Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Press Gazette energy & environment journalist of the year 2022
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
simon.evans@carbonbrief.org
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
simon.evans@carbonbrief.org
Pinned
Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
· Nov 23
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED: CARBON BRIEF’S #COP30 SUMMARY 🚨
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Simon Evans
Important and timely wide-ranging interview with one of the world's most influential climate scientists.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
NEW – Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here:
Read here:
Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science - Carbon Brief
In an interview with Carbon Brief, Santer says the Trump administration is “engaged in a systematic attempt to dismantle climate science”
buff.ly
January 15, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Important and timely wide-ranging interview with one of the world's most influential climate scientists.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
Some of what he tells @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org is, frankly, breathtaking.
A call to action for all scientists, not just those focused on climate change.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Fascinating to see how all the Tories now defecting to Reform are now going to scrub their brains re: climate change.
In his maiden speech in Lords, Malcolm Offord - now Reform leader in Scotland - said:
"We have the capital, the brains and the political will to meet the climate challenge"
In his maiden speech in Lords, Malcolm Offord - now Reform leader in Scotland - said:
"We have the capital, the brains and the political will to meet the climate challenge"
January 15, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Fascinating to see how all the Tories now defecting to Reform are now going to scrub their brains re: climate change.
In his maiden speech in Lords, Malcolm Offord - now Reform leader in Scotland - said:
"We have the capital, the brains and the political will to meet the climate challenge"
In his maiden speech in Lords, Malcolm Offord - now Reform leader in Scotland - said:
"We have the capital, the brains and the political will to meet the climate challenge"
Reposted by Simon Evans
NEW – Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here:
Read here:
Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science - Carbon Brief
In an interview with Carbon Brief, Santer says the Trump administration is “engaged in a systematic attempt to dismantle climate science”
buff.ly
January 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
NEW – Prof Ben Santer: Trump administration is ‘embracing ignorance’ on climate science | @rtmcswee.carbonbrief.org
Read here:
Read here:
Reposted by Simon Evans
interesting to see if Jenrick still believes this
January 15, 2026 at 4:55 PM
interesting to see if Jenrick still believes this
Reposted by Simon Evans
We took a look at the UK's biggest ever offshore wind auction, and dug into what it will mean for energy bills and the "clean power 2030" plan ⬇️
NEW – Q&A: What UK’s record auction for offshore wind means for bills and clean power by 2030 | @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/uEBxzdK
Read here: buff.ly/uEBxzdK
January 15, 2026 at 3:12 PM
We took a look at the UK's biggest ever offshore wind auction, and dug into what it will mean for energy bills and the "clean power 2030" plan ⬇️
NEW Q&A: What UK’s record auction for offshore wind REALLY means for bills and clean power by 2030
In which Molly Lempriere and I dig into the details in search of nuanced answers, while knocking some of the most misleading commentary on the head
www.carbonbrief.org/...
In which Molly Lempriere and I dig into the details in search of nuanced answers, while knocking some of the most misleading commentary on the head
www.carbonbrief.org/...
January 15, 2026 at 3:02 PM
NEW Q&A: What UK’s record auction for offshore wind REALLY means for bills and clean power by 2030
In which Molly Lempriere and I dig into the details in search of nuanced answers, while knocking some of the most misleading commentary on the head
www.carbonbrief.org/...
In which Molly Lempriere and I dig into the details in search of nuanced answers, while knocking some of the most misleading commentary on the head
www.carbonbrief.org/...
Here's how Aurora Energy Research sees the UK offshore wind auction (AR7) cutting bills for consumers "£1bn by 2035"
* CfD payments go up
* Other costs go up (balancing, capacity mkt)
* Wholesale prices go down
* Overall costs go down
www.linkedin.com/posts/ivan-b...
* CfD payments go up
* Other costs go up (balancing, capacity mkt)
* Wholesale prices go down
* Overall costs go down
www.linkedin.com/posts/ivan-b...
January 15, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Here's how Aurora Energy Research sees the UK offshore wind auction (AR7) cutting bills for consumers "£1bn by 2035"
* CfD payments go up
* Other costs go up (balancing, capacity mkt)
* Wholesale prices go down
* Overall costs go down
www.linkedin.com/posts/ivan-b...
