The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Climate & Environment Topics

Defending the status quo is not environmentalism

Noahpinion • 12941 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmentalism Development Climate change
  1. American environmentalism began as conservationism, aiming to protect natural habitats from industrial encroachment.
  2. Modern environmental challenges require building new things like solar panels and dense cities with high-quality infrastructure.
  3. There is a fundamental disagreement within the U.S. environmental movement between those who envision reshaping human development for nature's harmony and those who want to maintain the status quo.

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.

Full Circle

Doomberg • 8635 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Renewable Energy Fossil fuels Global impact Energy transition
  1. Germany's energy strategy has led to a self-induced mess with the dismantling of nuclear reactors and reliance on coal, showing the consequences of climate initiatives on a national scale.
  2. The destruction of Nord Stream pipelines has raised questions about the involvement of political leaders and the lack of clarity or accountability regarding the incidents.
  3. Germany's shift towards expanding gas-fired power plants to compensate for the exit from coal showcases the challenges and complexities of transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

Dirty Secret

Doomberg • 7905 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Renewable Energy
  1. Global coal demand is smashing records, expected to reach an all-time high in 2023 due to strong demand in emerging economies like India and China.
  2. There seems to be a practical grand bargain between governments and the fossil fuel industry over climate change, with a focus on minimizing coal use in the West and leveraging coal in the developing world.
  3. Despite efforts in renewable energy, coal remains popular due to its cheap, reliable, and storable nature, with the International Energy Agency predicting a decline in demand by 2026 despite current high consumption.

All Their Stupid Ideas Can be Reversed and We Will Make the Deserts Bloom

Welcome to Absurdistan • 7311 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Food Systems Climate solutions Environmental Activism
  1. Human desires drive the economy, and marketing determines our choices.
  2. A shift towards traditional, healthy foods like full-fat dairy and grass-fed beef is happening despite mainstream trends.
  3. Soil restoration using cattle can help make deserts bloom and revitalize the earth.
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You flood it, you pay for it.

The Crucial Years • 1195 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Deforestation Green Technology Environmental Impact
  1. States are considering 'climate superfund' laws to hold Big Oil accountable, treating disasters as toxic dumps caused by corporations.
  2. Legislators are working to make Big Oil pay for the climate damage they cause, with Vermont leading the way in potentially adopting such laws.
  3. The transition to renewable energy, along with laws holding fossil fuel industry accountable, is vital to combat climate change and protect communities.

Climate Policy Rethink

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1236 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate targets Equity Energy transition
  1. Climate policy targets and timetables need to be revisited as the Paris Agreement targets are infeasible, requiring a reassessment of what is realistically achievable.
  2. Global equity needs to be prioritized alongside emissions reductions in climate scenarios, as current projections indicate increased economic inequities.
  3. Scenarios guiding climate policy are biased towards coal energy expansion, highlighting the importance of refocusing efforts on transitioning away from coal for effective decarbonization.

Um, I think we all just won

The Crucial Years • 3816 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy Fossil fuels Climate Impacts Renewable Energy Activism
  1. Biden's decision to halt the biggest fossil fuel expansion on earth is a major win in standing up to the fossil fuel industry.
  2. Exporting natural gas can raise prices for American consumers, and Biden's stance could help in reducing inflation.
  3. The decision is seen as both brave and strategic, aiming to gain support from young climate-conscious voters and addressing concerns about future impacts on greenhouse gas emissions.

The Birding Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1266 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Biodiversity Conservation
  1. Birdwatching can be a rewarding hobby that connects us with nature and can lead to deep emotional connections with birds.
  2. Ecological grief is a real and intense response to environmental losses, including bird deaths caused by human-driven changes.
  3. Efforts like building natural bridges and enacting bird-friendly legislation demonstrate steps we can take to protect wild animals amidst ongoing environmental challenges.

