Dirk Pilat

@pilatd.bsky.social

590 followers 900 following 4 posts

Economist focused on productivity, innovation & green transition. Formerly OECD, now associated with IVIE, Valencia & TPI, Manchester. Views are my own.

Videos

Economics 56%

Business 21%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Dirk Pilat, Dominik Wiedenhofer

Kees van der Leun @sustainable2050.bsky.social · 1d

Freely available here: academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...

Co-authors include @michaelemann.bsky.social, Johan Rockström, and @petergleick.bsky.social

The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink

We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer

academic.oup.com

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Tuomas Mattila

Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 3d

🚨 "If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in #Tehran next month. If the drought continues, we will run out of water and be forced to evacuate the city"

The president described the situation as "alarming"

#Iran 🇮🇷
#ClimateEmergency

Evacuation warning for Iran's capital city

President Masoud Pezeshkian warns Tehran faces a historic water crisis with shortages and possible evacuations.

www.newsweek.com

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Jonathan Wolff, Dirk Pilat , and 1 more Diane Coyle, Jonathan Wolff, Dirk Pilat, Bessma Momani

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d

‘Al could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2
percentage points’

Well that’s the best chart of the year in this @johnthornhill.bsky.social column and basically sums up where we are
on.ft.com/4qMMkJd

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Southern Africa

Joshua Holland @joshuaholland.bsky.social · 4d

Under new head of Paramount David Ellison, the studio has drawn up a list of actors who opposed the Gaza genocide and will not allow them to appear in its films and TV shows.

Does this sound familiar?

Also, "Ellison is reportedly aiming to take over Warner Bros. next."

Paramount Has Blacklist for Stars Deemed “Overtly Antisemitic” — World of Reel

It sure looks like the likes of Javier Bardem, Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Mark Ruffalo won’t be making movies for Paramount in the foreseeable future.

www.worldofreel.com

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Dirk Pilat

Andreas Umland @umland.bsky.social · 5d

Maria Popova, McGill University: Russian manipulation of the facts endures because when #JeffreySachs and others tirelessly promote it, opponents politely disagree and the conversation is presented as a debate of equally valid viewpoints. www.policymagazine.ca/when-confron...

When Confronting Russian Propaganda, Truth is Not Optional - Policy Magazine

In late October, Italian Senator Carlo Calenda went viral for bluntly calling economist Jeffrey Sachs a liar. During a debate between the two on the Italian

www.policymagazine.ca

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Natalie Jones @nataliejones.bsky.social · 5d

The new UNEP Emissions Gap Report points out that "no NDCs set targets to reduce oil and gas production or trim inefficient fossil fuel subsidies".

That countries are not addressing fossil fuels - at the heart of the climate crisis - is deeply worrying.

wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/ha...

wedocs.unep.org

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool, Dirk Pilat

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 6d

For too long, industry has been labelled a “hard-to-abate” sector. It’s time to rethink that.

With rapid advances in electrification and energy efficiency, much of industry is not hard to abate — it’s ready to innovate.

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 7d

🚨🚨Things are just getting worse. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/us-a...

US accused of threatening EU diplomats during bid to kill green shipping rules

Negotiators at shipping talks in London were told both they and their countries could be punished unless they voted with the U.S.

www.politico.eu

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 10d

The press doesn’t get away unscathed: “The legacy media is apparently more interested in the climate musings of an erstwhile PC mogul than a sober assessment by the world’s leading climate scientists.”

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 10d

"You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it" | My commentary on Bill Gates' flawed new climate missive for @thebulletin.org: thebulletin.org/2025/10/you-...

You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it

What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.

thebulletin.org

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Marc Veldhoen @marcveld.bsky.social · 10d

Schandalig dat er een partij is die dit soort onzin beweerd, en heel bewust de democratie probeert te ondermijnen, en dat dit officeel ontkracht moet worden. Dit is precies waarom feiten, onderzoek en waarheid zo belangrijk zijn. Zonder valt een maatschappij uit elkaar.

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Mark Petticrew, Dirk Pilat , and 2 more Michael E. Mann, Mark Petticrew, Dirk Pilat, Beatriz Gallardo Paúls, Brian Keegan

Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 10d

“Here’s the thing, Bill Gates: There’s no ‘patch’ for the climate crisis. And there is no way to reboot the planet if you crash it. The only safe and reliable way out when you find yourself in a climate hole is to stop digging—and burning—fossil fuels.” — @michaelemann.bsky.social

You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it

What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.

thebulletin.org

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Sean Brodrick @seanbrodrick.bsky.social · 10d

The bullish view on #AI ...

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Dirk Pilat

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists @thebulletin.org · 10d

"Here's the thing, Bill Gates: There is no 'patch' for the climate crisis. And there is no way to reboot the planet if you crash it. The only safe and reliable way out when you find yourself in a climate hole is to stop digging—and burning—fossil fuels."
— @michaelemann.bsky.social

You can’t reboot the planet if you crash it

What Gates is putting forward aren’t legitimate arguments that can be made in good faith. They are shopworn fossil fuel industry talking points.

thebulletin.org

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Nick Couldry , and 12 more Jonathan Portes, Ben H. Ansell, Nick Couldry, Will Jennings, Maarten Vink, Leigh Sparks, Dirk Pilat, Ian Hall, Martin Tomko, Martin J. Smith, Joshua Goodman, Miles Corak, Robert Wolfe, Margot C. Finn, Graham Dutfield

John Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 10d

NEW from me:

Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent.

