Tom Fitton
tomfitton.bsky.social
Tom Fitton
@tomfitton.bsky.social
Never be cruel, never be cowardly…Remember, hate is always foolish and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.
- Doctor Who
Pinned
QUIZ: Migratory birds connect continents and ecosystems. However, their ancient routes are facing many threats. Habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and other human pressures are causing alarming declines.

www.unep.org/news-and-sto...
Quiz: How much do you know about the migratory birds?
Migratory birds connect continents and ecosystems. However, their ancient routes are facing many threats. Habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and other human pressures  are causing alarming decli...
www.unep.org
Reposted by Tom Fitton
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/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Silvopastoral systems, which combine trees and pasture, are still not widely used across Latin America, mainly because of prohibitive costs and lack of technical knowledge, experts say.

news.mongabay.com/2026/01/silv...
Silvopasture gains momentum in the Amazon, but can it shrink beef’s footprint?
In the rolling hills of Iñapari, a remote town in the Peruvian Amazon on the tri-border with Bolivia and Brazil, cattle ranchers are ditching grass monocultures, which have been shown to harm biodiver...
news.mongabay.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:26 PM
In 2020, Wild Justice won a significant legal challenge against Defra, forcing it to introduce a licensing scheme for the release of gamebirds (Pheasants & Red-legged Partridges) on or near Natura 2000 sites.

wildjustice.org.uk/gamebird-rel...
Unlawful release of gamebirds & Avian Influenza biosecurity breaches next to the Deben Estuary Special Protection Area, Suffolk - Wild Justice
In August 2025, Wild Justice received a tip off from a supporter at Ramsholt, next to the Deben Estuary in Suffolk. He was familiar with our case in 2023, and so alarm bells started ringing when he sa...
wildjustice.org.uk
January 14, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by Tom Fitton
Bird flu in UK wild birds 2025 (& since Dec 2016) markavery.info/2026/01/14/b...

Simply a collation of published records.
88 species wild birds tested +ve since Dec2016.
By year:

2025, 53
2024, 21
2023, 46
2022, 65
2021, 25
2020, 19
2019, none
2018, 15
2017 & Dec 2016, 14.
Bird flu in wild birds in UK 2016-2025 – Mark Avery
markavery.info
January 14, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Tom Fitton
My free monthly newsletter on wildlife and conservation issues goes out on 21st of each month. Sign up here to join thousands of subscribers markavery.info/sign-monthly...
MONTHLY EMAIL ‘NEWSBLAST’ – Mark Avery
markavery.info
January 14, 2026 at 7:09 AM
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Researchers say the United States emitted 2.4% more greenhouse gases in 2025 than the previous year.

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...
US carbon pollution rose in 2025. Experts blame cold winter, data centers
Researchers say the United States emitted 2.4% more greenhouse gases in 2025 than the previous year
abcnews.go.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:33 PM
The snake-tail mantis shows there’s more to these insects than just cannibalism.

www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
Newly discovered mantis species dances like a snake to avoid death after sex
The snake-tail mantis shows there’s more to these insects than just cannibalism.
www.nationalgeographic.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
As it prepares to celebrate its centenary, Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) has revealed its proudest achievements during 100 years of protecting the county's cherished nature.

www.edp24.co.uk/news/2574322...
Norfolk Wildlife Trust highlights its top nature successes from the last 100 years
Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) has revealed its proudest achievements during the last 100 years as it prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2026.
www.edp24.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Tom Fitton
Can you help @nclgreenparty.bsky.social deliver newsletters?

It’s a great way to let residents know about our work and about what Green councillors mean for our communities.

It’s a great way to get more Greens elected in May.

