The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Climate & Environment Topics

Dingus of the week: Climate change

Men Yell at Me • 409 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Natural Disasters Sustainability Public awareness
  1. Climate change is a big problem that we all contribute to. Our actions, like overconsumption and reliance on fossil fuels, play a part in causing extreme weather events.
  2. People often look for someone to blame during disasters like hurricanes. This can lead to the spread of conspiracy theories instead of acknowledging our collective responsibility.
  3. Despite the dire situation, there is still hope. We've solved environmental issues before and can work together to combat climate change if we focus on the facts and solutions.

The Alarming Shift: Impact of Human Activities on Ocean Currents

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Ocean Currents Climate change Environmental Science Global Warming Conservation
  1. Human activities are causing big changes in ocean currents, like a shift in the Deep Western Boundary Current that could harm our climate.
  2. As oceans warm and ice melts, the saltiness of water decreases, which affects how currents move and can lead to serious consequences like sea level rise.
  3. To fix these problems, we need to work together on climate change solutions, protect our oceans, and keep an eye on changes in ocean currents.

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.
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The solar cannibalization effect

GEM Energy Analytics • 359 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Solar energy Renewable Resources Energy Policy Market Dynamics Environmental Impact
  1. Solar energy is growing quickly in Europe, with expectations to reach significant capacity by 2030. This could lead to solar generation being a large part of the electricity supply.
  2. As more solar energy is produced, captured prices for electricity are decreasing because solar generates more when prices are lower. This is called the cannibalization effect.
  3. To deal with the challenges of lower prices and a high concentration of solar power, solutions like energy storage and flexible systems are needed, but the necessary regulations are still catching up.

The IEA’s New Net Zero Roadmap

Renewable Revolution • 199 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Renewable Resources Environmental Policy Technological Innovation
  1. The IEA's new roadmap shows strong support for reaching net zero, emphasizing action over theory. They are optimistic about the future of renewable energy and the shift away from fossil fuels.
  2. Key actions are needed by 2030 to make progress, including tripling renewable energy capacity and reducing methane emissions. These steps are essential for a successful energy transition.
  3. Investing in renewable energy is cheaper in the long run than sticking to traditional energy sources. This transition not only saves costs but also creates millions of new jobs in the clean energy sector.

Where to put solar for maximal emissions reduction?

GEM Energy Analytics • 199 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions Solar Power Energy Policy Sustainability
  1. Solar panels help reduce carbon emissions, but the best place to put them matters a lot. Areas that rely heavily on coal or gas for power see bigger benefits when switching to solar.
  2. The amount of energy a solar panel can produce depends on where it is installed. For example, sunnier places generate more energy, meaning they can offset more emissions.
  3. The environmental impact also varies based on how solar panels are made and installed. In some cases, it can take just a few months to offset emissions, while in others, it might take many years.

Water as Lens

The Crucial Years • 1145 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Impact Plastic Pollution Fossil fuels Conservation
  1. Water can be a powerful lens to explore issues of memory, resilience, and environmental impact.
  2. The film by dream hampton about Detroit highlights the flooding's impact on communities and memories.
  3. Specific histories of unfairness compound devastation in places like Detroit, emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic issues.

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.

SOME IMAGES: This Morning's Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 269 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Wildfires Global Warming Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Climate Impact
  1. Al Gore and Bill Clinton came close to tackling climate change 30 years ago, but some politicians blocked progress.
  2. Dealing with global warming will likely cost a lot of money in the future, especially for managing wildfires.
  3. The biggest future dangers from climate change may not be wildfires, but issues related to water systems in Asia.

Headlines of the Warming World No 15

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental health Sustainable Practices Global Warming Activism
  1. Denmark has introduced the world's first carbon tax for agricultural emissions to fight climate change. This tax aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming and could inspire other countries to take similar action.
  2. Extreme heatwaves are becoming more common and severe around the world due to climate change. Recent heatwaves in places like India and Mexico have resulted in fatalities and power outages.
  3. Microplastics have been found in human tissue, including penises, raising concerns about their impact on health. This highlights the widespread issue of microplastic pollution and its potential effects on the human body.

