The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways

Is it really the end of climate cancellation?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2247 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy International relations Media Information Governance Science communication Civil Liberties

A new UN-backed “information integrity” push frames reliable climate information narrowly and treats dissenting views as misinformation, opening a pathway to police and suppress opposing speech.
Efforts to cancel or silence climate dissent aren’t ending — powerful institutions and networks (governments, NGOs, universities, foundations, litigation, and climate industry actors) still have strong incentives to control the debate.
Calling on companies and governments to police platforms, fund research, and run campaigns risks centralizing control over what counts as reliable climate information and channels large sums to sympathetic actors who will shape the public narrative.

The Paris Delusion

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2070 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Emissions Energy International Agreements Climate Science Decarbonization Forecasting

Saying the Paris Agreement alone caused a big drop in projected warming is misleading; the apparent improvement mostly reflects earlier scenarios that over‑predicted coal use and were therefore wrong, not clear policy-driven emissions cuts.
Actual data show no acceleration in global decarbonization since Paris: emissions per unit of GDP have fallen at about 2% per year, far below the roughly 8% per year sustained cuts needed for deep decarbonization and never achieved by any country.
We need honest, evidence‑based policymaking — stronger and effective measures to speed real decarbonization are required, while also protecting energy access, supply reliability, and affordability, instead of celebrating questionable success stories.

Is this a watershed moment?

NN Journal • 178 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Weather Patterns Environmental Policy Community Resilience

Northamptonshire experienced the wettest September on record, leading to serious flooding and a review of flood management systems in the area.
Experts emphasize the need for communities to adapt to climate change to become more resilient against flooding risks.
Local leaders are seeking funding to improve flood defenses, as more extreme weather events are expected in the future.

The German Grid Montage

Gordian Knot News • 102 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Emissions Modeling Decarbonization Infrastructure

The dominant technology depends heavily on nuclear overnight cost: if nuclear is cheaper than about $3,000/kW (2020 USD) you get low-cost, low-CO2 grids dominated by nuclear, but if nuclear is much more expensive the model shifts to coal or big wind/solar builds with much higher emissions.
Dispatchable generation like nuclear reduces the need for massive wind/solar overbuild and backup gas because it can reliably follow load, while wind/solar force huge capacity, land use, and storage investments and still require substantial gas backup.
The model is biased optimistic for renewables (no transmission costs, perfect foresight, no inertia/ancillary requirements), so the already-expensive high-renewable solutions in the runs understate real-world costs; batteries are rarely chosen and very high nuclear costs produce politically and economically extreme grids with high curtailment and embedded emissions.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and "Love" The Collapse

OK Doomer • 196 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Adaptation Resilience Preparedness Sustainability Community Energy

People are moving past mourning the old future and choosing practical action. They’re learning skills like growing food, installing power systems, and staying healthy to survive and thrive.
Community resilience is rising as friends and neighbors start homesteading where they live and building local networks and shared resources. At the same time, people are staying cautious about what they share and who they trust.
The larger system is collapsing, so the focus has shifted from trying to save it to making a soft landing and building alternative systems. The priority now is preserving what can survive and creating practical, local solutions.

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Five Figures - December Bonus Issue

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1315 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Energy Insurance Agriculture Economics Shipping Risk modeling

Insurance companies are making record profits even as headlines claim a climate-driven insurance crisis, and recent premium hikes seem driven in part by rules to account for “climate risk” and the growth of risk-modeling services.
The issue presents data across many areas — dark oil tankers, moderates’ confidence in science, an energy skills gap, red-state/blue-state electricity price differences, southern-hemisphere wheat, and a comeback of climate-realist views.
More analysis is coming, including a follow-up on insurance and climate and a ranked list of major climate-research scandals, and the full material is available to paying subscribers.

The Cost of Confused Climate Science

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1636 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Environmental Policy Media Coverage Economic Impacts Public Perception

A high-profile scientific study that claimed catastrophic climate impacts and massive economic losses has been retracted.
Motivated reasoning and confirmation bias lead people to accept alarming climate claims quickly and without enough skepticism.
Sensational media coverage amplifies climate alarm, and that panic often persists even after studies are corrected or retracted.

Five Dams in Tibet

Doomberg • 6027 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Infrastructure China Environmental Impact

Hydroelectric power is often seen as a clean energy source, but it has serious downsides, including environmental damage and the loss of homes for many people.
China has built and operates the world's largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam, but this project faced a lot of criticism for displacing over a million people and causing environmental concerns.
Now, China is constructing even bigger dams in Tibet, which could change global energy markets but also carry risks and potential issues similar to past projects.

