The hottest Sustainability Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

Underdog Founders - Roel builds MOYU to transform the classic notebook.

ChatGPT4 as a CEO and Underdog Founders • 58 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Roel created MOYU to make sustainable notebooks from stone paper that can be reused 500 times.
  2. Despite challenges like marketing restrictions and COVID-19, MOYU successfully crowdfunded and won awards for sustainability.
  3. Roel prioritizes solving environmental problems he cares about over following industry trends like AI or blockchain integration.

Obviously Better Stuff

Parachute • 58 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Building obviously better stuff is an important climate tactic.
  2. Creating better products has led to the adoption of greener options historically.
  3. It's important to prioritize making obviously better products over green-washed alternatives.

My Back Pages: Stranded Assets and Our Climate Future

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 40 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. It's important not to overcomplicate solutions with too many strict requirements. Keeping it simple can help in finding effective answers.
  2. Voter control over political parties is crucial. If voters don't guide the system, they might need to start their own candidates.
  3. To tackle climate issues, we should work backward from our goals, like aiming for zero fossil fuel use by 2050, and think of necessary steps to achieve that.

Name the Damn Perp

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 110 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  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.

Biofuels: the US could switch to electric cars and solar power on just a fraction of the land

Sustainability by numbers • 296 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Growing biofuels in the US is a poor use of land, especially when solar energy needs much less land and could power the country three times over.
  2. Biofuels may not have as positive an impact on the environment as initially assumed, with some studies suggesting they could increase emissions.
  3. Switching from biofuels to solar power for electric cars in the US could significantly reduce land use and still meet transportation needs.
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Trains and transmission: A climate solution hiding in plain sight?

Urben Field Notes • 70 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Building transmission lines along railroads can help reduce climate change and improve both passenger and freight train service. This idea uses existing land to create cleaner energy options and faster trains.
  2. Electrifying trains can lead to less pollution, faster travel, and more efficient freight shipping. New battery technologies make this more affordable than before.
  3. Government plans highlight the right areas for train electrification and better energy transmission. However, significant funding and cooperation will be necessary to turn these plans into reality.

Our Picks For The Top Repair Stories of 2022

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 15 Jan 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. State-wide laws are crucial for the right to repair movement to succeed, as seen in 2022 with wins in New York and Colorado.
  2. Companies like Apple's self-repair program may offer solutions, but without clear legislation, it can fall short in truly empowering consumers.
  3. Governments are taking steps towards standardization, like the EU mandating USB-C, to reduce electronic waste and increase sustainability.

The Iron and the Forest

Anima Mundi • 20 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Technology has advanced a lot, but we've often forgotten to work together with nature. It's important to design our systems in a way that respects the environment.
  2. Nature has its own ways of solving problems that we can learn from. For example, forests help each other thrive without competition, and we should do the same in our communities.
  3. Real progress should focus on long-term health for both people and the planet. Instead of quick fixes, we need solutions that take care of the environment and ensure a better future.

donkeys, emperors, burgers

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. Demand for obscure ingredients like ejiao has reshaped economies and ecosystems on multiple continents.
  2. Ejiao is now considered a marketing phenomenon, creating demand where there was none before.
  3. The desire to eat luxurious foods like emperors can impact the planet, but moralizing doesn't work as well as marketing.

Sustainability

David Friedman’s Substack • 278 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Sustainability
  1. Sustainability may not be a practical goal if it means continuing our present activities indefinitely.
  2. Defining sustainability based on future needs is challenging due to uncertainties and differing interpretations.
  3. The concept of sustainability can be manipulated to support any policy, which hinders meaningful discussions about future generations.

All hail nuclear power

Alex's Personal Blog • 65 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Nuclear power is gaining traction as tech companies look to use it for sustainability and energy needs. This shift could help power data centers efficiently.
  2. Despite general market optimism, there are challenges and doubts about current investment strategies. Investors need to think critically about their options in a changing economy.
  3. The EU is facing criticism regarding its AI regulations, which might push tech development outside the region. This could lead to a lack of innovation and growth in Europe.

The Renewable Revolution

Renewable Revolution • 59 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The energy transition is happening fast thanks to new technology that boosts renewable energy. It's all about using the sun, wind, and other natural energy sources more efficiently.
  2. China is taking a lead in renewable energy and pushing everyone to improve and innovate quickly in this area.
  3. Market prices will reflect the energy transition in this decade, meaning investments will start focusing more on renewable sources, which is good for the environment.

