The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Webinar on The Battery Mineral Loop

Renewable Revolution • 119 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Renewable Energy Resource Management Environmental Policy Webinars
  1. There will be a webinar discussing how to reduce the need for new mined battery minerals by 2050. It's a great opportunity to learn more about this important topic.
  2. The webinar is happening on August 22nd at 11:30 AM Eastern Time. Mark your calendar if you're interested in the future of battery minerals.
  3. You can read a detailed report called 'The Battery Mineral Loop' to get more insights before the webinar. It's a good way to prepare and understand the discussion better.

Seaflooding

Uncharted Territories • 3930 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Ecosystems Environmental Impact Water Management
  1. Seaflooding can help mitigate the impact of rising sea levels while creating new habitats and boosting the economy.
  2. Flooded areas can lead to the growth of vibrant ecosystems, capturing carbon and attracting wildlife.
  3. Potential locations for seaflooding include the Dead Sea and the Sahara desert, with benefits such as lowering ocean levels and increasing economic activity.

What is a "Worst Case" Climate Scenario?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2482 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Environmental Policy Sustainability Climate Modeling Climate Advocacy
  1. RCP8.5 is a worst-case climate scenario that is based on very unlikely assumptions and does not reflect current realities. It is important to understand that it's not just improbable, but actually impossible based on recent data.
  2. Defining a 'worst case' scenario isn’t straightforward. It can be influenced by values and politics, as different people might see different outcomes as more or less desirable.
  3. Creating climate scenarios should involve a broader group, including experts and everyday people. This way, we can address the political aspects and ensure the scenarios used for policy-making are relevant and realistic.

Storage Units

Doomberg • 6525 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Environmental Policy Climate Science
  1. Transitioning solely to renewable energy sources is risky because no region has successfully operated a reliable grid using only wind and solar power.
  2. Building storage systems, like batteries, is expensive and may not solve the issues of reliability when renewables aren't producing energy.
  3. Conducting small-scale experiments at home can help individuals understand how much backup power they really need when the grid is unstable.

The Quiet Gutting of Yosemite

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1488 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment National parks Conservation Biodiversity Environmental Policy Climate change
  1. Yosemite National Park is facing serious issues like overflowing trash and poor food quality due to budget cuts. It's not getting the care it needs to stay beautiful and safe.
  2. Conservation efforts in the park have stalled, meaning important projects to protect the environment aren't happening as they should be.
  3. Visitors are experiencing long waits to enter the park, and while they can enjoy its beauty, they also see signs of neglect around them.
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The Dry Tap: How Rising Heat fuels the Global Water Bankruptcy

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Water resources Food security
  1. Groundwater and aquifers are being depleted rapidly around the world, with many basins and underground reserves falling fast enough to threaten long-term water supplies.
  2. Rising temperatures from climate change are increasing evaporation and plant transpiration, melting glaciers, and shrinking wetlands, all of which reduce how much fresh water recharges rivers and aquifers.
  3. The shrinking freshwater supply is causing wells, lakes, and reservoirs to dry up, harming ecosystems and food production, and makes cutting fossil fuel use and wasteful consumption urgently necessary.

The Most Amazing Climate Policy Figure

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2227 implied HN points • 16 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Decarbonization Energy consumption Sustainability
  1. The U.S. has made steady progress in reducing carbon emissions while growing its economy. This decarbonization happened even with changes in political leadership and policies.
  2. A significant factor in reducing emissions has been the shift from coal to cleaner energy sources like natural gas and renewables. This change shows how technology can help improve environmental outcomes.
  3. Understanding why decarbonization has been consistent is important. It can help policymakers find ways to continue this trend and achieve goals like net-zero emissions by mid-century.

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.

What happened to global carbon emissions this year?

Sustainability by numbers • 563 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Carbon Emissions Renewable Energy Land use
  1. Fossil CO2 emissions went up by about 1% this year. This increase is concerning because we really need those numbers to start going down.
  2. On a positive note, emissions from land use changed and decreased, which helps balance out the rise in fossil emissions. Factors like lower deforestation rates have contributed to this decline.
  3. Despite some positive trends, it's clear we are not on track to meet the 1.5°C climate goal. We need much faster reductions in emissions to limit global warming effectively.

The LA Fires and the Big Bang

The Crucial Years • 4882 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Energy transition Scientific research
  1. Climate change is making wildfires worse due to extreme heat and drought in places like Los Angeles. This is causing devastation to homes and communities.
  2. Scientific advancements, like those from Edwin Hubble, help us understand our universe and climate, but there are fears that funding for vital climate research is being threatened.
  3. There's a growing concern about losing our ability to think critically about important issues. As we face bigger problems, understanding and intelligence seem to be declining.