If You Can't Leave The Grid, Be The Grid

OK Doomer • 245 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Adaptation Resilience Energy Infrastructure Preparedness Skills Policy

Keep working and polish your ideas until they matter; recognition often comes after repeated rejection and proves you can overcome doubt.
Expect serious climate and institutional disruptions this decade, so adapt now instead of waiting for others to save you.
Learn practical, community-focused skills—like electrical work, plumbing, or emergency care—to keep systems running and help people rather than falling into despair.

The Battle for Climate Science and Policy Past—And Why It Matters

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1746 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Climate Policy Emissions scenarios Energy Systems

The critical debate in climate science is about whether past scenarios were flawed, not just forecasts of the future; a key 2017 study showed many high-emission scenarios relied on unrealistic assumptions about coal and fossil fuel growth.
Despite evidence that extreme scenarios like RCP8.5 are unlikely, influential authors reframed them as ‘worst cases,’ so thousands of studies and policy discussions still use outdated scenarios and risk drawing misleading conclusions.
If the scenarios were fundamentally flawed from the start, then climate research, scenario development, and policy choices need major changes, and the fight over this history will shape who leads future climate science and policy.

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

Human desires drive the economy, and marketing determines our choices.
A shift towards traditional, healthy foods like full-fat dairy and grass-fed beef is happening despite mainstream trends.
Soil restoration using cattle can help make deserts bloom and revitalize the earth.

Tale of Two Cities

The Crucial Years • 1743 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Water security Energy Policy Fossil fuels Renewables Climate finance Adaptation Infrastructure

Extreme climate impacts are happening now and escalating — cities can face Day Zero water crises, Arctic "zombie" fires are releasing ancient carbon, and ecosystems are under growing stress.
Economic and political levers matter a lot — what big investors, pension funds, and city officials do can speed up or slow down the fossil-fuel era, making divestment and policy choices powerful tools.
The solution requires rapid, large-scale industrial action — massive clean energy buildout and material transitions are needed fast, while rollbacks, local opposition, and risky techno-fixes could derail progress.

Oklahoma Mom Demands We Stop Dumping Sewage On America's Farmland

The DisInformation Chronicle • 640 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Waste Management Pollution Agriculture Soil Health Public Health Environmental Policy Food Safety

A federal rule allows treated sewage sludge labeled as “biosolids” to be spread on farmland, which can introduce pathogens and chemical pollutants into the air, soil, water, and food supply.
People living near land-applied sewage report serious acute and chronic health problems—like nausea, respiratory issues, infections, and neurological symptoms—while officials often downplay or dismiss their complaints.
Community members organized, did independent research, formed a nonprofit, and are pushing for federal action to stop land-disposal of sewage and push for safer waste solutions.

The Blackouts Are Coming

OK Doomer • 265 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Renewables Climate Risk Adaptation Preparedness

Blackouts are becoming far more likely as data center growth, heatwaves, and storms strain the grid, so planning for outages now is important.
If someone in your household relies on power for medical devices or heat/cooling, focus on a backup system that powers critical loads only, not the whole house.
Don’t trust cheap DIY kits or affiliate hype — work with a professional installer who can choose reliable equipment, provide warranties, and safely size the system.

The Real Enemy

Dana Blankenhorn: Facing the Future • 79 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24

🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Nationalism Political polarization International cooperation

Nationalism is a big problem for addressing climate change. It stops countries from working together and tackling the urgent issue of global warming.
People are often focused on their own countries and ignore the need for cooperation. This 'mine' vs 'ours' mindset won’t help solve climate issues.
For real change to happen, everyone needs to unite and fight against climate change together. Without that, the planet will keep suffering.

The Bad Science and Bad Policy at the Heart of the Climate Movement

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 5172 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Analysis Environmental Impact Sustainability Public Health

Climate change has different definitions in science and policy, leading to confusion and inconsistencies in understanding. Scientists define it broadly while policy focuses mainly on human-caused changes.
Current climate policies often rely on temperature targets, assuming they directly relate to greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent research shows other factors also significantly affect global temperatures.
Reducing air pollution, while beneficial, can lead to increased temperatures due to less cooling from aerosols. This creates a complex situation where good actions for health might clash with climate goals.

