The hottest Environmental Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Frisbees and Flatulence

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1737 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. The proposed change to the EPA's endangerment finding will focus more on legal issues rather than the science behind climate change. It’s unlikely to challenge whether greenhouse gases are harmful or not.
  2. The definition of 'air pollution' in the Clean Air Act is broad and doesn't easily allow for reinterpretation. Both past administrations have recognized greenhouse gases as pollutants, which complicates any efforts to change that.
  3. To create stable environmental policy, Congress needs to address greenhouse gas regulations directly. This could help avoid the back-and-forth changes between different administrations.

The Quiet Gutting of Yosemite

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1488 implied HN points • 16 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Yosemite National Park is facing serious issues like overflowing trash and poor food quality due to budget cuts. It's not getting the care it needs to stay beautiful and safe.
  2. Conservation efforts in the park have stalled, meaning important projects to protect the environment aren't happening as they should be.
  3. Visitors are experiencing long waits to enter the park, and while they can enjoy its beauty, they also see signs of neglect around them.

The LA Fires and the Big Bang

The Crucial Years • 4882 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Climate change is making wildfires worse due to extreme heat and drought in places like Los Angeles. This is causing devastation to homes and communities.
  2. Scientific advancements, like those from Edwin Hubble, help us understand our universe and climate, but there are fears that funding for vital climate research is being threatened.
  3. There's a growing concern about losing our ability to think critically about important issues. As we face bigger problems, understanding and intelligence seem to be declining.

Top Links 925 China's CO2 emissions plateau. Arizona's emerging chip cluster. Asian water wars and the "camp life" of revolution.

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. China's carbon dioxide emissions might be leveling off, which could be a significant step towards fighting climate change.
  2. Arizona is becoming a new hub for chip manufacturing, showing a shift in technology production in the U.S.
  3. Water conflicts in Asia are becoming more serious, reflecting growing tensions over resources and living conditions.

From Idealism to Realism

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 4357 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Geopolitics often influences climate policies more than climate science itself. Countries prioritize their own interests over global climate agreements.
  2. The belief that scientific knowledge would automatically lead to climate action has proven overly optimistic. Many expected that understanding climate issues would unite nations, but it hasn't happened.
  3. Adapting to climate change is a slow process. The world will continue to gradually change, but there won't be a simple or happy resolution to the challenges posed by a warming planet.
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Nuclear Power Needs Realism And Freedom

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 23 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Nuclear power in the U.S. has relied on heavy federal support and strict regulation, which helped cause uncompleted projects, big cost overruns, and made it an expensive way to produce electricity without subsidies.
  2. New reactor promises, including Small Modular Reactors, are getting a lot of hype but carry unclear risks and contractual fine print, so their timeliness and cost performance should be questioned.
  3. The proposed policy approach is to end federal subsidies and insurance, shift to private insurance and industry best practices, and make plant owners responsible for waste and decommissioning so the market can decide competitiveness.

The Truth About Climate Change ‘Lies Somewhere in the Middle’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1201 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Steven Koonin believes that many discussions about climate change tend to overlook important facts. He suggests that a deeper look at climate science reveals differing views that are often not shared.
  2. Koonin's recent report claims that the dangers of greenhouse gases are exaggerated and includes claims that carbon dioxide can actually benefit plant growth.
  3. The report has sparked controversy, with some environmental groups suing over its findings, arguing that it undermines the understanding of climate change and its causes.

February 22, 2026

Letters from an American • 30 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. The Boundary Waters is a large, fragile wilderness that supports local recreation economies, and copper-sulfide mining nearby risks acid mine drainage that could permanently damage its waters and wildlife.
  2. Republican lawmakers are using the Congressional Review Act in an unprecedented way to try to overturn a 20-year mining moratorium and reopen federal lands to a foreign-owned mining company, a move critics say breaks norms and could set a dangerous precedent for public land protections.
  3. Prominent voices, including Theodore Roosevelt’s descendants and Minnesota leaders, strongly oppose reopening the area and are urging permanent protection, while the Senate vote is narrowly contested and hinges on a few Republican defections.