* CfD payments go up
* Other costs go up (balancing, capacity mkt)
* Wholesale prices go down
* Overall costs go down
www.linkedin.com/posts/ivan-b...
Reposted by Simon Evans
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Ocean heat content increased by 23 billion trillion joules, which was around 39 times greater than global primary energy use this year. This is the largest rise in OHC since 2017; overall OHC has increased by over 500 zettajoules since the 1940s.
January 14, 2026 at 9:05 PM
The heat energy we added to the ocean LAST YEAR is the equivalent of:
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
- Detonating ten hydrogen bombs every minute
- operating over a hundred large power plants continuously for all of written human history
- Five times all the electricity human beings have ever used
Reposted by Simon Evans
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
2025 was an exceptional year for the Earth's climate
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
⬆️ Warmest ocean heat content
⬆️ Tied as second warmest surface temps
⬆️ Second warmest troposphere
⬆️ Record high sea level and GHGs
⬇️ Record low winter Arctic ice
New State of the Climate over at Carbon Brief: www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by Simon Evans
While our best estimate is that US fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions went up about 2% in 2025, the EIA is currently forecasting a drop of 2.2% in 2026.
robbieandrew.github.io/USA/
robbieandrew.github.io/USA/
January 14, 2026 at 11:35 AM
While our best estimate is that US fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions went up about 2% in 2025, the EIA is currently forecasting a drop of 2.2% in 2026.
robbieandrew.github.io/USA/
robbieandrew.github.io/USA/
Hi Sam, lots of good stuff here but re your line about "more optimistic models only look at part of the costs", Aurora says its modelling looks at "total system cost".
January 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Hi Sam, lots of good stuff here but re your line about "more optimistic models only look at part of the costs", Aurora says its modelling looks at "total system cost".
BREAKING: UK govt secures record 8.4GW of offshore wind at AR7 auction round, for average £91/MWh (England) / £89/MWh (Scotland), roughly a fifth below the price limit
www.gov.uk/governmen...
www.gov.uk/governmen...
January 14, 2026 at 7:20 AM
BREAKING: UK govt secures record 8.4GW of offshore wind at AR7 auction round, for average £91/MWh (England) / £89/MWh (Scotland), roughly a fifth below the price limit
www.gov.uk/governmen...
www.gov.uk/governmen...
Reposted by Simon Evans
The Tufton St lobbyists and their media enablers have been using the 'scary number' playbook again this week.
So we've just updated our factcheck to capture this...
So we've just updated our factcheck to capture this...
UPDATED – Factcheck: How ‘scary-sounding numbers’ are being used to mislead the UK about net-zero | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
January 13, 2026 at 5:21 PM
The Tufton St lobbyists and their media enablers have been using the 'scary number' playbook again this week.
So we've just updated our factcheck to capture this...
So we've just updated our factcheck to capture this...
Reposted by Simon Evans
New: We estimate that in 2025, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.4%, marking a change from the prior two years of decreases in emissions. Emissions also grew faster than the economy in 2025, reversing the decoupling of emissions and economic activity of the prior two years.
January 13, 2026 at 4:18 PM
New: We estimate that in 2025, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.4%, marking a change from the prior two years of decreases in emissions. Emissions also grew faster than the economy in 2025, reversing the decoupling of emissions and economic activity of the prior two years.
Reposted by Simon Evans
UPDATED – Factcheck: How ‘scary-sounding numbers’ are being used to mislead the UK about net-zero | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
January 13, 2026 at 4:44 PM
UPDATED – Factcheck: How ‘scary-sounding numbers’ are being used to mislead the UK about net-zero | @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
Read here: buff.ly/Be7nHfA
Reposted by Simon Evans
This thread responds to Prof. Christian Dunn’s Telegraph piece on #climate communication.
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
January 13, 2026 at 8:58 AM
This thread responds to Prof. Christian Dunn’s Telegraph piece on #climate communication.