How to Close Europe’s 15-Million Heat Pump Gap - One 1m² Borehole at a Time

The Green Techpreneur • 24 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Climate finance
  1. An ultra‑compact hydraulic impact drill with a 1 m² footprint can replace heavy rigs and leave the drill pipe in place to act as the heat‑exchange casing, making residential geothermal installs far less disruptive.
  2. By cutting cost, site damage and specialised crew needs, this approach can make ground‑source heat pumps affordable for dense cities and single‑family retrofits, addressing a projected 15‑million unit gap in Europe.
  3. The company already holds patents, has early LOIs, is at TRL 5 and is raising €500K to finish full‑scale prototypes and pilots, with a sales plus leasing plan to scale adoption.

Hebei’s Villages Are Freezing

Pekingnology • 211 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Air Pollution Public Policy Subsidies
  1. Many rural households near Beijing are cutting or avoiding gas and electric heating because government subsidies have fallen, making bills unaffordable and leaving people cold.
  2. Strict bans and enforcement on burning dispersed coal prevent an easy return to cheaper fuel, so villagers rely on quilts, sun-warming, firewood, or secretly bought coal to get by, highlighting a clash between pollution control and basic needs.
  3. Experts say the sustainable solution is better-targeted subsidies, timely payments, stronger home insulation, and wider use of heat pumps or mixed clean-energy options, but high upfront costs and local fiscal limits make implementation difficult.

Sunset Solutions or Solar Sins: the Geoengineering Gamble to Cool the Planet

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Geoengineering Climate Policy Climate finance Climate tech Atmospheric science
  1. Private solar geoengineering companies are rapidly growing, raising large investments, running field tests, and positioning the sector for big market expansion in the coming decade.
  2. Supporters argue that reflecting sunlight could quickly cool the planet and save many lives from extreme heat, which is driving calls for major research funding and more academic trials.
  3. But the approach has serious risks and uncertainties—it can worsen ozone depletion and ocean acidification, disrupt regional climates, and may distract from the more effective long-term solution of cutting fossil fuel emissions.

Top Links 925 China's CO2 emissions plateau. Arizona's emerging chip cluster. Asian water wars and the "camp life" of revolution.

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Emissions Resource Management Environmental Policy
  1. China's carbon dioxide emissions might be leveling off, which could be a significant step towards fighting climate change.
  2. Arizona is becoming a new hub for chip manufacturing, showing a shift in technology production in the U.S.
  3. Water conflicts in Asia are becoming more serious, reflecting growing tensions over resources and living conditions.

Germany under the sun

GEM Energy Analytics • 459 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Solar Power Policy
  1. Solar energy in Germany is rapidly increasing, with over one gigawatt installed each month. This growth is important because it helps meet their energy goals for the future.
  2. Solar power is very concentrated during certain months. In winter, it barely impacts energy supply, while spring and summer see a big increase in generation.
  3. Negative prices for solar energy are rising, meaning that sometimes the energy is worth less than nothing during high production times. This creates challenges for both producers and market management.

From Idealism to Realism

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 4357 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Geopolitics Environmental Policy Sustainability Crisis Management
  1. Geopolitics often influences climate policies more than climate science itself. Countries prioritize their own interests over global climate agreements.
  2. The belief that scientific knowledge would automatically lead to climate action has proven overly optimistic. Many expected that understanding climate issues would unite nations, but it hasn't happened.
  3. Adapting to climate change is a slow process. The world will continue to gradually change, but there won't be a simple or happy resolution to the challenges posed by a warming planet.

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.

Up on the roof

The Crucial Years • 1664 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Sustainable energy Environmental Activism Renewable Resources Government regulations
  1. Homeowners should act quickly if they want to take advantage of tax credits for solar and electric vehicles, as many of these benefits will expire soon.
  2. The solar market may face significant setbacks due to new laws, leading to potential layoffs and business closures in the near term.
  3. It's essential to push for clean energy initiatives now, as the situation with fossil fuels and climate legislation is changing rapidly.

Do we need to change our behavior?

HEATED • 3223 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Crisis
  1. A new paper highlights the need for systemic changes in behavior to prevent ecological overshoot.
  2. Mainstream media still runs fossil fuel ads in climate reporting, undermining the message.
  3. Insurance companies promising to cut coal coverage are found secretly funding it, violating their own policies.