The Texas Flash Floods

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 5849 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Disasters Climate Weather Preparedness

The recent Texas flash floods were devastating, causing many deaths and showing that a proper warning system is needed. This kind of tragedy should never happen again.
The area where the floods occurred, known as 'flash flood alley', is prone to such disasters, and similar incidents have happened before. The history of flooding in this region is long-standing.
Although flood deaths have decreased over time due to better preparation and warning systems, this recent event highlights that improvements are still needed, especially for vulnerable populations like summer campers.

A Takeover of the IPCC

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 4102 implied HN points • 20 Aug 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Science Weather Patterns Policy advocacy

The IPCC is changing its approach to studying extreme weather events. Instead of just focusing on long-term changes, they are now looking at specific events and linking them to climate change.
The new author team for the IPCC's report seems to be mainly focused on extreme event attribution, which may lead to more politically motivated claims about climate change and disasters.
There are conflicting views in scientific studies about whether climate change is increasing monsoon rainfall in places like Pakistan. This shows the challenges and complexities involved in understanding climate impacts.

Chewing the cud could sink the planet

The Global Jigsaw • 119 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Sustainability Agriculture Food Systems

Raising cows and sheep produces a lot of methane, which is a major contributor to climate change. This is because methane is released when these animals digest their food and is much worse for the planet than carbon dioxide.
Livestock generates 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is even more than the transport sector. This includes not just the methane from their digestion, but also emissions from raising feed and pasture.
A Japanese seaweed startup has found a way to cut methane emissions from cows by adding a specific type of red algae to their feed. This could reduce their methane output by more than 90%.

Chain Reaction

Doomberg • 6659 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Nuclear Energy Environmental Impact Sustainability Technological Innovation

Nuclear energy has produced a massive amount of clean electricity over the years, showcasing its potential as a stable and affordable energy source.
Germany's decision to abandon its nuclear power plants is now seen as a mistake, and there's hope they will shift their stance to support nuclear energy in the future.
Many countries in Europe are starting to rethink their approach to nuclear energy, which might lead to a resurgence in its use to help combat climate change.

The Entropy Debt Theory of Civilization

Anima Mundi • 432 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Ecology Climate Policy Systems Resources Biodiversity

Many major problems—climate breakdown, institutional decay, and worsening mental health—are connected as interest payments on an "entropy debt" because civilizations maintain order by exporting disorder across space and time.
Modern civilization has exhausted the places and times to which it can export entropy—fossil fuels, colonial extraction, and psychological repression were ways to borrow order, and now the system is approaching saturation.
The real solution is a civilizational shift from borrowing order to living on "entropy income" by relying on solar-driven flows and redesigning institutions and values. Efficiency or a simple energy switch won’t by itself erase the underlying debt.

Dunkelflauten Clusters (aka Winter)

Gordian Knot News • 168 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Renewables Grid Storage Modeling Policy Emissions

Dunkelflauten—multi-day clusters of very low wind and solar—can last weeks and stress the grid far more than average capacity factors indicate.
Detailed hour-by-hour, multi-year weather modeling shows a pure wind/solar/battery/hydrogen system for Germany needs massive overbuild and nearly 50,000 GWh of H2 storage, causing huge curtailment and very high electricity costs.
Real-world constraints like missing north–south transmission, low gas reserves, and storage limits make heavy reliance on intermittents and LNG/hydrogen risky, while a nuclear-centered plan would likely be cheaper and cleaner.

Are bees booming or dying off?

Sustainability by numbers • 439 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Conservation Ecology Agriculture

Farmed honeybee colonies and global honey production have generally increased, so managed honeybees (kept as livestock) are doing relatively well in many places.
Many wild bee species are declining: their ranges and recorded species richness have fallen and some face higher extinction risk.
More managed honeybees can harm wild bees by competing for resources and spreading pathogens, so rising hive numbers do not mean all bee species are thriving.

Some consequences of solar on the electricity markets

GEM Energy Analytics • 899 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24

🌞 Climate & Environment Solar energy Electricity Markets Energy Policy

Solar energy is growing quickly and changing the electricity market. As solar power is cheaper to produce, it often leads to lower prices during sunny times.
The value of solar energy isn’t highest when the sun is shining most. It’s more valuable during peak demand times like morning and evening.
As more solar energy is used, the need for traditional power sources is decreasing, which is affecting imports, exports, and the costs of maintaining power reserves.

