Oliver Hayes
@olliehayes.bsky.social
Head of policy & campaigns at Global Action Plan. Working on big tech’s climate harms.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
Together with our friends at @globalactionplan.bsky.social we've made submissions opposing a huge new data centre in Houghton Regis - we've focused on the HUGE amounts of energy and water it'll use. Read the full subs here:
www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/06/06/f...
www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/06/06/f...
Foxglove and Global Action Plan put in submissions opposing a second UK data centre – at Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire
To build new hyperscale data centres, the government must show they have a plan that won't trash our supplies of power and drinking water.
www.foxglove.org.uk
June 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Together with our friends at @globalactionplan.bsky.social we've made submissions opposing a huge new data centre in Houghton Regis - we've focused on the HUGE amounts of energy and water it'll use. Read the full subs here:
www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/06/06/f...
www.foxglove.org.uk/2025/06/06/f...
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
labour is buying into the hype in the hope of getting some of the investment going into the AI machine without really asking whether there are tangible results on the other side. this strategy is doomed.
The Labour government’s plan for economic growth, public service reform, and thus its electoral hopes, rest on the country adopting AI.
But its strategy of breathlessly bigging up bleeding-edge AI and pursuing massive data center investments is not cutting through to voters, MPs fear.
But its strategy of breathlessly bigging up bleeding-edge AI and pursuing massive data center investments is not cutting through to voters, MPs fear.
Labour’s AI gold rush gets stuck in the mud
Ministers are preparing a string of AI announcements for early June, but voters are skeptical about the technology. That leaves the ruling Labour Party with a huge problem.
ow.ly
May 27, 2025 at 11:32 AM
labour is buying into the hype in the hope of getting some of the investment going into the AI machine without really asking whether there are tangible results on the other side. this strategy is doomed.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
Case closed! 🤩💥🚀. In settling my case, Meta has agreed to stop processing my personal data for direct marketing purposes. In non-legalese, that means I will no longer be shown surveillance-ads on Facebook. www.thetimes.com/article/ae70...
One mother’s win over Meta will change social media for everyone
Britons will be able to opt out of targeted advertising after Tanya O’Carroll’s David-and-Goliath battle with Meta
www.thetimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Case closed! 🤩💥🚀. In settling my case, Meta has agreed to stop processing my personal data for direct marketing purposes. In non-legalese, that means I will no longer be shown surveillance-ads on Facebook. www.thetimes.com/article/ae70...
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
Marks & Spencer says it's committed to taking action to "reflect the climate emergency we all face". Meanwhile they advertise on GB News, which spreads climate misinformation & denial. 👉👉👉 actionstorm.org/petitions/ma...
(follow @stopfundingheat.bsky.social for more on this)
(follow @stopfundingheat.bsky.social for more on this)
February 25, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Marks & Spencer says it's committed to taking action to "reflect the climate emergency we all face". Meanwhile they advertise on GB News, which spreads climate misinformation & denial. 👉👉👉 actionstorm.org/petitions/ma...
(follow @stopfundingheat.bsky.social for more on this)
(follow @stopfundingheat.bsky.social for more on this)
Govt and industry being completely obtuse re AI plans. There is no transparency re data centre water use now and in future (see below), nor how accelerating power demands will be met without wrecking 2030 decarb plan as per @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social report out today. That situation can't hold.
NEW: UK's biggest water supplier (Thames Water) has no idea how much water UK data centres use Foxglove's investigations show.
Great from @zsk.bsky.social 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Great from @zsk.bsky.social 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Concern the UK's AI ambitions could lead to water shortages
Data centres can use vast quantities of water to cool them - but it's not clear where it will come from.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Govt and industry being completely obtuse re AI plans. There is no transparency re data centre water use now and in future (see below), nor how accelerating power demands will be met without wrecking 2030 decarb plan as per @beyondfossilfuels.bsky.social report out today. That situation can't hold.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
We went to the #AIActionSummit today with an early Valentine’s message for Big Tech & industry execs: It’s time to dump fossil fuels. 👋
Powering data centres with fossil energy? Talk about a toxic relationship. We’re demanding a swift divorce, and a speed date with #renewables.