As Winter Melts Away

The Crucial Years • 1544 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Renewable Energy Environmental Impact Sustainability Natural Disasters
  1. The changing climate is causing dramatic and extreme changes around the planet, with record-breaking temperatures and reduced snow coverage indicating the ongoing warming of the Earth.
  2. The diminishing cold air supply in the Arctic is a clear sign of the planet's warming climate, leading to changes in weather patterns and ecological impacts like ice melting and more extreme weather events.
  3. The impact of the climate crisis goes beyond physical consequences, affecting the psychological and emotional connection to the changing seasons and nature, emphasizing the importance of fighting to save the beauty and meaning of the natural world.

Alternative Facts

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1099 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Media influence Extreme Weather
  1. Disasters are influenced by human exposure and vulnerability, not just the intensity of extreme events, making cause-effect links challenging to establish.
  2. Climate advocates have historically tried to connect extreme weather events to climate change, leaning towards sensational narratives even when not fully supported by scientific consensus.
  3. Media outlets have become more fragmented, leading to tailored content that aligns with specific audience values, potentially influencing the reporting of climate change issues.

CLIMATE MADNESS: Wind turbines FREEZING in the cold

The Freedom Corner with PeterSweden • 4009 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy
  1. Wind turbines are freezing in cold temperatures, causing significant electricity production loss.
  2. Diesel generators are being used to de-ice wind power turbines in winter, leading to increased electricity prices.
  3. Cold weather affects wind power reliability, impacting electricity supply for new electric vehicles.

Bonkers in Yonkers

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Regulation Sea Level Rise
  1. Climate policy should be based on the best-available science to be effective in addressing risks like sea level rise.
  2. Extreme, implausible scenarios like RCP8.5 can lead to misguided policy decisions and misallocation of resources.
  3. Regulatory capture by a small group of experts can result in the codification of flawed science in policies, highlighting the importance of oversight and accountability.

We're robbing kids of their future--but also their present

The Crucial Years • 1434 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Green Technology Climate Impacts
  1. Growing climate anxiety is affecting young people who feel let down by political and economic institutions not addressing the climate emergency.
  2. Institutions like banks, car companies, and universities resisting change are contributing to generational theft as today's practices guarantee future upheaval.
  3. The emotional toll of climate change on children and youth, exacerbated by governmental inaction, poses mental health risks and highlights the need for urgent, proactive responses.

Andrew Leach: The day Alberta almost went dark

The Line • 2220 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy crisis Renewable Energy Environmental Impact
  1. Alberta almost faced a power crisis due to project delays affecting wind and solar energy generation.
  2. Cold snap increased electricity demand in Alberta, highlighting the importance of reliable energy sources.
  3. Delays in critical energy projects like Cascade and Genesee expansion contributed to the vulnerability of Alberta's grid system.

A Massive Win, and What It Means

The Crucial Years • 2002 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Policy Energy Health Agriculture Research
  1. A huge victory against the fossil fuel industry has been achieved by halting new licenses for LNG export terminals.
  2. Biden's decision sets a climate test for American fossil fuel expansion plans, signaling a transition from natural gas as a 'bridge fuel'.
  3. The fight for climate justice needs to include considerations for impacts on communities and involve effective monitoring and engagement with frontline leaders.

Oof. A Small Step Forward, and then...

The Crucial Years • 1155 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Fossil fuels Renewable Energy Environmental Activism Climate Science
  1. The rich individuals or entities may not fully grasp or prioritize the urgency of the environmental crisis, as shown by certain investment decisions.
  2. Some significant steps towards divesting from fossil fuels have been taken, indicating a gradual shift away from reliance on them.
  3. Financial institutions like banks withdrawing from environmental initiatives could hinder progress towards decarbonization and indicate a shift in priorities.

