The hottest Carbon Emissions Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

NEW PAPER: All Excess Emissions must be Removed

Marginal Carbon • 138 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Countries with a history of high carbon emissions have run out of their fair share of carbon budget. They keep adding to their carbon debt with every new emission.
  2. To keep temperatures safe, all emissions beyond what's allowed must be removed. This means we need to deal with past, present, and future excess emissions.
  3. While cutting emissions is the main goal, some emissions are better dealt with using carbon removal strategies, called 'CDR-optimal' emissions.

An Eerie Light

The Crucial Years • 3457 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

What happened to global carbon emissions this year?

Sustainability by numbers • 563 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  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.

AI Datacenter Energy Dilemma - Race for AI Datacenter Space

SemiAnalysis • 8990 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Carbon Emissions
  1. The demand for AI clusters is stressing datacenter capacity and posing challenges for power supply, especially for training with GPUs needing high-speed networking.
  2. The accurate forecast of datacenter power demand associated with the growth in AI infrastructure is essential to plan for necessary infrastructure enhancements and power supply improvements.
  3. Factors like electricity costs, stability of energy supply, and carbon emissions will determine which countries can emerge as leaders in supporting the energy-intensive AI datacenter boom.
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Twenty Years Later, 'An Inconvenient Truth' Has Been Thoroughly Debunked

Unmasked • 67 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Many of the film's high‑profile climate predictions have not come true over the past twenty years, and critics argue those specific claims have been debunked.
  2. The film played a major role in pushing aggressive climate policies like net‑zero targets and electric vehicle mandates, which some now question given the disputed predictions.
  3. The situation highlights that experts and public figures can be overconfident or mistaken, with examples like the Kilimanjaro snow prediction and disputed CO2 measurement claims cited as evidence.

Oceans of Change: Breaching the Sixth Planetary Boundary

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Ocean acidification has now passed a safe planetary limit, making large parts of the ocean corrosive to shells and threatening shellfish, plankton, corals, and other calcifying life.
  2. Rising acidification weakens the ocean’s ability to absorb CO2, drives harmful shifts in species and coastal ecosystems, and raises the risk of triggering other environmental tipping points.
  3. Preventing worse damage means urgent global action to cut CO2 emissions, protect and restore mangroves, seagrass, and salt marshes, and expand research, monitoring, and international cooperation.

Got Milk?

Doomberg • 6819 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Energy efficiency advances often lead to increased demand for resources.
  2. The Jevons Paradox states that improved energy efficiency may not reduce carbon emissions as expected.
  3. Efforts to restrict energy consumption in one area may simply shift consumption to another location.

Wheels Up

Doomberg • 6819 implied HN points • 15 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  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.

The Price of Progress: How Economic Interests Are Destroying the Planet

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Economic interests are leading to the destruction of important ecosystems like rainforests and wetlands. This is troubling because these places help clean our air and support many species.
  2. Many governments prioritize short-term profits over environmental protection, resulting in harmful projects that threaten biodiversity. This could lead to serious consequences for our planet's health.
  3. Robust environmental laws and smarter decisions are needed to protect these special areas. Without these, activities that harm the environment will continue to increase.

Near-Term Climate News and Other Tall Tales

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 55 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Global warming is accelerating now, with a projection of about +1.7°C global temperature in 2027 and an observed rate near 0.31°C per decade. This pace, if it continues, means steady and rapid temperature increases over the coming decades.
  2. If today’s warming and CO2 trends hold, mid‑century and later decades could see temperatures well above 2°C and atmospheric CO2 possibly topping ~500 ppm by 2050, which would be dangerous for future generations. These changes will reshape lives within the lifetimes of people alive today.
  3. AI-generated fakery is becoming startlingly realistic, with faces and gestures that look human; this trend raises serious concerns about misinformation, cultural erosion, and how we’ll remember the past.

It seems like the next big fight

The Crucial Years • 1375 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The fossil fuel industry is pushing to export large amounts of fossil gas to preserve their profits, even though renewable energy sources are cheaper and cleaner.
  2. The rapid expansion of LNG export terminals could cause American greenhouse gas emissions to remain stagnant since 2005, impacting global warming.
  3. It is crucial to stop the continued expansion of LNG build-out to accelerate the transition to clean and renewable energy sources worldwide.

