The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Bonkers in Yonkers

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Regulation Sea Level Rise
  1. Climate policy should be based on the best-available science to be effective in addressing risks like sea level rise.
  2. Extreme, implausible scenarios like RCP8.5 can lead to misguided policy decisions and misallocation of resources.
  3. Regulatory capture by a small group of experts can result in the codification of flawed science in policies, highlighting the importance of oversight and accountability.

Oof. A Small Step Forward, and then...

The Crucial Years • 1155 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Fossil fuels Renewable Energy Environmental Activism Climate Science
  1. The rich individuals or entities may not fully grasp or prioritize the urgency of the environmental crisis, as shown by certain investment decisions.
  2. Some significant steps towards divesting from fossil fuels have been taken, indicating a gradual shift away from reliance on them.
  3. Financial institutions like banks withdrawing from environmental initiatives could hinder progress towards decarbonization and indicate a shift in priorities.

Impact of solar on electricity prices: focus on Germany and Spain

GEM Energy Analytics • 619 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Electricity Markets Solar Power Energy Policy
  1. Solar power is growing quickly in Europe and is expected to double by 2027. This means more solar energy will be available to meet demand.
  2. In markets like Germany and Spain, solar energy lowers electricity prices because it has very low costs compared to fossil fuels. This creates a connection between the amount of solar energy produced and the price of electricity.
  3. Solar generation varies by season and day, impacting prices differently. For example, prices can drop significantly on sunny Sundays when demand is low and solar output is high.

Solar and the need for more flexibility

GEM Energy Analytics • 219 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Solar Power Electricity Markets Sustainability
  1. Solar energy is growing fast and becoming a main part of our energy systems. This growth is due to lower costs, a global effort to cut emissions, and how easy it is to set up solar technology.
  2. As solar power becomes more popular, we need to be more flexible with how we use and produce energy. This flexibility is important to handle times when there's too much solar energy or not enough.
  3. The rising use of solar power is changing energy prices and increasing the value of flexible energy sources, like batteries and demand response systems, which can help balance supply and demand.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

What can we do with a sentence?

The Crucial Years • 1514 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Activism Renewable Energy Environmental policies
  1. The sentence calling for transitioning away from fossil fuels is a new tool for activists to use in climate discussions
  2. Past significant climate sentences have changed the direction of climate discussions and policies
  3. Activists need to ensure clear, plain language in agreements to effectively push for the end of the fossil fuel era

How the German energy transition has committed taxpayers to paying billions of Euros for the sun to shine

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 169 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy Renewables Climate change Environmental Economics Sustainability
  1. Germany's energy transition has made taxpayers pay billions for solar energy, even when supply exceeds demand. This means people are paying producers for electricity that isn't really needed.
  2. The costs for solar feed-in tariffs are rising every year, and future projections expect them to reach even higher levels. This could lead to major budget issues for the government.
  3. New rules for solar subsidies aim to prevent overproduction from larger solar farms, but smaller operators remain a problem without a clear solution. Many small solar users may not benefit from these changes.

🔥 How to ignite a geothermal energy revolution

Faster, Please! • 1279 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Geothermal Energy Clean Energy Regulation Innovation
  1. The need for clean energy collaboration between government and companies to drive innovation.
  2. Energy deregulation can be a catalyst for promoting innovation and commercialization in the private sector.
  3. Accommodating regulatory and policy environments can accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies.

Low Hanging Fruit

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1511 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Emissions Renewable Energy Policy Cost Analysis Nuclear power
  1. Replacing 150 coal power plants with nuclear power can reduce global emissions by 25% by 2035.
  2. The cost of replacing these plants with nuclear power is significantly lower than other emissions reduction measures.
  3. If the world is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, retiring or retrofitting coal plants is necessary, and nuclear power provides a feasible alternative.

Following the science to the grave

¡Do Not Panic! • 1022 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Extreme Weather Environmental Impact Public Health Activism
  1. Extreme heat events are becoming more frequent around the world, a glimpse into the future of climate change.
  2. Countries heavily reliant on tourism and agriculture are facing economic turmoil due to extreme heat and climate change.
  3. The scientific community can be influenced by capitalist interests, leading to dangerous consequences like downplaying climate change risks.