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
I argue it misdiagnoses public disengagement, underplays escalating scientific risk, & reproduces a media narrative that has actively shaped, not merely reflected, public resistance to climate action 🧵
Reposted by Simon Evans
if you want to understand the misinformation about Net Zero estimates this is a great starting point
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 12:24 PM
if you want to understand the misinformation about Net Zero estimates this is a great starting point
Great speaking to @mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about credulous media & Tufton St thinktanks spinning the insanely stupid idea that net-zero will cost £4.5tn, £7.6tn or even £9tn – by assuming free cars, free petrol, free gas if we scrap net zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
Truly wild that the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express & Daily Telegraph all covered false claims that net-zero will "cost" £7.6bn – or even £9tn – which assumes we could have free gas, free petrol, free petrol cars & free gas power plants if we scrapped net-zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Great speaking to @mrjamesob.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk about credulous media & Tufton St thinktanks spinning the insanely stupid idea that net-zero will cost £4.5tn, £7.6tn or even £9tn – by assuming free cars, free petrol, free gas if we scrap net zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
I cannot think of any other area of public policy where you could get away with something so gobsmackingly idiotic.
Truly wild that the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express & Daily Telegraph all covered false claims that net-zero will "cost" £7.6bn – or even £9tn – which assumes we could have free gas, free petrol, free petrol cars & free gas power plants if we scrapped net-zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
January 13, 2026 at 10:15 AM
I cannot think of any other area of public policy where you could get away with something so gobsmackingly idiotic.
Truly wild that the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express & Daily Telegraph all covered false claims that net-zero will "cost" £7.6bn – or even £9tn – which assumes we could have free gas, free petrol, free petrol cars & free gas power plants if we scrapped net-zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
January 13, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Truly wild that the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Express & Daily Telegraph all covered false claims that net-zero will "cost" £7.6bn – or even £9tn – which assumes we could have free gas, free petrol, free petrol cars & free gas power plants if we scrapped net-zero
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
More here: bsky.app/profile/drsi...
This is genuine
Jaw-droppingly, horrifyingly real
Jaw-droppingly, horrifyingly real
Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45
January 13, 2026 at 8:54 AM
This is genuine
Jaw-droppingly, horrifyingly real
Jaw-droppingly, horrifyingly real
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
🧵A political/media guide to the "truth" about net-zero
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
1) Add up costs to install & run a net-zero energy system
2) Pretend fossil-fuelled alternatives wld be free
3) Do say "eco zealots are bankrupting us"
4) Don't say "free cars if we scrap net-zero" cos it sounds ridiculous
5) That's it!
1/10
January 13, 2026 at 7:37 AM
The utterly shameless & widely covered "report" out today, claiming net zero will "cost" £9tn is based on:
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
* Assuming free fossil-fuel energy, free petrol cars, free gas boilers, free gas power plants etc
AND
* Including climate damages in the "cost" of net zero
I kid you not, it is that stupid
Evergreen tweet 😁
January 12, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Evergreen tweet 😁
If you want to check out the NESO data tables for yourself, here’s the link:
It’s this link: www.neso.energy/docu...
On this page: www.neso.energy/publ...
/ENDS
10/10
It’s this link: www.neso.energy/docu...
On this page: www.neso.energy/publ...
/ENDS
10/10
January 12, 2026 at 4:19 PM
If you want to check out the NESO data tables for yourself, here’s the link:
It’s this link: www.neso.energy/docu...
On this page: www.neso.energy/publ...
/ENDS
10/10
It’s this link: www.neso.energy/docu...
On this page: www.neso.energy/publ...
/ENDS
10/10
But there's more
As I wrote at the time, NESO said net-zero "Holistic Transition" was the "cheapest option", once you take account of the economic damages from CO2 adding to climate change
It said a fossil energy system is only “cheaper” if we “ignore” carbon costs
www.carbonbrief.org/...
9/10
As I wrote at the time, NESO said net-zero "Holistic Transition" was the "cheapest option", once you take account of the economic damages from CO2 adding to climate change
It said a fossil energy system is only “cheaper” if we “ignore” carbon costs
www.carbonbrief.org/...
9/10
January 12, 2026 at 4:19 PM
But there's more
As I wrote at the time, NESO said net-zero "Holistic Transition" was the "cheapest option", once you take account of the economic damages from CO2 adding to climate change
It said a fossil energy system is only “cheaper” if we “ignore” carbon costs
www.carbonbrief.org/...
9/10
As I wrote at the time, NESO said net-zero "Holistic Transition" was the "cheapest option", once you take account of the economic damages from CO2 adding to climate change
It said a fossil energy system is only “cheaper” if we “ignore” carbon costs
www.carbonbrief.org/...
9/10