The hottest Environmental Impact Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Exxon knew

Science Forever • 79 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Impact
  1. ExxonMobil knew about climate change but misled the public, a paper details the corporate deceit.
  2. The paper has gained widespread attention and coverage from various news outlets like the New York Times and The Guardian.
  3. ExxonMobil's models accurately predicted future temperature rise, but they hid this information from the public.

Empty Promises of Circularity

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Repair Environmental Impact Corporate Power E-Waste
  1. Overconsumption is pushing Earth Overshoot Day earlier each year, highlighting the urgency to change consumption habits.
  2. Repairing tools like bicycles promotes self-reliance and community, resisting corporate control over repair and parts.
  3. The push towards a circular economy needs careful consideration; ending ownership doesn't automatically address corporate power, and repairability is key to combating 'enshittification'.

ESG is Destroying Formula 1

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 39 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Environmental Impact
  1. Incorporating woke ideology into high-precision industries like Formula 1 can risk diminishing performance and value.
  2. Formula 1 is facing challenges with ESG initiatives that could impact its commercial viability, like reducing track action affecting spectator interest.
  3. The clash between the excellence of Formula 1 and the ideological interference of ESG initiatives poses a significant threat to the sport's future.

Is buying British clothes enough?

The ZIPster • 44 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Impact 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.
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BatteryGate: EV Edition? Tesla’s Battery Shenanigans Spark Lawsuit...and Bigger Questions

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🕹 Technology EVs Software updates Repairability Environmental Impact Infrastructure
  1. Tesla faces a class action lawsuit over using software updates to alter vehicle performance and battery life.
  2. Repairability of electric vehicles is critical for wider adoption; battery pack lifespan and replacement costs influence total ownership costs.
  3. The shift to EVs won't automatically lead to a carbon-free world; the right to repair EVs is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.

Algae Ink: The best plant-based ink around?

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🪑 Design Sustainability Color Production Environmental Impact Marketing
  1. Algae Ink is now commercially available and offers high-contrast blacks, carbon sequestration, and light-fastness.
  2. The production process of Algae Ink replaces petroleum-derived pigments with plant-based pigments, making it a more sustainable ink option.
  3. Algae Ink has environmental benefits like being carbon-negative, sequestering carbon, and potentially offering recyclability advantages over petroleum-based inks.

The Ring of Power is Corrupt, but the Ring of Crude Oil is even more Corrupt

Adetokunbo Sees • 9 HN points • 02 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Global Warming Environmental Impact
  1. Crude oil spills are causing significant harm to wildlife and the environment in various locations around the world.
  2. Officials in oil-producing countries downplay the impact of oil spills to protect oil production and minimize public outcry.
  3. Activism against oil spills could be a crucial step in holding oil companies accountable and addressing climate change issues.

Displacement, Deforestation: How Sustainable turns Unsustainable in Lithium Production

Adetokunbo Sees • 3 HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate tech Environmental Impact Sustainable Practices
  1. Lithium production can lead to displacement of local communities, deforestation, and environmental degradation.
  2. To make lithium production sustainable, methods that reduce water and energy usage should be implemented, along with new technologies to decrease resource requirements.
  3. The growing demand for lithium, driven by the transition to clean energy, presents opportunities for investment and innovation in climate tech sectors like climate data analytics, satellite imaging, and carbon footprint management.

The Carbon Impact of Large Language Models: AI's Growing Environmental Cost

ScaleDown • 7 implied HN points • 10 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Sustainability Data Centers Machine Learning Environmental Impact
  1. Large language models like GPT-4 and LLaMA 2 have a significant carbon footprint due to massive energy consumption during training.
  2. Factors affecting the carbon footprint of ML models include hardware, training data size, model architecture, training duration, and data center location.
  3. It is essential to balance the benefits of AI models with minimizing their environmental impact, considering their vast energy requirements.

Fight to Repair Weekly: Week of December 5, 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Consumerism Environmental Impact
  1. Climate change is not the main threat to the planet, but rather runaway consumption and production leading to biodiversity loss.
  2. Reducing consumption and focusing on repair can help combat ecological collapse, especially in wealthier nations.
  3. Recent news highlights issues such as cybersecurity flaws in cars, Samsung's new repair app, and legal battles over biometric data collection.

Holy Crap! What goes around comes around

WeBeGreen • 39 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Pollution Waste Management Sustainable Practices Environmental Impact
  1. There is a disconnect between our actions and their consequences, such as the impact of our waste on the environment like water scarcity.
  2. The process of treating wastewater to turn it into drinking water includes multiple steps like screening out contaminants and filtering out microplastics.
  3. Issues like sewage dumping scandals highlight the consequences of pollution on water quality and food sources, emphasizing the need for better regulations and accountability.

