The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

The Dirty Secret of Recycling

Polymathic Being • 104 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Recycling Plastics Waste Management Environmental Impact Sustainability
  1. Only 10% of plastic put in recycling bins is actually recycled.
  2. Recycling can have high contamination rates and often leads to materials being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills.
  3. To improve recycling, focus on reducing and reusing materials, design products for better recycling, and address the psychological aspect of recycling habits.

Holy Crap! What goes around comes around

WeBeGreen • 39 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Pollution Waste Management Sustainable Practices Environmental Impact
  1. There is a disconnect between our actions and their consequences, such as the impact of our waste on the environment like water scarcity.
  2. The process of treating wastewater to turn it into drinking water includes multiple steps like screening out contaminants and filtering out microplastics.
  3. Issues like sewage dumping scandals highlight the consequences of pollution on water quality and food sources, emphasizing the need for better regulations and accountability.

Is deforestation in the Amazon falling?

Sustainability by numbers • 145 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Deforestation Amazon Brazil Environmental Policy Conservation efforts
  1. Deforestation rates in the Amazon have fallen by 42% compared to last year.
  2. Lula da Silva, the new Brazilian president, has seen success in reducing deforestation since taking office.
  3. Getting deforestation down to zero will take time and effort due to economic trade-offs and the need for a multi-country approach.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday October 14, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 14 Oct 22
🌞 Climate & Environment E-Waste Recycling Circular Economy Right-to-repair Technology
  1. International E-waste Day brings attention to the impact of trashing electronics, especially in countries with high e-waste generation.
  2. The need to focus on the pre-consumer stage and the importance of using recycled materials and completing the circular economy in tech.
  3. Efforts are being made to promote repair-friendly practices, such as Framework introducing a refurbished program to reuse consumer waste.

The duck is coming

GEM Energy Analytics • 39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Market Trends Solar Power Consumption
  1. The 'duck curve' shows how solar energy impacts power prices throughout the day. Prices are usually low around noon and spike in the evening.
  2. In March 2023, the duck curve was very noticeable, especially in Italy-Sardinia, where power prices varied significantly from day to night.
  3. Previous months displayed weaker effects of the duck curve, but trends are expected to become clearer as solar generation increases and power consumption decreases.

Return to the Ice Age

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 03 Feb 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Geology Climate change Ecology Natural History
  1. The Last Glacial Maximum was a time when massive glaciers covered large areas, shaping the landscape we see today. It would have been incredible to witness the immense Missoula floods that occurred then.
  2. During the last ice age, the area now known as the Puget lowland was completely different, with thick ice sheets and unique ecosystems. When the ice melted, it brought about a variety of fascinating animals and plants.
  3. Today, we live in a much warmer climate, which contrasts sharply with the icy world of the past. Understanding this history helps us appreciate the changes in our environment.

Nature doesn't need rights

storyvoyager • 11 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Sustainability Biodiversity Conservation Climate change
  1. Nature doesn’t need rights; instead, we need to change how we view our connection to it. We should stop trying to dominate it and start working with it.
  2. Our focus on accumulating wealth is harming the planet. We need to shift our mindset towards nurturing nature instead of consuming it.
  3. Real change can happen if we take inspiration from communities that are in touch with nature. When we listen to those who are connected to the land, we can rebuild ecosystems and create a better future.

Reforest Your Mind!

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 11 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate action Sustainability Indigenous rights Deforestation Corporate Accountability
  1. The documentary 'We Are Guardians' highlights how indigenous communities in the Amazon are fighting to protect their forests from illegal logging. It shows the struggles of both the guardians and the loggers involved, providing a compassionate perspective.
  2. There's a growing push to think big and use new technology, like AI, to create alternatives to harmful corporate systems. People can work together to build platforms that give them more control and promote sharing without the need for money.
  3. The current environmental crisis, especially in places like the Amazon, is a serious issue. It's important to recognize how corporate greed is harming the planet and to find ways to stop it for future generations.

Oxfam names perp, Olympic-level surveillance, Boots on the ground...where?

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 40 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Carbon Emissions Wealth Inequality Environmental Policy Sustainability
  1. The super-rich have a huge negative impact on the environment through their private jets and yachts. They emit more carbon in a short time than average people do in their whole lives.
  2. Oxfam's report shows that climate change hits the poorest the hardest, even though they contribute the least to the problem. It's unfair that those who do the least suffer the most.
  3. There is potential for governments to collect significant funds from wealth taxes on billionaires and corporations, which could help finance climate efforts. This suggests that the very wealthy need to be held accountable for their emissions.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, September 30, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 30 Sep 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Agriculture Renewables Recycling Economy Waste Management
  1. Statehouses are addressing agricultural repair issues as Congress stalls; focus on complex farm equipment repair and fair requirements
  2. New federal funds support increased antitrust enforcement in agriculture, improving competition in the livestock industry through collaboration with state attorneys general
  3. Solar panel e-waste management gains attention as more panels enter the waste stream; emergence of producer responsibility standards to address recycling challenges

The War For Middle Earth!

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 24 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Science Natural Disasters Public Policy
  1. The next ice age could potentially arrive much sooner than expected, possibly around 2033, and many people may need to relocate due to extreme weather changes.
  2. There is growing concern that climate issues are being hidden by governments and the true cause, including past nuclear tests, is not being fully acknowledged.
  3. Digital tracking and registration are becoming more common, making it easier for governments to monitor populations, especially as crises increase due to climate change.

