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Sam Alvis

@samalvis.bsky.social
2.8K followers 475 following 1.2K posts

South West native, currently co-lead economy & climate team @IPPR - (views mine) Industrial strategy | Bazball | @BristolBears

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Reposted by Sam Alvis
Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
🗓️ NEW EVENT: In Conversation with Miatta Fahnbulleh 🗓️ We're delighted to be hosting Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero @miattafahnbulleh.bsky.social in the LCEF Hub, in conversation with @pronouncedalva.bsky.social, Political Editor at the New Statesman.
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Nick Garland @npjgarland.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
"Cost of living populism" is having a moment. This is a really illuminating conversation in @ippr.org Progressive Review, with @steveakehurst.bsky.social, @anooshc.bsky.social and @samalvis.bsky.social. Few of the more interesting points: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Cost of Living Populism: A Discussion
Could ‘cost of living populism’ offer a way forward for the left? Chris Bick of IPPR sat down with Persuasion UK's Steve Akehurst, the New Statesman's Anoosh Chakelian, and IPPR's Sam Alvis to talk t...
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
What should we expect from this year’s “super” El Niño? Listen on the @thetimes.com The Story podcast 🎧🌍 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com
Why an extreme weather pattern has everyone worried
Podcast Episode · The Story · 25 August · 23min
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Once again I am saying if tur only climate policy suggestions there are pure opposition - what happens if things don't go your way.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Fine if you don't want to respect IPPR anymore because people don't agree with you. You say you're not binary about this but purely that I hold a different view on policy from you you've said were not worthy of respect and that we must have nefarious interests.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Once again I will say you are arguing a different point. We have CCUS and it is financed. I think it shouldn't be paid for by the billpayers it's unfair. The private sector should bear the risk. I think the government will likely approve rosebank if they do they should make polluters pay.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Sorry are you serious. I have argued entirely against his theory of change which I disagree with. Meanwhile he's questioned my integrity and intentions. But sure see what you want to see Rupert.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This is fair I'm going to change that line. But the article is about how we finance CCUS. I have written elsewhere on North Sea www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/techno...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
There is no case for drilling in the North Sea
Those who want the UK to expand domestic oil and gas production are trying to hold onto a world which no longer exists
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
And why the whole genesis of the piece is we need to make polluters pay for that technology
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
And we're at the nub of it. You don't think my intentions are pure! I must be part of a sustained campaign on behalf of nefarious interests. It's only possible for me to have bad faith. But you're not absolutist about this.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I don't think CCUS is dangerous. I disagree with that analysis. Hence in the piece I say it remains a vital part of acheiving the carbon budgets. It is a viable technology, costly yes, and people you don't like benefit from that. But I don't think it makes the alternatives any more feasible.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
And do you consider your strong campaigning skills to have led to actual change?
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
"I'm not absolutist but this person I disagree with is dangerous"
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Its evidence of an inability to deal with an imperfect world where we don't control lots of outcomes and trying to make the best out of that. If you think this blog is enabling or covering anything I would urge a review of policy, advocacy and stop actively searching for villains.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Sure you don't like CCUS. There is already a bunch of commited money to it. What do you do with that? What is you alternative technology choice for heavy industry that is either cheaper or viable now? How do you propose doing any of this in a way that doesn't benefit private companies with expertise
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
If it's approved what do you do next? Complain and say they shouldn't of done it? We are not government's only stakeholder shockingly. They have to trade off many people and things If the climate sector is always opposing never building it becomes easier and easier to ignore
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
But in your view of things, if it is approved, no one has done any policy development of how to mitigate the bad outcomes from that decision. Or that a think-tank saying don't do this is effective in a quasi-judicial process. It is a big problem in my mind that progressives are good at saying no
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Yes I understand you, like I, don't want rosebank approved. As I said I don't control that decision, if it is made it is important to think what to do next. Of course changing funding matters! 1) its a direct link between production and emissions. 2) it frees state £ for electrification
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
bsky.app/profile/sama... Honestly, if you read that piece and think we're advocating for approval I would urge you to stop thinking in binary
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Nowhere in the piece do I say please approve Rosebank. This sort of reaction to any semblance of dealing with trade offs is unhelpful and absolutist.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
As the piece says I don't think it should be funded mostly by public funding, I think the polluters should pay for that necessary infrastructure. If new fields aren't approved you still need to fund ways to reduce industrial emissions and I don't see any sensible suggestions on how to do that.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
You may not like CCUS but if you don't fund it there is a very significant hole in the carbon budgets. It will need closing and I don't see a great deal of proposals on how, and with what available finance. The decision at the budget is whether to continue to publicly fund CCUS infrastructure.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Approval of Jackdaw and Rosebank is a quasi-judicial decision that the SoS will take based on their regulatory requirements. I don't think Rosebank is economically beneficial to the UK. If it is approved I think it's very important to do so in a way with the best possible climate outcomes.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
First they make you bang pans for the NHS now this
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The new government has a knotty problem on energy. It needs fiscal space to help billpayers, it want's new infrastructure to underpin the industrial strategy, and it will need decide on Rosebank/Jackdaw In a new piece for @ippr.org Stephanie Loo and I work through a potential part of the solution..
