The hottest Emissions Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Private Jets: The Luxury with A Huge Carbon Footprint

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Emissions Sustainability Transportation Luxury goods
  1. Private jets cause a lot of pollution. They can emit as much carbon dioxide in a year as 177 cars.
  2. The number of private jets is increasing, leading to more greenhouse gas emissions over time. They are often used for short trips, which makes the pollution worse.
  3. Using private jets is a luxury that only a small percent of the world enjoys. Reducing their use could help lessen the environmental impact.

Mining the Earth, Polluting the Future: The Impact of Gold Extraction on Climate Change

Adetokunbo Sees • 416 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Mining Deforestation Emissions Climate change Sustainability
  1. Gold mining is causing a lot of deforestation around the world, damaging many forests. In some places, thousands of hectares of land have been lost due to illegal mining activities.
  2. The process of extracting gold emits a significant amount of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. In the coming years, this could exceed 100 million tonnes of emissions each year.
  3. To help reduce the negative impacts of gold mining, we need to focus on using renewable energy and new technologies that lower energy use. This could greatly help the environment.

A bunch of handy charts about climate change

Noahpinion • 21882 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Green Energy Emissions Technology Global impact
  1. Climate change is becoming increasingly severe, evidenced by events like record-breaking heat, melting sea ice, and more frequent natural disasters.
  2. Efforts to address climate change are promising, with advancements in green technologies like solar power and batteries offering hope for managing the crisis.
  3. The responsibility for carbon emissions is shifting, with developed countries like the US and Europe reducing emissions significantly, while countries like China remain major contributors.

Chartbook 259 Germany's CO2 emissions plunge. But all is not at it seems

Chartbook • 1831 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Renewables Government Energy transition Climate targets
  1. Germany's CO2 emissions fell by 20%, showing a significant reduction in coal-fired power generation.
  2. Renewable energy production increased by 5%, with solar power setting a record in 2023 in Germany.
  3. Emissions in buildings and transportation sectors remained unchanged, missing climate goals, requiring more action.

Low Hanging Fruit

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1511 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Renewable Energy Policy Cost Analysis Nuclear power
  1. Replacing 150 coal power plants with nuclear power can reduce global emissions by 25% by 2035.
  2. The cost of replacing these plants with nuclear power is significantly lower than other emissions reduction measures.
  3. If the world is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, retiring or retrofitting coal plants is necessary, and nuclear power provides a feasible alternative.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Warming in the pipeline: Decoding our climate commitment

The Climate Brink • 569 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Emissions Scientific research
  1. Emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have a long-lasting impact on warming the Earth because they remain in the atmosphere for a really long time.
  2. There's a scientific question about future warming if emissions stopped today, known as 'warming in the pipeline', with varying viewpoints based on assumptions.
  3. Different assumptions made in calculations determine whether there will be little warming in the coming decades or significant warming over thousands of years, emphasizing the long-term effects of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases Deadly Dance: CO2, N2O and CH4 Emissions' Alarming Card

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Greenhouse Gases Emissions Climate change Fossil fuels Agriculture
  1. Carbon dioxide emissions are still rising and could reach over 41 billion tons this year, which is concerning for our climate.
  2. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions are also increasing, with agriculture being a major contributor to nitrous oxide levels.
  3. To tackle these issues, we need to cut down on fossil fuels and change how we farm and use land to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Got bail?

The Crucial Years • 906 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Protest Energy Climate Renewables Emissions
  1. Protest outside the Department of Energy in early February against permitting new LNG export terminals
  2. Arguments against granting new export licenses include high greenhouse gas emissions and negative impact on local communities
  3. Participate in peaceful civil disobedience or support rallies, with options for training sessions and online nonviolence training

Build Nuclear. Frak. Drill.

Erik Torenberg's Thoughts • 455 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Renewables Emissions Policy
  1. Nuclear energy is a cost-effective and clean solution for reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
  2. Modern nuclear energy plants are safe, produce minimal waste, and are more efficient than other renewable energy sources.
  3. Choosing nuclear energy is crucial for addressing climate change and has been successfully implemented in countries like France.

China is building more coal plants but might burn less coal

Sustainability by numbers • 201 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Renewable Energy Environmental Impact
  1. China is constructing more coal plants, but they might end up burning less coal by running those plants less frequently.
  2. Despite the increase in coal plant construction, China's coal plants are operating at lower capacity factors, indicating a trend towards burning less coal in the future.
  3. Many of China's coal plants are operating at a financial loss due to high coal prices, and the country is shifting towards using coal as 'peaker plants' as renewable energy sources grow.

Good Grief

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 98 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Emissions Biodiversity
  1. The Anthropocene is a period of irreversible ecological disruptions caused by humans, requiring acceptance of losses and a commitment to stabilizing the environment.
  2. In the face of global-scale grief and loss in the Anthropocene, finding small but vital lights of hope is crucial.
  3. Individuals making dedicated efforts to protect and heal ecosystems and species offer paths forward in the challenging Anthropocene era.

The U.S. Rich caused 40% Emissions, China's Rich 32%, Europe's Rich 40%: Blame the Rich for causing Emissions

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Renewable Energy
  1. The rich in different countries are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions.
  2. Investments in polluting industries, superyachts, and private planes contribute to high levels of emissions by the wealthy.
  3. To address climate change, the rich need to reduce their carbon footprint from extravagant spending.

Are Bicycles Becoming Less Sustainable?

