Climate Centre

"We can expect certain food imports to become more expensive, and that'll have a knock on impact on inflation." The El Niño year declared by the @wmo-global.bsky.social will threaten crop yields and destabilise the global food system, @oxmartinschool.bsky.social's Professor Myles Allan says.

London's penguins will finally see daylight. 🐧 After a two-year campaign by the Daily Express, Born Free and Freedom for Animals, Sea Life London has agreed to move 14 gentoo penguins from a basement to a larger outdoor enclosure. @stephspyro.bsky.social who led the campaign spoke to Matthew Wright

"In just about two days, we had temperatures going up by 10 degrees." Heat spikes, temperatures surging by 10°C in just two days are becoming more common in the UK. Dr Akshay Deoras, Senior Research Scientist at the University of Reading explains on the Today programme.

School streets are "making the road safer and less polluted for children and siblings, parents and carers," says @mumsforlungs.bsky.social's Jemima Hartshorn. @tflondon.bsky.social has announced 200 new streets, on top of 800 schemes, which restrict traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.

Only 5% of UK homes have air conditioning, says CCC. With record May temperatures, campaigners are calling for air con in hospitals, schools and care homes to protect the vulnerable. Air-to-air heat pumps heat and cool, one technology, two jobs. @richardlowes.bsky.social @regassistproj.bsky.social

"If we start preparing now to think about transport, offices and homes in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, we can avoid major problems. But we do have to start thinking of it now," says @ucl.ac.uk's Professor Ilan Kelman.

“For every one unit of energy you put in, you get two units out.” Air conditioning, effectively heat pump technology, will be vital as extreme heat becomes more common. Climate advisers say 9 in 10 UK homes aren’t built for rising heat, and fewer than 5% have air conditioning. @eciu.net

🌡️"We have a minimum temperature in the workplace, and yet we're becoming a warmer country." The UK should enforce a maximum working temperature, Baroness Brown of the government's climate watchdog, @theCCCuk says. She adds extreme heat could mean 10,000 heat-related fatalities in future summers.

"Recycling cannot keep up with the volume being produced." UK households bin 1.6 billion pieces of plastic packaging every week. Only 16% gets recycled, 59% is burned, the rest landfilled or shipped abroad. Daniel Webb speaks to LBC News on the results of the UK-wide Big Plastic Count.

"If you can produce your own energy, you bring down your bill." Homegrown energy is the best way to insulate ourselves from global fossil fuel shocks, as has happened after the Iran conflict, says Electrify Britain CEO Camilla Born on GB News.

A three week record heatwave sent temperatures soaring to 30C in the Arctic last year last year. Meanwhile scientists find Europe the world's fastest warming continent. Copernicus' Dr Samantha Burgess speaks to the Today Programme. @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social @wmo-global.bsky.social

“North Sea production is declining at about 9% a year.” Lord Turner says the UK will remain a net gas importer for years, and that US LNG can be “pretty dirty” after Trump weakened methane rules, raising emissions, arguing the priority is cutting gas dependence while managing North Sea decline.

This Earth Day, It’s time to express concern and to demand more from our leaders, to pull focus and see the wider picture. As Carl Sagan put it: "That's here. That's home. That's us." #SeeTheBigPicture #EarthDay2026 #ArtemisII

“If you break the link between gas and electricity, you’ll probably save consumers a lot of money.” Gas sets the electricity price, so wind and nuclear are sold at higher gas-driven rates, cutting that link could lower bills. @adambell.bsky.social Partner at Stonehaven, on the Today programme.

Oil and gas workers want heat pumps too. “We have the worst housing stock in Europe when it comes to energy efficiency. We waste 80% of the energy we put into many of our buildings.” - Matt Clubb, Chair, North East Scotland Retrofit Hub, on retrofitting homes in Aberdeen, Radio 4 PM.

Households to be rewarded for weekend laundry this summer. “Running your washing machine on a sunny weekend, may help keep the grid stable,” with households able to receive credits or discounts for using excess solar power when demand is low. @adambell.bsky.social @listentotimesradio.bsky.social

"Isn't that you and me funding the IRGC?" LBC's Shelagh Fogarty asks about the Iranian demand for a toll in the Strait of Hormuz, agreed to by the US. Petras Katinas, @rusi.bsky.social fellow, says this is a "terrible outcome".

"Plug-in solar can be a cheap, quick, effective way of reducing your electricity bills," businessman and clean energy expert Chris Goodall told Times Radio. The government will relax rules on the self-installed panels, which can save up to £110 off consumer bills according to officials.

EVs grow as carmakers face "crunch moment" “One in four cars are now electric. As production falls, EVs remain the only growing market, a crunch moment for carmakers,” James Court, Director of Public Policy at Octopus Electric Vehicles, tells Hugo Rifkind on Times Radio.