Human Progress versus Climate Evangelism

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 4583 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Disaster Management Public awareness

The first half of 2025 saw remarkably low deaths from extreme weather events, much lower than the historical average. This suggests significant progress in disaster management and safety.
Despite these achievements, there is a push from climate advocates to create more fear about climate change, aiming to mobilize public concern and policy changes.
It's important to recognize and celebrate the progress made in reducing weather-related deaths while being cautious about the narrative that emphasizes only the dangers.

"Where were you when I needed you?"

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3641 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental Science Media Analysis Public Perception

The interest in older research can sometimes feel politically motivated rather than genuinely scientific. Researchers often feel frustrated when their older work is only revisited during specific political or ideological contexts.
Fact-checking often misses the mark by focusing on discrediting certain views instead of genuinely verifying information. It can be biased and doesn't always follow scientific standards.
There is a clear need for more structured support for scientists in addressing the media and factual accuracy. Professional channels should help scientists correct the record rather than put pressure on them from journalists.

Leader’s with Blind Spots: Climate Change’s Human Toll

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Mitigation Adaptation Emissions Deforestation Environmental justice Global Politics

Leaders who downplay climate risks and choose short-term economic gains over mitigation drive higher emissions and worsen environmental damage.
Both historical and recent leadership choices have caused large environmental and human costs, and projections show hotter temperatures, higher seas, longer heatwaves, and economic losses by mid-century.
Grassroots activism, informed voting, and public awareness campaigns are practical ways to push leaders toward stronger climate action and reduce future harm.

Stability in Chaos: A Solar Food Dehydrator

OK Doomer • 101 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Food Preservation Food security Sustainability

The world keeps cycling through political, economic, and climate crises, so having clear plans and basic preparedness gives you real stability. Knowing what to do and how to do it cuts anxiety and lets you work at your own pace.
Multiple ways to preserve food are essential, and solar food dehydrators are especially useful because they work without reliable electricity. They’re practical to build yourself using simple DIY guides.
A practical survival manual is being expanded with cleaner layouts and more informational pages, plus plans for electrical wiring and solar panels to power systems like aquaponics. A print edition is close to ready.

A low point

The Crucial Years • 817 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Energy Policy Activism Science Fossil fuels

There’s a clear sense of being at a low point and feeling emotionally strained.
There’s cautious hope that things will get better, but that optimism is tentative and uncertain.
The content is behind a paywall and only available to paid subscribers, requiring subscription or sign-in to access.

Revenge of the Wild: The Changing Game of Human-Wildlife Conflict

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Wildlife Deforestation Climate change Biodiversity Conservation Urbanization

Many animals are changing their feeding habits and moving into human areas — mosquitoes, elephants, and rats are leaving shrinking habitats, raiding crops and settlements, and living off our waste.
This shift is increasing human–wildlife conflict now and is expected to grow by 2050, with more places becoming suitable for disease-carrying mosquitoes, crop-raiding elephants, and larger urban rat populations.
Experts say preventing worse conflicts means cutting fossil fuel use, reducing consumption, and switching to renewable energy to slow climate change and protect habitats.

Renewable Energy Won

Erik Explores • 737 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Renewables Energy Policy Energy Storage Decarbonization Climate tech Electrification Sustainability

Wind and solar paired with batteries are now cheaper than coal and can deliver reliable 24/7 power. The economics mean the energy debate over renewables versus fossil fuels is effectively over.
Practical challenges remain, like upgrading grids, training installers, and storing energy across seasons, but these are solvable with investment and various solutions. Options include overbuilding renewables, heat pumps, hydrogen or ammonia, pumped hydro, and novel carriers like rechargeable metal powders.
Political and expert skeptics who said renewables couldn’t scale or would need permanent subsidies were proven wrong as costs fell and deployment surged globally. Nuclear remains expensive and slower to replace aging plants, so renewables are expanding even in traditionally nuclear countries.

Anchorage Aweigh

Doomberg • 6151 implied HN points • 17 May 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy crisis Natural resources Economic Impact

Anchorage, Alaska, faces a potential energy crisis due to dwindling natural gas supplies. The community relies heavily on this resource for electricity and heating during cold winters.
The local oil and gas companies have not been drilling enough new wells to replace the declining existing ones. This lack of action raises concerns about electrical outages and heating shortages in the future.
Despite being a gas-rich state, Alaska's underproduction of new gas is leading it to a crisis point. Steps need to be taken to secure its energy supply for the upcoming years.

