Tom Carter-Brookes
@tom-cb.bsky.social
Former musician, now a Leverhulme Doctoral Scholar looking at sustainable rural transitions and farmer protest through a Human Geography lens at Keele University. Interested in all things environmental politics, post-capitalism, music, wine, books and dogs
Pinned
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became Britain’s latest culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
theconversation.com
My latest article, with the fantastic @alexheffron.bsky.social has just been published. Looking how Reform UK are trying to turn placement of Solar Panels on farmland in a rural culture war and wedge issue.
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
The entire academic community should always be excited when Farhana publishes a new paper 😍
'Repairing epistemic injustice and loss in the era of climate coloniality'
Important new paper from Farhana Sultana
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Important new paper from Farhana Sultana
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
November 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The entire academic community should always be excited when Farhana publishes a new paper 😍
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
If you put up a union jack or George’s Cross in middle of a hate campaign against migrants, asylum seekers & people of colour that used those flags as branding, you knew what you were doing even if you didn’t have sufficient courage in your abysmal convictions to say it. This must be said.
November 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM
If you put up a union jack or George’s Cross in middle of a hate campaign against migrants, asylum seekers & people of colour that used those flags as branding, you knew what you were doing even if you didn’t have sufficient courage in your abysmal convictions to say it. This must be said.
Christ, a man out of his depth in a shallow puddle. Hate to break it to him, but I'm fairly sure that the landlord didn't build the house, and 'a fair price you're happy with'. Err yes, right you are pal 🖕
Surely there are some better arguments on the pro landlordism side of the debate than implying that if a landlord doesn't own the house, the house ceases to exist??
November 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Christ, a man out of his depth in a shallow puddle. Hate to break it to him, but I'm fairly sure that the landlord didn't build the house, and 'a fair price you're happy with'. Err yes, right you are pal 🖕
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
If they only knew how to zoom in, they might just be able to make out the red poppy too....
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
If they only knew how to zoom in, they might just be able to make out the red poppy too....
Utter madness, the UK has the poorest quality housing stock in Europe, meaning that domestic heating is a major source of UK GHGs. We should be massively increasing funding here. Reeves is the epitome of why economists shouldn't be in charge of anything. Ever.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cutting home insulation funding will imperil UK’s climate goals, Reeves told
Energy firms and charities urge chancellor to avoid short-term fix that could also harm low-income households
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Utter madness, the UK has the poorest quality housing stock in Europe, meaning that domestic heating is a major source of UK GHGs. We should be massively increasing funding here. Reeves is the epitome of why economists shouldn't be in charge of anything. Ever.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Great article this, really important to start trying to mainstream the idea that 'net' zero really needs to focus more on the 'zero', especially re fossil emissions.
As COP30 begins, here's a gentle reminder that well-intentioned half measures aren't going to solve the climate crisis. The era of fossil fuels must come to an end. My latest in The Guardian... www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Net zero is an insidious loophole that distracts from the scientific imperative to eliminate fossil fuels | Joëlle Gergis
History tells us that polite incrementalism and political kowtowing will prevail at Cop30 – even as catastrophe unfolds around us
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Great article this, really important to start trying to mainstream the idea that 'net' zero really needs to focus more on the 'zero', especially re fossil emissions.
Looking at the way Reform and the far right are trying to leverage rural resentments against solar farms. Given that most farmers are concerned by climate change – does this actually make Reform anti-farmer?
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became the latest battlefront in Britain’s culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
theconversation.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This is a fantastic short read, talking about how the countryside is still a fruitful place for right wing politics and nationalism. Really speaks well to parts of my own research around the ongoing contestations in uk agriculture tribunemag.co.uk/2025/11/the-...
The English Countryside Doesn’t Exist
Conservative myths about the English countryside have made it an exclusionary haven of right-wing ideology. Can we discern anything more meaningful, substantial, and in keeping with modern reality in ...
tribunemag.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:55 PM
This is a fantastic short read, talking about how the countryside is still a fruitful place for right wing politics and nationalism. Really speaks well to parts of my own research around the ongoing contestations in uk agriculture tribunemag.co.uk/2025/11/the-...
My latest article
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became Britain’s latest culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
tcnv.link
November 3, 2025 at 7:17 AM
My latest article
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
Looking at the way Reform and the far right are trying to leverage rural resentments against solar farms. Given that most farmers are concerned by climate change – does this actually make Reform anti-farmer?