For reality

The Crucial Years • 3976 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. The climate crisis is worsening, with record-high carbon dioxide levels reported. It's a serious issue that we need to pay attention to because it affects our planet and future.
  2. Power is being prioritized over justice in today's political climate. This shift can lead to misinformation and further environmental harm, especially regarding the ongoing climate crisis.
  3. Clean energy solutions like solar and wind are ready to help us combat climate change. We need to focus on these technologies to build a sustainable future.

Exclusive: Republicans Accuse Climate Groups of Doing China’s ‘Dirty Work’ in the U.S.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 227 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Twenty-six Republican state attorneys general asked the Justice Department to investigate whether two climate-focused nonprofits failed to disclose lobbying or acting on behalf of China.
  2. The complaint cites evidence that the Energy Foundation China and the Center for Climate Integrity may have acted as unregistered agents, pointing to EFC’s Beijing office and staff who previously worked for Chinese government climate agencies.
  3. Those groups present themselves as U.S. tax-exempt organizations working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but Republicans say their ties to China raise concerns about foreign influence on U.S. energy policy.

Nellie Bowles: The Triumph of the Plastic Straw

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2912 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. A 9-year-old created a big number about daily plastic straw use, which caught the attention of the media and sparked a movement.
  2. States and cities started banning plastic straws based on that big number, but many didn't question its accuracy.
  3. The shift from plastic to paper straws became a popular environmental push, even though some people found the paper straws less enjoyable.

📉 🔙 Another terrible degrowth argument

Faster, Please! • 1188 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Many argue that growth in capitalism leads to exploitation, using resources without paying their true costs. This means companies benefit from cheap labor and the environment while ignoring the environmental harm they cause.
  2. Some believe the solution is to reduce production and consumption, especially in wealthy nations, to help the planet and reduce inequality. They suggest changing how we measure success to include ecological and social factors, not just money.
  3. Critics think this view misunderstands how economies grow and improve over time. They argue that real progress comes from understanding the benefits of growth rather than seeing it as harmful.

The Incredible Inefficiency of the Fossil Energy System

Renewable Revolution • 339 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Fossil fuel energy systems are really inefficient, wasting about two-thirds of energy before it even provides any benefit. This waste amounts to around $4.6 trillion every year.
  2. The main reason for this inefficiency is fossil fuels themselves, particularly in power plants and gas engines, which are responsible for almost half of the total energy waste globally.
  3. New technologies like renewables, local energy sources, and electric vehicles are becoming more efficient. They're replacing fossil fuels because they’re cost-effective and significantly reduce energy waste.

Tricks of the Trade

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 3012 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Many claims about hurricanes becoming stronger due to climate change are inflated. For example, a recent study suggested a storm was 40% more likely, but a closer look shows it was actually a small increase from 7.2% to 10%.
  2. Some scientific methods assume that every storm is affected by climate change without considering other factors. This oversimplification can lead to misleading results, like claiming a storm was 7,000% more likely when it’s really about understanding many influencing factors.
  3. Recent research indicates that in some areas, tropical cyclones are not actually becoming more destructive and may even be decreasing in intensity. This contradicts the narrative that climate change always leads to worse storms.

The North American Fire Deficit

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2345 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. North America is experiencing a significant 'fire deficit', meaning that the amount of land burning now is much lower than in the past. Even with recent fire years, the area burned is still far less than historical averages.
  2. The study suggests that aggressive fire suppression and land changes caused by human activities are major reasons for this fire deficit. This has led to more severe fires when they do occur because there is more fuel buildup in the forests.
  3. To manage future fires better, the study recommends increasing prescribed burning and using fire as a natural part of forest ecosystems. This approach could help reduce the severity of wildfires and improve the health of the forests.

Don't wreck the Planning Bill!

