The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

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.

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.

Rainshadows and other Ephemeralities

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 499 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Biodiversity Urban Nature Environmental awareness
  1. Rainshadows, or ghost leaves, show us signs of plant life, reminding us of the interactions in nature. They are a fascinating way to notice how the environment communicates with us.
  2. Flight maps are shadows left by birds flying above, which can help us spot them better. They add excitement to our walks as we try to find the birds that made those marks.
  3. Crows exhibit interesting behaviors like mobbing to protect themselves from predators. Observing such actions gives us insight into how animals interact and learn from each other.

How big is the generational divide on climate change?

Sustainability by numbers • 304 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Sustainability Environmental Policy
  1. People of all ages generally agree about climate change and its seriousness. The gaps in belief between younger and older generations are smaller than many think.
  2. While younger people often feel more emotional about climate change, older generations do recognize its impacts from personal experience. This doesn't mean they don't care;
  3. Younger generations tend to advocate for big changes from systems and corporations, while older generations often focus on individual actions they can take.
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As Wild as It Gets

Passing Time • 200 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Urban Development Ecology Nature
  1. Wilderness is something that can diminish but not expand. Once it's used or developed, there's no way to create new areas of true wilderness like before.
  2. The idea that the world moves from wild to civilized makes us rethink our understanding of nature and urban spaces. Sometimes, even developed places can be more natural than they were before.
  3. Aldo Leopold's views highlight the importance of preserving nature. We need to value untouched places even while recognizing that development is always happening around us.

The EU as suicide pact, or: How Germany is slowly dismantling its electrical grid and why the EU won't let them fix it

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 262 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Environmental Impact Sustainability Regulatory issues Climate change
  1. Germany is moving away from reliable energy sources like coal and gas in favor of wind and solar, but these new sources can be unreliable. This could lead to problems keeping the lights on.
  2. The EU is blocking Germany's plans to build new gas plants to support its energy transition, despite a clear need for more stable power. Without these plants, the energy grid might face failures.
  3. The push for renewables might not solve climate issues and could actually lead to dangerous situations. It's essential to find practical solutions that ensure energy security while addressing environmental concerns.

Running Dry: The Devastating Cost of Groundwater Extraction

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Agriculture Climate change Resource Management Sustainability
  1. Most of the world's water is used for farming, especially irrigation. This means we're using a lot of groundwater to help grow our food.
  2. Many parts of the world are losing groundwater faster than it can be replaced. This can lead to issues like less drinking water and even rising sea levels.
  3. To prevent further problems, we need to monitor our groundwater and find ways to use water more wisely. This includes using different sources and conservation measures.

Back on the march

The Crucial Years • 2421 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Activism Organizing Environmental justice
  1. Participants showed up in force for the March to End Fossil Fuels in Manhattan despite the ongoing pandemic.
  2. The event was organized by individuals like Jean Su who worked hard to bring people together, despite differing views.
  3. The march was a public demonstration of determination to continue the fight against climate change, with speakers emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

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

💡 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.

Dancing with a permanent emergency

The Joyous Struggle • 454 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Global Warming Environmental Activism
  1. The author shifted focus from climate change to the meta crisis due to frustrations with prevailing climate praxis and a desire to address broader societal challenges.
  2. Climate change is a porous and permeating issue that manifests in various aspects of life, from military waste to education, and requires a shift in perspective to understand its global impact.
  3. Approaching the climate crisis as part of a larger meta crisis, including systemic inertia and the need for a fundamental shift in perspective, is crucial for meaningful action and addressing the root causes of the issue.

It's the economic growth, stupid

¡Do Not Panic! • 452 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Renewables Degrowth
  1. Continued energy growth, irrespective of the source, could lead to catastrophic levels of waste heat.
  2. Global economic growth at 2.3% annually may hit a saturation point in 200 years due to resource constraints.
  3. Physical limits to growth, driven by raw physics, will eventually necessitate radical changes to current economic, political, and social systems.

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.

Warning for 2025: Last Year Saw Record-breaking Disasters and Losses

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Sustainability Global Warming
  1. Last year was extremely tough for many countries, with record disasters and a lot of deaths due to climate issues. Places like Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and several others faced serious problems like extreme heat and floods.
  2. The Earth's temperatures were the highest ever recorded, indicating that climate change is getting worse. Many regions are seeing more heat, heavier rain, and rising sea levels as a result.
  3. If we keep consuming resources the same way, we will face even more disasters in the future. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take steps now to protect our planet.