How a Love of Forests Sparked One of Europe’s Fast-Growth Climate Startups

The Green Techpreneur • 16 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Arbonics helps landowners turn their forests into carbon sinks, which means they can earn money by planting and protecting trees. This is good for the environment and helps combat climate change.
  2. The company uses advanced data technology to figure out how much carbon each piece of land can store. This helps ensure the projects are reliable and trustworthy.
  3. Lisett and her team believe that Europe's forests play a crucial role in fighting climate change and shouldn't be overlooked. They aim to cover half of Europe's forests with their projects soon.

B-Schools Show Transatlantic Divide

Surfing the Future • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. FT Global MBA Rankings show a transatlantic divide in B-Schools' focus on sustainability, with EU schools topping ESG and Net Zero rankings.
  2. Wharton and Harvard Business School are top B-Schools overall but rank low in ESG and Net Zero, raising questions about the future curriculum focus.
  3. The lack of emphasis on ESG and Net Zero in top US B-Schools compared to top EU B-Schools hints at a trans-Atlantic gap in business education priorities.

Our Civilizational Phase-Shift

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. We might be at a turning point in how society works, moving from a system of dominance to one where everything is more connected and cooperative. This change could affect people on a global scale.
  2. The current pace of environmental change is much faster than in the past, leading to critical tipping points that could change our world drastically. We need to be aware of these shifts to adapt and survive.
  3. There are both good and bad outcomes possible from these societal changes. For example, while some seek to go back to outdated systems of control, there is also potential for positive transformation in how we live and interact.

Climate Alert: January 2024 the Hottest January in Recorded History

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. January 2024 was the hottest January on record, marking a worrying trend in global warming. The average temperature was 13.14°C, which is significantly higher than temperatures from past years.
  2. Over the last year, the planet experienced its highest average temperatures yet, highlighting an urgent climate crisis. This is concerning for global efforts to keep temperatures below the critical limits set by the Paris Agreement.
  3. Despite clear evidence of climate change, leaders are not taking strong enough action. It's important for everyone to get involved and push for changes that protect the environment for future generations.

Street Notes 5: Hot for District Cooling in Austin, Texas

Parachute • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Infrastructure and climate solutions often go unnoticed when they work well, but stand out when they fail.
  2. District cooling is like neighborhood-wide air conditioning and can lead to lower utility bills and help prevent power outages.
  3. District cooling plants offer benefits like space-saving, resilience to power outages, and should be celebrated as an efficient climate solution.

Control AI and ManufacturingGPT: Whatever has Been Done, Can be Outdone

Exponential Industry • 39 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Autonomous control AI is being adopted in manufacturing, showing potential in improving quality and saving energy.
  2. There is ongoing innovation in large language models despite calls for a pause in AI experiments.
  3. Technological advancements like AI and machine learning are bridging the gap in additive manufacturing operations, identifying suitable parts and reducing costs.

Lack of Repair Options Drives Great Video Game to Die Off

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. There is an urgent need for video game repair and modification, as shown by the lack of available classic video games.
  2. The challenges of repairing and modifying video game consoles contribute to electronic waste and hinder the preservation of gaming history.
  3. Jailbreaking video game consoles can be complex and the lack of accessible repair and modding options limits the longevity of equipment.

You Can't Be "Green" and Restrict Repair

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Apple aims for sustainability but restricts repairability, showing a nuanced approach to environmental impact.
  2. Mounting public pressure is pushing companies towards repair-friendly policies despite initial resistance.
  3. Google faces criticism for lack of repair options for Pixel Watches, while offering repair parts for Pixel Fold, highlighting differing approaches to repairability.

X-change: Cars

Renewable Revolution • 39 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Electric vehicles (EVs) are growing rapidly, with predictions that they will dominate car sales by 2030. The demand for gas-powered cars is dropping fast.
  2. The cost of owning EVs is becoming similar to gas cars because battery prices are falling. This makes EVs more accessible to more people in different countries.
  3. Even though there are challenges like needing better charging networks, the transition to EVs is happening quickly. Companies are investing heavily in technology and infrastructure to support this change.

Algae Ink: The best plant-based ink around?

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🪑 Design Sustainability
  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.

Et Tu LEGO?

Thoughts on a Typewriter • 39 implied HN points • 09 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. LEGO is transitioning from paper manuals to digital apps for instructions for sustainability reasons.
  2. The digital shift in LEGO instructions can detract from the immersive and unplugged experience of playing with LEGO bricks.
  3. Some LEGO sets, like Super Mario, now require downloading an app for building instructions instead of paper manuals.

