The Climate Historian

The Climate Historian covers the intersection of science, politics, and the human impact on climate change. Recurring themes include political interference in climate science, the consequences of climate change on global and local scales, historical environmental events, and the importance of proactive climate policies and public awareness.

Climate Science Political Influence Environmental History Global Warming Effects Climate Policy Public Awareness Historical Events Resource Management Social Impact Technological Advances

The hottest Substack posts of The Climate Historian

And their main takeaways

John Tyndall: The Blue Sky and the Radiant Heat of Gases

0 implied HN points • 31 Mar 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Science Environmental Studies
  1. John Tyndall studied the Alps and became passionate about them, using his scientific knowledge to understand glaciers and mountain climate. His explorations helped open the era of Alpine climbing and tourism.
  2. Tyndall discovered why the sky looks blue by experimenting with light. He found that sunlight scatters more when it hits air particles, especially scattering blue light more than other colors.
  3. He also studied greenhouse gases and how they trap heat, which is important for keeping Earth warm. His work laid the groundwork for understanding climate change and the greenhouse effect.

Jean-Batiste Joseph Fourier: The Analytical Theory of Heat

0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 22
🔬 Science Mathematics Physics Climate History Theory
  1. Joseph Fourier greatly impacted how scientists understand heat transfer and functions. His work introduced new equations that describe how heat moves through solids.
  2. Fourier was not just a mathematician; he was also deeply involved in the political scene during the French Revolution, even ending up in prison for his beliefs.
  3. In his studies, Fourier explained how the Earth gets its heat from the sun, stars, and its own core. He was one of the first to bring attention to the concept of the greenhouse effect.

July 2024 Becomes Second-Hottest Month on Record, Narrowly Missing Top Spot

0 implied HN points • 08 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Global Warming Environmental Policy
  1. July 2024 was the second hottest month ever recorded, just a tiny bit cooler than July 2023. This means our planet is still getting warmer.
  2. Global temperatures are about 1.48°C higher than pre-industrial levels, showing clear signs of climate change. These changes will keep happening unless we reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. Temperature changes were felt everywhere, with Europe experiencing a notably hot month, while some areas like Antarctica and parts of the U.S. saw cooler temperatures.

Breaking Barriers: Kamala Harris Steps into the Spotlight

0 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Elections Climate Policy Reproductive Rights Political strategy
  1. Kamala Harris is now the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination after Joe Biden decided not to run for re-election. This gives her a strong chance to represent the party in the upcoming election.
  2. Harris has been a strong advocate for abortion rights and climate change, which are key issues for many voters. Her focus on these topics could resonate well with the public during her campaign.
  3. Despite facing challenges due to her race and gender, Harris has the potential to rally support, especially from younger voters and the Black community. Her recent poll surge shows she could be a strong opponent against Donald Trump.
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Headlines from a Warming World No 14

0 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Global Warming Environmental Policy Sustainability Natural Disasters
  1. 2023 was the hottest year recorded, with significant temperature increases above pre-industrial levels. This is a worrying trend for climate change and its effects on the planet.
  2. Central Brazil is experiencing an unprecedented drought, severely impacting agriculture and water supplies. This situation highlights the challenges many regions face due to climate change.
  3. A landmark lawsuit in South Korea challenges the government's climate policies, representing a broader concern about climate action in East Asia. The outcome could influence future legal actions about climate responsibility in the region.

Facing the Future: The Staggering Economic Toll of Climate Change

0 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Economics Inequality Global Warming Environmental Policy
  1. Climate change will likely cause a huge drop in global income, around 19% in the next 25 years. That's a lot of money we're talking about, around $38 trillion each year by 2049.
  2. Developing countries will suffer the most from climate change, facing income losses that could be 61% worse than those in richer nations. It's unfair that those who did the least to cause the problem will feel the biggest impact.
  3. We need to act fast and cut down on carbon emissions. The costs of not doing anything will be higher than what we need to spend to prevent warming.

A Bell for the Fish

0 implied HN points • 30 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Ecosystem Conservation Community Innovation Sustainability
  1. Utrecht faces challenges with fish migration during spring flooding. They needed to keep the city safe while also helping fish reach breeding sites.
  2. To solve this, Utrecht installed a live video feed of the river with a button. People can press the button when they see fish, which helps to open the barriers for them.
  3. This project gets the community involved in protecting the local ecosystem, making it a fun and interactive way to support the fish migrating upstream.

The Dark Side of the Fashion Industry

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Sustainability Labor Rights Consumerism Environmental Impact
  1. Fast fashion creates a lot of waste and pollution. It produces billions of clothing items each year, with most ending up in landfills or polluting the ocean.
  2. The fashion industry uses a huge amount of water and chemicals, harming both people and ecosystems. Growing cotton and dyeing fabrics often uses toxic materials that contaminate water sources.
  3. Many workers in the fast fashion industry face exploitation, including low pay and unsafe working conditions. The industry often relies on the labor of vulnerable populations, leading to serious human rights violations.

(Almost) Everything You Need to Know About the COP28 Climate Meeting

0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy International Agreements Sustainability Environmental History Climate Science
  1. COP meetings are important for global climate action. They started in the 1990s and have aimed to create agreements to tackle climate change together.
  2. The 2015 Paris Agreement was a key milestone but many believe the goals set by countries are still not strong enough to combat rising temperatures.
  3. As COP28 approaches, there are concerns about the influence of fossil fuel interests on climate policies, which could hinder real action against climate change.