Joe Giddings
@joegiddings.bsky.social
Built Environment | Climate Change | Architecture | Biobased Construction | Green
European Networks Lead at Built by Nature. Founding member of Architects Climate Action Network. Views here are my own.
European Networks Lead at Built by Nature. Founding member of Architects Climate Action Network. Views here are my own.
Reposted by Joe Giddings
Let's not downplay how dangerous & regressive this is from Reform UK:
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage unveils Reform UK frontbench team and warns over dissent
Leader says move should end claims of one-man band and shows party is ‘creating a machine for government’
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Let's not downplay how dangerous & regressive this is from Reform UK:
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Let's not downplay how dangerous & regressive this is from Reform UK:
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage unveils Reform UK frontbench team and warns over dissent
Leader says move should end claims of one-man band and shows party is ‘creating a machine for government’
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Let's not downplay how dangerous & regressive this is from Reform UK:
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"Tice, a longtime sceptic of net zero policy, pledged to end what he called the “madness” of clean and renewable energy, to focus instead on offshore oil and gas and fracking."
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Joe Giddings
a gorgeous 8-story single stair social housing development in paris w/ flats and maisonettes from 1-3 bedrooms.
great stuff. stunning interiors.
divisare.com/projects/551...
great stuff. stunning interiors.
divisare.com/projects/551...
Nicolas Hugoo Architecture, Pierre-Romain Guedj, Charly Broyez, 11H45 · 36 Social flats
Volumetry serving the urban project
This parallelogram-shaped lot necessitated the present building with its sharp angle. The location and volumetry of the project seek to soften this angularity by pl...
divisare.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:37 PM
a gorgeous 8-story single stair social housing development in paris w/ flats and maisonettes from 1-3 bedrooms.
great stuff. stunning interiors.
divisare.com/projects/551...
great stuff. stunning interiors.
divisare.com/projects/551...
This is a good piece but @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is incorrect when he says the UK has:
"enhanced environmental regulations more stringent than those in other European countries"
In fact the opposite is true. UK's env. regulations for new builds are v. weak
www.ft.com/content/05fa...
"enhanced environmental regulations more stringent than those in other European countries"
In fact the opposite is true. UK's env. regulations for new builds are v. weak
www.ft.com/content/05fa...
How London unwittingly killed housebuilding
A perfect storm of policy and regulatory headwinds has slowed new construction to a trickle
www.ft.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 AM
This is a good piece but @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is incorrect when he says the UK has:
"enhanced environmental regulations more stringent than those in other European countries"
In fact the opposite is true. UK's env. regulations for new builds are v. weak
www.ft.com/content/05fa...
"enhanced environmental regulations more stringent than those in other European countries"
In fact the opposite is true. UK's env. regulations for new builds are v. weak
www.ft.com/content/05fa...
The biggest threat to our national security is the US.
China's emissions have peaked, their renewables rollout is charging ahead.
Meanwhile the USA backslides, it's emissions will continue to grow.
As a result, we are all less safe. The US is the threat.
China's emissions have peaked, their renewables rollout is charging ahead.
Meanwhile the USA backslides, it's emissions will continue to grow.
As a result, we are all less safe. The US is the threat.
Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change—all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.
WATCH: Trump, EPA's Zeldin announce end of scientific basis for U.S. action on climate change
The Trump administration on Thursday revoked a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the most aggressiv...
www.pbs.org
February 13, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The biggest threat to our national security is the US.
China's emissions have peaked, their renewables rollout is charging ahead.
Meanwhile the USA backslides, it's emissions will continue to grow.
As a result, we are all less safe. The US is the threat.
China's emissions have peaked, their renewables rollout is charging ahead.
Meanwhile the USA backslides, it's emissions will continue to grow.
As a result, we are all less safe. The US is the threat.
Last week Metabolic published a report which has reinvigorated the debate on how much harvested wood is eventually wasted by being burnt for energy or used in short term products (think packaging)
This material flow diagram highlights the scale of the problem
This material flow diagram highlights the scale of the problem
February 11, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Last week Metabolic published a report which has reinvigorated the debate on how much harvested wood is eventually wasted by being burnt for energy or used in short term products (think packaging)
This material flow diagram highlights the scale of the problem
This material flow diagram highlights the scale of the problem
All of this was wilfully ignored by the Labour Party - by the Prime Minister himself - when Mandelson was brought into Government in 2024
our FT story from June 2023 showed:
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
February 11, 2026 at 9:35 AM
All of this was wilfully ignored by the Labour Party - by the Prime Minister himself - when Mandelson was brought into Government in 2024
Reposted by Joe Giddings
TL/DR: Philanthropic funding won’t support organizing, confrontational tactics, front-line decision making—what builds real power over time. Funders want immediate deliverables (ie “reports” and “strategies”) that perform non-partisan academic competence. 😭
drlennecefer.substack.com/p/i-said-env...
drlennecefer.substack.com/p/i-said-env...
