Fiona Harvey
@fionaharvey
Followers
35K
Following
40K
Media
119
Statuses
6K
Writing about the environment full-time since 2004. Seen a lot of environment since then. All tweeting is personal. In the Woman's Hour Power List 2020.
Joined March 2009
Brexit bonus! UK waterways to be filthy for three decades - wouldn’t have been allowed by EU, made poss by Brexit. In 36 years, many rivers may be beyond repair. News sneaked out just before Xmas. Great story by my colleague @sandralaville
76
2K
2K
When I asked govt why allow new homes to be built without solar panels, they say to be technology neutral. But our investigation into Tory donors+ how builders have saved billions, while adding costs to rest of us, casts new light. Read it here:
99
1K
2K
Journalists being told we can’t access the main press conference room #Cop28 without special tickets. And an escort. Security won’t let us through. This is absurd. Not transparent and very not helpful.
84
616
2K
I’ve been on these trains and they were a revelation! Amazing - fast, so comfortable, great amenities (even the food was superb) and at a ticket price Britons can only dream of. Infuriates me, and should infuriate you, that UK has given up on all this.
49
382
1K
“Designed with contempt for everyone else’s safety” is absolutely right. And includes the planet’s safety. Anyone buying these child killing planet choking tanks should be ashamed. And the companies that relentlessly push them on buyers should be prevented from doing so.
150
191
1K
London is thick with the smell of wood smoke. It’s shredding our children’ lungs, for the sake of a middle class fashion accessory. When is someone going to do something about this?.
556
149
997
Please stop bottom trawling. We can’t continue the practice and have a livable planet. People can still fish, but not like this. Carbon released by bottom trawling ‘too big to ignore’, says study, story by my colleague @karenmcveigh1
48
416
883
If we don’t want a planet on fire, the first thing those of us with the good fortune to live in functioning democracies need to do is to stop voting in governments that refuse to tackle the climate crisis. If we do not do that most basic thing we won’t accomplish anything.
400
285
825
‘Massive disinformation campaign’ is slowing global transition to green energy
160
456
780
Nearly 20 years since I got a story on melting ice caps on to the front of FT - a first at the time. Can’t have been many such stories - ie not just about climate, but the actual state of polar ice - on the front since then, either. Read the news, not the idiot denier columnists.
136
211
825
Let’s be clear about this UK: if you burn wood of any kind in an urban area for heating, you are poisoning your neighbours, whether your stove and wood are “certified” or not, because the govt do not care and allow you to burn highly polluting substances.
218
244
816
Amoc collapse scariest thing in climate crisis, for Europe, and has rapidly moved from “terrifying but improbable” to “only too likely”. Can only hope that we climate journalists who warned of Amoc collapse get to be first in line at the rat barbecue.
The dangers of a collapse of the main Atlantic Ocean circulation, known as Amoc, have been “greatly underestimated” and would have devastating impacts, according to an open letter by 44 experts. One of the signatories, @rahmstorf tells me why
66
283
814
UK new houses are “rubbish” - poorly built, nightmare for buyers but great for profits of construction industry that provide at least 10pc of Tory party donations. How did this happen? My colleague @ollywainwright finds horror stories are common
31
389
749
Another glorious Brexit boon! Without EU oversight, govt chooses not to monitor UK water, find @RachSalv and @leanahosea Who could have guessed this is what Brexit would be used for? More sewage, more dead rivers. Britons, rejoice in your freedom!
35
333
738
‘Morally, nobody’s against it’: Brazil’s radical plan to tax global super-rich to tackle climate crisis
35
290
688
Why not penalise the child-killing planet-choking drivers of SUVs? And stop SUV-isation of EVs, stupid waste of valuable resources. If we can’t ban them - which would be best -at least make more expensive. Spoke to Lord Deben recently who said SUV drivers should have to pay more.
“Do people need two-and-a-half-tonne vehicles to take their children to school?”. SUVs use 1/4 more energy than medium-size vehicles. They generate almost 1bn tonnes of CO2 emissions annually – the amount by which we overshot our Paris agreement targets.
