Simon Pickstone

@simonpickstone.bsky.social

222 Followers 466 Following

Environmental journalist at ENDS Europe (@endseurope.com)

That meme from Pacific Rim in which a man at a blackboard writes equations and says In the beginning the follow-up emails were spaced apart 24 hours. Then 12, then 6, then every 2 hours...!"
Before: three profile pictures showing staff at the Toy Industries of Europe posing with toys - a robot cat, a trump and a hand puppet
We went round turning off standby devices, toasters, computers and chargers but left the router functioning for the smart meter. We lit candles and watched The Chase on TV. We always watch that between 5 and 6pm anyway so it wasn’t massively difficult for us and we can manage without hot drinks for that time, it won’t kill us! At the moment we have to think about it a bit, but it’s not life changing. Now that we’re retired, it doesn’t take a huge amount for us to reorganise our life so we don’t need to use electricity. I’m quite happy to leave it for people who have got children and have to get school uniforms washed and dried for the next day.
Table of selected projects includes: sAIfety -- Steelworkers’ Safety enhancement through AI based tools For prEdiction and risk reducTYon; SmartSlag; REVOLUTE -- Rolling Enhancement Via Optimization of chosen LUbricants and digital Texturing
It is in those circumstances that the High Court (Ireland) decided to stay the proceedings and to refer the following questions to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling: ‘(1) Does Article 11 of [the EIA Directive] read in the light of the principle of wide access to justice under Article 9(2) of the Aarhus Convention have the effect that, in a case where a project within the meaning of Article 1(2)(a) of [that directive] the subject of an application for development consent (the “primary consent”) cannot be carried out without the developer having first obtained another permission (the “secondary consent”), and where the authority competent for granting the primary consent for such a project retains the ability to assess the project's environmental impact more strictly than was done in the secondary consent, such a secondary consent (if granted prior to the primary consent) is to be treated as forming part of the development consent procedure for purposes other than in relation to the scope of matters to be considered or assessed under [the EIA Directive], either generally or where the secondary consent is a decision adopted under Article 16(1) of [the Habitats Directive] and which authorises a developer to derogate from the applicable species protection measures in order to carry out the project?
a live dashboard of Great Britain's power grid showing 81% of demand being met by wind and solar, 8% from gas, 10% from nuclear and 4% from dead trees (excess supply is going to Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands)
screenshot of a broken URL to a European Commission consultation page highlighting the section info/law/better-regulation/ that needs deleting for the link to work
Recital to the new draft ban, to be discussed by member states today, reads: "Since the SEAC opinion was finalised in December 2022, international developments highlighted the need for the Union to strengthen its defence readiness and defence capacity in response to growing threats. In 2025, the Commission presented a strategy to achieve defence readiness by 2030, through a White Paper for European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan, with the aim to quickly and significantly increase the Union’s defence investments and defence capabilities. The strategy included, among other things, actions supporting the strategic stockpiling of bullets, including lead bullets, and ensuring sufficient industrial capacity for the timely replenishment of ammunition in case of need. Against this background, and following discussions with the Member States during the decision-making process, the Commission considers it appropriate and necessary to exclude bullets from the scope of the restriction to prevent any potential impact, however small, on the production of lead bullets. Limiting the scope of the restriction to lead gunshot will still ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from exposure to lead. Based on the Agency’s estimates, the expected lead emission reduction from prohibiting the use of lead bullets for hunting and outdoor sports shooting is 8 232 tonnes over 20 years. This is much less than the expected lead emission reduction from prohibiting the placing on the market and use of lead gunshot, i.e. 558 000 tonnes over 20 years. Excluding bullets from the scope will therefore only have a minimal effect on the overall effectiveness of the restriction."