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became the latest battlefront in Britain’s culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
theconversation.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Looking at the way Reform and the far right are trying to leverage rural resentments against solar farms. Given that most farmers are concerned by climate change – does this actually make Reform anti-farmer?
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
Enjoyed writing this with @tom-cb.bsky.social
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
My latest article, with the fantastic @alexheffron.bsky.social has just been published. Looking how Reform UK are trying to turn placement of Solar Panels on farmland in a rural culture war and wedge issue.
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became Britain’s latest culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
theconversation.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
My latest article, with the fantastic @alexheffron.bsky.social has just been published. Looking how Reform UK are trying to turn placement of Solar Panels on farmland in a rural culture war and wedge issue.
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
My latest article, with the fantastic @alexheffron.bsky.social has just been published. Looking how Reform UK are trying to turn placement of Solar Panels on farmland in a rural culture war and wedge issue.
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
‘You can’t eat electricity’: how rural solar farms became Britain’s latest culture war
Reform UK is exploiting opposition to solar panels – but most farmers are more worried about climate change.
theconversation.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
My latest article, with the fantastic @alexheffron.bsky.social has just been published. Looking how Reform UK are trying to turn placement of Solar Panels on farmland in a rural culture war and wedge issue.
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
theconversation.com/you-cant-eat...
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
Currently trying to put a panel together on West African security for #BISA2026. We have 3 panelists and need at least another. If interested could you please inbox or email me? conference.bisa.ac.uk/call-papers-0 @mybisa.bsky.social @samjarvis.bsky.social @drswhite.bsky.social
Call for papers
The call for papers for the BISA 2026 conference taking place in Brighton in June 2026.
conference.bisa.ac.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Currently trying to put a panel together on West African security for #BISA2026. We have 3 panelists and need at least another. If interested could you please inbox or email me? conference.bisa.ac.uk/call-papers-0 @mybisa.bsky.social @samjarvis.bsky.social @drswhite.bsky.social
This looks interesting. My default position on a 'sustainable' future is one within degrowth/post capitalism. We need considerably less material throughputs and energy use, so I'm skeptical about CDR. However, given it'll likely be happening then I'm keen to hear more especially re social acceptance
Are you an earth or environmental scientist with an interest in climate change mitigation? Join our upcoming scientific meeting looking at enhanced weathering as leading researchers discuss the scientific and societal challenges ahead:
royalsociety.org/science-even...
royalsociety.org/science-even...
October 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This looks interesting. My default position on a 'sustainable' future is one within degrowth/post capitalism. We need considerably less material throughputs and energy use, so I'm skeptical about CDR. However, given it'll likely be happening then I'm keen to hear more especially re social acceptance
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
Nobody had even heard of Katie Lam outside of Westminster until about two weeks ago.
Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors
Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Nobody had even heard of Katie Lam outside of Westminster until about two weeks ago.
Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors
Literally all it takes to be considered "brilliant" and a "rising star" on the right of British politics now is just a willingness to say something slightly more racist than all of your competitors
Hahaha Goodwin's legendary piercing intellect on display 🤙
'Get rid of the migrants or I'll become a migrant' is quite the argument
October 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Hahaha Goodwin's legendary piercing intellect on display 🤙
This in absolute spades.....lob in private schools and Oxbridge whilst we're at it
Don’t just abolish Prince Andrew’s titles, abolish the monarchy.
October 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This in absolute spades.....lob in private schools and Oxbridge whilst we're at it
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
The masks have not just slipped, they've been smashed to pieces as it's clear they have no interest in ever rowing back
Full commitment to a deeply reactionary project whose logical conclusion is very clear
Full commitment to a deeply reactionary project whose logical conclusion is very clear
Mass deporting millions of people legally living here in order to make the UK "culturally coherent" is "broadly in line" with Conservative party policy, says Kemi Badenoch's spokesman
October 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The masks have not just slipped, they've been smashed to pieces as it's clear they have no interest in ever rowing back
Full commitment to a deeply reactionary project whose logical conclusion is very clear
Full commitment to a deeply reactionary project whose logical conclusion is very clear
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
👎 Shameful behaviour from Bath University!