187
129
670
This post makes important point - it’s cumulative carbon in atmosphere that affects climate, so the “area under the curve” of how you decarbonise that determines how bad the climate crisis gets. Sooner you cut carbon, the better. Rishi Sunak ought to know this.
Nothing like a morning's discussion on reaching net zero "by 2050" to make you wish for better maths education, all round, including how stuff accumulates over time. Getting there is not the point, what matters is how you get there.
96
265
668
Feargal Sharkey wows the room at 50th birthday of SERA, Labour’s environment campaign. Quite some contrast with Conservative party conf last week. Says govt is “quite frankly corrupt, completely and utterly interested only in themselves”
3
139
595
@Guardian publishes the final writing of @SaleemulHuq and it’s a warning to rich countries to step up for #Cop28 urgently, as climate crisis accelerates around us. Powerful writing as ever. Co-authored with @Prof_FSultana
38
343
590
Incredibly important piece by my colleague @patrickgreenfield Trees and land absorbed almost no CO2 last year. Is nature’s carbon sink failing? Must read.
36
457
816
Why are Britain’s new homes so rubbish? @ollywainwright @guardian podcast explaining why newly built homes in UK are poorly built, expensive, emphatically not low-carbon. In unrelated news, 10% of Tory donations come from housebuilders.
27
259
544
Campaigners, climate experts, politicians react with disbelief and anger as UK minister in charge of #Cop28 talks goes home - presumably to vote on Rwanda bill. With @pgreenfielduk and @horton_official
67
274
530
Child-killing planet-choking SUVs: death machine fashion accessories unnecessary for almost everyone. Why are they being allowed to take over our roads? Because more profit for those lovely car companies who always have your interests at heart, oh yes.
153
158
492
Remember that sovereign wealth fund that the UK govt set up in the 1980s with the windfalls from the North Sea when it started booming? The one that invests in infrastructure now like HS2? No, me neither.
30
142
490
Committee on climate change verdict on PM Rishi Sunak’s climate U-turns: policy reversals will keep bills high and make it harder to reach legally binding climate targets. Story by me. Clear now that govt actively trying to leave a bigger mess for Labour.
27
271
480
Some personal news: I’ve won the international Society of Environmental Journalists award 2022 for outstanding beat reporting, for coverage of #Cop26 last year
62
27
484
World is fixated on preventing temperatures rising above 1.5C - but we must not ignore fact that massive disruption and damage to global food supply from climate crisis could occur long before global heating hits that level, warns UN desertification chief
241
175
443
This is a disaster for the planet. We need to ask why China and India are increasing coal use so much, not just accept it as a fact of life. Story by my colleague Jillian Ambrose
447
189
439
I asked Thomas Piketty what impact climate inequality was having, and what should be done about it. He wants wealth taxes, tighter regulations - and a ban on private jets.
54
134
394
Keir Starmer of course still at #Cop28 talking about future of the planet with John Kerry and Hillary Clinton and Antonio Guterres this morning
155
74
380
UK govt is poised to approve a new coal mine in Cumbria while urging rest of world to get out of coal - international experts say this “hypocrisy” from Cop26 hosts will undermine global climate efforts and damage (again) trust of developing world
12
139
340
Earlier this month we revealed the scandal of how UK housebuilders saved billions by building high carbon homes as Tories (to whom housebuilders are among biggest donors) scrapped low carbon rules. Now read here about what it’s like to live in these homes:
11
189
326
Hard to over-emphasise: 15 min cities are life-enhancing for all people, but especially the old (eg Tory voters) and the young. Hard to think of much more Conservative either as this is how we all used to live when dog lovers drank warm beer under long shadows on county grounds.
“It would also look at preventing the introduction of the concept of the "15-minute city" - where essential amenities are always within a 15-minute walk.” - Rishi Sunak. Remember: Being against 15 minute cities as a concept is literally and very precisely being pro-deprivation.
