The hottest Climate & Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Climate & Environment Topics

The Fight for Clean Water in the Land of CAFOs

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 895 implied HN points • 26 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment
  1. CAFOs in Missouri have caused water and air pollution due to lack of regulations since 2019
  2. Corporate agriculture practices harm rural communities by displacing small farmers and increasing corporate control
  3. Decay in rural areas is interconnected, linked to corporate takeover of farming, decline in water and air quality, and community disinvestment

Causal Effects

Doomberg • 7407 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy transition
  1. The article discusses the rising trend of power outages in the US due to extreme weather and how it affects different socio-economic groups.
  2. It questions the narrative that blames climate change solely for power grid instability, highlighting the role of policy decisions like investing in intermittent energy sources.
  3. The text also critiques the German approach to energy policy, emphasizing the potential consequences of their shift towards renewable energy sources.

The Kabul Water Crisis Edition

Why is this interesting? • 422 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Water Crisis Urbanization Geopolitics Infrastructure Environmental Impact
  1. Kabul is facing a severe water crisis that threatens the city's future, with groundwater levels dropping drastically. If nothing changes, the city could run out of water by 2030, affecting millions of residents.
  2. The issue in Kabul is linked to rapid urban growth, poor political management, and neglected infrastructure. This situation mirrors other cities globally, highlighting a common problem with over-extraction of underground water sources.
  3. Once cities use too much groundwater and their infrastructure deteriorates, fixing the problem becomes very difficult. It takes a long time to recharge aquifers and repair the damage, making prevention crucial.

A win of sorts on something really important

The Crucial Years • 1743 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental Impact Energy transition Regulatory Affairs Activism
  1. The Biden administration paused permits for new LNG export terminals, which could help reduce environmental damage. This decision is significant because increased LNG exports would greatly impact climate change.
  2. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is now requiring more environmental reviews for these projects, which is a positive step for local communities affected by pollution. This could slow down the construction of new terminals, giving more time for analysis and opposition.
  3. There is growing evidence that exporting natural gas is just as harmful to the climate as exporting coal. People should understand the environmental and economic risks of increasing LNG exports, as it could lead to higher energy prices for American consumers.
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Stuck in the Middle With You

Doomberg • 6650 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Electric Vehicles
  1. Norway has a successful energy policy with a focus on clean electricity and oil reserve management.
  2. Norway's oil consumption defies expectations despite high renewable energy usage and electric vehicle sales.
  3. The International Energy Agency predicts a peak in global oil demand within six years, emphasizing the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

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.

Children born in 2100 may never see animals such as penguins

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Wildlife Extinction Conservation Deforestation Climate change
  1. If current trends continue, many iconic animals — like emperor penguins, African savannah elephants, and a large share of land species — could vanish from their native ranges by 2100, so children born then might never see them in the wild.
  2. The main drivers are climate change (shrinking sea ice and rising temperatures) together with massive habitat loss from deforestation and human pressures, plus threats like poaching that are already causing steep regional declines.
  3. Significant cuts in fossil fuel emissions and more sustainable land use could prevent many of these losses and reduce future sea level rise, but failing to act will make habitat loss and extinctions far more likely.

Three small Christmas presents

The Crucial Years • 1604 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy Sustainable energy Climate justice Climate Science
  1. Some big oil companies are planning to build new gas plants to power energy-hungry data centers for AI. But experts suggest that solar farms next to these centers would be a quicker and cleaner solution.
  2. A recent ruling in Montana gave children a constitutional right to a clean environment, aiming to protect their future from climate change. This could inspire similar lawsuits in other states.
  3. In Germany, many people are installing solar panels on their balconies, leading to significant savings on electricity bills. This trend is spreading to Spain and could be a game-changer for apartment living.

Climate Journalism Done Right

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1933 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Risk management Media Analysis
  1. Billion-dollar disasters, like hurricanes, are becoming more common, but this may be more about increasing populations and property in storm-prone areas than just climate change.
  2. The data used by NOAA to track these disasters was not originally intended to prove or analyze the impact of climate change, which raises questions about its relevance to climate policy.
  3. Experts agree that while climate change is real, the way we categorize and understand disaster costs is heavily influenced by societal growth and the increasing value of assets in risky areas.