Carbon Pawprints and the Rationing of Life

The Corbett Report • 20 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Carbon Footprint Environmental Impact Global Warming
  1. An article comparing carbon footprints of private jets to pet ownership evolved into a serious issue demanding fact-checking.
  2. The narrative of reducing carbon footprints subtly shifts towards considering human life itself as a burden on the environment.
  3. The agenda of carbon eugenics and global depopulation by manipulating perceptions about carbon emissions is already being implemented.

Ford electric vehicle loss forecast highlights big week to come for EV investors

Callaway Climate Insights • 19 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
💰 Finance Electric Vehicles Investing Climate finance Policy Environmental Impact
  1. Ford is forecasted to lose up to $3 billion in its electric vehicle division due to necessary investments.
  2. Investors are anticipating the Treasury's guidance on which electric vehicles will qualify for tax subsidies.
  3. The EV industry is expected to grow significantly, with automakers racing to develop affordable and reliable EVs.

Global is the Real Frontier

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Clean Energy Renewables Emerging Markets Environmental Impact
  1. The business case for clean energy transition in emerging markets is stronger than in developed markets due to lack of centralized infrastructure, making decentralized clean energy solutions more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
  2. Emerging markets offer a lucrative opportunity for the clean energy transition, with renewables capacity projected to surpass the US significantly, demanding substantial investment of over $1 trillion by 2030.
  3. Bridging the gap in digital technology and access to capital in emerging markets can accelerate the leapfrogging of outdated energy infrastructure, creating a ripe field for climate tech companies and digital solutions.

Repair-flation? Apple Continues Cost Increases of Battery Replacements - Week in Repair

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Repair Right-to-repair Environmental Impact
  1. Apple is increasing the costs of battery replacements for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, making it more expensive for users to get their devices fixed.
  2. Apple strategically makes repair difficult and expensive by limiting third-party repairs through software locks and pricey authorized service, pushing users towards upgrading instead of repairing.
  3. In a market where competition is scarce, like smartphones, rising repair costs will likely drive more people to repair by necessity rather than choice, showcasing the need for affordable repair options.

Something Dreadful Happened with the Dreadful Heat this Year. And it can Happen Again and Again

Adetokunbo Sees • 3 HN points • 16 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Sustainability Global Warming Renewable Energy Environmental Impact
  1. This year experienced record-breaking heat waves and deadly floods due to global warming.
  2. The high levels of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels contributed to the extreme weather events.
  3. The future predicts even more severe floods, droughts, and heat waves if current trends continue.

CO2: from trash to treasure?

Year 2049 • 13 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Carbon Capture Renewable Energy Environmental Impact Green Technology
  1. Lab-grown diamonds can be made from captured CO2, transforming waste into valuable products.
  2. Global efforts are being made to reduce CO2 emissions, with innovative solutions like carbon capture and reuse.
  3. Carbon capture technology offers opportunities to create sustainable products in various industries, addressing the challenges of reducing emissions.

Shrinking, Disappearing, and plagued by Dust storms, the World's Lakes are in Danger

Adetokunbo Sees • 1 HN point • 17 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Impact Sustainability Conservation
  1. The shrinking and disappearing lakes around the world are facing danger due to multiple factors like climate change and reduced water levels.
  2. Lakes like the Aral Sea, Lake Chad, and Qinghai Lake are shrinking dramatically, impacting millions of lives and ecosystems that depend on their water.
  3. Efforts to conserve and sustainably manage these lakes involve global collaboration and the balance between development and environmental preservation.

Fight to Repair Daily: Friday, October 7 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 07 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Copyright Consumer Rights Environmental Impact Regulations
  1. The iPhone 14 Plus is as repairable as the basic iPhone 14, following a more sustainable design approach.
  2. Canada is considering reforming digital lock rules to allow repair exceptions, benefitting consumers, farmers, and innovation.
  3. Academics are urging consumers to repair clothing to reduce environmental impact caused by the fast fashion cycle.

Heatwaves, Scorching Spells, Warm Waters: implications of the rising Celsius from Climate Change

Adetokunbo Sees • 8 HN points • 07 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Natural Disasters Carbon Emissions Environmental Impact
  1. Average global temperatures are consistently hitting new highs due to climate change.
  2. The El Nino event often contributes to soaring temperatures on land and sea.
  3. Implementing adaptive social protection programs and cutting fossil fuel usage are vital to combat rising temperatures.

