Olivier Beys
@olivierbeys.bsky.social
Works at EU Parliament on circular economy and green industry transition | Founder of Tournevie tool library | Fond of commons projects and Brussels | www.tournevie.be
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Olivier Beys
@olivierbeys.bsky.social
· Nov 23
Four simple steps on how to argue intelligently and how to criticize with kindness, by the inimitable Daniel Dennett.
It's an invaluable little gem I cannot recommend enough for anyone making an argument on online plaforms.
brainpickings.org/2014/03/28/d...
It's an invaluable little gem I cannot recommend enough for anyone making an argument on online plaforms.
brainpickings.org/2014/03/28/d...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
There's an army of people out there telling us change is impossible.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
November 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
There's an army of people out there telling us change is impossible.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Only that it is not.
10 years ago electric vehicles plaid almost no role in global car sales.
Today one in five cars sold worldwide is electric.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good morning to all those people who wasted the last decade saying, "there's no point tackling climate change in the UK, because China."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Really? If there’s one political ‘leader’ who’s proactively dismantled the EU is Manfred Weber - from enabling Viktor Orban, flirting with far-right parties and now governing with them in the EP to scrapping the green deal and next I’ll be the digital rulebook
He should act on what he preaches!
He should act on what he preaches!
EPP leader Manfred Weber just gave a very good keynote speech on the future of Europe in Berlin tonight, putting forward seven principles for a stronger EU.
Quick thread:
Quick thread:
November 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Really? If there’s one political ‘leader’ who’s proactively dismantled the EU is Manfred Weber - from enabling Viktor Orban, flirting with far-right parties and now governing with them in the EP to scrapping the green deal and next I’ll be the digital rulebook
He should act on what he preaches!
He should act on what he preaches!
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Meanwhile, CEOs make 280 times the typical worker today.
The system is rigged.
The system is rigged.
November 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Meanwhile, CEOs make 280 times the typical worker today.
The system is rigged.
The system is rigged.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI act in face of US and Big Tech pressure
Brussels is set to water down part of its strict digital rule book as it aims to make bloc more competitive
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
As predicted, the EU is ready to dismantle its Digital Rulebook as it did with the Green Deal.
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
It does so upon US administration’s demand and under Big Tech pressure.
It’s a self-inflicted political decision putting the EU on a deregulatory turn on.ft.com/47vqFOl
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Financial consultants Deloitte conclude: the environmental damage done by Dutch agriculture (€18.6 billion/year) exceeds its total economic added value (€13.3 billion/year).
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Financial consultants Deloitte conclude: the environmental damage done by Dutch agriculture (€18.6 billion/year) exceeds its total economic added value (€13.3 billion/year).
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Emissions of greenhouse gases, nitrogen deposition, and
biodiversity loss due to agricultural activities dominate the damage.
Reposted by Olivier Beys
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
Reposted by Olivier Beys
What if EU simplification agenda is exactly what Trump wants from Europe? A self defeating move depriving itself of its only super-power
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
What if EU simplification agenda is exactly what Trump wants from Europe? A self defeating move depriving itself of its only super-power
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Listen to @euscream.bsky.social with @jameskanter.bsky.social
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to do wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables unless onsite.
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to do wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables unless onsite.
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Texas. 👇
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Public understanding doesn't get to be this wrong just by accident !
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
😢
"Perhaps the most striking findings is that the British public vastly overestimates the cost getting to net zero by almost 14,000%, fueling scepticism & a reluctance to pay. On average, they estimate it will need 28% of GDP by 2050, compared to @thecccuk.bsky.social forecast of just 0.2%"
"Perhaps the most striking findings is that the British public vastly overestimates the cost getting to net zero by almost 14,000%, fueling scepticism & a reluctance to pay. On average, they estimate it will need 28% of GDP by 2050, compared to @thecccuk.bsky.social forecast of just 0.2%"
Are the advocates for net zero losing the fight?