70% Renewable Energy By 2035? Physics Vs. Politics

Japan Economy Watch • 219 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Achieving 70% renewable energy in Japan by 2035 is technically and economically feasible.
  2. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has a more pessimistic view on renewable energy due to geographical and physical challenges, suggesting the need for more modest goals and continued reliance on nuclear and fossil fuels.
  3. Regulations, business practices, and government policies are the main hurdles to faster adoption of renewable energy in Japan, not geographical limitations or costs.

Good trouble on the Bad River

The Crucial Years • 757 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The documentary 'Bad River' tells the story of an indigenous community fighting an oil company, highlighting the universal struggle for land rights and environmental protection.
  2. The legal and political battle between the Bad River band and Enbridge over Line 5 demonstrates the importance of building broad coalitions to address both environmental and climate crises.
  3. The documentary emphasizes the need for alliances and friendships to form to create successful movements, showcasing the power of collaboration in environmental activism.

Where to put solar for maximal emissions reduction?

GEM Energy Analytics • 199 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Solar panels help reduce carbon emissions, but the best place to put them matters a lot. Areas that rely heavily on coal or gas for power see bigger benefits when switching to solar.
  2. The amount of energy a solar panel can produce depends on where it is installed. For example, sunnier places generate more energy, meaning they can offset more emissions.
  3. The environmental impact also varies based on how solar panels are made and installed. In some cases, it can take just a few months to offset emissions, while in others, it might take many years.

Tracking the invisible from space: greenhouse gases

Space Ambition • 279 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane cause climate change. Satellites can help us see how much of these gases are in the air and where they come from.
  2. Satellites give us a big picture of greenhouse gas levels globally, even in hard-to-reach places. This information is important for climate research and making smart policies.
  3. Companies are starting to use satellite data to track their emissions because it's now a big deal for investors and consumers. This means there’s a push for better tracking and reducing greenhouse gases.

Degrowth Movement Would Abort Renewables Revolution

Japan Economy Watch • 259 implied HN points • 28 Sep 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Renewable energy provides a big opportunity due to its cost advantage over traditional fuels, allowing poorer countries to leapfrog over coal and oil.
  2. As countries get richer, they emit less CO2, as seen in the correlation between GDP increase and carbon emissions decrease.
  3. Technological progress, driven by growth, leads to declining emissions per GDP, per person, and eventually in total, with services being less carbon-intensive than manufacturing.

Weather Permitting

The Crucial Years • 647 implied HN points • 08 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Permitting reform is crucial for building renewable energy efficiently and quickly.
  2. Reforming housing zoning laws can help address high home prices and rents.
  3. When advocating for permitting reform, consider implementing a climate test, fairness test, and promoting public ownership of energy projects.

The cost of wind, the price of wind, the value of wind

Jérôme à Paris • 510 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Cost, price, and value of wind power are different concepts in the energy market, with costs being related to production, prices driven by market forces, and value including externalities like pollution and carbon emissions.
  2. Wind power has fixed costs, zero marginal cost, and can lower electricity prices for consumers, making it an attractive option compared to fossil fuel-based generation.
  3. Externalities like intermittency, carbon emissions, and security of supply contribute to the overall value proposition of wind power, impacting its role in the system and the pricing mechanisms in place.

Japan Unlikely To Meet 2030 Goal For Emissions Reduction

Japan Economy Watch • 219 implied HN points • 04 Oct 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 requires strong government measures, as economic growth and renewable energy price reduction alone are insufficient.
  2. Decarbonizing energy is crucial but challenging, especially for richer countries as their per capita energy consumption increases.
  3. Japan faces hurdles in meeting emission reduction goals by 2030, like relying on coal and natural gas due to nuclear power challenges, and not fully maximizing opportunities in renewable energy and decarbonization sectors.

Carbon Sinks Are Failing

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 150 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Carbon sinks, like forests and oceans, are not absorbing as much CO2 as they used to. This could lead to faster global warming.
  2. Recent research shows that land carbon absorption was almost zero last year, raising concerns that current climate models are not accounting for this collapse.
  3. We need to be aware and prepared for potential warming beyond the predicted timelines, as natural processes that help regulate climate are breaking down.