How China solves the renewable intermittency issue

TP’s Substack • 35 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Nuclear power Sustainability
  1. China is investing heavily in renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which have been growing rapidly. These types of energy are faster and cheaper to set up compared to nuclear power.
  2. To tackle the issue of renewable energy not being available at all times, China is using advanced battery storage systems and smart grids. These technologies help store energy when production is high and release it when demand peaks.
  3. Electric vehicles (EVs) in cities like Shenzhen are being used to help manage energy supply. During busy times, these EVs can return power to the grid, making the entire energy system more resilient.

Headlines from a Warming World no 7

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Natural Disasters Ecology Mental health
  1. Hurricane Otis quickly went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane, causing severe destruction in Mexico. This rapid intensification illustrates the dangers posed by warmer ocean temperatures due to climate change.
  2. The Amundsen Sea is warming three times faster than in the 20th century, leading to an increased melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet. This melting is expected to contribute significantly to rising sea levels, affecting coastal communities globally.
  3. Children and young people are facing serious mental health challenges related to climate change, known as eco-anxiety. Their concerns about air pollution and extreme weather highlight the urgent need for action on climate issues.

Global Warming Is Still Accelerating, in Three Graphs

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 70 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Economic Impact Climate Crisis
  1. Global warming is accelerating according to three key graphs, showing temperature rise, ocean surface temperature, and energy imbalance.
  2. The energy imbalance data reveals a significant increase in energy retained by the planet, indicating an accelerating rate of heat retention.
  3. Considering the potential collapse of the future economy due to climate change, the question arises about how much of the current economy people are willing to sacrifice to prevent a complete economic collapse.

Global Warming and Air Pollution

Who is Robert Malone • 23 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Air Pollution Climate Science Environmental Policy Public Health
  1. Recent studies suggest that global warming might not be solely caused by human activities. They're looking into how less air pollution could be affecting cloud cover and, in turn, the Earth's temperature.
  2. Scientists are unsure about why cloud cover is decreasing, which complicates predictions about climate change. It's clear that this area of research is still developing and not fully settled.
  3. The U.S. government has spent nearly half a trillion dollars on climate change initiatives. Many are now questioning if these efforts are based on outdated or incorrect science.

What to do.

Douglass’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Corporations Societal collapse Problem Solving
  1. Temperatures are rising due to fossil fuel burning, leading to interconnected problems like soil, food, and poverty.
  2. Survival strategy involves a complex Gardenworld approach for localized food and security, combined with big tech for management.
  3. Urgency is stressed in understanding and addressing societal collapses, suggested readings like Tainter and Toynbee provide deeper insights.

Wastewater Opportunity & a Co-Founder Role

Helix • 19 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Decarbonisation Renewable Energy
  1. Wastewater treatment is essential for public health and the environment but traditional methods are energy-intensive and contribute to climate change.
  2. Decarbonising wastewater systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs, and create new job opportunities in the sector.
  3. Strategies for decarbonisation include using energy-efficient technologies, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and implementing green infrastructure solutions.

The Invention of Rivers

lifeboat • 19 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Hydrology
  1. Water is in trouble due to lack of replenishing rains and pollution from various sources.
  2. Rivers are not just single linear entities but a gathering of various sources of wetness, showing the complexity of water flow.
  3. The idea of land and water being separate is a colonial construct; considering landscapes in terms of depth can help us understand the interconnectedness of wetness.

Why Recycled Plastic Should Give You the Ick.

Green Graphic Design • 19 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Microplastics Pollution Greenwashing Circular Economy
  1. Recycled plastic may not be safe as it can leach BPA and other harmful chemicals.
  2. Plastics absorb toxins from the ocean, making them very difficult to decontaminate.
  3. Most recycled plastics eventually need to be reinforced with virgin plastics due to degradation, reducing the long-term impact on reducing virgin plastic use.

Project Yeti and the race to save the climate tech economy; plus Willow's way

Callaway Climate Insights • 19 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate tech Renewable Energy Electric Vehicles
  1. There was a race to save SVB bank that was more intense than expected, involving billions of dollars in assets.
  2. Approval for Alaskan drilling shows the limitations of oil diplomacy.
  3. Solar energy is becoming a popular source of renewable energy in the U.S., with electric vehicles achieving new milestones.

Exploring Personal Solar Energy Data

Solar Powered Data • 19 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Solar energy Energy Production Energy consumption
  1. Exploring personal solar energy data can start with simple steps like getting quotes from platforms like EnergySage.
  2. Solar panel energy production can vary due to factors like weather conditions and time of year, impacting electricity consumption offset and savings.
  3. Net metering and understanding energy consumption patterns are crucial for optimizing the benefits of residential solar energy systems.

Global is the Real Frontier

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Clean Energy Renewables Emerging Markets Environmental Impact
  1. The business case for clean energy transition in emerging markets is stronger than in developed markets due to lack of centralized infrastructure, making decentralized clean energy solutions more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
  2. Emerging markets offer a lucrative opportunity for the clean energy transition, with renewables capacity projected to surpass the US significantly, demanding substantial investment of over $1 trillion by 2030.
  3. Bridging the gap in digital technology and access to capital in emerging markets can accelerate the leapfrogging of outdated energy infrastructure, creating a ripe field for climate tech companies and digital solutions.

Shrinking Permafrost, Shallow Groundwater, Saturated Rocks: any Wonder why Mountains turn to Mud?

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 12 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment
  1. Melting permafrost, shallow groundwater, and saturated rocks are causing mountains to collapse.
  2. Climate change plays a significant role in the shrinking of permafrost and subsequent mountain collapses.
  3. Millions of people and animals living in mountain regions are threatened by the consequences of climate change on the stability of mountains.