Rik Goverde
@rikgoverde.bsky.social
Former journalist and humanitarian, now comms director at Climate Group.
Dutch person in the UK, which sometimes can be a bit tricky.
Usual disclaimers apply.
Dutch person in the UK, which sometimes can be a bit tricky.
Usual disclaimers apply.
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Saying a single year exceeding 1.5°C warming doesn't mean the Paris Agreement has failed provides as much reassurance as the captain of the Titanic telling passengers that there is an important difference between 'sinking' and 'sunk'.
www.technosphere.earth/derailment-w...
www.technosphere.earth/derailment-w...
Derailment warning as world faces threats to its ability to act on climate change
We may have seriously underestimated the risks of climate change. This includes derailment risks. This does not mean we are doomed, and it certainly does not mean there is no point in trying to turn o...
www.technosphere.earth
October 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Saying a single year exceeding 1.5°C warming doesn't mean the Paris Agreement has failed provides as much reassurance as the captain of the Titanic telling passengers that there is an important difference between 'sinking' and 'sunk'.
www.technosphere.earth/derailment-w...
www.technosphere.earth/derailment-w...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
It’s now *cheaper* to buy and install solar panels and batteries in Africa replacing all the electricity from a coal power plant, than it is to buy coal for an existing coal power plant .
Just by not wasting money on the coal and buying solar PVs.
Only idiots would buy the coal.
Just by not wasting money on the coal and buying solar PVs.
Only idiots would buy the coal.
October 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
It’s now *cheaper* to buy and install solar panels and batteries in Africa replacing all the electricity from a coal power plant, than it is to buy coal for an existing coal power plant .
Just by not wasting money on the coal and buying solar PVs.
Only idiots would buy the coal.
Just by not wasting money on the coal and buying solar PVs.
Only idiots would buy the coal.
‘When it comes to science, I don’t side with anybody’.
He’s really that dangerous
He’s really that dangerous
"We were told thalidomide was a safe drug and it wasn't..."
Nigel Farage says he has 'no idea' if Donald Trump is right about paracetamol being linked to autism.
Nigel Farage says he has 'no idea' if Donald Trump is right about paracetamol being linked to autism.
September 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
‘When it comes to science, I don’t side with anybody’.
He’s really that dangerous
He’s really that dangerous
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Climate Week NYC is just around the corner. Don't miss our incredible lineup of speakers, including:
@bfurnas.bsky.social
@schatz.bsky.social
@casten.house.gov
Register for Heatmap House here: info.heatmap.news/heatmap-hous...
@bfurnas.bsky.social
@schatz.bsky.social
@casten.house.gov
Register for Heatmap House here: info.heatmap.news/heatmap-hous...
September 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Climate Week NYC is just around the corner. Don't miss our incredible lineup of speakers, including:
@bfurnas.bsky.social
@schatz.bsky.social
@casten.house.gov
Register for Heatmap House here: info.heatmap.news/heatmap-hous...
@bfurnas.bsky.social
@schatz.bsky.social
@casten.house.gov
Register for Heatmap House here: info.heatmap.news/heatmap-hous...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
This is century-defining stuff.
1/ New report from @bentleyallan.bsky.social's Net Zero Policy Lab: As the US withdraws from green tech industries and pressures allies to follow suit, China is stepping in to power the developing world's energy transition. The scale is staggering.
www.netzeropolicylab.com/china-green-...
www.netzeropolicylab.com/china-green-...
China Green Leap Outward — Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab
A new China Low Carbon Technology FDI Database
www.netzeropolicylab.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:50 PM
This is century-defining stuff.
Reposted by Rik Goverde
People in my life are probably tired of how often I'm excitedly saying, "No...you don't understand....this is happening much faster than expected...people don't know what's happening!"
Let’s take a step back and think about how we would have felt 10 years ago if we were told this was going to be possible:
“By Q4, China's EV sales will overtake total US vehicle sales of all types (gasoline, hybrid, battery electric combined).”