Inside Job: Crafting Climate Careers Without Changing Employers

This Week in MCJ (My Climate Journey) • 609 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Community Organizing
  1. Advocate for sustainability within your current company to unlock opportunities for climate jobs for yourself and your colleagues.
  2. Consider working on sustainability as part of your current job, even if your ultimate goal is to transition to a full-time climate job.
  3. Start making small changes towards working on climate within your current role, viewing it as a gradual journey rather than an immediate shift.

ABC, CBS and NBC Evening News Reports on Canadian Wildfires Ignore Climate Change’s Role Entirely

The Column • 982 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Wildfires Climate change Global Warming Environmental Impact
  1. ABC, CBS, and NBC evening news reports on Canadian wildfires ignored climate change's role
  2. The increased risk of wildfires due to climate change is well-documented
  3. Journalists should emphasize the connection between climate change and natural disasters in their reporting

It's So Hot

The Crucial Years • 1494 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Climate Activism Climate solutions
  1. The planet's temperature crossed the 2.0 degrees Celsius mark for the first time, highlighting the urgent need to address global warming
  2. The conflict in Palestine is exacerbating environmental issues, with the region facing challenges like water scarcity and desertification due to climate change
  3. Addressing conflicts like the one in Palestine is crucial to redirecting attention towards combating climate change and preserving a livable planet for all

'Unabated'

The Crucial Years • 1395 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Carbon Capture
  1. UN Secretary General emphasizes the need to phase out fossil fuels completely to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees
  2. Using carbon capture to 'abate' emissions from fossil fuels is not effective and just a way for the industry to continue business as usual
  3. The focus of climate negotiations should be on stopping the flow of greenhouse gases by transitioning to renewable energy sources

Some data and thoughts on the complementarity between wind and solar

GEM Energy Analytics • 419 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Policy Sustainability Geography Climate change
  1. The combination of wind and solar power works better in different places. For example, Germany benefits more from wind, while southern countries like Greece get more from solar energy because of their climate.
  2. Wind and solar energy do not produce electricity at the same rate all the time. There are many hours when either one is low, so we need good storage solutions like batteries to keep the lights on.
  3. Geographical differences matter a lot in how we can balance renewable energy. Countries with rivers can store energy easily, but places like Germany and France have a hard time sharing power because their wind and solar outputs are similar.

Let the sunshine in

Klement on Investing • 2 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Agriculture Electricity Land use Environmental Policy
  1. Solar farms in New York State have helped increase farmland prices by 18% from 2015 to 2021. This shows that renewable energy can positively affect local economies.
  2. Farmland close to electric substations saw the most price increases. Locations far from the grid didn't benefit as much, making it more challenging for solar developers.
  3. Higher local electricity prices led to even greater appreciation in land values. Proper planning for renewable energy can improve lives and reduce electricity costs.

Sounding the Climate Change Alarm: Lessons from Carl Sagan

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 29 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Climate Science Environmental Policy Sustainability Ecology
  1. Carl Sagan connected the extreme climate of Venus to warnings about Earth's future. He showed us that understanding other planets can help us prevent our world from facing similar climate issues.
  2. Sagan proposed four key actions to tackle climate change: using fossil fuels more efficiently, developing alternative energy, reforestation, and helping the world's poorest. These ideas are still very important today.
  3. Despite Sagan's warnings and advancements in some areas, we are facing more climate challenges now. It's crucial that we change our thinking and take long-term actions for the planet's future.

The Big Heat

Diane Francis • 1019 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Human Impact
  1. Recent extreme heat and smoke in places like New York can be partly blamed on a huge volcanic eruption in Tonga. It's important to know that natural events, like volcanoes, can impact the Earth's temperature just as much as human activities.
  2. Despite alarming headlines about wildfires and their link to climate change, the actual area burned by wildfires has been decreasing over the years. Most wildfires are caused by human actions, not climate change, and better land management could help more than strict climate policies.
  3. Global warming is a significant issue, but much of it is influenced by natural events. While we need to address our consumption and behavior, some environmental changes are beyond our control and have always occurred throughout history.

Spills, Pipes, Deforestation’s Rhyme: Rainforests Carbon Crime

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Deforestation Oil Spills Carbon Emissions Biodiversity Environmental Policy
  1. Oil spills are a big problem in rainforests like the Amazon and Niger Delta, damaging the environment and hurting local wildlife.
  2. These rainforests help absorb carbon dioxide, which is important for fighting climate change, but oil extraction is making this harder.
  3. Without cutting back on oil drilling and protecting these forests, we risk releasing a lot of carbon back into the atmosphere, making climate change even worse.