Drop me or @nclgreenparty.bsky.social a message if you can help.
January 10, 2026 at 6:47 PM
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A colossal own goal’: Trump’s exit from global climate treaties will have little effect outside US
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A colossal own goal’: Trump’s exit from global climate treaties will have little effect outside US
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A colossal own goal’: Trump’s exit from global climate treaties will have little effect outside US
For much of the last 30 years, the rest of the world has been forced to persevere with climate action in the face of US intransigence
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Winterwatch is expected to return in 2026, showing off the most amazing nature and wildlife the UK has to offer – and with a new filming location.

www.discoverwildlife.com/on-the-bbc/w...
Winterwatch 2026: All you need to know about the brand new filming location for the BBC wildlife series | Discover Wildlife
Winterwatch is expected to return in 2026, showing off the most amazing nature and wildlife the UK has to offer.
www.discoverwildlife.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Badgers have shaped the Welsh landscape for thousands of years, living quietly in our woodlands, fields, hedgerows, and now our urban spaces as they adapt to changing habitats.

www.badgertrust.org.uk/cymru
CYMRU - Badgers Belong Here
Badgers face real and growing threats in Wales (Cymru). They have shaped the Welsh landscape for thousands of years, living quietly in our woodlands, fields, hedgerows and now our urban spaces as they...
www.badgertrust.org.uk
January 9, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Exclusive: From solar subsidies to meat taxes, minority rightwing voices appear to drown out the consensus.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘A silent majority’: MPs underestimate support for green policies, study reveals
Exclusive: From solar subsidies to meat taxes, minority rightwing voices appear to drown out the consensus
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Deforestation rates have fallen by around 42% compared to last year.

hannahritchie.substack.com/p/amazon-def...
Is deforestation in the Amazon falling?
Deforestation rates have fallen by around 42% compared to last year.
hannahritchie.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Decision weakens a historic agreement to combat deforestation in the Amazon, increases legal uncertainty, and compromises climate stability, reputation, and the position of Brazilian agribusiness in national and international markets.

www.wwf.org.br/en/?93841/Co...
Companies abandon the Soy Moratorium and put the Brazil’s environmental, climate, and economic
Decision weakens a historic agreement to combat deforestation in the Amazon, increases legal uncertainty, and compromises climate stability, reputation, and the position of Brazilian agribusiness in n
www.wwf.org.br
January 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Some of the world's largest soybean traders are preparing to break their agreement to curb deforestation of the Amazon rainforest to preserve tax benefits in Brazil's top farm state, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Exclusive: Soy trading firms to abandon Amazon protection pact in Brazil
Some of the world's largest soybean traders are preparing to break their agreement to curb deforestation of the Amazon rainforest to preserve tax benefits in Brazil's top farm state, two people with d...
www.reuters.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:53 PM
A lobby group for Brazilian grain trading and crushing firms has told farming state Mato Grosso that it and many of its members are quitting a nearly 20-year-old pact protecting the Amazon basin from deforestation driven by soy farming.

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Major Brazilian grain traders quit Amazon conservation pact
A lobby group for Brazilian grain trading and crushing firms has told farming state Mato Grosso that it and many of its members are quitting a nearly 20-year-old pact protecting the Amazon basin from ...
www.reuters.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The treasures beneath Greenland's icy terrain have been coveted for more than a century. But as Donald Trump becomes the latest to eye this wealth, accessing them still remains a challenge.

www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The mineral riches hiding under Greenland's ice
The treasures beneath Greenland's icy terrain have been coveted for more than a century. But as Donald Trump becomes the latest to eye this wealth, accessing them remains a challenge.
www.bbc.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:51 PM
‘Everybody loses’ if production supercharged in country with largest known oil reserves, critics say.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump taking ‘drill, baby, drill’ plan to Venezuela ‘terrible’ for climate, experts warn
‘Everybody loses’ if production supercharged in country with largest known oil reserves, critics say
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:51 PM
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, President Trump said “only time will tell” when it comes to how long the United States aims to control the country.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
Trump Says U.S. Oversight of Venezuela Could Last for Years
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Industry insiders say US oil firms want to ‘avoid getting screwed’ and will proceed with extreme caution in region.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump says US companies will invest billions in Venezuelan oil production. Experts aren’t so sure
Industry insiders say US oil companies want to ‘avoid getting screwed’ and will proceed with extreme caution
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:50 PM
The U.S. interest in Venezuela isn’t just about the oil there, but also about the oil next door in Guyana, and the U.S. oil companies that have staked their future on it.

drilled.media/news/guyana-...
The U.S.-Venezuela-Guyana Oil Triangle
The U.S. interest in Venezuela isn’t just about the oil there, but also about the oil next door in Guyana, and the U.S. oil companies that have staked their future on it.
drilled.media
January 9, 2026 at 12:49 PM