Laura MacKenzie
@mslauramack.bsky.social
Some bookmarks. Some wetlands, water, nature, climate policy. Trains. Wellbeing economics and post-growth appreciation. Parliamentary nerdery never dies🧛♀️
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
Thirsty AI mega projects raise alarm in some of Europe’s driest regions
Thirsty AI mega projects raise alarm in some of Europe’s driest regions
Europe is planning to at least triple its data center capacity as part of a push to become a world-class AI hub.
cnb.cx
October 16, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Thirsty AI mega projects raise alarm in some of Europe’s driest regions
With the strongest focus on #water climate nexus since 2020 report it seems, notably insight #5 on declining groundwater and global water cycle - with role of #wetlands and #water key there and for others including #3 carbon sinks #4 climate biodiv feedback and #2 ocean warming
The climate negotiations must be guided by science.
This year’s “10 New Insights in Climate Science” report urges action over promises, warning that the world can no longer afford delays.
Learn more: www.stockholmresilience.org/5.226014ea19...
This year’s “10 New Insights in Climate Science” report urges action over promises, warning that the world can no longer afford delays.
Learn more: www.stockholmresilience.org/5.226014ea19...
November 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
ChatGPT cited a paper of mine which I did not know existed, so I asked it for the link to it.
Unfortunately that link to the Nature website just gave a "Page not found".
So sad.
Unfortunately that link to the Nature website just gave a "Page not found".
So sad.
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 AM
ChatGPT cited a paper of mine which I did not know existed, so I asked it for the link to it.
Unfortunately that link to the Nature website just gave a "Page not found".
So sad.
Unfortunately that link to the Nature website just gave a "Page not found".
So sad.
Come on Bluesky Nederland let’s get the #DogsAtPollingStations party started #TK2025
October 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Come on Bluesky Nederland let’s get the #DogsAtPollingStations party started #TK2025
Beautifully timed PMB from @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social
and #RightsOfNature campaigners: hot on the heels of (at least) two historic motions adopted at #IUCNcongress by Govt, NGO & IPLC members this month, notably 054 rights of nature and 067 rights of rivers & wetlands, which may help!
and #RightsOfNature campaigners: hot on the heels of (at least) two historic motions adopted at #IUCNcongress by Govt, NGO & IPLC members this month, notably 054 rights of nature and 067 rights of rivers & wetlands, which may help!
UK campaigners launch bill to give nature legal rights
UK campaigners launch bill to give nature legal rights
Private member’s bill backed by Chris Packham and Natalie Bennett would impose a duty of care on government and business
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Beautifully timed PMB from @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social
and #RightsOfNature campaigners: hot on the heels of (at least) two historic motions adopted at #IUCNcongress by Govt, NGO & IPLC members this month, notably 054 rights of nature and 067 rights of rivers & wetlands, which may help!
and #RightsOfNature campaigners: hot on the heels of (at least) two historic motions adopted at #IUCNcongress by Govt, NGO & IPLC members this month, notably 054 rights of nature and 067 rights of rivers & wetlands, which may help!
Many instances at #IUCNCongress and #WetlandsCOP this year when this was not remotely so. Nevertheless: "...collaboration often feels like competition. Convenings branded as 'collective' or 'building momentum' often become exercises in visibility..." 👀 www.connectingforchangellc.com/post/the-net...
The Network We Need vs. the Institutions We Have: Why Collaboration in Water So Often Feels Like Competition
This piece grew out of conversations during and shortly after New York Climate Week — and a recurring question: why do gatherings meant to build collaboration so often feel like contests for control?...
www.connectingforchangellc.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Many instances at #IUCNCongress and #WetlandsCOP this year when this was not remotely so. Nevertheless: "...collaboration often feels like competition. Convenings branded as 'collective' or 'building momentum' often become exercises in visibility..." 👀 www.connectingforchangellc.com/post/the-net...