Plug-in solar could bring power to UK homes for £350-£800 “It’s a simple way for people without a rooftop to save on bills.” Already popular in Europe, these panels let renters generate solar power without major installation. Sonia Dunlop, @globalsolarcouncil.bsky.social @hugorifkind.bsky.social

Governments given 10-point plan to cut energy use but long-term issues remain “The IEA's short-term rationing and behaviour changes can shave demand by 10%, but that is just a sticking plaster. They don’t solve structural energy challenges if the conflict continues.” -@janrosenow.bsky.social on LBC

"We don't want to be in this situation again." We have to bank the learnings from the previous energy crisis, oil and gas dependency is spiking prices. Camilla Born, CEO of Electrify UK tells GB News.

Shipping expert Saleem Kahn from Pole Star Global breaks down the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz choking global trade: " We are definitely seeing complete cessation and stoppage of commercial shipping."

"It would cause an ecological disaster." PoleStarGlobal's Saleem Kahn talks to Matthew Wright on the prospect of oil spills in the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on ships and Iran's rusting fleet of shadows tankers pose a threat an order of magnitude greater than Exxon Valdez.

Who profits from an oil and gas crisis? “In 2022 we saw record profits for oil and gas companies. I worry this 2026 crisis will pressure them to keep drilling, locking in pollution so they don’t miss the next inevitable energy shock.” - Gregor Semieniuk, Associate Professor, UMass Amherst.

Why oil shocks still hit everything we buy “We should be very concerned, the longer the conflict lasts, the more prices will rise and ripple through the economy.” From petrol to plastics, another fossil fuel crisis shows how exposed economies remain to oil markets. - Jan Rosenow, Oxford University

UK energy bills largely shielded till June but risks remain “The UK has diverse gas supplies from the North Sea and Norway, so households are largely protected for now…if the disruption continues for months, it could push prices higher later in the year,” - Adam Bell, partner, energy at Stonehaven.

The Eden Project has generated £6.8bn for the UK economy in its lifetime. Celebrating its 25th birthday, Eden CEO Andy Jasper tells Times Radio they are only just getting started – with projects in Morecambe and Dundee on their way.

Homegrown power key to UK energy security Local renewables reduce exposure to volatile global markets.“Instability is now the norm in gas markets, gas sets UK electricity prices 85% of the time vs 7% in France,” - Ana Musat, Executive Director, RenewableUK.

UK Energy Bills Could Rise Amid Iran Conflict “Drilling more North Sea oil won’t cut UK prices, it’s sold globally. Better to focus on heat pumps, EVs, renewables and efficiency to lower bills and boost security,” says Jan Rosenow, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, Oxford University, on LBC.

Author of 'When Oil Causes War', Professor Jeff Colgan, says the commodity makes the world less stable and more dangerous.

Fracking and North Sea oil are a red herring for energy security “We have renewables which are reducing UK prices of electricity.” North Sea oil and gas are sold on global markets by private firms “not owned by the public”. Wind power cut UK energy bills by a third in 2025. @jessralston.bsky.social

UK energy bills could rise this Summer if Iran Conflict drags on Analysis by Stifel suggests the UK price cap could rise towards £2,500 this summer. “Bills are protected in the short term, but if the conflict continues prices could rise from June,” - Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy on Radio 4

The Iran Conflict sends the price of UK gas ⬆️ Ed Conway of Sky News reports on UK gas prices being affected by the Iran Conflict, and how dependent the UK gas market is on Qatar.

UK's first geothermal plant turns on today A first-of-its-kind plant in Cornwall takes water and heat from 3 miles underground to drive turbines, generating energy for 10,000 homes. “Like a nuclear power station underground, we’re just tapping the heat,” says Ryan Law CEO of Geothermal Engineering.

Almost a 1/3 of the average household energy bill decrease is a result of falling wholesale energy costs on the global market. Kate Mulvaney, Principal Consultant of Cornwall Insight speaks to Radio 4 on today's energy price cap announcement. @cornwallinsight.bsky.social

“Your home is now more likely to be flooded than burgled.” A new report from Aviva shows 1 in 9 UK homes are built in a flood-prone area. “Checking the planning application for your home and understanding its flood risk is essential.” Liz Mitchell, Director of Flood Assist gives her advice.

Cardinham has had 51 consecutive days of rain The Cornish town is now the rainiest in the UK. "We're not getting the seasons anymore, we're just getting this, its just grey, there's no sunshine, no crisp mornings" - Sarah Cowen local resident, speaking to @news.sky.com this morning.