Emissions Scenarios, CWG Fact Check 1

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3699 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Analysis Emissions scenarios Climate change

Recent projections of climate change are showing less severe outcomes than before. This means the future might not be as bad as some had predicted.
Scientists have recently agreed that the world will probably warm less than previously thought. This is a positive development and could change how we approach climate policies.
Regulations aimed at reducing emissions, like those from the EPA, might not have a big impact on global emissions. More effective methods to tackle climate change could be needed.

⚡ America's electrostate inevitability

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Electrification Infrastructure Policy Industry Economics

The energy system is moving from burning carbon molecules to using electrons, and that shift is now driven by economics and industry rather than ideology.
The change is unavoidable and will reshape economic and industrial power—whoever builds the electric infrastructure first will gain a major advantage.
Because past American strength came from hydrocarbons, the US needs to invest and industrialize around electrification now to maintain its lead.

An Eerie Light

The Crucial Years • 3457 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Wildfires Renewable Energy Carbon Emissions

America's relationship with science is changing. Instead of supporting scientific exploration, there seems to be a trend towards cutting funding for important research, which is really concerning.
Fairness in society is declining, with actions that reverse progress made in terms of equality. This includes moves against voting rights and support for disadvantaged communities, showing a shift away from promoting fairness.
A sense of servility is growing, where companies and individuals seem to be bowing down to those in power instead of standing up for democratic values. It's important to resist and push for change where we can.

Build the Rail! Save the Snails!

Comment is Freed • 125 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Infrastructure Planning Regulation Governance Biodiversity Transport

The core problem isn’t the environmental rules but an adversarial, litigation‑driven planning system that makes developers over‑engineer projects to avoid rare but ruinously expensive judicial reviews, driving up time and cost.
Fix the process by having government set clear standards early and create a central Infrastructure Directorate to coordinate consultees and produce a full project specification, plus an early "Statement of Key Issues" so objections are raised and dealt with up front and money shifts from costly pre‑construction work into real mitigation and building.
Change the culture by expanding state planning capacity (funded by an industry levy) and increasing secondments between industry, regulators and environmental bodies so professionals share incentives and focus on cooperative, long‑term problem solving rather than adversarial legal tactics.

Whales Die, While Officials, Media, and Environmentalists Lie

RESCUE with Michael Capuzzo • 7567 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23

🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Renewable Energy Environmental Impact Global Warming

Whales are dying along the East Coast due to offshore wind turbines and oil & gas drilling, raising concerns about environmental impacts.
There is uncertainty and disagreement among experts and agencies about the connection between offshore wind activities and whale deaths.
Offshore wind projects may have limited impact on global emissions and climate change, but they are still considered integral for state plans.

Pouring Literal Gasoline on the Fires of Hate

The Crucial Years • 827 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Fossil fuels Energy Policy Environmental justice Activism Corporate Influence

Someone is literally pouring gasoline on fires of hate, signaling a direct and dangerous escalation that intensifies harm.
The line "Not a metaphor, not at all" emphasizes that the action is meant to be taken literally rather than figuratively.
The full discussion is behind a paid subscription, so detailed coverage is available only to paying readers.

Decarbonization and climate change hysteria died this winter

Unreported Truths • 57 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26

🌞 Climate & Environment Policy Regulation Energy Emissions Politics International Economy

The EPA's endangerment finding was revoked, removing a key legal basis for aggressive U.S. decarbonization, and this policy reversal drew surprisingly little public protest.
Many decarbonization policies depended on expensive subsidies and immature technologies like intermittent wind and solar without cheap storage, and Europe’s energy crisis plus China’s rising coal use undermined those efforts.
Political and cultural momentum for radical climate action has faded: voters rejected big green subsidy programs in 2024, legal fights over regulation will likely shift decisions to Congress, and climate activism no longer mobilizes mass protests.

Some changes to Sustainability by Numbers in the new year

Sustainability by numbers • 615 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25

🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Climate Energy Policy Data Analysis Global Development Public Health

The newsletter will broaden its focus beyond environmental topics to include demographics, technology, global health, and development while keeping a data-led approach to analyze problems and solutions.
The newsletter is being renamed to "By the Numbers" to reflect the wider scope, and the change will happen automatically; some subscribers may leave, but the aim is to reach a broader set of global issues.
The publication will remain free and unpaid, produced in spare time to keep it enjoyable, with plans to continue publishing data-driven posts into 2026.