That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Daniel Huppmann

Wolfgang Blau @wblau.bsky.social · 10d

For a few years, climate science denial seemed to have been replaced by “delay-ism” (“it’s real but not urgent”). Now, just as renewables start defeating fossils by being more cost-efficient, delay-ism morphs into defeatism: “it’s real, it’s urgent, but can’t be paid for”.
All three are propaganda.

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Gráinne McKeever

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 11d

And this exercise obviously just looks at the economic returns But we've looked at a lot of the wider benefits of research in humanities/social sciences/arts which stretch far beyond economic returns to support law, education, culture, inclusion & health
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/new-rep...

From NHS innovations to addressing inequalities in the labour market: new report reveals real-world impact of humanities and social sciences research

A new report sheds light on the tangible impact of UK SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) research on the wellbeing of society, culture and the economy, through...

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 11d

Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...

The value of public R&D

www.gov.uk

Reposted by David Johnson, Dirk Pilat

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 11d

Disappointingly little media attention being paid to this alarming new study. Instead, we're hearing about Bill Gates "tough truths" [read b.s.] downplaying the climate crisis.
We are living in #DontLookUp

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 12d

"22 of Earth's 34 'vital signs' are flashing red, new climate report reveals — but there's still time to act" | Nice article on our new #Bioscience article by @saschapare.bsky.social for @livescience.com: www.livescience.com/planet-earth...

22 of Earth's 34 'vital signs' are flashing red, new climate report reveals — but there's still time to act

Earth's systems are nearing tipping points that could plunge the planet into a "hothouse" regime — but there's still time to prevent that from happening, scientists say.

www.livescience.com

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens, Dirk Pilat, Urška Demšar , and 1 more Michael A. Clemens, Dirk Pilat, Urška Demšar, David D. Buck

Sarah O'Connor @sarahoconnorft.ft.com · 11d

2nd edition of our The AI Shift newsletter is out. The question today: could AI be making us LESS productive? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com www.ft.com/content/2480... At the individual level, it's clear we're not reliable witnesses on this Q. At an organisational level, it gets even more interesting...

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Jan Leune @janleune.bsky.social · 11d

Een complex van factoren leidde tot de verkiezingsnederlaag van GL/PvdA en het vertrek van partijleider Timmermans. Het fiasco is in elk geval niet te wijten aan een facet, al heeft de constatering van Han van der Horst op de site van Joop/BNNVARA er ongetwijfeld wel aan bijgedragen.

Reposted by David Johnson, Dirk Pilat, Peter Stegmaier

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · 12d

22 of Earth's 34 'vital signs' are flashing red, new climate report reveals — but there's still time to act

Earth's systems are nearing tipping points that could plunge the planet into a "hothouse" regime — but there's still time to prevent that from happening, scientists say.

www.livescience.com

Reposted by Mel Bartley, Dirk Pilat

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 12d

Just two decades ago, China had little capacity to manufacture cars — and owning one was considered a novelty.

Today, China produces and exports more cars than any other country in the world.

Meanwhile we in Europe still pretend we can somehow stop EVs from taking off by holding on to old tech.

Reposted by Steve Peers, Dirk Pilat

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 13d

After the Pentagon forced a mass exit of journalists who understood military finance, tactics and technology, their replacements have arrived: cranks, conspiracy theorists and both foreign and domestic propagandists
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

The Pentagon’s Preferred Propaganda Model

The Trump administration is trying to muddle reality—and create apathy.  

www.theatlantic.com

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

NOELREPORTS @noelreports.com · 13d

Politico reports that Hungary is actively working to form a "Ukraine-skeptic" alliance with Czechia and Slovakia. Balázs Orbán, a key adviser to Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, said they aim to coordinate positions in the EU to reduce support for Ukraine.

Despicable and indefensible.

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Tom Louwerse @tomlouwerse.nl · 15d

"Een schandalig dieptepunt" noemt Paul Bovend'Eert dit terecht.

Twee PVV-Kamerleden vallen met nepbeelden anoniem Timmermans aan, GroenLinks-PvdA doet aangifte
www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/twe...

Twee PVV-Kamerleden vallen met nepbeelden anoniem Timmermans aan, GroenLinks-PvdA doet aangifte

Twee Kamerleden van de PVV plaatsten met AI gemaakte beelden van Frans Timmermans op een populaire Facebookpagina die ze heimelijk beheren. Tientallen doodswensen richting de politicus zijn het gevolg...

www.volkskrant.nl

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Stefano Micelli, Nicola Giocoli

Reposted by Dirk Pilat, Giulio Mattioli

Kees van der Leun @sustainable2050.bsky.social · 15d

Support among Dutch voters for Wilders' PVV has plummeted, from a (ridiculous) high of 31% in the beginning of last year to less than 18% now.
Three days left to fall further.

Reposted by Dirk Pilat

Auke Hoekstra @aukehoekstra.bsky.social · 16d

I've translated Dutch politics to the American equivalent:

Trump is losing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Peter Buttigieg, Mit Romney, and Elizabeth Warren end up forming a coalition (~42%) coupled with some pragmatic lefties (~16%) or Marco Rubio (~11%).

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 16d

The richest man on earth owns X.

The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.

The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.

See the problem here?

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