Phew! Earlier this evening final votes on motions including adoption of 104 on critical minerals and 054 on #RightsOfNature then powerful closing ceremony at #IUCNcongress iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot... iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot... Hats off to the motions team & chairs- we got there!
October 15, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Phew! Earlier this evening final votes on motions including adoption of 104 on critical minerals and 054 on #RightsOfNature then powerful closing ceremony at #IUCNcongress iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot... iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot... Hats off to the motions team & chairs- we got there!
A few hours ago, at #IUCNCongress, motion 67 'Living in harmony with rivers through the rights of nature and ecocentric law' adopted by a huge majority -an exciting step forward in recognition of #RightsofWetlands - with more #RightsofNature motions to come... iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
October 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A few hours ago, at #IUCNCongress, motion 67 'Living in harmony with rivers through the rights of nature and ecocentric law' adopted by a huge majority -an exciting step forward in recognition of #RightsofWetlands - with more #RightsofNature motions to come... iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
Essential and inspiring reading for everyone heading to #IUCNCongress where Rights of Nature - including rights of #rivers and #wetlands- will be a hot topic of discussions and motions to be debated & adopted, including Motion 067: iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
The rights of nature is one of the fastest-growing movements on the planet. Now, scientists are increasingly signing on, working with Indigenous communities and others to advance laws and philosophies on behalf of the more-than-human world.
The Scientists Making the Case for Nature’s Rights - Inside Climate News
A growing number of scientists are backing laws recognizing that nature has inherent rights and intrinsic value. A group of wetlands scientists wants the critical ecosystems they study to be next.
insideclimatenews.org
October 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Essential and inspiring reading for everyone heading to #IUCNCongress where Rights of Nature - including rights of #rivers and #wetlands- will be a hot topic of discussions and motions to be debated & adopted, including Motion 067: iucncongress2025.org/assembly/mot...
"F-gas producer Chemours is using the boom in AI and datacenters as justification for increasing production at its ...West Virginia and ...North Carolina, plants. Both... have been accused of polluting their regions’ water, soil and air, and poisoning drinking water"
Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from data centers amid AI boom
Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from data centers amid AI boom
Tech companies’ use of Pfas gas at facilities may mean data centers’ climate impact is worse than previously thought
www.theguardian.com
October 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"F-gas producer Chemours is using the boom in AI and datacenters as justification for increasing production at its ...West Virginia and ...North Carolina, plants. Both... have been accused of polluting their regions’ water, soil and air, and poisoning drinking water"
V useful stakeholderbijeenkomst organised by super talented international biodiversity team of #LVVN on #SBSTTA27 and many key decisions being prepared for adoption at biodiversity #COP17 in Armenia to boost #GBF implementation. Nice end to long week despite brainstrain of Dutch at 9am on a Friday 😆
October 3, 2025 at 9:47 AM
V useful stakeholderbijeenkomst organised by super talented international biodiversity team of #LVVN on #SBSTTA27 and many key decisions being prepared for adoption at biodiversity #COP17 in Armenia to boost #GBF implementation. Nice end to long week despite brainstrain of Dutch at 9am on a Friday 😆
Thanks @runblueofficial.bsky.social for organising #WorldRiverRun yesterday - raising awareness (and funds!) for river restoration and protection, which needs to be a much higher priority for action on water security, climate resilience, and biodiversity and nature #nederrijn #uiterwaarden 💦🦩🐟
September 29, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Thanks @runblueofficial.bsky.social for organising #WorldRiverRun yesterday - raising awareness (and funds!) for river restoration and protection, which needs to be a much higher priority for action on water security, climate resilience, and biodiversity and nature #nederrijn #uiterwaarden 💦🦩🐟
“Are the societal benefits of chatbots and deepfakes really worth sacrificing progress towards a safe climate and dependable water supply?”
Together with Foxglove, we’re launching a legal challenge against the government’s decision to force construction of a hyperscale data centre in Buckinghamshire.