The cost of misunderstanding: How public perception shapes the net zero debate
fgsglobal.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Public understanding doesn't get to be this wrong just by accident !
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Here's looking at you Tufton Street -Fleet street nexus 🤨
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Wow. Bill Gates Foundation donates millions to long time climate disinformer Bjorn Lomborg and Lomborg advises Gates on climate.
“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
November 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Wow. Bill Gates Foundation donates millions to long time climate disinformer Bjorn Lomborg and Lomborg advises Gates on climate.
Dit rapport van #Fairfin is een verfrissend geluid in het huidige industriedebat. Terwijl de export van chemische producten recordhoogtes bereikt, wil de sector niet alleen subsidies maar ook het kaltstellen van EU vergroeningsmaatregelen. Dat is een heilloos pad.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
October 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Dit rapport van #Fairfin is een verfrissend geluid in het huidige industriedebat. Terwijl de export van chemische producten recordhoogtes bereikt, wil de sector niet alleen subsidies maar ook het kaltstellen van EU vergroeningsmaatregelen. Dat is een heilloos pad.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Powerful op-ed by @alemanno.bsky.social on the modus operandi of duplicitous rightwing MEPs not having any probles with dark money funded thinktanks and their ideas, while killing civil society in Europe that is supposed to hold policymakers to account. euobserver.com/eu-political...
How NGOs die — Europe's playbook for dismantling democracy
The playbook is brutally efficient: fabricate a scandal, delegitimise and defund organisations into dependency on philanthropic support, then criminalise their new funding as foreign influence — all w...
euobserver.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Powerful op-ed by @alemanno.bsky.social on the modus operandi of duplicitous rightwing MEPs not having any probles with dark money funded thinktanks and their ideas, while killing civil society in Europe that is supposed to hold policymakers to account. euobserver.com/eu-political...
This is how it’s done 👌
“Andrew Cuomo will spend much of tonight attacking me. He is a desperate man lashing out because he knows that the one thing he’s always cared about—power—is now slipping away from him.”
Yoooooooooo
Yoooooooooo
What keeps New Yorkers up at night are not the right-wing fever dreams of Andrew Cuomo.
It's whether or not they can keep living in the city they love.
I'm the only candidate on stage tonight with a vision for the future and a plan to bring down costs.
It's whether or not they can keep living in the city they love.
I'm the only candidate on stage tonight with a vision for the future and a plan to bring down costs.
October 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is how it’s done 👌
Excellent investigation in (direct) subsidy schemes mulled over in European capitals. It’s a bad idea. Pursuing dependence on the status quo is a losing strategy. @greens-efa.eu paper says we need strategic investments and choices, instead of blank check handouts. www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/p...
October 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Excellent investigation in (direct) subsidy schemes mulled over in European capitals. It’s a bad idea. Pursuing dependence on the status quo is a losing strategy. @greens-efa.eu paper says we need strategic investments and choices, instead of blank check handouts. www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/p...
Interesting and influential position at the European Parliament 👇
Bonus: you will be working closely together with me and people from a few other offices 😊
groenlinkspvda.nl/beleidsmedew...
Bonus: you will be working closely together with me and people from a few other offices 😊
groenlinkspvda.nl/beleidsmedew...
Beleidsmedewerker milieu, klimaat en energie voor Europarlementariër Bas Eickhout | GroenLinks-PvdA
De GroenLinks-PvdA Eurodelegatie zoekt een beleidsmedewerker voor Bas Eickhout in Brussel.
groenlinkspvda.nl
October 21, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Interesting and influential position at the European Parliament 👇
Bonus: you will be working closely together with me and people from a few other offices 😊
groenlinkspvda.nl/beleidsmedew...
Bonus: you will be working closely together with me and people from a few other offices 😊
groenlinkspvda.nl/beleidsmedew...
Great summary of the ongoing AI hype 👌
The oligarchs are racing to build AI that replaces workers before workers wake up and replace them.