Powering data centres with fossil energy? Talk about a toxic relationship. We’re demanding a swift divorce, and a speed date with #renewables.
February 10, 2025 at 11:02 AM
We went to the #AIActionSummit today with an early Valentine’s message for Big Tech & industry execs: It’s time to dump fossil fuels. 👋
Powering data centres with fossil energy? Talk about a toxic relationship. We’re demanding a swift divorce, and a speed date with #renewables.
Powering data centres with fossil energy? Talk about a toxic relationship. We’re demanding a swift divorce, and a speed date with #renewables.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
Bradford clean air zone saves health service £360,000 in first year
- Doctor visits for respiratory illnesses and heart problems were down by 25%
#airpollution
Story by @drgaryfuller.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Doctor visits for respiratory illnesses and heart problems were down by 25%
#airpollution
Story by @drgaryfuller.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Bradford clean air zone saves NHS over £30,000 a month in first year
After one year of the zone, which is the second largest in England, GP visits for respiratory illnesses were down by a quarter
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Bradford clean air zone saves health service £360,000 in first year
- Doctor visits for respiratory illnesses and heart problems were down by 25%
#airpollution
Story by @drgaryfuller.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
- Doctor visits for respiratory illnesses and heart problems were down by 25%
#airpollution
Story by @drgaryfuller.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
The United States has declared economic war on some of its closest allies and Silicon Valley is itching to use the power of the state to defend its interests at all costs.
It’s time for an alliance not just to combat US belligerence, but to build a different vision for tech.
It’s time for an alliance not just to combat US belligerence, but to build a different vision for tech.
We need an international alliance against the US and its tech industry
The United States must face consequences for economic warfare
www.disconnect.blog
February 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The United States has declared economic war on some of its closest allies and Silicon Valley is itching to use the power of the state to defend its interests at all costs.
It’s time for an alliance not just to combat US belligerence, but to build a different vision for tech.
It’s time for an alliance not just to combat US belligerence, but to build a different vision for tech.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
There has been relentless attempts to spread FUD on heat pumps in the UK.
Despite all this the UK heat pump market has grown by 63% last year.
www.desmog.com/2023/07/20/r...
Despite all this the UK heat pump market has grown by 63% last year.
www.desmog.com/2023/07/20/r...
Revealed: Media Blitz Against Heat Pumps Funded by Gas Lobby Group
An energy trade association that represents and promotes gas boilers and manufacturers is behind a barrage of negative press attacking heat pumps, DeSmog has learned. Over the past two years, the Ener...
www.desmog.com
February 3, 2025 at 10:08 AM
There has been relentless attempts to spread FUD on heat pumps in the UK.
Despite all this the UK heat pump market has grown by 63% last year.
www.desmog.com/2023/07/20/r...
Despite all this the UK heat pump market has grown by 63% last year.
www.desmog.com/2023/07/20/r...
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
When we looked at the total cost of ownership of heat pumps in the UK I was surprised by this finding:
Heat pumps with only slightly above average efficiency already today reach cost parity with gas boilers after the government grant.
More here👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Heat pumps with only slightly above average efficiency already today reach cost parity with gas boilers after the government grant.
More here👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Total cost of ownership of heat pumps and policy choice: The case of Great Britain
Heat pumps are essential for decarbonizing heating, as shown by numerous studies. Their adoption depends significantly on economic attractiveness. Usi…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
When we looked at the total cost of ownership of heat pumps in the UK I was surprised by this finding:
Heat pumps with only slightly above average efficiency already today reach cost parity with gas boilers after the government grant.
More here👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Heat pumps with only slightly above average efficiency already today reach cost parity with gas boilers after the government grant.