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Repair Recycling Emissions Circular Economy
  1. Some argue the sustainability of bicycles is decreasing with the introduction of e-bikes and resource-intensive materials, prompting a need to return to simpler designs and materials.
  2. Not all bicycles have the same environmental impact, especially when considering their lifecycle, repairability, and the materials they are made of.
  3. Repairing bicycles is a crucial way to extend their lifespan and combat the disposable culture in the cycling industry, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing repair over constant innovation.

Watershed

next big thing • 32 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💼 Business Investment Startups Emissions Growth Team
  1. Footwork invests in exceptional companies that deserve exceptions.
  2. Watershed is a leading enterprise climate platform with a focus on reducing emissions.
  3. Investing in Watershed was a deviation from Footwork's core strategy due to potential market growth and team execution.

Conspiracy theory: Electric cars make more air pollution than gas cars

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 3 HN points • 27 Jul 23
🔬 Science Environment Emissions Technology Research Regulations
  1. Modern gas engines are so clean that exhaust is negligible compared to brakes, tires, and road dust.
  2. Heavier cars create more particulate air pollution from brake and tire emissions.
  3. Electric cars may have higher tire emissions due to weight, but their regenerative brakes make them cleaner overall compared to gas cars.

Wastewater Worldwide, Fossil Fuel, fluoride: is it goodbye to Safe and Just Climate Limit?

Adetokunbo Sees • 1 HN point • 10 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Pollution Sustainability Global Warming Emissions
  1. Scientists set safety limits for climate, arsenic, and freshwater, which are being breached globally.
  2. Burning fossil fuels leads to excessive carbon emissions and pollution from leaking fuel tanks.
  3. Increasing wastewater production and continued fossil fuel support pose major threats to safe and just climate limits.

Greenhouse gases, global warming: stark reminder of need for climate-ready world

Adetokunbo Sees • 1 HN point • 22 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Greenhouse Gases Global Warming Emissions Climate change
  1. Greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are increasing, contributing to global warming.
  2. Humans need to urgently take steps to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid further environmental damage.
  3. Business as usual practices could lead to a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, derailing efforts to reach climate targets.

Carbon Reduction Residential Solar (Part 2)

Solar Powered Data • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Emissions
  1. Installing residential solar panels can significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity consumption, offering a positive impact on environmental sustainability.
  2. Using hourly emissions data provides a more accurate assessment of the emissions reduced by solar panels, highlighting the importance of understanding the timing of energy production and consumption.
  3. Marginal emissions play a crucial role in evaluating the real-world impact of energy decisions, showing that the environmental benefits of solar panels may vary based on when electricity is generated and consumed.

Scope 3 Emissions: Why they are so Elusive?

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Sustainability Carbon accounting Supply Chains Environmental Impact
  1. Calculating Scope 3 emissions is tough because companies often stop at their immediate suppliers. It gets complex as you need to trace emissions back through multiple tiers of suppliers.
  2. Scope 3 emissions include not just what a company directly causes but also the emissions from the entire supply chain. This can lead to overlapping calculations and make it hard to get accurate data.
  3. Understanding these emissions helps companies see their true environmental impact. However, setting boundaries for analysis is crucial to avoid getting lost in endless calculations.

Soil Emissions

A Natural Language • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Soil Emissions Farming
  1. Carbon emissions from soil are significant and often overlooked compared to other sources like oil.
  2. Forestry emissions research indicates that cleared forests release significant carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
  3. The focus should not just be on how much carbon soil can sequester, but also on preventing the loss of soil carbon.

Rising Temps, Falling Records: A Climate Record Smackdown

Adetokunbo Sees • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Emissions Global Warming Environmental Impact
  1. Last year, the world saw its hottest temperatures ever recorded, surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. This signals a climate crisis that is becoming more serious.
  2. Greenhouse gas emissions reached record highs, leading to a rise in ocean temperatures and severe consequences for ecosystems. The increase in emissions has been linked to human activities like energy production and agriculture.
  3. There is an urgent need to cut down on fossil fuel use to combat climate change. Everyone, from individuals to governments, needs to take action to protect our planet.

The Big Lie That Climate Propagandists Don’t Want You To Talk About

A Natural Language • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Environment Propaganda Sustainability Emissions
  1. The big lie climate propagandists push is the carbon accounting framework, which targets specific emissions sources and ignores larger contributors like deforestation.
  2. Forest clear-cutting emits significant carbon dioxide plumes that are often overlooked in carbon accounting, impacting the rise in atmospheric carbon.
  3. Challenging the carbon accounting framework challenges the very foundation of climate propaganda, revealing the flaws in current climate narratives and highlighting the need for accountability.

AI is like a very tiny hamburger

The efficient frontier • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🔬 Science Energy Water Emissions AI Models
  1. The environmental impact of AI, especially in terms of energy and water use, is a significant concern
  2. Simple energy use math can help understand the resource footprint of AI models like image generation and gaming
  3. Assessing additionality and understanding scopes are crucial in evaluating the true impact of AI on resources like water and energy

How Big Ag Weaponizes The Clean Air Act To Keep Its Repair Monopoly

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 21
💼 Business Regulation Monopoly Repair Agriculture Emissions
  1. Manufacturers of agricultural equipment use scare tactics about emissions to build profitable service and repair monopolies.
  2. Unlike the automotive industry, the agricultural equipment market faces stricter restrictions regarding repairs and maintenance.
  3. Big Ag's focus on emissions control is part of a strategy to prevent right to repair laws and perpetuate a monopoly on parts and services, rather than a genuine concern for clean air.