Notices by Kees van der Leun (sustainable2050@mastodon.energy), page 4

Current high diesel prices must be frustrating for Dutch entrepreneurs who wanted to switch to electric trucks but couldn't due to grid congestion.

Top climate scientist leaves NASA, because telling the truth there has become difficult. Sad.

Looking forward to hear from you in a new position, Kate!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/climate/kate-marvel-nasa-resign.html

Paris has just elected another bike-friendly mayor!
After Anne Hidalgo transformed the city, her PS-colleague Emmanuel Grégoire takes over, beating former right-wing minister Rachida Dati by a large margin.
https://f24.my/BojB

Good morning!

International Energy Agency @iea.org: We're in a major global oil & gas supply crisis, please save energy, e.g. by working from home or reducing speed limits.

Dutch government: "Not necessary here, since we can still get oil & gas, although at higher prices"

But dears, ...

https://nos.nl/artikel/2607053-kabinet-neemt-adviezen-iea-niet-over-geen-tekorten-in-nederland

Belgium has artificially capped diesel prices, and now its fuel stations are swamped by Dutch truckers. Keeping demand high when supply is tight.
https://nos.nl/l/2606825

Currently, the benchmark diesel price in the Netherlands is €2.568 per litre, while Belgium's maximum price stands at €2.107. A difference of 18%.

Let's hope Hungary votes out Orbán. Then it's reduced to a Belgium-Slovakia axis.

Defeatist Belgian PM joins the Orbán-Fico side: "Let's throw Ukraine under the bus and give Putin what he wants."
https://www.euractiv.com/news/belgiums-de-wever-calls-for-eu-to-negotiate-with-russia-for-ukraine-peace/

"It's the way to get access to cheap Russian energy again.", adds De Wever. Disgusting. And very much in line with Russia's other friends in the EU: Orbán and Fico. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/03/14/bart-de-wever-pleit-voor-deal-met-rusland/
h/t @tomvasseur.bsky.social

🦺 "Autonomous and safe": timely report by @rolfschuttenhelm for Topsector Energie.
32 recommendations on how to make the Dutch and European energy system more robust, based on interviews with 22 energy experts, including yours truly.

💬Main message: Accelerate the energy transition!

⛽ One takeaway for immediate use: Do not use government subsidies or lower taxes to prop up demand when supply is tight.

https://topsectorenergie.nl/nl/nieuws/autonoom-en-veilig/

Israel just attacked a university in Beirut, Lebanon, killing a dean and a researcher. Like it did in Gaza, where it systematically bombed all universities.
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/03/12/universiteit-in-beiroet-geraakt-bij-israelische-aanvallen-decaan-en-onderzoeker-gedood-a4922916?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=clipboard&utm_campaign=share&utm_term=share-modal

You wanted regime change?
Here I am. The name's Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei. I hate the West, and I love repression.

After hitting $115 this night, the oil price is now at $103 per barrel, up from around $65 before the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
Big impact on the world economy, and hopefully on the energy transition too.

OK, so I got myself a @protonprivacy mail account. Bit of work ahead to fully move from Gmail, but worth the trouble. Back to Europe!

European gas price now up 48% since Friday!
And Dutch gas storages at a very low level (10% filled).
But: no incentive at all for commercial companies to start filling up again: prices throughout the year are higher than those for next winter. If we want the storages filled, governments need to act.

Nasty shock to European gas price in response to Trump's war: +21% compared to last Friday!

Last Tuesday, a spokesman of Dutch state-owned Gasunie said that the historical low in gas storage filling (11% of capacity) was no problem. But, he added, 'we wouldn't want a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz'.
Now, Gasunie says that the attack came at an unfortunate moment, and that our gas may become very expensive once more.
https://nos.nl/l/2604488

International law, 2026 revision:
If a country is led by bad guys, it's OK to attack it.

It's mind-boggling that tourism to the US was only down by 6% last year. Hopefully, the drop will be a lot bigger this year. Don't go there if you don't have to.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/travel/us-tourism-declines-eu-canada.html