A picture of flower beds made of old railway timbers leaching carcinogenic creosote into the environment, installed in a former warehouse site in south east London
ENDS Europe editorial from 19 Dec 2008 Crisis leaves the climate glass half empty A sombre mood has engulfed 2008 as the devastating impact of the global financial crisis in the last quarter wiped out any earlier optimism. The year had started well for the environmental community. Hot on the heels of the EU leaders’ commitment to meet ambitious climate objectives by 2020, lawmakers started hammering out the details of how to reach those goals. Hopes were raised that a new era was dawning for renewable energy sources and low-carbon technologies. The year closes with a ‘historic’ agreement by the 27 member states and a sizeable majority of the EU’s 785 MEPs on the climate and energy package, but many compromises had to be struck. The hard-fought battle over the third phase of the EU’s emission trading scheme (ETS) ended on a sour note. Full auctioning of carbon allowances will happen later than anticipated, if at all. Derogations and exemptions abound. Ambitious targets to cut CO2 emissions in the bloc remain in place, but member states are allowed to achieve a third of these cuts in non-ETS sectors through projects taking place outside the EU. Some countries may ‘outsource’ an even higher percentage of their emission reductions. A boost for carbon capture and storage (CCS) will come in the form of funding for construction of a dozen pilot plants. New combustion plants with a capacity above 300 megawatts must allow for space to install CCS equipment, but fitting it will not be mandatory. Even the renewables directive, hailed as a success, contains a compromise too far with non-mandatory interim targets. A “review clause” for 2014 was added to appease Italy, which was threatening to block the whole package. Priority access to the grid is, again, non-mandatory. There was also an undeniable climb-down on car CO2 emissions, with the new limit of 130 grams per kilometre not fully applicable until 2015. All in all, the EU only just managed to confirm its leadership…
ANNEXES to the COMMISSION *REGULTATION* setting ecodesign requirements for water heaters, solar devices, shower water heat recovery devices, packages of those products and hot water storage tanks, amending and repealing Commission Regulation (EU) 814/2013
Imagine is a screenshot of an ENDS Europe article from 25 November. EXCLUSIVE: Dombrovskis seeks to reopen EU nature restoration law The commissioner in charge of the European Commission’s deregulation drive has sought to include the EU’s flagship nature restoration rules in the upcoming environmental ‘omnibus’ simplification package, leading to a potential political deadlock delaying the file.
Gif of Ed Miliband saying "hell yes I'm tough enough"
Ivan Couronne, AFP Future of the Planet global editor, LinkedIn post: "Once again, we’re seeing many environmental/climate institutions, research organizations, think tanks and NGOs timing the release of their reports just before or during hashtag#COP30. I wish we could cover all the valuable new data and insights being published, but doing so would essentially require AFP reporters to spend all of their time on reports rather than on what’s actually happening at COP. For some major reports, like those from UNEP or the Global Carbon Project, the timing makes sense. But for many others, wouldn’t it have more impact to release them a few weeks earlier? I’m sure comms teams are already thinking about this, but the reality is that much of what comes out in the next three weeks just won’t get covered.
Judgment of the Court in Case C-218/24 | Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España (Concept of ‘baggage’) Air carrier liability: pets are not excluded from the concept of ‘baggage’ On 22 October 2019, a passenger travelled with her mother and her pet (a dog) on a flight from Buenos Aires (Argentina) to Barcelona (Spain). The flight was operated by the airline Iberia. Due to its size and weight, the dog was to travel in the hold, in a pet carrier. During check-in, the passenger did not make a special declaration of interest in delivery at destination concerning the baggage. The dog escaped while being carried to the plane and could not be recovered. The passenger claimed compensation in the amount of €5,000 for the non-material damage suffered following the loss of her dog. Iberia accepts its liability and the entitlement to compensation, but within the limit laid down for checked baggage.
LinkedIn post from environment commissioner Jessika Roswall that reads: In July, I took a blood test to check if and how much PFAS is in my body. Why? Because PFAS — often called “forever chemicals” — are a growing public health and environmental concern. This initiative was made by the Danish Presidency together with European Environmental Bureau and ChemSec. I, together with European ministers, took PFAS tests to raise awareness about the risks these chemicals pose. PFAS are used in everything from industrial processes to everyday consumer products. Their durability makes them valuable in key sectors, including the green transition — but that same durability means they don’t break down. They stay in our soil, water, air, wildlife — and in our bodies. This is not just a personal issue — it’s a public one. A Dutch study showed that nearly everyone in the Netherlands has PFAS in their blood, often at levels above what’s considered safe. And this pattern is seen across Europe. At the EU level, we European Commission are committed to reducing the use of PFAS. We’re working towards a ban on PFAS in consumer products, and wherever safer alternatives exist, they should be used. We need to reduce PFAS use — and we need to clean our environment from these “forever chemicals.” 🧪 When I took the test, I promised to share my results. And here they are: Yes, I do have PFAS in my body. I tested positively on 6 out of 13 PFAS. And 3 out of those 6 are officially classified as toxic for reproductive health. This only strengthens my resolve to keep working for stronger action at the European level.