L.A. Was Built to Burn

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4363 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Wildfires Ecosystems Urban Development Natural Disasters Environmental policies
  1. Los Angeles is built in a way that fire is part of its natural environment. This means wildfires will keep happening regardless of who is in charge.
  2. The area has a history of being described as a grassland, not a desert, and fires are a normal part of this ecosystem.
  3. Some experts believe that certain areas in L.A. should never have been developed because they are prone to burning, making homes there very risky.

Breaking the Global Warming Gridlock

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1540 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental Science Energy Policy Global Warming
  1. Focusing only on reducing greenhouse gas emissions isn't enough to tackle climate issues. We need to look at other ways to manage and adapt to environmental changes.
  2. A clear division in how climate change is viewed causes political gridlock. Different groups have opposing views which makes finding common ground hard.
  3. Helping people adapt to the effects of climate change can actually support efforts to reduce emissions. We should aim to do both, rather than just one or the other.

The Truth About Climate Change ‘Lies Somewhere in the Middle’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1201 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Environmental Policy Greenhouse Gases Sustainable Practices
  1. Steven Koonin believes that many discussions about climate change tend to overlook important facts. He suggests that a deeper look at climate science reveals differing views that are often not shared.
  2. Koonin's recent report claims that the dangers of greenhouse gases are exaggerated and includes claims that carbon dioxide can actually benefit plant growth.
  3. The report has sparked controversy, with some environmental groups suing over its findings, arguing that it undermines the understanding of climate change and its causes.

A Twin Blessing Rejected by Two Lies

Gordian Knot News • 168 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Nuclear power Policy Regulation History Safety
  1. The Gordian Knot Group uploaded a new slide deck called "A Twin Blessing Rejected by Two Lies," subtitled "The Auto-Genocidal History of US Nuclear Power."
  2. The author describes the deck as their most polemic offering and admits it functions as propaganda, believing it to be effective but not objective.
  3. The author asks readers for their thoughts and suggestions on how to improve the slide deck.

For reality

The Crucial Years • 3976 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Climate justice Sustainability
  1. The climate crisis is worsening, with record-high carbon dioxide levels reported. It's a serious issue that we need to pay attention to because it affects our planet and future.
  2. Power is being prioritized over justice in today's political climate. This shift can lead to misinformation and further environmental harm, especially regarding the ongoing climate crisis.
  3. Clean energy solutions like solar and wind are ready to help us combat climate change. We need to focus on these technologies to build a sustainable future.

Pushing Back, Short-Term and Long

The Crucial Years • 3667 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Renewable Energy Environmental justice Activism Climate Advocacy
  1. This is a tough time for climate and social justice activists, with funding cuts causing chaos and uncertainty.
  2. There's a rising movement and resolve against harmful policies and actions, with people actively rallying and making their voices heard.
  3. Despite the challenges, the cost of clean energy is falling, giving us a promising opportunity to shift toward renewable resources and fight for change.

Will oil and gas consumption keep rising through 2050?

Sustainability by numbers • 439 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Sustainability Renewable Energy Global Warming Climate change
  1. The IEA's Current Policies Scenario is not a prediction of future events, but a 'what if' model based on existing policies. This means it shouldn't be taken as a definite forecast.
  2. Electric vehicle sales are expected to increase mainly in Europe and China, while the rest of the world might see stagnant growth due to lack of supportive policies and charging infrastructure.
  3. Solar energy deployment is expected to stall at 2024 levels for a long time, but this assumption might be overly conservative given that past projections have often underestimated actual growth.

The Gordian Knot Group's Twin Blessing Course

Gordian Knot News • 146 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Nuclear Energy Energy Policy Waste Management Regulatory reform Risk Assessment Climate Policy
  1. Radiation harm depends on how fast damage happens relative to the body's repair systems, so the full dose‑rate profile matters more than total dose or a simple average rate.
  2. Nuclear fission is extremely energy‑dense and can provide very cheap, low‑carbon power, but fear‑driven regulation based on the linear no‑threshold idea has inflated costs and blocked that potential.
  3. Proposed reforms are concrete: adopt a dose‑rate‑aware Sigmoid No Threshold model and restructure regulation and liability to balance benefits and risks, and manage spent fuel with short pool storage, dry casks, reprocessing for breeder material, and vitrification of leftovers instead of deep geologic disposal.