More here👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
1/ 🚨 Conspiracy theories about the 2024 election miss the bigger picture.
The truth? It wasn’t one night, one hack, or one fraud. It was a system rigged in plain sight – right in front of us. The playbook was out in the open for years. But hardly anyone paid attention.
Here’s how they did it... 🧵
The truth? It wasn’t one night, one hack, or one fraud. It was a system rigged in plain sight – right in front of us. The playbook was out in the open for years. But hardly anyone paid attention.
Here’s how they did it... 🧵
November 21, 2024 at 3:46 AM
1/ 🚨 Conspiracy theories about the 2024 election miss the bigger picture.
The truth? It wasn’t one night, one hack, or one fraud. It was a system rigged in plain sight – right in front of us. The playbook was out in the open for years. But hardly anyone paid attention.
Here’s how they did it... 🧵
The truth? It wasn’t one night, one hack, or one fraud. It was a system rigged in plain sight – right in front of us. The playbook was out in the open for years. But hardly anyone paid attention.
Here’s how they did it... 🧵
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
You say: they shutdown USAID.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
February 3, 2025 at 12:46 PM
You say: they shutdown USAID.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
You mean: they illegally broke in to a secure facility over a weekend, hijacked sensitive data on vulnerable people and US businesses, destroyed property Americans paid for, cut off resources for sick and hungry families, and fired Americans across the country.
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
The tech industry makes our lives hell, but at least you can help name the worst billionaire of the year. Cast your ballot! 🗳️
💥 THE BATTLE BEGINS 💥
The tech industry has had quite a year with its billionaires revealing who they really are for all to see. Who will be the WORST PERSON IN TECH?
🗳️ Voting is now open: forms.gle/XYERvxNFTBV1...
The tech industry has had quite a year with its billionaires revealing who they really are for all to see. Who will be the WORST PERSON IN TECH?
🗳️ Voting is now open: forms.gle/XYERvxNFTBV1...
December 9, 2024 at 2:43 PM
The tech industry makes our lives hell, but at least you can help name the worst billionaire of the year. Cast your ballot! 🗳️
Reposted by Oliver Hayes
A bumper new @caadcoalition.bsky.social report out today examining how projections, rhetoric and fossil economy dynamics mean big tech's thirst for chatbots = guaranteed climate harm.
(happy to have helped the team there w/ some of the data and research)
caad.info/analysis/bri...
(happy to have helped the team there w/ some of the data and research)
caad.info/analysis/bri...
December 5, 2024 at 1:32 PM
A bumper new @caadcoalition.bsky.social report out today examining how projections, rhetoric and fossil economy dynamics mean big tech's thirst for chatbots = guaranteed climate harm.
(happy to have helped the team there w/ some of the data and research)
caad.info/analysis/bri...
(happy to have helped the team there w/ some of the data and research)
caad.info/analysis/bri...
@maxrushden.bsky.social If Retegui wants to be the next scott mcgleish (and he surely does) he’s got to keep playing until he’s 50. SM (b.1974) has three apps this season for leverstock green
November 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM
@maxrushden.bsky.social If Retegui wants to be the next scott mcgleish (and he surely does) he’s got to keep playing until he’s 50. SM (b.1974) has three apps this season for leverstock green
V pleased we @globalactionplan.bsky.social have signed this letter, and delighted it has been picked up by Brazil’s climate minister @marinasilva.bsky.social
🚨 As world leaders gather for #COP29 climate negotiations in Baku, with the #G20 Summit in Brazil fast approaching, a group of 51 orgs and 42 climate & information integrity experts are calling for action to address climate disinformation.
Read the full letter here:
Read the full letter here:
Climate Action Against Disinformation | 93 Experts+Orgs in Open Letter: Governments Should Curb Climate Disinformation
buff.ly
November 14, 2024 at 7:22 PM
V pleased we @globalactionplan.bsky.social have signed this letter, and delighted it has been picked up by Brazil’s climate minister @marinasilva.bsky.social