Snippet from the REACH Regulation restriction entry for creosate stating: "3. Treated wood referred to under paragraph 2(b) and (c) shall not be used: — inside buildings, whatever their purpose, — in toys, — in playgrounds, — in parks, gardens, and outdoor recreational and leisure facilities where there is a risk of frequent skin contact, — in the manufacture of garden furniture such as picnic tables, — for the manufacture and use and any re-treatment of: — — containers intended for growing purposes, — packaging that may come into contact with raw materials, intermediate or finished products destined for human and/or animal consumption, — other materials which may contaminate the articles mentioned above."
A section of an AI generated image ostensibly showing European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, horribly disfigured, bowing down before Donald Trump, dressed as an emperor, whose sandal cuts through her arm. For some reason von der Leyen is wearing an EU flag as a kind of toga(?) that is randomly dotted with extra yellow stars.
A wooden box in a cafe in Zurich with the label 'Geschirrrückgabe' intended to hold used cups and plates
Image shows a walkway across the former storage pits, now filled with greenery, with sunlit blast furnaces behind
A view from the top of the blast furnace in Duisburg-Nord, showing the crane formerly used to load coke and iron ore into storage pits, plus a landscape of trees, steeples, chimneys and slag heaps beyond
Picture shows part of the old steel mill in Duisburg Nord, now converted into a park, with a cluster of trees growing within the complex
Email reads: Petrol apocalypse: UK to run out of petrol and diesel stations by 2038 Petrol and diesel stations numbers have decreased by over 75% in the last 50 years, and if this rate continues there’ll be none left before 2040 Rapid/ultra-rapid EV charging hubs are stepping up to fill the gap, and are estimated to outnumber petrol and diesel stations by 2032 23 June 2025, Manchester: UK petrol and diesel stations are facing extinction, with research revealing that there will be nowhere to fill up ICE vehicles by 2038, according to national EV charging network Be.EV.
Image shows an ECJ opinion by advocate-general Kokott on Pesticide Action Network Europe vs the European Commission, which starts with a quote from Britney Spears' Toxic
To better coordinate and scale up existing initiatives aimed at increasing water retention on land, the Commission will develop a “Sponge Facility”, providing a coherent framework for new and existing initiatives to increase water retention on land.
Many people will, of course, have little sympathy with drivers, especially if they don’t own a car. Yet there’s a hypocrisy here. Because I can’t think of anyone, car owner or not, who doesn’t regularly depend on a personal driver: be that the Uber driver, the person who delivers the online shopping, or the local plumber or electrician. The time wasted in queues, the frustration and the extra fuel consumption are all outsourced to the little guy. There should be a way around this, but the first step would be to listen. Lambeth has been exposed for ignoring its residents. Those who oppose LTNs are not rabid petrol-headed rightwingers who want to burn up the planet: they’re mostly just ordinary people trying to go about their daily business whose life has been made miserable. They have a right to be heard. And those in power should remember: car ownership is not a crime. Drivers are not evil.
Image shows list of document types on the European Commission's search function, including 'recommendation for a recommendation'
A voting sheet for a meeting of last week's REACH committee showing 26 member states voting in favour of the phase-out, with one member state represaenting 8.33% of the EU population (i.e. Poland) abstaining
Image shows a swimming spot on Zurich's Limmat
Excerpt from a Guardian article on Swiss waste water treatment that reads: "A key driver of that transformation was a tragedy in the mountain resort of Zermatt in 1963, when a typhoid outbreak killed three people and made 437 others ill. Soldiers were deployed and schools turned into emergency hospitals as panic spread. Pressure grew on the government to clean up the waterways, found to be the source of the outbreak. In 1971, the treatment of wastewater was written into Swiss law. "Now Switzerland has some of the cleanest rivers in Europe. According to 2023 data from the European Environment Agency, just five of the country’s 196 bathing areas were rated as poor quality. Politicians across the spectrum agree on the need to prioritise clean water. “Very high water quality is important to the population,” says Michael Mattle, head of wastewater technology at the engineering company Holinger. “We take a lot of care not to pollute water on its way through Switzerland.” And they pay for it: the government spent an average of £174 a person on wastewater treatment in 2022, compared with about £90 a person in England and Wales in the 2022-23 financial year, according to analysis by Ends Report." That paragraph is not totally accurate as it's not primarily the federal government that funds wastewater treatment, but rather charges levied by (publicly owned or operated) water companies.