💣 Why Micromobility Is a Huge Weapon Against Climate Change

The Micromobility Newsletter • 432 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Micromobility Electric Vehicles Green Technology
  1. Electric two- and three-wheelers displace significant oil demand, marking the arrival of the EV revolution.
  2. Countries like India are making big moves in the micromobility market, with companies raising substantial funds to accelerate growth.
  3. Partnerships and advancements in bike and scooter technology are driving innovation and sustainability in the micromobility sector.

Solar capture price in Germany: details on 2023 and prospects for 2024

GEM Energy Analytics • 339 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Solar energy Renewable Energy Energy Policy Sustainability
  1. Solar energy in Germany shows strong seasonal patterns, with the best month generating up to 12 times more power than the worst month. This means energy production is not consistent throughout the year.
  2. The average solar capture price in 2023 is 72 €/MWh, which is a capture rate of 75%. However, this rate is expected to decline in 2024 due to the increase in solar capacity.
  3. Germany is rapidly expanding its solar capacity, aiming for 215 GW by 2030. This increased capacity can lead to lower energy prices, especially during times of high solar generation.

X-Change: Batteries

Renewable Revolution • 299 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Sustainability Battery technology Energy Policy
  1. Battery demand is rising rapidly. Sales are doubling every few years, and this growth will help reduce fossil fuel use significantly.
  2. As battery production increases, costs go down and quality improves. This creates a cycle where more sectors start using batteries, from cars to energy storage.
  3. The push for battery technology is a global effort. Countries around the world are adopting and investing in batteries, which is crucial for reaching climate goals.

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.

Tails of the City: Part 1

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 419 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Urban Nature Conservation
  1. Cattails are really useful plants that have been used for many things like making mats, pillows, and even food. They grow well in wetlands and can be found along roadsides.
  2. Seattle has lost many wetlands due to development, but there are efforts to bring some areas back to a wetland-like state. Wetlands are important for the health of the environment and many species.
  3. Despite the benefits of wetlands, there are still challenges to their protection, with some recent laws making it easier to harm them. It's important to recognize how valuable they are for both nature and people.

Planetization

The Joyous Struggle • 395 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Climate Crisis
  1. We live on a planet in outer space, which can be an amusing and perspective-shifting realization.
  2. There is a growing sense of 'planetization' where we are increasingly interconnected globally and feel a sense of responsibility towards the world as a whole.
  3. The current societal shift includes integrating a planetary perspective into our understanding and actions, making issue-based thinking within global contexts crucial.

Factory Farming Is Not Just Bad: It’s the Worst Thing Ever

Bentham's Newsletter • 412 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Animal Rights Suffering Atrocities Environmental Impact
  1. Factory farming is considered one of the worst atrocities in human history due to the immense suffering inflicted on billions of animals.
  2. Even with exaggerated assumptions, factory farming still emerges as a grave moral issue, surpassing many other historic atrocities.
  3. The scale of suffering caused by factory farming, even at conservative estimates, is far greater than most human tragedies, making it a significant ethical concern.

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.

The long-term effects of Europe’s CBAM

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Carbon Pricing International Trade Decarbonisation Economic Impact
  1. CBAM will have only a small effect on overall GDP and emissions at first, but that hides much larger impacts for specific industries.
  2. High‑carbon exports like cement, steel and chemicals could fall sharply by 2034 if producers don’t decarbonise, because the CBAM exemption quota shrinks and its coverage expands.
  3. Tying EU market access to carbon intensity creates a global incentive to clean up production, pushing decarbonisation beyond Europe rather than just shifting trade to lower‑cost markets.

A non-emergency podcast about the climate emergency

Odds and Ends of History • 201 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Infrastructure Urban Development Government Housing
  1. The government may be making mistakes with its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which could impact housing and environmental policies. It's important to pay attention to these changes and their consequences.
  2. Declaring a 'climate emergency' means little if no real actions are taken to address it. It's not just about saying the words; effective measures are required.
  3. A new fund has been created to help with housing in London, emphasizing the need to meet housing targets and the debate around the green belt. Conversations around these issues are crucial for future planning.

Moving Beyond Doomism: Data-Driven Strategies for Effective Climate Content

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 393 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Data Communication Behavior Circular Economy Psychology
  1. Data-driven decisions are crucial in climate content to engage mainstream audiences effectively.
  2. Promoting self-interest in climate content yields more results than focusing on planetary benefits.
  3. Starting with simple, relatable content and gradually guiding individuals towards impactful actions can drive engagement and awareness.