Atlantic Hurricanes Preseason 2025

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1943 implied HN points • 30 May 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Hurricanes Climate change Weather Patterns Natural Disasters
  1. So far in 2025, there haven't been any hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere, which could set a new record for the latest first hurricane. This shows there's a significant lack of storm activity this year.
  2. It's important to focus on data when discussing hurricane activity rather than just opinions. Data can give us a clearer picture of changes in hurricane behavior and climate science.
  3. The NOAA suggests that we shouldn't rush to say human-caused climate change has changed hurricane activity a lot. There's still a lot we don't know about how these storms are behaving.

We Interrupt the Ongoing Crisis for a Smidgen of Good News

The Crucial Years • 3677 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Energy Policy Renewable Energy Artificial Intelligence
  1. The new Chinese AI program DeepSeek uses only a small fraction of the electricity needed by similar American AI systems. This could challenge the fossil fuel industry's excuse for building more power plants based on increased energy demands from AI.
  2. Fossil fuel stocks have not been performing well in comparison to the broader market for several years, raising concerns about the industry's future in a world moving towards decarbonization.
  3. In Europe, solar energy has recently outperformed coal for the first time, marking a significant shift towards renewable energy sources in the region.

The Race to the Top in Six Charts and Not Too Many Numbers

Renewable Revolution • 279 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Technology Economics Policy
  1. China is currently the leader in clean technology innovation and manufacturing, having significantly increased its battery and solar production capacity. It also holds a majority share in global clean energy patents.
  2. All three main regions—China, Europe, and the U.S.—are rapidly deploying clean technologies like solar, wind, and electric vehicles, but China is ahead in terms of growth and scale.
  3. The U.S. and Europe are recognizing the need to catch up in this energy race, with investments in clean technologies expected to grow significantly in the coming years, indicating a shift towards competition.

How We Make Progress Now

The Crucial Years • 3607 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental justice Energy transition Climate Activism Sustainable Practices
  1. The new administration's actions have quickly reversed many climate policies, making it crucial to organize and push back against these changes over time.
  2. While traditional protests have been important, the current political climate may require fresh strategies and new ways of engaging people to create real change.
  3. There's a strong shift towards renewable energy that can be leveraged, as public support for clean energy is growing despite efforts from opposition.

⚡ Tracking a 200-year energy wager

Faster, Please! • 274 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Technology Economics History Politics
  1. Herman Kahn’s long bet is that cheap, effectively limitless energy would unlock widespread human abundance and economic growth.
  2. The technological tools to pursue cheap, inexhaustible energy have largely arrived or are within reach.
  3. Politics and institutions haven’t caught up, and political obstacles remain the main barrier to realizing that energy-driven abundance.

A Better Approach to Climate Policy

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1884 implied HN points • 26 May 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Sustainable Development Environmental Impact
  1. The Hartwell Paper suggests that climate policy should focus more on solving real-life problems like air pollution and poverty instead of just cutting emissions. This approach could lead to better solutions for everyone.
  2. Instead of relying on strict global agreements, climate policy should be decentralized and innovative. Local and regional solutions can be more effective and politically accepted.
  3. Successful climate policy should provide clear benefits to people, such as better air quality and energy security. When people see direct advantages, they are more likely to support climate initiatives.

February 12: Green-technology startups are creating the innovation needed to save the environment

Respectful Leadership • 54 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Clean Tech Climate tech Carbon Capture Climate finance Circular Economy Climate Innovation
  1. Green-tech startups are building the innovations we need to tackle the environmental crisis.
  2. Entrepreneurs and non-profit leaders from areas like green housing, climate finance, and carbon capture are sharing practical solutions and working together.
  3. A fast-paced panel of short expert talks followed by audience Q&A is designed to spark ideas, learning, and action.

🌋 Hot rocks, new politics

Faster, Please! • 365 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Technology Politics Sustainability Innovation
  1. New drilling technology is making it easier to access geothermal energy, which could help it become more popular. This means we might see more geothermal power plants in the future.
  2. The rising costs of gas plants are pushing energy companies to look for cheaper alternatives. Geothermal energy could be a good option since it uses heat from the Earth.
  3. Big Tech companies are starting to demand more clean energy. This is helping geothermal energy gain attention and support from policymakers in Washington.

High Water and Lake Washington

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 279 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecology Hydrology Restoration Conservation Biodiversity
  1. Lake Washington's water level is controlled artificially now, which is different from how it used to fluctuate naturally by as much as nine feet each year. This change was mainly due to the building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1916.
  2. The current management of the lake helps local properties but is not good for the environment. Plants that normally thrive with seasonal changes are struggling because they can't grow properly in the constant water level.
  3. Union Bay has seen a lot of restoration work from being a dump to a vibrant natural space. It shows that even after mistakes, communities can come together to create a healthier ecosystem.