A screenshot of an email inbox with many dozens of press releases reacting to the launch of the Clean Industrial Deal this morning
The Commission considers it appropriate to allow derogations from the restriction for lead ammunition fired from historic firearms (such as muzzle loaders or breechloading guns) and their modern replicas, because there is no suitable alternative ammunition that would not risk irreparably damaging them. In addition, RAC recognised that their use is limited in volume and that the impact of the derogation on overall risk reduction would therefore be low.
image shows Hermione Granger, hands on hips, with the phrase 'omg a hit tweet' in comic sans -- I've inexpertly crossed out tweet and replaced with 'podcast'
a list of three new rulings handed down by the EU General Court: US v Commission; Fondazione Save The Chickens v Commission; and Poland v Commission
A screenshot from a report by the European Consumer Organisation showing a listing for a "black survival knife -fixed blade stick medium tactical knife - perfect gift for me", with an illustration of it sitting in the drinks holder of a car door and, in all caps, "ROAD RAGE - SELF-DEFENSE". Just £13.98.
Press Release The Commission’s Paradox: Fertiliser Sanctions Threaten European Agriculture Amid Competitiveness Strategy On the very day the European Commission unveils its strategic compass for European competitiveness, it has simultaneously introduced a proposal to impose sanctions on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers—a move that will severely impact agricultural production and competitiveness. Without a clear diversification strategy, European farmers will soon find themselves up against the wall.
a pasted sentence pulling up a message from google that reads: "Refine with Gemini"
Conversation between me and Google's gemini 'assistant': S: please turn yourself off Gemini: I can't help with that. Do you need help with anything else? S: yes i want gemini to be deactivated Gemini: I can't help with that. Do you need help with anything else?
Text reads: "Thickets of red tape that, for all the Tories talked a good game, was [sic] allowed to spread through the British economy like Japanese knotweed."
Voting sheet shows one member state representing 2.34% of the EU population (i.e. Sweden) voted against, and one representing 8.37% (i.e. Poland) abstained
Graph shows EU GDP per capita from 1990 to 2022 remain roughly stable at between 68% to 72% of US GDP per capita, with another line for China's GDP per capita as a percentage of US GDP per capita that appears to overtake EU GDP -- but only because it is using totally different scales
A draft EU implementing regulation allowing various uses of fluorinated greenhouse gases more than 150 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, including for artisanal gelato ice cream makers, frozen drinks dispensers and cold cream dispensers
image shows a red triangle with a black and white picture of a bee lying (dead) upside down in the centre
Nearly 1000 compounds could not be identified. Taking a closer look at the identified compounds, silicone migrants included phthalates and plasticizers, while PP bottles released light inhibitors, clarifying and coating agents, as well as bisphenol A derivates. Evaluating the hazard based on the identified and quantified chemicals, the authors ranked silicon, PP, and PE as the highest risk. PS, PET, PETG, and PCTG ranked at the other end of the spectrum with the fewest migrating chemicals (6% of all features). Although migration was the lowest from Ecozen bottles, the chemicals included were concerning ones. In addition, clear bottles performed better than colored bottles due to the reduced leaching of colorants.
Image shows a transparent plastic fork labelled as "reusable" in the hope that this means it would no longer count as single-use, even though there is almost zero chance of it ever being reused
In the impact assessment we note that (short term) effects on yields of farmers are referenced and that mention is made of possible loss of land due to rewetting of peatland. We find these comments rather short and not a testimony to full understanding of the socioeconomic impact loss of land, forced sale of land, or forced change of function of land has. It can easily imply an end to an economic activity for a person, family or community. Moreover, we did not find references to effects on food production, food production potential or 'food security'. It would seem rather odd that taking a part of land out of production, notably via the 10% target (but also through other possible restoration measures) which would lead to a reduction in food production in Europe, is not even mentioned in the assessment. That is a big omission
The socio-economic impact for agriculture (and eventually food security), and forestry and for rural areas and their viability should be identified and assessed. The impact assessment does not include an overall socio-economic modelling of impacts of the restoration targets for agriculture and forestry and viability of rural areas. The impacts of the restoration on the food production, food production potential and food security have also not been analysed. These are serious concerns.
On google docs go to tools, then preferences, substitutions, then add Jørgensen to replace Jorgensen whenever you’re writing about the incoming danish energy commissioner