And with LFP batteries!
#battchat
“By Q4, China's EV sales will overtake total US vehicle sales of all types (gasoline, hybrid, battery electric combined).”
And with LFP batteries!
#battchat
September 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
People in my life are probably tired of how often I'm excitedly saying, "No...you don't understand....this is happening much faster than expected...people don't know what's happening!"
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Diesel is disappearing from our roads, even the German ones. The diesel fairy tale will come to an end. We will have a long, healthy and happy life ever after.
But today, let's send our thoughts and prayers to Diesel Dieter.
But today, let's send our thoughts and prayers to Diesel Dieter.
Thoughts and prayers for Diesel Dieter
My thoughts and prayers are with Diesel Dieter today. He is more than just a German petrolhead; he embodies a whole way of grumpy life — a religion, if you will.
www.linkedin.com
September 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Diesel is disappearing from our roads, even the German ones. The diesel fairy tale will come to an end. We will have a long, healthy and happy life ever after.
But today, let's send our thoughts and prayers to Diesel Dieter.
But today, let's send our thoughts and prayers to Diesel Dieter.
Reposted by Rik Goverde
This would be laughable if it wasn't so serious: yet again, the Tories are claiming that we can get "all our oil and gas" from the North Sea and that we should be doing even more to support the industry to extract.
There are several reasons why we should treat this with maximum scepticism:
There are several reasons why we should treat this with maximum scepticism:
August 31, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This would be laughable if it wasn't so serious: yet again, the Tories are claiming that we can get "all our oil and gas" from the North Sea and that we should be doing even more to support the industry to extract.
There are several reasons why we should treat this with maximum scepticism:
There are several reasons why we should treat this with maximum scepticism:
Madness
North Sea liabilities may already be larger than future sales revenues implying this may have significant costs. But more fundamentally, the quicker you deplete an already declining basin, the more rapidly you become exposed to more imports.
Proper energy strategy needed.
Proper energy strategy needed.
August 31, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Madness
Reposted by Rik Goverde
What I can't work out is whether car manufacturers are idiots for ignoring their own scientists, or whether car manufacturers think we are all idiots who will believe them. Maybe both?
Either way, the simplified landscape they want is easy to provide.
ElectrifyNow.
Either way, the simplified landscape they want is easy to provide.
ElectrifyNow.
August 28, 2025 at 7:55 AM
What I can't work out is whether car manufacturers are idiots for ignoring their own scientists, or whether car manufacturers think we are all idiots who will believe them. Maybe both?
Either way, the simplified landscape they want is easy to provide.
ElectrifyNow.
Either way, the simplified landscape they want is easy to provide.
ElectrifyNow.
Read it, then read it again, and then have a think how scary this actually is
The Times editorial line: "sieve" the entire population so we can put 100s of thousands of people into camps.
"Removing a city’s worth of people would be an extended exercise. Identity cards would be a must if the population was to be sieved into legitimate and illegitimate camps"
archive.ph/78dcP
"Removing a city’s worth of people would be an extended exercise. Identity cards would be a must if the population was to be sieved into legitimate and illegitimate camps"
archive.ph/78dcP
August 28, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Read it, then read it again, and then have a think how scary this actually is
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Wildfires rage across Southern Europe - fueled by #globalheating. Vote out politicians who downplay and ignore the climate crisis.
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Photos: Wildfires Rage Across Southern Europe
Images from Portugal, France, Greece, and other places in the region where a searing heat wave and strong winds have spawned destructive wildfires for the past two weeks. Thousands of firefighters and...
www.theatlantic.com
August 15, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Wildfires rage across Southern Europe - fueled by #globalheating. Vote out politicians who downplay and ignore the climate crisis.