Read the coverage in today's Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@theguardian.com
Read the coverage in today's Guardian: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
@theguardian.com
Angela Rayner hit with legal challenge over datacentre on green belt land
Exclusive: Campaigners complain no environmental assessment made for 90MW Buckinghamshire facility
www.theguardian.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
“Are the societal benefits of chatbots and deepfakes really worth sacrificing progress towards a safe climate and dependable water supply?”
#bookmark Generative AI is not a ‘calculator for words’. 5 reasons why this idea is misleading theconversation.com/generative-a...
Generative AI is not a ‘calculator for words’. 5 reasons why this idea is misleading
Big tech wants generative AI systems to seem like neutral, reliable tools – but the reality is far more complicated.
theconversation.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
#bookmark Generative AI is not a ‘calculator for words’. 5 reasons why this idea is misleading theconversation.com/generative-a...
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
Changes to ocean currents offer serious uncertainties for scientists trying to predict our future climate.
This new paper finds that even a moderate slowdown of the AMOC could lead to a 40% reduction in annual rainfall in the Amazon rainforest.
Find out more: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 2/2
This new paper finds that even a moderate slowdown of the AMOC could lead to a 40% reduction in annual rainfall in the Amazon rainforest.
Find out more: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 2/2
Tropical response to ocean circulation slowdown raises future drought risk - Nature
An Atlantic meridional overturning circulation slowdown drives widespread shifts in tropical rainfall through the propagation of high-latitude cooling into the tropical North Atlantic.
www.nature.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Changes to ocean currents offer serious uncertainties for scientists trying to predict our future climate.
This new paper finds that even a moderate slowdown of the AMOC could lead to a 40% reduction in annual rainfall in the Amazon rainforest.
Find out more: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 2/2
This new paper finds that even a moderate slowdown of the AMOC could lead to a 40% reduction in annual rainfall in the Amazon rainforest.
Find out more: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧵 2/2
May also need to have some conversations about the right trees in the right places #peatlands #trees #toplantornottoplant #mangroves #wetlandsCOP15 #COP15Zimbabwe
July 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
May also need to have some conversations about the right trees in the right places #peatlands #trees #toplantornottoplant #mangroves #wetlandsCOP15 #COP15Zimbabwe
Exciting to hear at press conf before day 1 #WetlandsCOP15 Zimbabwe's determination to harness wetlands as #climate solutions & AMCEN declaration African group to bring wetlands to the heart of global negotiations on wide ranging topics #RamsarCOP15 #ZimbabweCOP15
July 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Exciting to hear at press conf before day 1 #WetlandsCOP15 Zimbabwe's determination to harness wetlands as #climate solutions & AMCEN declaration African group to bring wetlands to the heart of global negotiations on wide ranging topics #RamsarCOP15 #ZimbabweCOP15
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
Join us in our mission to build a future where wetlands and all life thrive
🗓 24 July | 13:30-14:30 CAT(UTC+2)
📍 Room Kalala, Elephant Hills Resort #RamsarCOP15 Venue
🎙️ With WWF, WWT, Wetlands International, IUCN, IWMI & GEF
Register here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BYQWHFY
#RamsarCOP15 #Wetlands
🗓 24 July | 13:30-14:30 CAT(UTC+2)
📍 Room Kalala, Elephant Hills Resort #RamsarCOP15 Venue
🎙️ With WWF, WWT, Wetlands International, IUCN, IWMI & GEF
Register here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BYQWHFY
#RamsarCOP15 #Wetlands
July 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Join us in our mission to build a future where wetlands and all life thrive
🗓 24 July | 13:30-14:30 CAT(UTC+2)
📍 Room Kalala, Elephant Hills Resort #RamsarCOP15 Venue
🎙️ With WWF, WWT, Wetlands International, IUCN, IWMI & GEF
Register here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BYQWHFY
#RamsarCOP15 #Wetlands
🗓 24 July | 13:30-14:30 CAT(UTC+2)
📍 Room Kalala, Elephant Hills Resort #RamsarCOP15 Venue
🎙️ With WWF, WWT, Wetlands International, IUCN, IWMI & GEF