Shloop is The Sustainable Footwear Manufacturer of The Future

Warming Up to Climate Tech • 39 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Sustainability
  1. Shloop manufactures sustainable footwear using algae-based materials to fight climate change.
  2. The company aims to revolutionize the footwear industry by integrating sustainable materials and advanced recycling processes.
  3. Shloop focuses on providing transparent and sustainable products to footwear brands at a fair price, offering smaller batch runs and prototyping services.

Bicycles: An Antidote To Throw-Away Culture

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Bicycles can serve as a model for repairing and reusing items, fostering community connections, and resisting over-consumption.
  2. Understanding how to repair objects we rely on makes us more self-reliant, teaches us to help others, and deepens our respect for the materials and work that go into creating these objects.
  3. Promoting intentional ownership and repair of items, like bicycles, can help shift our global consumption habits, build community through repair organizations, and reduce waste in our society.

Blended scenarios

Douglass’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Three proposed blended scenarios for addressing climate change: drift, embrace localization (Gardenworld), embrace high tech (world)
  2. Use of technology like AI and chatbots to manage Gardenworld projects for feeding, sheltering, and aesthetics
  3. Local efforts to maintain Internet connectivity as a common project in the face of grid failures

Is Biden Li-Ion About Batteries? Also: How Apple Could Play the EU's USB C Requirement For Big Profits

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. The push for electric vehicles to combat climate change relies heavily on lithium-ion batteries, but the production and disposal processes of these batteries have significant environmental and human consequences that cannot be overlooked.
  2. Transitioning to standardized cables like USB-C, as mandated by the EU, can have positive impacts on consumer savings, e-waste reduction, and the push towards more sustainable practices in the technology industry.
  3. Apple's potential profits from the EU's USB-C requirement highlight how companies can leverage regulatory changes, like adopting new standards, to generate revenue through avenues such as fast-charging solutions and certification fees.

World-renewal and the Indigenous

Charles Eisenstein • 6 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. Including Indigenous voices in conferences often feels superficial. It's not enough to just have them present; real change needs deeper engagement with their cultures and insights.
  2. Indigenous cultures hold valuable knowledge and practices that help maintain the balance of our world. Their rituals and stories are essential, not just for social justice, but for the health of the planet.
  3. Modern organizations need to support Indigenous peoples' rights and cultures more authentically. Rather than just seeing them as resources, we should recognize their wisdom as crucial for our collective future.

what might happen - one sequence

Douglass’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Very few are aware of major trends already happening on Earth, such as deforestation, floods, and food production decline
  2. A proposed sequence envisions a path from crisis to Gardenworld through stages like Lifeboats and Security
  3. The concept of Gardenworld offers a goal for continuous experimentation and improvement in education, medicine, and other areas

Circular Economy, Challenges for the Recycling and Repurposing Models

Divergent Futures • 19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Recycling requires a lot of energy. To make recycling effective, we need to ensure we have enough energy left over for future use, not just for recycling now.
  2. Repurposing items can be costly at a large scale. It's often cheaper to produce new items because mass production is more efficient than repairing unique, broken items.
  3. The main focus should be on reducing waste, not just on conserving resources. Waste creates urgent problems like pollution and health issues, which need more attention in discussions about sustainability.

Car Rentals and Electric Cars are filing for Divorce, for now...

Startupology • 19 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Rental car companies and EVs face challenges like high repair costs and poor infrastructure.
  2. Hertz faced bankruptcy, then aimed to boost business with an EV fleet but is now selling off a third of it due to low demand and high repair costs.
  3. Issues with rental companies and EVs include maintenance costs, customer education, charging infrastructure, and consumer familiarity.

In Heat

The Cosmopolitan Globalist • 19 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Europe is facing extreme heat waves that are causing concern for public health and infrastructure. With rising temperatures, cities like Paris are struggling to cope with the effects on their buildings and services.
  2. Feline High-Rise Syndrome is a real danger for urban cats, as they can fall from windows and suffer serious injuries. A recent close call highlighted the importance of keeping windows safe for pets, especially during hot weather.
  3. The author critiques climate policy and economic decisions, suggesting that current strategies are harming American competitiveness. They believe the focus should be on enhancing clean energy innovation rather than restrictive legislation that might endanger jobs and industries.