41
81
303
Failure to agree to phase out fossil fuels at Cop28 ‘will push world into climate breakdown’ - I interview the president of Cop26, Alok Sharma, who has a strong and clear message for #Cop28
192
135
276
Pls stop repeating the canard that inheritance tax is unfair as it taxes twice. In UK for most people the value of any property is largest part of the estate. And the value of that property has never been taxed, but has risen hugely from govt policies aimed at making it rise.
85
39
256
Only 8% of UK households have #woodburners but these mostly middle class fashion accessories, never needed in urban areas, generate more particulate pollution, which penetrates deep into the body to cause lifelong health problems, than all cars on the road
47
109
268
UK #energystrategy unveiled: in midst of energy price crisis, govt decides to prioritise the most expensive sources of power, and those which will take longest to produce more energy; in midst of climate crisis, decides to burn more fossil fuel. Seriously.
11
140
253
This is just shocking. There is no need to drive child-killing, planet-choking SUVs. Sales are driven by the greed of the motor manufacturing industry and consumer vanity. We should all resist.
Global sales of SUVs hit an all-time high in 2022 – driving their annual CO2 emissions to nearly 1 billion tonnes. Electric models are growing in popularity but not fast enough to offset rising emissions from the wider fleet. More in @IEA’s new commentary:
17
90
254
Read this - meticulous reporting on an extraordinary trial, by my colleague @damiengayle . Contempt, gagging and UN intervention: inside the UK’s wildest climate trial
4
158
248
Not only cancelling, but making it impossible for HS2 to be revived - unprecedented for a govt to act like this. Story by my colleague @helenpidd
17
132
227
Labour must resist housebuilders’ pleas to weaken green standards, experts say
10
105
232
As some journalists on here seem to be outraged at the idea that governments engaged in global negotiations on the fate of the planet should be expected to speak to the press, here’s a short thread on some Cop issues.
9
97
284
UK officially backs phase out of fossil fuels at #Cop28 but Rishi Sunak (who came to Dubai for a notably shorter time than other leaders) is expanding oil and gas production, undermining efforts to get a strong Cop28 deal, according to influential figures
57
118
246
Another blow to UK govt plans to use hydrogen in place of gas for home heating - it won’t work, review of the evidence concludes
23
108
238
Rishi Sunak must commit to attend #Cop28, appoint a climate envoy, stop Rosebank, push ahead with climate policies, say cross-party group of MPs and peers
70
76
213
Housebuilders have saved at v conservative estimate more than £15bm since 2008 by not fitting newbuild homes with high grade insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.
11
103
215
Has current UK govt just given up on any form of meaningful energy policy? Offshore wind provides energy security and reduces bills, contrast to volatile gas. But wind developers who can’t find a way to operate in UK have many other markets to choose from.
156
72
212
When UK prime minister Rishi Sunak decided to snub other world leaders by not attending UN general assembly, what they didn’t tell you is that he might not have been allowed to participate in the vital climate segment if he had turned up.
19
107
202
UK likely to miss Paris climate targets by wide margin, analysis shows. Exclusive by me at #Cop28
34
107
214
Time to bring this prophetic piece out of storage again: by me, from 2012, on the impact of the climate crisis on summers in the UK - why it’s not at all jolly. The shape of British summers to come? | Climate science | The Guardian
17
101
203
Your UK water bills - 28% of your payments go on debt interest, in some areas. These companies were handed to private investors debt free. Now look at them. Angry? You should be. Excellent reporting by my colleague @sandralaville and colleagues
7
102
198
Can’t express how much I hate stakeoutts. I wear hearing aids and I can’t hear this. Not a word can I make out. #Cop28 Why can’t they use the press conference room which is less than two mins walk away which is actually set up for press confs and where we can all hear?
16
29
212
Dim future for solar power in UK as Labour looks set to reject proposals to make solar panels compulsory on newly built homes - despite this being overwhelmingly popular. Housebuilders pleased by the loophole.
47
132
205
I don’t usually comment on other journalists, but today’s Daily Mail front page is the stupidest piece of non-journalism on #Cop26 I’ve seen. And anyone slamming Alok Sharma for flying to get govts to agree climate deal is either thick beyond measure or has a wrecking agenda.