Register here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BYQWHFY
#RamsarCOP15 #Wetlands
As the anticipation builds, check out the proposed running order for the no fewer than 25 DRs to be negotiated, which is on the agenda for SC65 on Wednesday, with a flow diagram and everything 🥳 www.ramsar.org/sites/defaul... #WetlandsCOP #RamsarCOP #COP15Zimbabwe
July 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
As the anticipation builds, check out the proposed running order for the no fewer than 25 DRs to be negotiated, which is on the agenda for SC65 on Wednesday, with a flow diagram and everything 🥳 www.ramsar.org/sites/defaul... #WetlandsCOP #RamsarCOP #COP15Zimbabwe
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
Sri Lanka is at the forefront of developing the Rights of Wetlands. Want to learn about their journey, the challenges and future plans? Join colleagues of our #DarwinInitiative project on Tuesday 15th April 2025 at 14:00 Sri Lanka time, 9:30 UK time
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
March 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sri Lanka is at the forefront of developing the Rights of Wetlands. Want to learn about their journey, the challenges and future plans? Join colleagues of our #DarwinInitiative project on Tuesday 15th April 2025 at 14:00 Sri Lanka time, 9:30 UK time
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Register now: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Come for the amazing pictures of birds, stay for the sectoral leadership 🦉 "And this is why we will speak out on topics which may at first glance seem out of our lane, to some too overtly political, and perhaps even risky."
We remain united in our belief that governments make better decisions when civil society voices are heard.🗣️
This is not the time to despair. It is the time to be clear, confident and stand together with those that share our values. 🤝
Read more here: www.birdlife.org/news/2025/03...
This is not the time to despair. It is the time to be clear, confident and stand together with those that share our values. 🤝
Read more here: www.birdlife.org/news/2025/03...
Nature Needs Healthy Civil Societies
Nature Needs Healthy Civil Societies, Martin Harper, BirdLife CEO, on Conservation & Civil Society
www.birdlife.org
April 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Come for the amazing pictures of birds, stay for the sectoral leadership 🦉 "And this is why we will speak out on topics which may at first glance seem out of our lane, to some too overtly political, and perhaps even risky."
CISL playbook aims to shape proactive response to ESG backlash 'These challenges can be further complicated by competing agendas within an organisation, internal rivalries, and a fixation on addressing technicalities over driving real world progress" www.businessgreen.com/news/4411893...
'Silence isn't neutrality - it's a strategic risk': CISL playbook aims to shape proactive response to ESG backlash
New study explores how businesses can respond to volatile geopolitical pressures, while continuing to advance sustainability efforts
www.businessgreen.com
April 9, 2025 at 6:18 PM
CISL playbook aims to shape proactive response to ESG backlash 'These challenges can be further complicated by competing agendas within an organisation, internal rivalries, and a fixation on addressing technicalities over driving real world progress" www.businessgreen.com/news/4411893...
Reposted by Laura MacKenzie
I wish people who want to be defeatists would start by defeating their own urge to spread their spirit of surrender. It's not helpful and it's not an accurate assessment of the present or the possibilities. Yes, we're in a hideous crisis. Yes, there's lots to do and lots of people trying to do it.
February 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I wish people who want to be defeatists would start by defeating their own urge to spread their spirit of surrender. It's not helpful and it's not an accurate assessment of the present or the possibilities. Yes, we're in a hideous crisis. Yes, there's lots to do and lots of people trying to do it.
Peatland power in the spotlight during #WorldWetlandsDay youth webinar with RePEAT, Youth Engaged with #Wetlands (YEW), Wetlands International, and speakers from other youth-led organisations and initiatives from across the globe
February 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Peatland power in the spotlight during #WorldWetlandsDay youth webinar with RePEAT, Youth Engaged with #Wetlands (YEW), Wetlands International, and speakers from other youth-led organisations and initiatives from across the globe