Electric HGV uptake more than doubled in the UK during 2025 The 1000th electric HGV was registered in 2025, new figures show from the SMMT, "but that means only 1 in 70 HGVs in the UK are currently electric." The freight sector has a long way to go, says Mike Hawes CEO of @smmt-ukauto.bsky.social

As Trump moves to roll back the US endangerment rule on climate and public health, global clean energy investment keeps rising. “It’s hard to see how we’re in this situation, but the economics are pushing in another direction, toward clean power” - Dr Simon Evans @carbonbrief.org

The SW of England has seen rain for the same number of days as it poured in Noah's Ark, with 40 days of showers in Devon, Cornwall, and Worcestershire. ☔️

In 2025 UK households installed renewable energy systems every 90 seconds. Solar, heat pumps and battery storage increased 34% over 2024 figures. "More people are wanting to take control of their energy, cutting the cost of their bills and carbon at the same time." - Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS.

"We are moving toward an era where electrostates will dominate." Noting global clean power investment hit $2.3tn in 2025, reflecting a shift away from traditional petrostates in the global economy. Explains @janrosenow.bsky.social

"The fat cats are doing absolutely nothing." Rubbish from fast food is a growing problem, but the firms responsible are doing nothing, litter champion Gill Thomas says. Volunteers in Stroud have used AI to map hotspots and track the worst offending brands, identifying 750,000 pieces of litter.

"Most of the increase in peoples bills in the UK when it comes to electricity are from the added cost of gas, just over two thirds of the bill." - @janrosenow.bsky.social explains a new report by UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) to @lbcnews.bsky.social

'We've reduced our energy usage by 75%' A heat pump and solar panels boosted author and retrofit guru Judith Leary Joyce's home's value by £92,000 and drastically improved the energy efficiency of her previously draughty terraced house.

EU Renewables Overtake Fossil Fuels A new Ember report finds wind and solar generated more electricity than fossils in the EU in 2025, reaching a record 30% share, Solar output rose 20% in a year. “This is the start of a new era of solar,” - Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council on BBC News

“Solar shouldn’t just be for the richest,” Ed Miliband said, as he fielded questions on whether the Warm Homes Plan can deliver lower bills, expand heat pumps and meet its targets by 2030, discussing zero-interest loans and record solar uptake with Nick Ferrari on LBC

“The Warm Homes Plan is almost a rescue mission for those living in cold, damp homes,” says @sifrancis.bsky.social End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator. “It could ease health impacts, cut NHS pressure, and benefit those who need it most.” on @bbc5live.bsky.social

Hackney Solar Project Shows Warm Homes Plan Ambition “We’re saving residents money and supplying low-carbon electricity, and over 25 years the project basically doesn’t cost anything,” says Reg Platt, CEO, Emergent Energy, atop Hackney social housing with hundreds of solar panels, to Justin Rowlatt

" You cut your bills by around £500 a year if you install a heat pump." Welcoming the government's Warm Homes Plan, Electrify Britain CEO Camilla Born tells BBC News Talking Business' @benthompsontv.bsky.social heat pumps are simply a "better heating system".

Busted flush: Wet wipes advertised as flushable are still going to clog up our sewage system, says Birkbeck University's Dr Randa Kachef.

“Record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured, the largest seen in Europe, bringing £22bn investment into the UK. The Government says it will cut reliance on gas and lower bills long-term, though electricity costs may rise in the next few years.” – Simon Evans @carbonbrief.org @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org

Ageing nuclear and gas infrastructure means we have to invest in new power, and offshore wind is the cheapest form, Energy UK's Dhara Vyas says, as she welcomes the latest government renewables auction. "The cost of a new gas plant is three times more than it was last time we built one."

The Cao vit gibbon, the world's second-rarest primate and known for its singing voice, has been named as a species which requires close monitoring this year to ensure its survival after being rediscovered in 2002, says Fauna & Flora's Kristian Teleki.

“Politicians consistently underestimate public support for climate action.” New research finds large perception gaps, with MPs often mistaking majority public support for minority support across climate policies, even when costs are clear. Study led by Dr Lisa Maria Tanase, University of Cambridge

"Plants are flowering at a time nobody would've expected." 💐 Climate change is likely why more than 600 species flowered at New Year, rather than the 20 to 30 observed decades ago. Louise Marsh from @bsbibotany.bsky.social speaking to BBC 5 live about #NewYearPlantHunt.

Could we reintroduce lynx to Scotland? "They would bring a natural balance to the environment here in the Highlands and economic benefits. We want to work with farmers on their concerns and make it work for Highlanders." - Steve Micklewright CEO @treesforlife.bsky.social @stevehreports.bsky.social

UK carmakers could face a 10% tariff on EVs sold into the EU, adding pressure that may hit consumers and slow uptake. “Charger numbers aren’t the issue anymore, public charging costs are. Policy must focus on affordability,” says Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England.