Cobalt, Copper and Colonialism

Climate In Colour • 117 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Colonialism Energy transition Climate justice
  1. The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds significant cobalt and copper reserves, important for energy transition and technology manufacturing.
  2. Companies from around the world, like China and Canada, are investing in these resources, but the region has a history of colonial exploitation.
  3. Climate In Colour's Deep Dives provide insightful reads on climate justice, science, and technology intersection.

Weather and Climate Disasters in Europe

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 726 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Data Analysis Trends
  1. Europe experiences significant economic losses due to weather and climate disasters, averaging about €15 billion annually.
  2. Storms and floods are the main causes of losses in Europe, with heatwaves also impacting the region.
  3. Data collection on disaster impacts in Europe is lacking, making it challenging to assess long-term trends in weather and climate-related losses.

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.

Shifting The Shifting Baseline Syndrome

Surfing the Future • 99 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Nature Conservation Sustainability System Change
  1. System change can often creep up on us, and we adapt without realizing it, leading to the 'shifting baseline syndrome'. We tend to imagine today's world as how it was yesterday, which may not be the case.
  2. The concept of rewilding offers a chance to reset our baselines, allowing nature to rebound faster than expected. This shift could lead to 'Knepp' potentially becoming a verb symbolizing unexpected transformation.
  3. In the sustainability space, there has been a dilution of the original system change ambition over time due to mainstreaming. The concept of triple bottom line has evolved and must continue to adapt to drive urgent systemic changes.

No re-arrangement of words is going to stack those bricks

As If We Were Staying • 5 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Resilience Climate finance Community Governance Regeneration
  1. There are endless ideas but not enough follow-through; we need producers who turn plans into real projects.
  2. Platforms and media reward clever re‑arrangement of ideas and engagement. That creates idea churn and distracts from doing the hard practical work.
  3. The way forward is building local regenerative hubs, coordinated funding, and hands‑on experiments that prove alternatives to extractive systems.

Green Hydrogen, bidding zones, and the green grid exception

GEM Energy Analytics • 139 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Policy Sustainability Environmental Economics
  1. Green hydrogen production in Europe must meet strict rules to ensure it's sourced from renewable energy. These rules include standards for additionality, geographic, and temporal correlation to confirm the electricity is genuinely green.
  2. The 'green grid' exception allows hydrogen producers in certain high-renewable bidding zones to bypass some of these strict rules. This means they can count their hydrogen as renewable without developing additional renewable energy sources.
  3. As European countries consider increasing the number of bidding zones, there are concerns that this might lead to less efficient use of renewable electricity. It's important to ensure that the hydrogen production doesn’t divert green energy from more direct uses like heating or electric vehicles.

The Burning Truth: Climate Change’s Burning Impact on Global Crops

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Agriculture Food security Sustainability Environmental Impact
  1. Climate change is causing significant price increases for crops like cocoa, coffee, and mango, impacting food costs around the world.
  2. Many crops are suffering from rising temperatures, with some regions losing suitable land for growing key crops like coffee and cocoa.
  3. To cope with climate change, farmers need to adapt their methods, such as using crop diversification and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

My visit to a dying local park

Technology, Environment, and Art • 99 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Nature Technology Sustainability Wildlife
  1. Wildlife photography can reveal beauty that is hard to see in real life, but it may not capture the feeling of peace of just observing wildlife.
  2. Our consumerist and hyper-capitalistic system hides its destructive nature by providing entertainment and analgesics for its killing. It destructs relationships with nature.
  3. The need for a global philosophy and moral resolve to live harmoniously is essential for a sustainable future. Being around nonhuman life can inspire us to fight for solutions.

Underdog Founders - Paul trades Emmy nods for a bootstrapped studio to save the planet.

ChatGPT4 as a CEO and Underdog Founders • 117 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental awareness Content creation Collaboration Impact
  1. Paul created Rewriting Extinction to engage people with climate change through comics.
  2. Despite setbacks, Paul's honesty and perseverance attracted big names like Richard Curtis and Cara Delevingne to support the project.
  3. Rewriting Extinction saw success with viral comics, partnerships with Netflix and Google, and changing the conversation around climate change storytelling.