I Said Environmentalism Was Out of Ideas. I Was Wrong. It's Worse.
How the people fighting for the planet lost touch with the people living on it
drlennecefer.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:55 PM
TL/DR: Philanthropic funding won’t support organizing, confrontational tactics, front-line decision making—what builds real power over time. Funders want immediate deliverables (ie “reports” and “strategies”) that perform non-partisan academic competence. 😭
drlennecefer.substack.com/p/i-said-env...
drlennecefer.substack.com/p/i-said-env...
New handbook of construction details for mass timber residential buildings published in the Netherlands. 30 reference details - aiming to help design teams use the same principles and acheive the same quality in design. English version coming soon www.ucarchitects.com/onderzoeken/...
Handboek voor CLT-Details en Mass Timber Design: 30 Referentiedetails voor Opschaling van Houtbouw
Kom meer te weten over: Handboek voor CLT-Details en Mass Timber Design: 30 Referentiedetails voor Opschaling van Houtbouw | Urban Climate Architects
www.ucarchitects.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:31 PM
New handbook of construction details for mass timber residential buildings published in the Netherlands. 30 reference details - aiming to help design teams use the same principles and acheive the same quality in design. English version coming soon www.ucarchitects.com/onderzoeken/...
just saying...
Ed Miliband looking like a good bet for next prime minister.
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
just saying...
Highest ever vote share for greens?
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 29% (-3)
GRN: 19% (+2)
LAB: 17% (+3)
CON: 17% (-1)
LDM: 11% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 28 Jan.
Changes w/ 21 Jan.
RFM: 29% (-3)
GRN: 19% (+2)
LAB: 17% (+3)
CON: 17% (-1)
LDM: 11% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 28 Jan.
Changes w/ 21 Jan.
January 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Highest ever vote share for greens?
Reposted by Joe Giddings
Say hello to Hannah Spencer—councillor, plumber, greyhound lover and your Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton 💚
January 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Say hello to Hannah Spencer—councillor, plumber, greyhound lover and your Green Party candidate for Gorton and Denton 💚
The merging of green conservatism and right-wing anti migration politics:
January 30, 2026 at 10:40 AM
The merging of green conservatism and right-wing anti migration politics:
This is much bigger news than you might realise.
Reform have hired Ben Goldsmith to advise them on nature policy. Why does this matter? Because they have realised they can divide nature and climate in two, and capture the green conservative vote www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform have hired Ben Goldsmith to advise them on nature policy. Why does this matter? Because they have realised they can divide nature and climate in two, and capture the green conservative vote www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK enlists Boris Johnson ally to write party nature policies
Exclusive: Ben Goldsmith will work on issues including fishing and green belt preservation to attract green Tories
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:13 AM
This is much bigger news than you might realise.
Reform have hired Ben Goldsmith to advise them on nature policy. Why does this matter? Because they have realised they can divide nature and climate in two, and capture the green conservative vote www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform have hired Ben Goldsmith to advise them on nature policy. Why does this matter? Because they have realised they can divide nature and climate in two, and capture the green conservative vote www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Ed Miliband looking like a good bet for next prime minister.
January 26, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Ed Miliband looking like a good bet for next prime minister.
Reposted by Joe Giddings
“Uruguay did what most nations still call impossible: it built a power grid that runs almost entirely on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. The physicist who led that transformation says the same playbook could work anywhere—if governments have the courage to change the rules.”
Uruguay’s Renewable Charge: A Small Nation, A Big Lesson For The World
Uruguay built a power grid that runs 99% on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. Here’s how its bold energy overhaul became a global model.
www.forbes.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:29 AM
“Uruguay did what most nations still call impossible: it built a power grid that runs almost entirely on renewables—at half the cost of fossil fuels. The physicist who led that transformation says the same playbook could work anywhere—if governments have the courage to change the rules.”
Can I suggest that most of those feeling Christmassy are not answering yougov polls
It's 22 December, but most Britons still don't feel Christmassy
Very Christmassy: 9% (+1 from Fri)
Fairly Christmassy: 36% (-1)
Not very Christmassy: 30% (=)
Not Christmassy at all: 24% (=)
yougov.co.uk/topics/enter...
Very Christmassy: 9% (+1 from Fri)
Fairly Christmassy: 36% (-1)
Not very Christmassy: 30% (=)
Not Christmassy at all: 24% (=)
yougov.co.uk/topics/enter...
December 23, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Can I suggest that most of those feeling Christmassy are not answering yougov polls
Renowned climate scientist James Hansen predicts a temperature rise of 1.7c within 2 years which will 'confirm climate change acceleration'
Let’s see what we can learn from temperature change in the next two years – mailchi.mp/caa/global-t...