For four months of 2025, more than half of UK power came from renewables. ⚡️ "This new analysis underlines just how central renewables have become," BBC News' climate editor Justin Rowlatt told Today.

There is a ‘fire season’ now in the UK. Wildfire expert Dr Thomas Smith of LSE says record fires are changing how we manage the UK landscape on @lbc.co.uk

A green levy on gas boilers could form part of the govt’s new Warm Homes Plan in January. “We know that heat pumps will get a lot cheaper over time,” @shaunspiers1.bsky.social of Green Alliance tells @nickwallis.bsky.social on Times Radio.

2025 is on track to be the UK’s hottest year on record, according to the Met Office, "beating the previous record set in 2022. All five of the UK’s hottest years have occurred since 2000, as the UN prepares to announce new global temperature figures." Jim Dale, Senior Meteorologist on LBC News.

2025 declared year of the octopus. 🐙 While octopus blooms in the UK are a "natural occurrence" that happen every few decades, the explosion in numbers this year has been "exacerbated" by warming seas, says @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social Ruth Williams on the BBC's Today programme.

As the EU softens its 2035 combustion engine car ban, “it’s a proposal of two halves: Europe cuts its EV target from 100% to 90%, allowing petrol and diesel cars beyond 2035 while saying electrification remains at the core of its automotive strategy.” - Chris Heron, Secretary General, E-Mobility.

What is a “Zero Bills” home? Phil and Jackie Coates turned their 1970s house into one with no energy bills by adding insulation, solar panels, a heat pump, and a smart tariff. They generate twice the power they need. 100,000 'Zero Bills' homes are expected in the UK by 2030

Flood-risk areas urged to take simple steps as many defences fall below standard. Covering air bricks with aluminium tape can stop “water pouring in and wrecking your home”. These tips are vital, says Mary Long-Dhonau OBE on BBC Humberside, Newcastle, Wiltshire and Cornwall. floodmary.com

"Cutting ECO without a transitory plan, this government currently does not have a current plan to alleviate there being 6.1 million people in fuel poverty in the UK, who are having to choose between heating and eating. As well as putting 21,000 jobs at risk without warning" - Nigel Donohue, CEO, IAA

A proposed 3p-per-mile EV tax, aimed at recouping lost fuel duty, could cut sales by 120,000 by 2031. Still under consultation and not due until 2028, it may slow EV uptake and impact the market, though manufacturing development is likely to continue. - Tanya Sinclair, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK

'It's all just a huge disincentive to EVs' ⚡️🚘 The government should be promoting the uptake of electric vehicles, not penalising drivers, says EV expert and automotive journalist Vicky Parrott on @bbc5live.bsky.social.

A data centre under your sink or in your shed pays your heating bills. “We pay for the electricity to run the modules, and the computing power heats your water and home. The excess heat can replace a boiler or heat pump, cutting your energy costs.” Travis Theune, CEO, Thermify. thermify.cloud

“If enough states are together saying no, then they can hold up talks at COP30 due to its consensus mechanism.” The UN climate process relies on unanimity, and disputes over fossil fuel language show how easily momentum can be slowed. Eliot Whittington, Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership

"ITS A PANTS CAP" "You should not be on the price cap if you can get off it." With the energy price cap going up in January as well as in April. Martin Lewis tells households "cheaper fixes are currently 10% less than the price cap with cheaper tariffs coming next week."

"The government needs to be clear on its messaging of heating and energy commitments, not just for homeowners but for engineers, installers, and the heating industry at large," Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, tells LBC News.

“An 11th-hour policy shift away from heat pumps would devastate UK heating engineers and installers, with a budget cut to heat-pump subsidies having dire consequences for the industry,” - Aadil Qureshi, CEO of Heat Geek, the UK’s largest community of independent heating engineers, on Times Radio.

"The road tax system was designed when electric cars weren't around, of course it needs updating now that one in four new cars is now electric." Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, calls for a proper consultation before EV road taxes are introduced, Tom Swarbrick on LBC.

Congestion Charge changes were introduced today. Rising from £15 to £18 for standard vehicles, £13.50 for EV's & £9 for E-Vans from Jan 2. Campaigners say it doesn’t give enough support to small business and charities. Oliver Lord, Head of UK & Strategy at Clean Cities explains on LBC News.

"We've seen emissions slow dramatically" since Paris. While emissions have slowed fivefold since 2015, Gareth Redmond-King says: " Every single degree of a degree counts... and makes climate impact worse."

The UK chose not to pay into a new climate fund at COP due to fears of political backlash before the next budget. Yet COP30 remains a crucial chance to protect nature, improve quality of life, secure our children’s future and rebuild consensus. Tom Rivett-Carnac, in Belém, Brazil on Times Radio.