EVs are taking us for a ride

WeBeGreen • 79 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a solution to climate change, but their production has a significant environmental impact, especially due to lithium battery production.
  2. Transportation emissions, particularly from cars, are a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives.
  3. There is a pressing need to think beyond traditional car-centric urban planning and explore innovative solutions for more sustainable and eco-friendly transportation.

Just how Green is this low carbon concrete?

ESG Hound • 461 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Low-carbon concrete can have significantly lower GHG emissions compared to traditional concrete production.
  2. CarbonBuilt's technology involves using industrial materials and CO2 to reduce emissions and store carbon in solid form.
  3. It is important to consider the entire supply chain and potential environmental impacts when assessing the sustainability of green products.

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

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  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.

Name the Damn Perp

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 110 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. When talking about climate change, it is important to identify who is really responsible for the problem. Blaming 'humanity' takes the focus away from those in power.
  2. The climate crisis is driven by wealthy individuals and corporations who make choices that harm the environment. They are the ones who have the power to change things.
  3. To inspire real action on climate change, the conversation should target the rich and powerful, because they are the ones who can actually make a difference.

Water withdrawal, depletion, demand: the World's Wells are in Trouble

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Groundwater depletion is a global issue affecting multiple countries from the United States to India and Africa.
  2. Millions of wells are at risk of running dry due to excessive water withdrawal for agriculture and industry.
  3. Increased demand for water and deforestation are exacerbating climate change by accelerating carbon emissions and global temperatures.

Oxfam names perp, Olympic-level surveillance, Boots on the ground...where?

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 40 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The super-rich have a huge negative impact on the environment through their private jets and yachts. They emit more carbon in a short time than average people do in their whole lives.
  2. Oxfam's report shows that climate change hits the poorest the hardest, even though they contribute the least to the problem. It's unfair that those who do the least suffer the most.
  3. There is potential for governments to collect significant funds from wealth taxes on billionaires and corporations, which could help finance climate efforts. This suggests that the very wealthy need to be held accountable for their emissions.

Interview with Prof. William Happer – Climate Scare Is Based on Lies

Who is Robert Malone • 16 implied HN points • 27 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Prof. Happer believes that the idea of a climate crisis is based on false information and exaggeration about carbon dioxide's impact. He argues that the Earth's climate naturally changes and human influence shouldn't be overstated.
  2. He points out that the push for climate alarmism began in the 1990s, led by politicians who were rallying for stricter climate policies. He thinks that many scientists have adjusted their views to fit political agendas over time.
  3. Happer emphasizes that it's important to understand the role of carbon dioxide and the implications of climate policies, suggesting they can have significant economic costs. He believes discussions around climate change should be based on solid evidence and facts.

Is buying British clothes enough?

The ZIPster • 44 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. Buying British clothes can be a step towards sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in the fashion industry.
  2. To truly make a difference, consider reducing the amount of new clothes bought and shop second-hand more often.
  3. Supporting ethical and sustainable clothing brands, whether British or not, can have a positive impact on the environment.

Did the Energy Crisis Accelerate The Energy Transition?

Apricitas Economics • 37 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The global economy heavily relies on fossil fuels despite efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.
  2. Efficiency gains and investment due to the recent energy crisis accelerated the growth of wind and solar energy.
  3. Different countries responded to the crisis in diverse ways, with some increasing reliance on coal, hindering the energy transition.

December 31, 2021

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 31 Dec 21
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The author reflects on the interconnectedness of all life and the need to focus on what truly matters, beyond material possessions and capitalist nightmares.
  2. The author discusses the impact of personal actions on the environment, highlighting the importance of making conscious decisions to reduce one's carbon footprint.
  3. The author advocates for a shift in societal norms and governmental regulations to address climate change, emphasizing the urgency of collective action and sacrifices to prevent further environmental degradation.

Visualizing CO₂

Climateer • 6 HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Emissions
  1. The amount of extra CO2 in the atmosphere, compared to the start of the Industrial Revolution, could form a layer of dry ice about 1.35 millimeters thick.
  2. By translating CO2 emissions into tangible objects, like trees or Twinkies, we can grasp the scale of the climate change problem.
  3. Industrial activity is a significant contributor to the CO2 issue, and understanding the scale of emissions per person can help in finding solutions.