Odds and Ends of History • 1005 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to make it easier to build homes and infrastructure in Britain. This is important for addressing problems like the housing crisis.
  2. Recent amendments to the Bill could weaken its effectiveness by adding more legal hurdles for developers. This may slow down the building process instead of speeding it up.
  3. The government should avoid compromising on the Bill and focus on its original goals. If it does not work effectively, it won't solve the issues it aimed to address.

“Recycling” Makes Plastic Pollution Worse

Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey • 2047 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Most plastic items that go into recycling bins don’t actually get recycled. Only a few types of plastic are from beverage bottles and jugs are commonly recycled.
  2. The recycling system often misleads people into believing they are helping the environment. In reality, many plastics end up in landfills or are even shipped to other countries, causing pollution.
  3. While plastic has many benefits, it’s important to rethink its use. Alternatives may not always be better, so focusing on reducing plastic waste is the best way forward.

U.S. Hurricane Overview 2024

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2453 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. IncorporATINGcINFORMATIONALPANTLITACORDINGPLANDTLLGLNTVNTNAIRULTOTLNDMLTSNUPLSCYNTHININGNTNAMODTNTMLITYNTMAINTPLFINAINCT_UNIDAPITANLPTRAPULNTACDLOSONGHTBOUSCO_FFI_TLANTIR_AOTUFOQPKTTSNJOBSCOTPLATULNNA_MCOPOITMRAUSOONNA_CMNCAVSCOAWLTTBA_AWOLNTNPCLTIIF_USIWYSOFOKLNCINNTIRAMOLANFOLMUNGTMLMSNALITNCPLT_ALNUM_FFYN_TVOFNNTA_THNIOF_TOR_TFNAACNCNSWATNDF_TL_AATITMNA_LWIMSPWAAINFANNNLKCURRNTNCT
  2. ForongIITNLN_NIWHMNTMLAWSN_O_LINKATNGCLS_TFLNANF_TLIFURICRFOUOG_IITLUATNIIOATCSYPISITPLWCMNLWTI_AFOCRUFOUROTL_LIGHTNNBTIMYSWPLTOAWNITCLATO_A_SHALLOORA_OWNOITLLANFOA_TLNDUTMIOUSHCIMNT
  3. HURTLYA_WA_A_STANMUN_SPOWTTOITOLTLTROUC_ANIACUWTNRCICOMTI_TOSMFINKSI_W_AYNUSAHFLANTCVIF_RAWSOUFAT_T_M_TOTWTOUFOA_BMPOLO_IT_OWASW_A_ND_S_API_NSCAASATSCOD

The rise of vertical solar

GEM Energy Analytics • 459 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. The cost of solar panels has dropped a lot, making it cheaper to install solar energy systems. This means other costs like labor become more important to consider.
  2. Vertical solar panels can be helpful because they can generate energy at different times of the day. This helps capture more value from solar energy by producing power when it's needed most.
  3. Using vertical solar opens up new possibilities, like installing them as fences or along roads. This can save space and also provide benefits beyond just energy generation.

An America-sized hole in the world

The Crucial Years • 2172 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. America may not lead the fight against climate change anymore, but individuals can still make a difference through global action. Local efforts matter, especially in places with strong clean energy initiatives.
  2. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are becoming more affordable, and there's potential to rapidly increase their use. If we can double solar installations, we can make a real impact on climate goals.
  3. While the U.S. government may not prioritize clean energy, states and communities still recognize its economic benefits. This means there's a significant opportunity for grassroots movements and local investments to push for change.

Go Ahead And Have Kids

Cremieux Recueil • 664 implied HN points • 12 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Having children is unlikely to worsen climate change, so fears about parenting in a warming world can be eased. Many studies suggest that over time, having more kids can lead to greater innovation and productivity, which could actually improve living conditions.
  2. The economic models show that whether the population declines or stabilizes, the long-term impact on emissions and temperatures will be similar. This suggests that having more people won't necessarily be bad for the planet.
  3. It's important to stop worrying about not having kids because of climate concerns. Those who care about the future and the environment are often the ones who can make positive changes, making it more beneficial to raise children.

