium | LinkedIn
Posted 3:47:45 PM. POLICY ADVISOR, TRADE & CLIMATE, CLEAN ECONOMY, BRUSSELS OR LONDON E3G is looking for a Policy…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Trump’s tariffs will raise prices, harm workers & make it harder to solve global problems. Great piece from @americanprogress.bsky.social's @mwilli.bsky.social on the folly and failure of Trump's approach to trade. 👇 a particularly amusing (read: sad) para www.americanprogress.org/article/trum...
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 13/12/2024
Deep dive: How the UK plans to reach clean power by 2030 With my colleague Molly I've dug deep into the govt's 136-page action plan for decarbonising the grid by 2030 If achieved, it'd see offshore wind become backbone of power sector – in just 6yrs www.carbonbrief.org/... 1/2
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
The queue for grid connections currently means new energy projects can wait over 10 YEARS for a connection. So it's great news that Gov's 'Clean Power 2030 Action Plan' will change the rules to remove stalling projects and make way for shovel-ready ones!
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Water companies pollute our water while paying out millions in bonuses & dividends. Apparently this attracts talent but Thames Water has seen a 40% increase in pollution incidents in the 6 months to Sep and it's billpayers being called on to get us out of this mess... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Thames Water boss defends bonuses as sewage spills soar
The company saw a 40% increase in pollution incidents in the first half of the year as its debts continued to swell.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
The ZEV mandate is working! This Nov 1 in 4 🇬🇧 car sales were electric. Ahead of 22% EV mandate and overtaking 🇪🇺 Year-to-date sales lag a little (18.7%), but we're driving in the right direction and a u-turn now will simply send the wrong signal to the market. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
A Quarter of New Cars Sold in the UK Were Electric in November
One in four new cars registered in the UK last month were fully electric, bolstering clean-energy advocates’ argument that the country’s EV sales mandate is working.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
I'm joining the TUC next week to discuss how Labour's Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy can succeed in ushering in a new era of clean industry. This isn't just about emissions and growth; it's about creating tangible benefits to workers and local communities. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-we-ne...
eventbrite.co.uk
What we need to win from Labour’s industrial decarbonisation strategy
A lunch and learn to discuss how the industrial decarbonisation strategy can leverage a just transition
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Leaky homes are bad for the planet and hammer household energy bills. Sadly, we haven't seen the policies or investment needed to fix things. In this piece by E3G's @jamesdyson.bsky.social, we call for a Warm Homes Agency to coordinate and accelerate change. Read why we think an Agency is needed:
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Amidst a doom and gloom media landscape, familiar inaction from governments, and a seemingly endless limit to the destructive power of an extractive economy... ...there are good news stories! The transition away from fossil fuels is inevitable. www.current-news.co.uk/fossil-fuel-...
current-news.co.uk
Fossil fuel generation hits record low
New data has shown that the volume of UK electricity generated from fossil fuels has reached its lowest-ever recorded level.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
This may not be a bad call. Gov is developing an Industrial Strategy at lightning speed, alongside a multi-year CSR, Trade Strat & Industrial Decarb Strat. Pushing ahead too quickly leaves too little time to course-correct, align policy, and really get things right. www.ft.com/content/edc2...
ft.com
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
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
As the world decarbonises, the UK's clean power push offers a bonus for industries that have electrified and are able to sell cleaner products into growing green markets. But without lower energy prices and support for electrification, many UK firms won't be able to seize this massive opportunity.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 11/11/2024
Great quote in the @financialtimes.com from @e3g.bsky.social's @jamesdyson.bsky.social. Delayed requirements for non-gas heating in new homes mean 700,000 families must make these upgrades, passing on huge costs that could have been minimised during construction. www.ft.com/content/3a35...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 31/10/2024
The #AutumnBudget has £billions for carbon capture. I spoke to iNews about how this is good for industries like cement but a poor choice where we have other options. The risk is that we lock in fossil fuels for years to come... inews.co.uk/news/labours...
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E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism @e3g.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
🔍Last week E3G's @laithwhitwham.bsky.social was featured in @thetimes.com discussing the UK's clean steel transition. He emphasises, "The UK is definitely playing catch-up," as the government pledges £2.5 billion for decarbonisation.🏗️🌱 Read the full article here 👇 www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
thetimes.com
‘Britain is playing catch-up’: inside the race for clean steel
Other countries are putting billions into recycling and Labour is following suit. Our struggling industry has one big advantage
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 14/10/2024
💥 The starting gun has been fired on the creation of an #IndustrialStrategy! @e3g.bsky.social will be looking closely at the government's plans, making sure they do enough to kickstart a thriving clean economy that delivers for people across the UK.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 16/09/2024
#Steel is one of the 🌍' most polluting materials. Ironically it's absolutely critical to #NetZero... So we need to clean the sector up 🏭 Luckily, the switch to clean steel offers the UK's struggling sector a chance to be competitive again. Part of my interview with LBC:
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Will Yeates @wyeates.bsky.social · 13/09/2024
“If the fracturing of our once stable climate doesn’t terrify you, then you don’t fully understand it.” And to me, THAT IS the scariest part, no one understands it and many DO NOT WANT to understand it either." r/collapse
buff.ly
From the collapse community on Reddit: Scientists Opinion: “I’m a climate scientist. If you knew what I know, you’d be terrified too”
Explore this post and more from the collapse community
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 13/09/2024
Great piece in The Telegraph highlighting a crucial point: the future of UK industry lies in clean sectors like green steel 🌍🔧 They are the industries of the future and will help us revitalise our manufacturing sector... www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
telegraph.co.uk
Green steel is the only path to a British industrial renaissance
The renewable energy revolution has given us an opportunity to revive our Victorian can-do spirit
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Juliet Phillips @julietphillips.bsky.social · 11/09/2024
Welcome steps forward on renters' rights today - huge congrats to the Renters' Reform Coalition, Generation Rent & others for tireless campaigning! The gov has said in parallel, it will consult on setting efficiency standards for 2030. E3G has set out thoughts here: www.e3g.org/publications...
e3g.org
A warmer, fairer private rented sector
This report sets out how a higher efficiency standard could be implemented to make the private rented sector warm and fairer.
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 12/09/2024
It was always going to be hard for Labour to get more for Port Talbot, with the Tories leaving no long-term plan for UK steel. BUT, they now have the opportunity (and power) to set a long-term strategy to revitalise the sector. In @businessgreen.bsky.social: www.businessgreen.com/news/4358418...
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Laith Whitwham @laithw.bsky.social · 12/09/2024
🚨 Big News for Tata Steel’s Port Talbot steelworks! 🚨 After years of waiting, a deal is finally in place. But what’s in it? And more importantly, what isn’t? 👀 👇 A thread…
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