Solidarity to students who took action to shine a light on major fossil fuel, mining and arms corporations at their careers fair!
Solidarity to students who took action to shine a light on major fossil fuel, mining and arms corporations at their careers fair!
October 21, 2025 at 8:45 AM
👎 Shameful behaviour from Bath University!
Solidarity to students who took action to shine a light on major fossil fuel, mining and arms corporations at their careers fair!
Solidarity to students who took action to shine a light on major fossil fuel, mining and arms corporations at their careers fair!
Still a few days to submit your abstracts for this at #BISA2026
Another Call for Papers for #BISA2026 (3rd-5th June, Brighton), this time for a panel I'm organising with @tom-cb.bsky.social. Deadline 24th Oct.
Gender and resistance in environmental politics: This panel will explore how gender relates to resistance against env harm AND resistance to transition.
Gender and resistance in environmental politics: This panel will explore how gender relates to resistance against env harm AND resistance to transition.
October 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Still a few days to submit your abstracts for this at #BISA2026
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
Holy wow, +3.5 ppm CO₂ last year, up from +2.4 ppm average the past decade, and +0.6 ppm in the 1960s.
It gets scarier the closer you look at it. All this is a stress test for the planet, and it's buckling.
Two big reasons for the massive increase: wildfires, and the ocean sinks are shutting down.
It gets scarier the closer you look at it. All this is a stress test for the planet, and it's buckling.
Two big reasons for the massive increase: wildfires, and the ocean sinks are shutting down.
October 16, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Holy wow, +3.5 ppm CO₂ last year, up from +2.4 ppm average the past decade, and +0.6 ppm in the 1960s.
It gets scarier the closer you look at it. All this is a stress test for the planet, and it's buckling.
Two big reasons for the massive increase: wildfires, and the ocean sinks are shutting down.
It gets scarier the closer you look at it. All this is a stress test for the planet, and it's buckling.
Two big reasons for the massive increase: wildfires, and the ocean sinks are shutting down.
Position 3:
I've barely invested any time in considering the environmental and ethical implications of AI as they're mere 'externalities'.
Position 3 also has a low barrier to entry.
I've barely invested any time in considering the environmental and ethical implications of AI as they're mere 'externalities'.
Position 3 also has a low barrier to entry.
There are basically only two positions in the debate about AI.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
1. I’ve barely invested any time in learning how to use it effectively. AI sucks.
2. I’ve invested in learning how to use this tool. Holy cow, it’s transformational.
Position #1 has lower barriers to entry.
October 18, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Position 3:
I've barely invested any time in considering the environmental and ethical implications of AI as they're mere 'externalities'.
Position 3 also has a low barrier to entry.
I've barely invested any time in considering the environmental and ethical implications of AI as they're mere 'externalities'.
Position 3 also has a low barrier to entry.
As @zarahsultana.bsky.social said in another related post. Never let people convince you that fascism is perpetuated by the working class. It is the elite and establishment classes who facilitate and mobilise it.
A mainstream journalist calling for a British MP to be deported. Is it because I’m Muslim? Next time, just say it with your chest.
October 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
As @zarahsultana.bsky.social said in another related post. Never let people convince you that fascism is perpetuated by the working class. It is the elite and establishment classes who facilitate and mobilise it.
As part of my ongoing research into farmer protests, I saw Steve Reed becoming one of the most pilloried figures in agriculture within a matter of months. Now he's dressing up like a maga tribute act and bending over to mega rich developers to steamroller even the most basic environmental safeguards
If Labour will cave into corporations over a single brick that costs just £35, how can they be trusted to do anything else that protects nature and controls the behaviour of big business? This lot are the biggest waste of a parliamentary majority. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Government U-turns on support for bird-friendly swift bricks in new homes
Steve Reed previously said he was in favour of requiring one hollow brick for cavity-nesting creatures in every new-build
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
As part of my ongoing research into farmer protests, I saw Steve Reed becoming one of the most pilloried figures in agriculture within a matter of months. Now he's dressing up like a maga tribute act and bending over to mega rich developers to steamroller even the most basic environmental safeguards
Reposted by Tom Carter-Brookes
Your antidote to the despair the Reform-Tory-Labour bloc wants us to be paralyzed by.
October 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Your antidote to the despair the Reform-Tory-Labour bloc wants us to be paralyzed by.