23
32
197
Former world leaders led by @GordonBrown seek $25bn levy on oil states’ revenues to pay for climate loss and damage, and other development aid, at #Cop28
13
104
191
Making a brand new house low-carbon costs either £5k if built like that, or £20k to householder after, for retrofit. If kitted out at construction, inconvenience + some cost borne by housebuilder; if later, all by homeowner. Guess which happens in UK?
20
104
184
Who are the polluter elite and how can we tackle carbon inequality? As emissions from the top 1% of wealthy people outstrip even further those of society’s poorest, I put these questions to some of the world’s leading economists and climate thinkers.
39
96
187
Important step against air polluting middle class fashion accessory wood-burning stoves. They may be called eco but they’re not really - even the so-called enviro-friendly or “safe” models all spew out masses of toxic particles. Shd be banned in all cities
7
54
163
Just thought I might post some of the world leaders who were still working hard for the future of the planet here yesterday at #Cop28 while UK PM Rishi Sunak had long since scarpered. Here’s Ursula von der Leyen
65
24
165
To every PR and stupid organisation who sends me an email saying they have exciting news for me if I email them back - save time by fucking right off now. If you have stuff to send me, send it. Don’t require me to answer your cunning little teasers: they go straight in the bin.
17
7
167
Doing so would save carbon emissions and save cost - kitting out a home at construction costs £8k, but retrofitting one later costs £33k.
3
50
151
Has UK govt given up listening to its experts? First Committee on Climate Change, now National Infrastructure Commission. Govt plans to push ahead with hydrogen for home heating despite resounding “no, that’s a very silly idea” (my paraphrase) from NIC
24
80
155
Is it just me or is this not the abolition of leasehold at all? All very well for new flats from now on, but that’s a tiny proportion of homes. What about the millions of existing leasehold properties? Govt admits there will still be “residual” leasehold.
31
66
183
MPs hear from experts warning climate crisis is major national security risk, being taken seriously at top levels of govt in countries such as US and Germany - right after PM Rishi Sunak makes major national security speech without mentioning #climate
32
86
160
What kind of people burn wood when the Royal College of Paediatricians have asked them not to, for the sake of children’s health? Your middle class London neighbours, that’s who. They won’t stop until they’re made to. Story by @horton_official
228
71
171
Perhaps GMB, if it has members’ real interests in mind, should familiarise itself with work of @MLiebreich and @janrosenow before hitching itself irredeemably to a losing technology?.
I'm in Redcar, where last week the government abandoned trials of hydrogen for home heating. Scrapping these trials puts the future of the gas industry and tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Politicians must be honest about the realities, and the exorbitant cost, of heat pumps.
27
44
152
11 ministers from UK have been at Cop28. And UK govt press office claim there’s been every opportunity to question them! Would journalists covering #Cop28 like to say how many they’ve been allowed to speak to? I will start: one, Steve Barclay, this morning, day 10 of Cop.
10
45
155
Sultan Al Jaber is the most important person on the planet right now, as ‘gobsmackingly bananas’ weather assails climate. He’s in charge of UN climate talks and he’s CEO of an oil company. He doesn’t give many interviews, I had unique access. Read it here:
13
64
154
A third of the Arctic’s vast carbon sink now a source of emissions, study reveals. By my colleague @pgreenfielduk
24
121
166
Hugely important story by @Andrew_Wasley on antibiotic resistance. If we are to stop overuse of antibiotics - which we must if we don’t want to destroy modern medicine - then we need to hold the big food companies and retailers to account
3
89
146
UK and world can’t wait for general election to restart action on climate. Another year like the last wasted year according to @theCCCuk would massively raise cost and difficulty of net zero. Fresh policy on climate needed now, from this govt.
64
64
136
EU signal they will stay as long as it takes at #Cop28 to get stronger deal on fossil fuels. German Foreign Min Baerbock: “It is difficult to come to a result here by midday tomorrow. This is not a problem for the EU. We have time and are prepared to stay a little longer.“.