Oceans of Change: Breaching the Sixth Planetary Boundary

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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.

‘You Can Taste the Fires in the Back of Your Throat’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1627 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Disasters can change a community forever, marking a point where everything feels different. People will remember the day before and the day after as a significant divide in their lives.
  2. Fires can spread quickly, affecting homes and neighborhoods, often forcing families to evacuate urgently. Smoke and visible flames can create a sense of urgency and fear.
  3. The emotional toll of losing a place of worship or gathering is profound. It can leave a community feeling lost and in need of support during recovery.

Canada's Mediocracy

Diane Francis • 1618 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Canada is giving little military support to Ukraine, especially compared to what other countries like the US are doing. The government has also not met its NATO defense spending commitments.
  2. Trudeau's government lacks expertise, hiring outside consultants for guidance and has made several decisions that hurt Canada's energy sector and military capabilities. This raises concerns about national security.
  3. There are serious issues of foreign influence on Canadian politics, especially from China, which have not been adequately addressed by Trudeau and his administration.

The Bomb Test Downwinders and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

Gordian Knot News • 153 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Residents downwind of nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s received significant radiation doses, but studies showed no increase in cancer rates among them.
  2. Public concern about the health effects of these tests surged after the 1970s, leading to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act that provides payouts to those affected, despite no solid evidence linking fallout to health issues.
  3. The perception of danger from radiation exposure has changed over time, with many now believing that low doses of radiation have harmful effects, supported by government compensation programs, even when actual risks seem low.

Three small Christmas presents

The Crucial Years • 1604 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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 Environmental Policy
  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 Environmental Policy
  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.

Wokeness Dismantled, Part 3

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1613 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environmental Policy
  1. The Tragedy of the Commons shows how individual self-interest can harm the common good. If everyone takes too much from a shared resource, like a pasture, it can lead to disaster for everyone.
  2. Not all experts agree on how to manage shared resources. While Garrett Hardin warned about the dangers of overuse, Elinor Ostrom showed that communities can effectively cooperate to manage their resources without strict government control.
  3. Trusting science can sometimes mean questioning popular beliefs. It’s important to look at different viewpoints and actual case studies to understand how people manage shared resources.

Shrinking the Tent

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1697 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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.

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 Environmental Policy
  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.

Um, I think we all just won

The Crucial Years • 3816 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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.

Sounding the Climate Change Alarm: Lessons from Carl Sagan

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 29 Aug 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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 Environmental Policy
  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.

The Most Hopeful Chart in the World

Material World • 1400 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  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.

Top Links 786 Coal and the climate crisis. European auto dividens. Pitching for Gaza work. Hot Money. Metaphysical authority in Pakistan.

Chartbook • 429 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Coal has been a major contributor to climate change, responsible for over 30% of CO2 emissions since the Industrial Revolution. It's important to understand how this affects the environment.
  2. There are interesting developments in the European auto industry that are worth exploring. Keeping up with these changes can give insight into how cars will evolve in the future.
  3. There's ongoing work related to Gaza that needs support and attention. Learning about these efforts can help raise awareness and possibly lead to action.

Population growth or decline will have little impact on climate change

Sustainability by numbers • 392 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy
  1. Population changes won't significantly change our climate situation because they happen too slowly compared to how quickly we need to reduce emissions.
  2. Even with more people in the future, their overall impact on temperature rise will be very small if we focus on reducing emissions effectively.
  3. To tackle climate change, the best approach is to decarbonize our economies rather than trying to limit population growth, which won’t solve the problem fast enough.

Yes, Biden broke a promise. And it's okay.

The Land Desk • 432 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Environmental Policy
  1. Biden has made some questionable decisions regarding public lands and energy, but he has also protected certain lands from fossil fuel energy development.
  2. Biden did not fulfill his promise to end oil and gas drilling on public lands, but he has taken significant actions to protect certain federal lands and reduce emissions.
  3. Judging politicians solely on promises kept or broken may not be productive; evaluating their policies and actions is more important.