Wheels Up

Doomberg • 6819 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Carbon Emissions Electric Vehicles
  1. Tires are complex products involving multiple components like rubber, steel, and nylon, crucial for driving performance and safety.
  2. End-of-life tires present a significant pollution issue due to difficulty in recycling and burning, leading to emissions of pollutants like zinc.
  3. Government policies can redefine sustainability, such as classifying spent tires as 'biomass,' raising concerns about environmental impact and green energy definitions.

Shrinking the Tent

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1697 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Environmental Policy Activism Energy Pragmatism
  1. Some climate activists are creating echo chambers on social media, blocking people they disagree with. This limits discussion about different views on climate issues.
  2. There is a growing concern that climate activism is becoming too exclusive and not practical enough to be effective in real-world situations.
  3. A focus on strict ideological purity is hurting the climate movement, making it harder to bring in new supporters and make meaningful progress.

We could return three continents of land to the wild

The Novelleist • 434 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Biodiversity Conservation Sustainability Agriculture Urban Design
  1. We could bring back a lot of land to nature by changing how we farm. This could help wildlife thrive again and create better ecosystems.
  2. Human activity has caused massive biodiversity loss, but small changes in our diets and energy sources could fix a lot of this damage.
  3. Creating gardens for insects and supporting nature in our own spaces can make a big difference. It helps both wildlife and ourselves feel happier and healthier.

Top LInks 787 Corporate GHG emissions. History's biggest trade surpluses. China's low-altitude economy & global femicide.

Chartbook • 543 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Sustainability Corporate Responsibility Global Issues
  1. Corporate greenhouse gas emissions are mainly concentrated in industrial areas of Asia, highlighting a significant environmental issue.
  2. The trade surpluses recorded recently are some of the largest in history, reflecting changes in global trade dynamics.
  3. There are serious concerns about China's low-altitude economy and its link to global femicide, indicating challenges in social and economic policies.

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.

Sunday Strip: I Don’t Hate Snow...

Who is Robert Malone • 29 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Weather Agriculture Livestock Animal Welfare Rural Life
  1. Snow that freezes over becomes hard, icy "snowcrete" that makes surfaces dangerously slippery.
  2. Farm animals, especially horses, face high injury risk on the ice, so caretakers must be extra careful managing livestock.
  3. A warm-up to about 40°F is expected after a stretch of days below 25°F, and melting should ease the treacherous conditions.

The Halite Paradox: The 2026 North American Road Salt Stockout and the Fragility of Just-in-Time Infrastructure

Gad’s Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Infrastructure Supply Chains Climate Risk
  1. Decades of stagnant domestic production, heavy reliance on imported "swing" supplies, and just-in-time, low-bid municipal procurement created a brittle salt supply chain that predictably fails in severe winters.
  2. Salt has a hard thermal limit—below about 15°F it becomes far less effective, so crews often burned through limited stocks during deep freezes, and alternatives like beet‑brine mixes or sand are costly or only partial substitutes.
  3. Widespread road‑salt use creates a long-term environmental and infrastructure debt because chloride persists in groundwater and accelerates corrosion, imposing large future cleanup and repair costs that current procurement ignores.

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

Um, I think we all just won

The Crucial Years • 3816 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy Fossil fuels Climate Impacts Renewable Energy Activism
  1. Biden's decision to halt the biggest fossil fuel expansion on earth is a major win in standing up to the fossil fuel industry.
  2. Exporting natural gas can raise prices for American consumers, and Biden's stance could help in reducing inflation.
  3. The decision is seen as both brave and strategic, aiming to gain support from young climate-conscious voters and addressing concerns about future impacts on greenhouse gas emissions.

From Ice-Age Mammoths to Serengeti Wildebeest: The Cost of Human Intrusion

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Biodiversity Habitat Loss Land use Human Impact
  1. Human expansion and exploitation have repeatedly broken huge animal migrations and driven species to extinction.
  2. The Serengeti-Mara migration is now shrinking because of farming, fences, rising human populations, and luxury tourism, causing major habitat loss and steep wildlife declines.
  3. Protecting migrations will require concrete actions like limiting high-impact developments, banning fences and dams, and cracking down on poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

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.

It's Okay If You're Never Ready for The Collapse of Civilization

OK Doomer • 476 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Prepping Survival Community Homesteading Disasters
  1. It's normal to feel unprepared for big disasters. Many people only start thinking about being ready when crises hit hard.
  2. You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. It’s okay if your attempts at prepping don’t work out as planned.
  3. Building a strong community can be tough and may not always meet your needs. It’s fine to take time for yourself when you're trying to find your footing.