We could make our homes easier to decarbonise by using a crazy, sci-fi technology called a "database"

Odds and Ends of History • 737 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Decarbonisation Database Data Collection
  1. Decarbonizing homes by replacing gas boilers with heat pumps is a known solution, but the challenge is logistical and costly for homeowners.
  2. Creating a central register of gas safety certificates could help target incentives for upgrading inefficient boilers, improve data collection, and hold landlords accountable.
  3. Adding gas safety certificate management to the Gas Safety Register's contract during the upcoming tender can facilitate the implementation of the central register at a minimal cost to the government.

An odd silence

The Crucial Years • 2630 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Crisis Renewable Energy Fossil fuels Activism
  1. The global climate crisis is not receiving the attention it deserves in mainstream media.
  2. Record-high temperatures and other alarming climate events are being overshadowed by more 'headline-friendly' news stories.
  3. The urgency and scale of the climate crisis require swift and unprecedented action, even though these changes may not fit into traditional news narratives.

Friction is growing

The Crucial Years • 2062 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Crisis Renewable Energy
  1. The global economy is facing increasing friction due to the impacts of the climate crisis.
  2. The insurance industry is experiencing challenges in modeling risks and providing coverage due to climate change.
  3. Renewable energy capacity is growing rapidly, but there are significant challenges in transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Some emissions are more equal than others

Irina Slav on energy • 2004 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Greenhouse Gases Scientific research Energy consumption Carbon Footprint Climate change
  1. Some emissions are necessary to help avoid catastrophic climate change.
  2. Scientists need to focus on the bigger emission picture rather than solely worrying about their own emissions.
  3. There is a call for cognitive dissonance among scientists when it comes to emissions and the necessity of some emissions.

Real political courage

The Crucial Years • 1913 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Climate Crisis Environmental Policy
  1. Some politicians are demonstrating real political courage by taking a stand against expanding fossil fuel production
  2. The UK's decision to open the North Sea to new oil and gas drilling is being challenged by a Conservative MP's resignation
  3. There is growing pressure for countries to halt the expansion of fossil fuel production to combat the climate crisis

Sheet cake as ammunition

The Crucial Years • 1464 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy Environmental justice Climate solutions
  1. In a polarized society, sometimes fighting in a different, more creative way can be effective.
  2. Using strategic and thoughtful tactics can make a difference in important fights like climate change.
  3. Being considerate of societal impacts and strategic in activism can lead to positive outcomes, even in difficult situations.

💡 My Quick Q&A with … data scientist Hannah Ritchie on building a sustainable planet

Faster, Please! • 1919 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Technology Plastics Climate change Optimism
  1. The technologies needed for a sustainable planet are already available, they just need to be deployed at scale.
  2. Most of the crucial technologies like solar, wind, and batteries are already there, but some sectors still require more work.
  3. We are just at the beginning of deploying sustainable technologies, and there is room for significant progress in bending the curve down further.

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.

🔥 How to ignite a geothermal energy revolution

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Geothermal Energy Clean Energy Regulation Innovation
  1. The need for clean energy collaboration between government and companies to drive innovation.
  2. Energy deregulation can be a catalyst for promoting innovation and commercialization in the private sector.
  3. Accommodating regulatory and policy environments can accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.

Fully Recharged

The Crucial Years • 1684 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Conservation Sustainability Environmental Impact Climate Crisis
  1. Batteries have greatly improved energy density over the last century, making them more practical for cars and other uses.
  2. The rapid progress in battery technology is expected to continue, with increasing energy density, affordability, and innovation.
  3. Efforts are being made to ensure ethical sourcing of materials for batteries, address social inequities, and push for sustainable growth in the battery industry.

Good trouble on the Bad River

The Crucial Years • 757 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy Environmental Activism Carbon Emissions Natural resources
  1. The documentary 'Bad River' tells the story of an indigenous community fighting an oil company, highlighting the universal struggle for land rights and environmental protection.
  2. The legal and political battle between the Bad River band and Enbridge over Line 5 demonstrates the importance of building broad coalitions to address both environmental and climate crises.
  3. The documentary emphasizes the need for alliances and friendships to form to create successful movements, showcasing the power of collaboration in environmental activism.