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
... a levy on oil and gas producers to support CCUS infrastrucutre, potentially freeing up government funding for other uses (or you know keeping CCUS alive altogether). www.ippr.org/articles/fin...
ippr.org
Financing carbon capture, usage and storage: The case for extended producer responsibility | IPPR
There is a trade-off at the heart of the government's energy and economic policies. The government wants to respond to the public’s concern over rising cos
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The new government has a knotty problem on energy. It needs fiscal space to help billpayers, it want's new infrastructure to underpin the industrial strategy, and it will need decide on Rosebank/Jackdaw In a new piece for @ippr.org Stephanie Loo and I work through a potential part of the solution..
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Sofie Jenkinson @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It's encouraging to see the government holding & @andyburnham.bsky.social chairing a Cobra meeting today about extreme heat – at @roundourwayuk.bsky.social we have been calling from urgent action from the government on the climate impacts hitting people across the country now.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
This was really interesting when we did some on the ground qual at Public First in Essex In general older people thought the high st had gone to the dogs because they couldn't park up and shop at Debenhams. Younger people and families loved the food, drinks and activities.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Don't think it's sunk in for people in the UK that we will feel this *next* summer. This summer was just a warm up
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Don't think it's sunk in for people in the UK that we will feel this *next* summer. This summer was just a warm up
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
This is one of the easiest and most obvious transport corridors into a growing productive city with very high house prices.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Between Bristol and Yate are - the M4 - a golf course - a Trainline - an old coalpit - four other villages/towns
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Sofie Jenkinson @sofiejenkinson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Today I've written for @labourlist.bsky.social on why working class communities deserve to see a bold plan from Labour on climate. Quite simply we all deserve to be safe and be protected. And there's quite a clear political case for the government too. labourlist.org/2026/08/work...
labourlist.org
'Working class communities deserve a bold climate plan from Labour' - LabourList
Labour has always proudly protected, championed and supported working class communities and should do so once more when it comes to climate.
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Tristan Cork @tristancorkpost.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The West of England was missing out on millions in Govt funding, but no more - after this 'huge moment' puts the Bristol city region up with those northern 'powerhouses' as a top tier metro authority. Full story here: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
bristolpost.co.uk
West of England joins the 'top tier' of mayoral regions
The move puts Bristol and Bath alongside Liverpool and Manchester and will unlock more Government millions
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Can't decide if Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a pixar animated albatross or a bleak 4 hoour daniel day lewis epic
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
You're only allowed one new britain a quarter Duncan
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Anthony Painter @anthonypainter.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
How's reindustrialisation going in the US? The country pursuing a mercantilist policy of tariff and trade coercion in order to reindustrialise. Well, badly. Jobs declining in almost every manufacturing sub-sector.
Jobs decline in US manufacturing
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Beeconomics
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Totally. One challenge I'm interested in for the UK - advanced geo ie the fervo model basically uses fracking techniques. After successfully opposing fracking here on the basis of enviro damage largely, will be a tightrope to walk on why advanced geo is better
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Maya SH @msingerhobbs.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
In our paper, published last week, we identified a lack of political will as one of the biggest barriers to tackling homelessness and implementing a housing-led approach Today, Burnham made his 1st priority as PM ending rough sleeping 1/🧵 www.ippr.org/articles/hom...
ippr.org
Home truths: Housing-led approaches to homelessness | IPPR
The most meaningful progress has instead come from places where local leaders have made homelessness a priority, driving improvements in both the provision
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Theres lots of searching for reasons electricity costs are high that miss the very obvious - the tories built absolutely no grid, no anticipatory investment for 15 years and now we’re playing catch up. We don’t blame high water bills on environmental targets. Everyone agrees we didnt build anything
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
The UK's record heatwaves have made a chunk of voters more worried about climate change and impatient for help from the government Public First polling for Politico found - 36% now more supportive of renewables - over 40% now more concerned about climate www.politico.eu/article/heat...
politico.eu
The heat waves are Andy Burnham’s problem now
Worried voters want action on air conditioning and more clean power, polling shows.
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Alona Ferber @aloner.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I’ve recently been immersed in/obsessed with a writing project, and the article came out yesterday in the summer issue of @prospectmagazine.co.uk . It’s a longread about the Israeli elections, which are taking place on 27th October /1
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Four on the bounce for the nation of the IPL is it. Shame.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.” @economist.com
economist.com
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
These weekends are impossible. So much cricket. Tour de France, Wimbledon, Rugby summer internationals. The actual World Cup.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
To your chicken and egg point (also anecdotal) I have a lot of friends who have moved out of central Manchester to the more affordable Stockport but commute in. And great bars, restos, cafés have followed. I think stimulating the demand for these things from existing housing stock helps spur new
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Jenny Chase @solarchase.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
The progressive case for ground-mounted solar and grid-scale batteries: everyone benefits from the grid not fucking collapsing when it gets hot, not just those who can afford private solar and batteries.
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Sam Alvis @samalvis.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Given I’m on the board of Bristol Museums I will endorse this message
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