Also available on Substack: jimehansen.substack.com/.../global-t....
Also available on Substack: jimehansen.substack.com/.../global-t....
December 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Renowned climate scientist James Hansen predicts a temperature rise of 1.7c within 2 years which will 'confirm climate change acceleration'
2 days : 2 massive announcements from Government which affect the 2 main gateways for any new building: Planning and Regulation
Yesterday the draft NPPF was published: www.gov.uk/government/n...
Today the prospectus for a new Single Construction Regulator: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Hot takes?
Yesterday the draft NPPF was published: www.gov.uk/government/n...
Today the prospectus for a new Single Construction Regulator: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Hot takes?
Housing Sec pledges to 'go further than ever before' to hit 1.5 million homes
The government has launched a major consultation on a revamped National Planning Policy Framework today.
www.gov.uk
December 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
2 days : 2 massive announcements from Government which affect the 2 main gateways for any new building: Planning and Regulation
Yesterday the draft NPPF was published: www.gov.uk/government/n...
Today the prospectus for a new Single Construction Regulator: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Hot takes?
Yesterday the draft NPPF was published: www.gov.uk/government/n...
Today the prospectus for a new Single Construction Regulator: www.gov.uk/government/c...
Hot takes?
Paris is Biobased! 🌾 🌲 🪨
Paris is at the forefront of biobased construction. Spurred on by progressive national regulation requiring new buildings to meet strict limits on embodied carbon & boosted by city leadership from the capital itself, a biobased revolution is underway
parisbiobased.eu
Paris is at the forefront of biobased construction. Spurred on by progressive national regulation requiring new buildings to meet strict limits on embodied carbon & boosted by city leadership from the capital itself, a biobased revolution is underway
parisbiobased.eu
Paris is Biobased | About
Projects in Paris region featuring straw, hemp, timber, raw earth, natural stone and recycled materials
parisbiobased.eu
December 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Paris is Biobased! 🌾 🌲 🪨
Paris is at the forefront of biobased construction. Spurred on by progressive national regulation requiring new buildings to meet strict limits on embodied carbon & boosted by city leadership from the capital itself, a biobased revolution is underway
parisbiobased.eu
Paris is at the forefront of biobased construction. Spurred on by progressive national regulation requiring new buildings to meet strict limits on embodied carbon & boosted by city leadership from the capital itself, a biobased revolution is underway
parisbiobased.eu
It's giving Oswald Mosley
December 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
It's giving Oswald Mosley
Why is the built environment not seen as one of the key sectors of the UK economy?
It has a significant impact on so many of our priorities: cost of living, health, growth, employment, energy & climate - but does not receive significant amount of political attention
It has a significant impact on so many of our priorities: cost of living, health, growth, employment, energy & climate - but does not receive significant amount of political attention
December 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Why is the built environment not seen as one of the key sectors of the UK economy?
It has a significant impact on so many of our priorities: cost of living, health, growth, employment, energy & climate - but does not receive significant amount of political attention
It has a significant impact on so many of our priorities: cost of living, health, growth, employment, energy & climate - but does not receive significant amount of political attention
Reposted by Joe Giddings
This is another ‘ozone layer’ moment. We must urgently target #methane now, says Mia Mottley, PM of Barbados
- Oil and gas industry must be legally bound to cut methane emissions. With climate tipping points approaching, time is running out
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- Oil and gas industry must be legally bound to cut methane emissions. With climate tipping points approaching, time is running out
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This is another ‘ozone layer’ moment. Now, we must urgently target methane | Mia Mottley
The oil and gas industry must be legally bound to cut methane emissions. With climate tipping points approaching, time is running out, says the prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
This is another ‘ozone layer’ moment. We must urgently target #methane now, says Mia Mottley, PM of Barbados
- Oil and gas industry must be legally bound to cut methane emissions. With climate tipping points approaching, time is running out
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
- Oil and gas industry must be legally bound to cut methane emissions. With climate tipping points approaching, time is running out
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Yes.
Would it be problematic if the majority of satellites (and its path dependencies) were in the hands of a crazy right-wing new world order extremist?
The number of active satellites in orbit has now passed the 14000 mark according to my estimates:
December 15, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Yes.
Within European real estate investment, sustainability requirements have proved to be remarkably resilient this year, in the face of US backsliding.
One asset manager notes “there is a massive divide between Europe and the US”, but sees the issue well embedded into European asset management plans.
One asset manager notes “there is a massive divide between Europe and the US”, but sees the issue well embedded into European asset management plans.
December 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Within European real estate investment, sustainability requirements have proved to be remarkably resilient this year, in the face of US backsliding.
One asset manager notes “there is a massive divide between Europe and the US”, but sees the issue well embedded into European asset management plans.
One asset manager notes “there is a massive divide between Europe and the US”, but sees the issue well embedded into European asset management plans.