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
What’s happening now in Spain didn’t happen just 50 years ago at this scale in most of the country. Still it’s shocking how little the political debate focuses on the consequences of the climate emergency. My opinion piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Spanish people know deadly heatwaves are now an annual event. So why are our politicians in denial? | María Ramírez
We need everyday solutions like ‘cool banks’ and shaded areas, as well as serious policies on emissions, says María Ramírez, deputy managing editor of elDiario.es
www.theguardian.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:27 AM
What’s happening now in Spain didn’t happen just 50 years ago at this scale in most of the country. Still it’s shocking how little the political debate focuses on the consequences of the climate emergency. My opinion piece @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
No mention of climate change (or fire service cuts) in this BBC article on a big fire in England. This failure is why all reporters - not just climate reporters - need knowledge of climate change.
Journalists need to say why things are happening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Journalists need to say why things are happening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Firefighters put out majority of large heath fire at Holt Heath
Crews are monitoring two areas but not actively firefighting unless they see flare-ups or hotspots.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 15, 2025 at 5:44 AM
No mention of climate change (or fire service cuts) in this BBC article on a big fire in England. This failure is why all reporters - not just climate reporters - need knowledge of climate change.
Journalists need to say why things are happening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Journalists need to say why things are happening
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Sorry, but if you call my password weak I'm not going to tell you where the traffic lights are
May 6, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Sorry, but if you call my password weak I'm not going to tell you where the traffic lights are
Reposted by Rik Goverde
For all the talk of a backlash against climate action, the number of companies publicly setting ambitious emissions reduction and net zero targets continues to grow pretty rapidly. www.businessgreen.com/news/4517713...
SBTi: Number of firms setting science-based climate goals swells to 11,000 worldwide
In past 18 months the number of companies around the world setting near and long-term science-based emissions targets has tripled, according to the Science Based Targets Initiative
www.businessgreen.com
August 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
For all the talk of a backlash against climate action, the number of companies publicly setting ambitious emissions reduction and net zero targets continues to grow pretty rapidly. www.businessgreen.com/news/4517713...
A well-deserved ‘I told you so’-moment
This may be too panglossian, but I wrote something on the latest figures showing clean tech adoption is setting fresh records right across the UK. The clean tech transition is starting to motor and the benefits it unlocks will be far bigger than expected.
www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/45...
www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/45...
Here comes the sun: How clean tech is quietly transforming Britain for the better
Sales of solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicles are all setting fresh records - and the benefits for consumers and the economy could prove much bigger than expected
www.businessgreen.com
August 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A well-deserved ‘I told you so’-moment
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Why are volunteers required to clean up this plastic spill?
Why is the fossil fuel industry not paying for cleaning up the mess THEY made?
Why are those fossil fuel corporation executives and board members not in jail yet?
When will accountability start?
Why is the fossil fuel industry not paying for cleaning up the mess THEY made?
Why are those fossil fuel corporation executives and board members not in jail yet?
When will accountability start?
July 28, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Why are volunteers required to clean up this plastic spill?
Why is the fossil fuel industry not paying for cleaning up the mess THEY made?
Why are those fossil fuel corporation executives and board members not in jail yet?
When will accountability start?
Why is the fossil fuel industry not paying for cleaning up the mess THEY made?
Why are those fossil fuel corporation executives and board members not in jail yet?
When will accountability start?
Reposted by Rik Goverde
Floods in Texas, floods in Korea drought in England, planet hottest on record yet those muppets in the reform party deny the climate is changing and want to scrap net zero targets and will exacerbate an already disastrous situation
July 20, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Floods in Texas, floods in Korea drought in England, planet hottest on record yet those muppets in the reform party deny the climate is changing and want to scrap net zero targets and will exacerbate an already disastrous situation
Reposted by Rik Goverde
The Telegraph is now having to publish so many corrections to articles where it attempts to find *any angle whatsoever* to attack net-zero polices that it makes sense to start tracking them here.
These are the ones published since Labour won the election.
"We are happy to correct the record."
These are the ones published since Labour won the election.
"We are happy to correct the record."
June 2, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The Telegraph is now having to publish so many corrections to articles where it attempts to find *any angle whatsoever* to attack net-zero polices that it makes sense to start tracking them here.
