The hottest Natural resources Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Anchorage Aweigh

Doomberg • 6151 implied HN points • 17 May 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy crisis Natural resources Economic Impact
  1. Anchorage, Alaska, faces a potential energy crisis due to dwindling natural gas supplies. The community relies heavily on this resource for electricity and heating during cold winters.
  2. The local oil and gas companies have not been drilling enough new wells to replace the declining existing ones. This lack of action raises concerns about electrical outages and heating shortages in the future.
  3. Despite being a gas-rich state, Alaska's underproduction of new gas is leading it to a crisis point. Steps need to be taken to secure its energy supply for the upcoming years.

Reading List 01/04/2025

Construction Physics • 11065 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
💼 Business Venture Capital Startup funding Infrastructure Natural resources Regulations
  1. There are maps showing natural amenities across the US, ranking places based on factors like temperature and sunshine. The West Coast and Florida score well, while the Midwest does not.
  2. Venture capital funding is shifting, with larger firms getting most of the money while smaller ones are struggling. There's a big drop in initial public offerings, making it tougher for investors.
  3. Boeing's recent struggles can be linked to its past merger with McDonnell Douglas, which seems to have affected its product development negatively.

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 Putin Kleptocracy

Diane Francis • 839 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Corruption Natural resources Russian Politics
  1. Putin has built a powerful system in Russia that's very wealthy and focused on military strength. He controls a lot of valuable resources, more than anyone else in the world.
  2. The amount of money Putin has is staggering, making him the richest person by some estimates, even though he isn't listed as a billionaire anywhere. Most Russian billionaires are actually just working for him.
  3. This huge amount of wealth allows Putin to have a lot of influence over world affairs and wars, showing how money can shape power and control in the world.

US/France threaten intervention in resource-rich Niger: Fears of war in West Africa

Geopolitical Economy Report • 976 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Intervention Natural resources Coup Imperialism
  1. US and France are considering intervention in Niger to re-install a pro-Western regime due to its resources like uranium and oil.
  2. Niger hosts strategic US drone bases and is crucial for the Pentagon's Africa strategy.
  3. The new nationalist governments in West Africa face instability from past coups and are vulnerable to being toppled by right-wing military officers supported by Western powers.
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Good trouble on the Bad River

The Crucial Years • 757 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy Environmental Activism Carbon Emissions Natural resources
  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.

Lump of Coal

Doomberg • 151 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Sustainability Pollution Natural resources Climate Policy
  1. Coal is a controversial fuel, and many people don't fully understand its value. It's important to look at its role in energy and society.
  2. As we'll explore, coal has had a significant impact on industries and economies. Understanding its importance can change how we see this resource.
  3. The goal is to dive deeper into coal's complexities and recognize its potential benefits alongside its challenges. This perspective can lead to better discussions about energy sources.

California’s electricity conundrum

Klement on Investing • 4 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Natural resources Environmental Policy Climate change
  1. California has some of the highest electricity prices in the US, even though it's using more renewable energy. In 2023, its prices were about 70% higher than the national average.
  2. Several factors contribute to the high electricity costs in California, including expensive natural gas, wildfire-related expenses, and increased demand for power due to climate change.
  3. The shift to renewable energy is not the main reason for California's high prices. Other states with a lot of renewable energy actually pay less for electricity on average.

Wakanda isn't an ideal utopia for Africa

The Novelleist • 575 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Africa Natural resources Economic Development Poverty Corruption
  1. Wakanda in Black Panther is a positive portrayal of African prosperity with advanced technology, boosting pride and dignity.
  2. The economic model of Wakanda, relying on a magical substance for wealth, ignores the realities of gradual economic development involving valuable goods and services.
  3. The obsession with natural resources as a source of wealth can hinder economic growth due to corruption, lack of policy improvements, and misinformation about their true benefits.

Carbon Sinks Are Failing

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 150 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Science Carbon Emissions Sustainability Natural resources
  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.

Peru's natural resources: CIA-linked US ambassador meets with mining and energy ministers to talk 'investments'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 398 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Natural resources Investments Mining Energy Coup
  1. Peru is rich in natural resources like copper, gold, zinc, silver, and natural gas, making it a hub for transnational corporations who heavily invest in the mining sector.
  2. President Pedro Castillo aimed to ensure that 70% of mining proceeds went to the state for social programs, but after a coup, the focus shifted back to foreign corporate investments, reversing progressive economic plans.
  3. Natural gas, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), plays a significant role in Peru's exports, with a notable shift towards Europe as a top importer following a boycott of Russian energy.

Adapting Land Value Taxation to Space

Splitting Infinity • 39 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Taxation Natural resources Assessment Resource Management
  1. Taxation is essential for governance and must be adapted for effective government in space as the celestial realm sees more activities and developments.
  2. Principles of taxation like efficiency, sufficient revenue, practicality, tolerance, clarity, and locality should guide the design of tax systems in space to ensure fairness and viability.
  3. Georgism, with its focus on land value taxes, can offer a balanced solution for taxation in space by encouraging development while discouraging rent-seeking behaviors.

What next for Equatorial Guinea after oil?

An Africanist Perspective • 1 HN point • 20 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Natural resources Corruption
  1. Equatorial Guinea's over-reliance on oil has led to economic decline as oil production diminishes, highlighting the importance of diversification in post-oil strategies.
  2. Resource exploitation in African states can lead to significant challenges, such as corruption and lack of investment in non-resource sectors, requiring better ownership structures to maximize economic benefits.
  3. Corruption and opacity are prevalent in the natural resource sector, necessitating a focus on promoting domestic productive ownership of resources to counteract structural corruption and ensure wealth creation within the country.

George H.W. Bush: “The Environmental President”

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmental History Sustainability Natural resources Global Warming
  1. George H.W. Bush focused on environmental issues during his presidency, aiming to be known as 'the environmental president.' He made promises to tackle climate change and set up new initiatives.
  2. Under Bush's leadership, important laws like the Clean Air Act Amendments were passed, reducing harmful emissions and addressing air pollution from power plants.
  3. Bush also played a key role in international efforts against climate change, supporting agreements like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, which aimed to unite countries in combating global warming.

Hello 2024

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Environmental Policy Sustainability Natural resources Public awareness
  1. Talking about climate change is really important. It's key to help people understand how it affects our lives and the earth.
  2. 2023 was a record warm year, but we should see it as a warning for the future. The next years might be even hotter.
  3. As we move into 2024, we need to act fast to address climate issues. It's a crucial time for making changes that matter.