Empty climate gestures, Peter Hitchens' timezone crusade, and the big questions about New Towns

In this episode of 'The Abundance Agenda,' hosts James O'Malley and Martin Robbins dive into a story from Braintree in Essex where local resident Barry Thompson has faced ongoing challenges from the council in his efforts to install solar panels on his house. They discuss the irony of councils blocking green initiatives while declaring climate emergencies. The hosts also touch on broader issues such as the difficulty of carrying out decarbonization efforts, geopolitical tensions affecting renewable energy resources, and disputes within environmental organizations.

Additionally, James and Martin discuss the Peter Hitchens' obsession with British Summer Time and the politics of changing time zones. The main interview features Lord Ben Gascoigne, Chair of the Built Environment Select Committee, who shares insights on the potential of new towns and the necessity of integrating community engagement and nature into urban planning.

The New Towns Inquiry call for evidence:https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3626/

James's newsletter on the origins of Abundance ideology and the on-going vibe shift:https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-abundance-vibe-shiftMartin's post on taking his trousers off at his local station car park:https://martinrobbins.substack.com/p/britains-car-parking-is-a-complete

Book tickets for James's event with Anya Martin on How The YIMBYs Won:https://lu.ma/x265utjx

00:00 Introduction to the Abundance Agenda Podcast

00:22 A Solar Powered Nightmare in Braintree

03:30 The Irony of Declaring a Climate Emergency

05:09 The Tension Between Climate Action and Conservation

12:57 The Ethical Dilemma of Solar Panel Sourcing

18:29 Peter Hitchens and British Summertime

25:30 Permanent British Summertime: Effects and Controversies

26:01 The Scottish Influence on Time Policy

26:45 The Great Time Zone Debate: BST vs GMT

27:04 Public Opinion and Political Movements

27:35 The Future of Time Zones in Britain

29:39 Podcast Housekeeping and Substack Highlights

31:33 New Towns and Urban Development

32:27 Interview with Ben Gas Coin: New Towns Inquiry

37:11 Rewilding and Urban Planning

44:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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