28
49
131
Why we shouldn’t swap normal cars for electric SUVs. SUVs are always a bad idea, electric or not. The size of average car is being increased deliberately by manufacturers, sometimes while pretending to be “green” because electric, and we should resist. We don’t need bigger cars.
Large electric vehicles produce just as much emissions as smaller gasoline-powered cars (plus they kill more people).
18
32
137
The UK’s new climate envoy will be former World Bank climate chief and Cop veteran Rachel Kyte, the Guardian can reveal
36
50
143
Wood burners not cheaper than gas boilers in UK, whatever some people would like to claim! Must-read by my excellent colleague @mrmatthewtaylor explodes myths on cost of wood burning. Selfish middle class fashion accessories poisoning rest of us.
22
40
137
Important read by my colleague @horton_official on the climate denialism links at high levels of UK politics. Who are the wealthy climate sceptics funding rightwing UK politics?
30
81
129
Local authorities should consider levying storm water charges on people who pave over their gardens, in the name of climate resilience. London and other UK cities under-prepared for extreme weather after years of being starved of funds by central govt
10
41
132
Dangers of unintended consequences of efforts to geo engineer global climate mean govts should unilaterally impose a moratorium on solar radiation management, global expert panel finds
17
67
130
Sunak backtracked on climate policies – and voters may punish him. By me and @horton_official
10
40
135
Some great research from @DaleVince on how much the Tory decision to scrap zero carbon homes cost households in bills - the scrapping saved billions for Tory donors, though, as I revealed here:
Our new research exposes how David Cameron’s decision to scrap plans to make all new build homes zero carbon added almost £3 billion to energy bills between 2015 - 2022. It cost £1 k in a single year!
10
72
122
There is no law of physics that says poorer people must bear the cost of transforming world energy systems to clean, away from fossil fuels. That is down to choices made by governments. Me on BBC Radio Wales talking #Cop28
14
35
127
Ed Miliband tells me re Graham Stuart departure from Cop28: “Sad truth is, thanks to Rishi Sunak tanking Britain’s reputation on world stage, many countries won’t even notice his minister gone… flying home in the middle tells you everything you need to know about this govt”.
16
47
119
Alok Sharma is trying to save the world -he’s flying to do it- get over it. Me on the entirely flammed-up non-controversy of person in charge of vital climate negots talking to other countries urgently+in way most likely to get results ie face-to-face
24
42
123
Before you tuck into your smoked salmon Sunday brunch, or salmon steak later, read this by my Observer colleagues @JonUngoedThomas @itsjamestapper on the unpleasant reality of fish farming in Scotland (and probably elsewhere)
3
60
122
Al Gore: decision COP28 to finally recognize that the climate crisis is, at its heart, a fossil fuel crisis is important milestone. But it is also the bare minimum we need and is long overdue. The influence of petrostates is still evident in the half measures and loopholes.”.
17
42
111
I've never seen anything like it. #COP21 Jubilation, celebration, people hugging, weeping in hall. Real sense this is historic agreement.
44
170
121
UK is lagging well behind what’s needed to electrify railways, in a further blow to net zero plans
20
40
118
SUVs - they kill you slowly, but they kill you fast too.
This single graph is all you need to know about US transportation policy since I was born (1981).
10
37
111
Great and much needed fact check here by @horton_official shows misrepresentations in Kemi Badenoch’s provably false claim that net zero ‘impossible’ by 2050
116
62
132
‘Grownup’ leaders are pushing us towards catastrophe, says former US climate chief
21
64
113
We are all on the front line of climate catastrophe now: @UNFCCC chief @simonstiell talks to me ahead of #Cop28 on what world leaders must do urgently to ensure climate safety, securing 1.5C through CO2 cuts +addressing loss and damage
25
58
122
Countries calling themselves leaders on the climate should not send their national leaders to global summits (eg Cop29) then refuse to do press conferences at which they can be questioned on those claims of global leadership. Yes I mean you, @Keir_Starmer.
2
21
112