October 21, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Great summary of the ongoing AI hype 👌
Reposted by Olivier Beys
we need to get used to international politics without fixed US 'positions'. Until Trump II the key for US presidents (and other democratic leaders) was credibiity. If they shifted position, it *meant* something. Trump's modus operandi is to keep everyone guessing all of the time. This won't go away.
What gives many people (myself included) trouble on this particular file, but others also, is that Trump's position and the US position are not the same thing, but also that Trump's rhetoric and Trump's position are not the same thing.
As a result, bureaucratic inertia is the leading indicator.
As a result, bureaucratic inertia is the leading indicator.
There is no evidence to support claims of a big shift in the US position after the Trump-Putin call. In this post I explain why I don’t think much has changed and my scepticism about the proposed Budapest summit (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/d...?
October 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
we need to get used to international politics without fixed US 'positions'. Until Trump II the key for US presidents (and other democratic leaders) was credibiity. If they shifted position, it *meant* something. Trump's modus operandi is to keep everyone guessing all of the time. This won't go away.
Don’t believe the AI con www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
AI Is Hollowing Out Higher Education
Olivia Guest & Iris van Rooij urge teachers and scholars to reject tools that commodify learning, deskill students, and promote illiteracy.
www.project-syndicate.org
October 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Don’t believe the AI con www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a...
Goeie stand van zaken van de zeepbel die AI eigenlijk is. De Amerikaanse AI-reuzen hebben lemen voeten, dat ziet het kleinste kind. Benieuwd hoe lang de extreemrechtse regering hen boven water zal houden wanneer de onvermijdelijke val plaatsvindt. jurgenmasure.substack.com/p/lekker-bub...
Lekker bubbelen met AI
Hoe de AI-hype veranderde in een geloofsbelijdenis voor beleggers.
jurgenmasure.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Goeie stand van zaken van de zeepbel die AI eigenlijk is. De Amerikaanse AI-reuzen hebben lemen voeten, dat ziet het kleinste kind. Benieuwd hoe lang de extreemrechtse regering hen boven water zal houden wanneer de onvermijdelijke val plaatsvindt. jurgenmasure.substack.com/p/lekker-bub...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Bloody brilliant 👇
October 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Bloody brilliant 👇
/remembers Moby Dick 🥴
it is more important to read books you actually enjoy reading than books that are Literature
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
October 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
/remembers Moby Dick 🥴
Thanks to everyone who joined 😊
Throwback to the great party two weeks ago to celebrate our 10 year anniverary, onto the next 10 ! 🎉🥳
October 11, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Thanks to everyone who joined 😊
Powerful call to demand accountability. While international and EU institutions have not moved to stop the genocide on Palestinians by Israel (the latter even facilitated!), we should not get them get away with impunity. euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
Ceasefire, yes. Now what about accountability for Israel's genocide?
This much-needed and welcomed ceasefire does not change the simple fact that Israel has just committed a genocide in Gaza. We got so much used to this term now, that the 'G' word became almost normal....
euobserver.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Powerful call to demand accountability. While international and EU institutions have not moved to stop the genocide on Palestinians by Israel (the latter even facilitated!), we should not get them get away with impunity. euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...
Reposted by Olivier Beys
Dedicating just 3% of the land currently used for biofuels to solar power would produce the same amount of energy - and enough to power one third of the global car fleet, if it were electric.
Those that argue against in field solar are barking up the wrong tree (good planning & design still needed)
Those that argue against in field solar are barking up the wrong tree (good planning & design still needed)
NEW: Biofuels globally emit more than the fossil fuels they replace, our latest study shows.
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
October 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Dedicating just 3% of the land currently used for biofuels to solar power would produce the same amount of energy - and enough to power one third of the global car fleet, if it were electric.
Those that argue against in field solar are barking up the wrong tree (good planning & design still needed)
Those that argue against in field solar are barking up the wrong tree (good planning & design still needed)