These are the ones published since Labour won the election.
"We are happy to correct the record."
These are the ones published since Labour won the election.
"We are happy to correct the record."
Reposted by Rik Goverde
For literally decades climate hawks and progressives have warned that internal combustion will die off and the tech of the future is electric + battery power and that if we didn’t seize the initiative China would eat our lunch and…welp!
China is probably going to pass 50% EV new car sales this year. ICE technology is a dead man walking www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
China Is Poised to Buy More EVs Than Gas-Only Cars This Year
Affordability, charging advances and subsidies are supporting the inexorable rise of electric cars in the world’s biggest auto market.
www.bloomberg.com
July 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
For literally decades climate hawks and progressives have warned that internal combustion will die off and the tech of the future is electric + battery power and that if we didn’t seize the initiative China would eat our lunch and…welp!
Reposted by Rik Goverde
“45yrs ago, the annual dry season in the S. Amazon used to last 3-4 months & even then there would be some rain. But today, it is 4-5wks longer & there is 20% less rain... Once the dry season extends to 6mo, there is no way to avoid self-degradation. We are perilously close to a point of no return”
Tipping Points need to be on the agenda for COP30 - SUMAÚMA
The possibility of sudden catastrophic change has been largely neglected in United Nations reports on the climate crisis, which allows politicians to carry on with business as usual. That must change ...
sumauma.com
July 12, 2025 at 5:19 AM
“45yrs ago, the annual dry season in the S. Amazon used to last 3-4 months & even then there would be some rain. But today, it is 4-5wks longer & there is 20% less rain... Once the dry season extends to 6mo, there is no way to avoid self-degradation. We are perilously close to a point of no return”
Reposted by Rik Goverde
This is going to play out in many countries. Pakistan was supposed to be using expensive imported LNG to increase their power generation.
Meanwhile, when given the choice of much cheaper solar, individuals and companies in Pakistan are making that simple choice.
Breaking the oil and gas monopoly
Meanwhile, when given the choice of much cheaper solar, individuals and companies in Pakistan are making that simple choice.
Breaking the oil and gas monopoly
Pakistan is kicking butt on rooftop solar. Lahore's gone from bare rooftops to solar-packed in just 5 years. From 200 MW in 2019 to over 1,200 MW by mid-2024, a 6× increase. While the U.S. clings to fossils, Pakistan quietly powers up. The sun shines for all—some just refuse to look up. ☀️🇵🇰⚡ #Solar
July 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This is going to play out in many countries. Pakistan was supposed to be using expensive imported LNG to increase their power generation.
Meanwhile, when given the choice of much cheaper solar, individuals and companies in Pakistan are making that simple choice.
Breaking the oil and gas monopoly
Meanwhile, when given the choice of much cheaper solar, individuals and companies in Pakistan are making that simple choice.
Breaking the oil and gas monopoly
Reposted by Rik Goverde
"Prof James Dyke, an expert in climate science from Exeter University, adds: "The only way to avoid even more extreme heat is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels."" Happy to contribute other obvious insights into climate reporting - journalists, you have my number! news.sky.com/story/weathe...
Weather: What is a 'heat dome' - and how long is it set to affect the UK?
The current heat dome is hovering across most of Europe and bringing soaring temperatures. Here, Sky News looks at how they form, whether they're becoming more common - and why scientists call heatwav...
news.sky.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"Prof James Dyke, an expert in climate science from Exeter University, adds: "The only way to avoid even more extreme heat is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels."" Happy to contribute other obvious insights into climate reporting - journalists, you have my number! news.sky.com/story/weathe...
Reposted by Rik Goverde
This is the problem with the argument ‘we can just adapt’ to climate change. How do you adapt to this without massive health risks, an enormous blow to productivity and food security, and gargantuan adaptation costs?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
June 29, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This is the problem with the argument ‘we can just adapt’ to climate change. How do you adapt to this without massive health risks, an enormous blow to productivity and food security, and gargantuan adaptation costs?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...