The Tethers of the Tide

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 379 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Water Historical context
  1. Tides affect various aspects of life in Seattle, like ferry schedules and historical horse racing. The Meadows racetrack, for example, benefited from the speed changes brought by tidal flows.
  2. During World War II, Boeing planes might have been impacted by tidal movements affecting the plant's floor, leading to manufacturing inconsistencies. Although this story is plausible, there isn't much official evidence to confirm it.
  3. Buildings in Seattle face challenges with both too little and too much water due to tides. Some buildings have rotting support pilings from low tide exposure, while others struggle with flooding from high tides and storm runoff.

Thermodynamics of air capture of carbon dioxide

The Climate Brink • 864 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Thermodynamics Carbon Capture Global Warming Energy consumption Climate solutions
  1. Thermodynamics helps us understand the energetics of processes and evaluates their effectiveness.
  2. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology can play a significant role in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels beyond traditional emissions reduction methods.
  3. Implementing DAC technology requires a massive amount of energy, emphasizing the importance of finding climate-safe energy sources.

Energy from Heaven

The Crucial Years • 1454 implied HN points • 18 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Global Warming Climate action Environmental Impact
  1. We have the potential to power our world with renewable energy like solar and wind, which are not only abundant but also provide a cost-effective solution.
  2. The rapid growth of solar and wind power is crucial to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions globally.
  3. Transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar can have significant environmental benefits, such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions and preserving natural habitats.

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.

Rhapsody in Ruin: Climate Change's Devastating Impacts on Animal Habitats

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Biodiversity Conservation Environmental Impact
  1. Frog habitats are drying up due to climate change, with many facing drought conditions that could make them unlivable by the end of the century.
  2. Elephants are struggling with rising temperatures and food shortages, forcing them to travel far for water and forage, which can lead to conflicts with humans.
  3. Koala populations are declining as their habitats experience extreme heat and bushfires, putting them at risk of losing large areas of their home by 2070.

On Greenland's Ice Loss and Making the Planet Great Again

The Planet • 452 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Global Risks Environmental Science
  1. Greenland's ice loss is 20% higher than previously estimated, with one trillion metric tons of ice lost since 1992.
  2. Melting ice sheets in Greenland can affect global ocean currents like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.
  3. Defamation lawsuits against climate skeptics are important to protect scientists and ensure factual climate change discussions.

How the European Union passed a brave new law to protect our planet's forests, only to realise that it is a logistical and bureaucratic nightmare that nobody wants

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 158 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy Legislation Bureaucracy Sustainability Trade Relations
  1. The EU passed a new law to protect forests, but many people now think it's too complicated and doesn't really help anyone.
  2. The law could hurt trade relationships, especially with countries in South America, affecting a lot of local economies.
  3. Even the lawmakers who supported this regulation are now realizing it may be unworkable and possibly damaging to their own industries.

A few seconds of video

The Crucial Years • 1574 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Environmental Policy Biodiversity Conservation
  1. The video illustrates the impact of climate change through unprecedented floods in Greece.
  2. The urgency to take action against climate change is emphasized, as we witness extreme weather events becoming more common.
  3. Global efforts to meet climate targets, such as the Paris Agreement, are falling short and require more substantial commitments.

Expanding liquefied natural gas: A bad, short-sighted strategy

The Climate Brink • 412 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Renewable Energy Energy security Fossil fuels
  1. Expanding LNG infrastructure may reduce emissions short-term by displacing coal, but it locks in higher emissions in the long run.
  2. U.S. consumers now pay global prices for natural gas due to increased LNG exports, exposing them to international price fluctuations.
  3. Exporting LNG compromises U.S. energy security, as global pricing allows foreign powers to influence prices and threaten economic stability.

Overestimating Climate Change Damages

Something to Consider • 79 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Policy Analysis Economic Impact
  1. Estimating climate change damages is tricky. It's important to look at unexpected temperature changes instead of just the overall rise in temperatures over time.
  2. People adapt better in the long run than we might think. While weather shocks can hurt people immediately, they learn and adjust to new conditions over time.
  3. The costs of climate change are serious but not as high as some estimates suggest. Humanity has a good capacity for adaptation, which should be considered when assessing potential damages.