The Brazilian Model Who Wants America to Go Nuclear

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 357 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Nuclear Energy Sustainability Influencers Youth activism
  1. Isabelle Boemeke, a Brazilian model, used to feel very anxious about the environment. Now, she focuses on promoting nuclear energy as a solution.
  2. Many young people, like Ella Emhoff, experience climate anxiety and find it overwhelming. They are looking for ways to cope and respond to these feelings.
  3. Boemeke wants to change the conversation around nuclear energy to help reduce eco-anxiety and encourage younger generations to embrace it.

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.

An Illustrated Guide to Rain Harvesting

OK Doomer • 106 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability Water Management Community Building Disaster Preparedness
  1. Rain harvesting can be done without special structures. You can adapt existing items like sheds for collecting rain.
  2. It's important to get feedback during projects. This helps improve the work and shares useful knowledge with others.
  3. Future topics will include bugout bags to help people prepare for emergencies. Different sizes and packing tips will be covered.

The Most Hopeful Chart in the World

Material World • 1400 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy transition Renewable Energy Environmental Policy Technological Impact
  1. Solar energy is growing rapidly, despite predictions that it would plateau. This shows that technology can indeed provide solutions to energy challenges.
  2. On the flip side, coal consumption in China is still increasing, contradicting expectations that it would decline. This highlights a serious issue in the global energy transition.
  3. The production of solar panels and batteries relies heavily on coal, which makes the transition to greener energy more complex than it appears. We need to be aware of how these products are made and the hidden costs involved.

Why we need seven bins

Odds and Ends of History • 1407 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Waste Management Environmental Economics Sustainable Practices
  1. Having more bins for waste helps us recycle better. It's easier to separate recyclables from trash when we do it ourselves, which saves money for local councils.
  2. The cost of waste disposal affects what gets recycled. It's cheaper to recycle valuable materials but some items are harder to process, making their disposal costly.
  3. Not everyone has the same ability to recycle, often due to income or living situation. Building better systems and increasing bins alone won't solve the recycling problem—we also need to support everyone in participating.

Climate superpowers

The Crucial Years • 1036 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Activism Environmental justice Sustainability Policy
  1. One way to inspire others for climate action is through music. Antonique Smith's new version of 'Love Song to the Earth' aims to unite people and inspire hope.
  2. Jessie Diggins uses her platform as a champion skier to advocate for climate change awareness. She believes athletes can lead conversations about protecting the planet.
  3. Connecting climate change to everyday lives is crucial. People need to understand how pollution affects their health and environment, especially in communities of color.

No, Kerosene did NOT save the Sperm Whale

Material World • 1323 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Conservation Ecology Wildlife Sustainability Natural resources
  1. Sperm whales have unique features, like the biggest heads and brains among large animals. They are incredible divers and eat mysterious creatures from the ocean's depths.
  2. Whale oil was popular because it made great lantern fuel and was used in various industries. Even after kerosene was discovered, the hunting of sperm whales actually increased due to new uses for their oil.
  3. Whale populations only recovered significantly after international bans on whaling and the development of synthetic substitutes for whale oil. It shows that technology and regulations are important for conservation.

The Democrats finally come clean on gas

The Crucial Years • 1315 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Energy Production Environmental justice Fossil fuels Renewable Energy
  1. The Democrats have finally acknowledged the negative impacts of natural gas and its exports on climate change. This honesty is an important step for addressing environmental issues moving forward.
  2. Past policies favored natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal, but high methane leak rates from fracking have shown that it's not a perfect solution for the climate crisis.
  3. The shifting energy landscape is pushing for a focus on renewable sources like wind and solar, instead of relying on natural gas exports, which could harm national and global climate efforts.

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.

The Wildfire Prep Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1146 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Air Quality Urban planning
  1. Being prepared for wildfires in LA is very important. Make sure to have a go-bag ready with essential items like masks, goggles, and fire-resistant clothing.
  2. Plan multiple escape routes from your home, as traffic can get very bad during evacuations. Knowing alternate paths can help you get out more easily.
  3. Keep your home and car ready for quick evacuations. This means keeping your gas tank full and clearing any flammable vegetation around your home.