What's holding America's freeway removal movement back?

Urben Field Notes • 10 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Community Public Health Environmental Impact Urban Development
  1. Pioneering freeway removal projects are being completed, but more difficult challenges remain
  2. There's a need for a stronger response to concerns about displacement and gentrification in freeway removal projects
  3. There is a lack of attention on the pollution and public health impacts of urban freeways, requiring clear data for advocacy

Fight to Repair Daily: August 17 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 19 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Right-to-repair Environmental Impact
  1. Maine is facing opposition from automakers in its efforts to pass a right-to-repair law, with arguments over state authority and consumer choice.
  2. Expensive laptops may lead to regrets later on; opting for a cheaper laptop and investing in a PC for upgradability is worth considering.
  3. The EU's proposed expansion of the Ecodesign Directive aims to ensure sustainable products through criteria like durability, reparability, energy use, and digital product passports.

Laundry Days | Methane and Hydroxyl Radicals

WeBeGreen • 19 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Atmosphere Environmental Impact Global Warming Green Technology
  1. Increased methane presence in the atmosphere due to a slowdown in anthropogenic activities raises concerns about global warming and positive feedback loops.
  2. Hydroxyl radicals (OH) play a crucial role in neutralizing harmful gases and pollutants in the atmosphere, acting like nature's powerful cleaning agent.
  3. Studying the production and recycling of OH in the atmosphere could potentially lead to new global warming mitigation technologies.

The Week in Repair: June 12-17

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 21 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Repair Antitrust Circular Economy Environmental Impact Legislation
  1. Tracking devices reveal that many small appliances returned for repair end up in landfills due to lack of repair advice and available spare parts.
  2. Facebook is revealed to be the sole funder of American Edge Project, an anti-regulatory group fighting against antitrust efforts, with documents showing a $4 million donation.
  3. The Right to Repair movement is gaining traction with proposed bills at state and national levels, aiming to empower consumers, save costs, and reduce e-waste by allowing for repairs and extending the lifespan of electronics.

Visualizing CO₂

Climateer • 6 HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Carbon Emissions Global Warming Environmental Impact
  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.

The Week in Repair: March 6-12

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 15 Mar 22
🕹 Technology Repairability Legislation Consumer Rights Environmental Impact Electronic Devices
  1. Ownership of Tesla vehicle data is a complex issue that goes beyond just who owns it, including access, repurposing, and usage.
  2. Wheelchair users in Massachusetts face challenges with slow repairs and limited legal protections, highlighting the need for stronger state laws.
  3. Manufacturers employing tactics like limiting repair options restrict consumer choice and have economic consequences, spurring the need to protect the right to repair.

December 31, 2021

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 31 Dec 21
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Crisis Environmental Impact Sustainability Carbon Emissions Extinction
  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.

Office to Residential Conversions

Arpitrage • 1 HN point • 05 Nov 23
💼 Business Real Estate Urban Development Government Policy Economic Analysis Environmental Impact
  1. Cities are considering converting older office buildings to residential spaces to address urban challenges like reduced foot traffic, high carbon emissions, and housing affordability.
  2. Local and federal policymakers play vital roles in facilitating these office to residential conversions through regulatory changes, property tax relief, and financial incentives.
  3. Conversions may face challenges due to interest rate shifts, building constraints, and alternative real estate uses, but proactive measures can help make them financially viable.

3 Million Barrels of Oil Per Batt!

Aether Pirates of the Matterium! • 3 HN points • 26 Feb 23
🔬 Science Energy Electric Vehicles Environmental Impact Energy consumption
  1. It takes a lot of oil to produce and charge an electric vehicle battery, potentially more than the amount it would save over its lifetime.
  2. The total energy cost of producing and using the Tesla Model S Long Range battery pack, including environmental factors like disposal and fires, is equivalent to about 3,088,431 barrels of oil.
  3. Factors like lithium extraction, transportation, factory construction, and battery recycling all contribute to the overall energy cost of electric vehicle batteries.

'Renewables.' You keep using that word.

Everything is Light • 2 HN points • 02 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Nuclear Energy Environmental Impact
  1. 'Renewables' is a broad term that includes various types of energy sources with different environmental impacts and efficiencies.
  2. Biomass and biogas, while renewable, can be problematic due to pollution and environmental damage.
  3. It's important to use accurate terminology like 'low-carbon energy' and focus on transparency in the energy sector to effectively combat climate change.