Generation Regeneration

In Bed With Social • 297 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Nature connection
  1. Regeneration principles are gaining global popularity, influencing concepts like biomimicry and sustainable food production.
  2. Humanity is experiencing a shift away from hyper-technology and mass production towards reconnecting with nature and simplifying technology use.
  3. In retail and workplaces, there's a movement towards regenerative practices focusing on deeper human connections, concrete actions for sustainability, and nurturing regenerative leadership.

XL Bully carbon pawprint

Logging the World • 179 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Footprint Climate Impact Environmental sustainability
  1. American Bully XL dogs can have a significant carbon footprint due to their diet, which can be comparable to the emissions of energy-rich European countries.
  2. Feeding an American Bully XL 1 kilo of UK beef per day could result in over 7 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
  3. The carbon footprint of owning a large dog like an American Bully XL is significant and should be considered in discussions about sustainability.

Don't let wind power be blown out

GEM Energy Analytics • 179 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Solar Power Energy Policy Sustainability
  1. Wind and solar energy work well together, especially because they produce power at different times of the year. This balance is important for a reliable energy system.
  2. The wind energy industry is facing challenges like rising costs and lower investor confidence, making it harder to reach energy goals in the EU.
  3. Solar energy is booming, but if we lean too much towards it, we might mess up the balance with wind energy. Both are needed for creating green hydrogen and meeting heating demands effectively.

Problems Posing as Solutions, Part 1

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 176 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Conservation Sustainability Ecosystems Global impact
  1. To address climate change effectively, we need new, innovative thinking
  2. Carbon dioxide removal and storage technologies like DAC face immense challenges and may not be the most effective solutions
  3. Carbon offsets have limitations and may not be as effective as hoped, requiring more direct action to reduce emissions and protect ecosystems

Why the World is Watching Houston's Remarkable Energy Transition

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 176 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Climate tech Decarbonization
  1. Houston's remarkable energy transition is being closely watched by the world due to its industrial prowess and diverse workforce.
  2. Perceptions of Houston as a city focused on preserving the energy status quo are changing as traditional energy companies are investing in clean technologies.
  3. Houston has the opportunity to become a leader in climate tech by leveraging its resources, attracting investment, and supporting climate-focused startups.

Deforestation in the Amazon has halved in the last few years

Sustainability by numbers • 266 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Deforestation Sustainability Biodiversity Climate change
  1. Deforestation in the Amazon has significantly decreased, halving over the past few years, thanks to new policies and leadership.
  2. Lula da Silva's administration has made real progress in reducing forest loss, following a troubling period of increased deforestation under the previous president.
  3. While the trend is positive, challenges remain and ongoing efforts are crucial to meet the target of ending deforestation by 2030.

Will renewables lead to a consumption rebound?

GEM Energy Analytics • 259 implied HN points • 11 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy consumption Environmental Economics
  1. Electricity prices are changing a lot due to the rise of renewable energy sources. This fluctuation can create opportunities for consumers to save money by using power when it's cheapest.
  2. To make the most of these price changes, electricity tariffs should adjust in real-time, encouraging users to shift their power usage to times when energy is abundant and cheap.
  3. However, this adjustment in tariffs could lead to increased overall electricity consumption, as people might use more energy when the costs are low, which may go against goals for energy efficiency.

The Plastic Beat: A Climate Change Angle

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Pollution Sustainability Ecosystems Health
  1. Microplastics are found in many parts of the human body, including the brain, blood, and lungs, which raises health concerns.
  2. Humans are ingesting and inhaling more microplastics than ever, often through food and air, making it a growing issue.
  3. The presence of microplastics in marine life is disrupting ecosystems and potentially contributing to climate change, highlighting the need for better solutions.

Volatility - a new normal in day-ahead markets

GEM Energy Analytics • 259 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Electricity Markets Sustainability Energy Policy
  1. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are rapidly increasing in Europe, with goals set to nearly double their capacity by 2030. This is important because it shows a big shift towards cleaner energy.
  2. The electricity market is experiencing more volatility, making it harder to balance supply and demand. This means that energy prices can change a lot, sometimes going negative when there's too much renewable energy and not enough demand.
  3. To deal with these changes, strategies like energy storage, demand-side response, and dynamic pricing are becoming increasingly important. These can help manage when and how energy is used to keep the power system stable.