The hottest Sustainability Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

We can terraform the Earth—not just Mars

The Novelleist • 380 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. We have the technology and creativity to improve our planet, not just Mars. Projects like reforesting deserts are proof that we can restore ecosystems and make uninhabitable areas livable.
  2. Innovations in geoengineering allow us to control weather and climate. This means we can potentially cool down our planet, make it rain where needed, and reduce the effects of climate change.
  3. By shifting away from livestock farming and using plant-based alternatives, we can free up land for other uses. This could allow us to create new forests, cities, and renewable energy sources.

Top Links 760 China's emissions reach a turning point. Mondrian goes dancing & Kazakh stunts.

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 05 Jun 25
🌍 World Politics Sustainability
  1. China's emissions are changing, and it seems like they might be hitting a significant point. This could affect global climate efforts.
  2. South Korea's trade surplus with the USA has also increased significantly since COVID, not just China's. This shows how trade dynamics are shifting.
  3. The article features links and insights that could provide interesting perspectives on current economic and environmental trends.

Capitalism that works

Japan Optimist • 314 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. Japan is considered a potential economic superpower and role model
  2. Japan's social resilience, political stability, corporate competitiveness, technocratic pragmatism, and private sector innovation are seen as strengths
  3. Japan's demographic destiny is viewed as a positive force for next-generation leaders, citizens, and the rising Asian middle class
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Limits to growth: solar edition

GEM Energy Analytics • 599 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Solar energy is growing quickly, but it has limits. Even though many people are excited about its future, there are economic reasons that might slow its growth.
  2. The value of solar electricity is decreasing as more solar power is added to the system. This means that while solar may be cheap to produce, its market value might drop, making it less profitable.
  3. Government support, like subsidies, could help solar energy continue to grow despite these challenges. However, it's unclear how committed governments will be to supporting solar if its market value drops significantly.

The Good Life: Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk & Degrowth.

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 609 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. Imagining a postcapitalist, ecological, and equal future is vital for creating change.
  2. Buen Vivir, Hygge, Solarpunk, Social Ecology, and Degrowth are interconnected in promoting community well-being, sustainability, and decolonization.
  3. The concepts of Buen Vivir and Hygge can give insight into a degrowth future, emphasizing interconnectedness, community action, and well-being for all.

Federated Ecovillages & Steps Towards a Modern Cybersyn

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 609 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Decouple from the capitalist system by creating alternative systems like free housing collectives and community land trusts.
  2. Build federated ecovillages and interconnected communities to share resources, knowledge, and create a cooperative network.
  3. Use modern technologies and community databases to work towards a modern Cybersyn system for fair distribution of resources and fostering collective autonomy.

Proem to the Aenean Future

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 927 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Sustainability
  1. The future holds challenges around resource scarcity, but there's hope in human creativity and technology. People believe we can find solutions to navigate tough times ahead.
  2. Emphasizing the need for green energy and a sustainable way of life is crucial. Society must transition to alternative energy sources, like solar and hydrogen, while addressing environmental concerns.
  3. Space exploration could become practical and profitable. Investing in space tech might help solve Earth's resource problems and allow humanity to expand beyond our planet.

Top Links 755 The non-drama of America's energy transition. Muscling Starlink into Gambia. The weirdness of Neom & 1930s aero.

Chartbook • 386 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. America's energy transition is happening slowly but steadily. The demand for electricity is starting to grow again, similar to the rates we saw in the 1990s.
  2. Starlink is making efforts to expand its internet service in Gambia. This could help improve internet access in the region.
  3. The Neom project has some unusual elements that remind us of 1930s aviation design. It's a mix of old ideas and futuristic plans.

Nobody Lives "Off The Grid"

OK Doomer • 288 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Sustainability
  1. No one truly lives 'off the grid' because we all rely on some sort of infrastructure, whether we realize it or not. Even if we try to be self-sufficient, we still depend on things like stores or services for essential needs.
  2. While it's great to prepare for tough times by learning skills to live without the grid, it's important to stay realistic about our true level of preparedness. Many people can't do what some might consider simple things, so it's crucial to offer help instead of judgment.
  3. The grid may seem like it's becoming less reliable, but it won't completely disappear. Instead, it might just be harder to access, meaning more people will feel the impact of losing those services in the future.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #157

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 215 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Advanced nuclear technology is moving forward with a U.S. Department of Energy program that will help new companies test their reactor designs faster. This could really impact the country's energy future.
  2. A company called Vulcan is working to make rare earth magnets in the U.S. without relying on China, which is important for technology like electric vehicles and smartphones. They recently raised $65 million to expand their production.
  3. MIT researchers have used AI to design new antibiotics that could fight superbugs like MRSA and gonorrhea. This could be a big step forward in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

Technology should reintegrate humans into planetary life

storyvoyager • 8 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Trying to dominate or 'master' nature comes from fear and isolates us, so we should stop treating the living world as an enemy and accept we won't fully control it.
  2. Technology should reintegrate humans into planetary life by immersing us in ecosystems rather than pulling us into abstract, life-simulating worlds.
  3. Design tech to enhance our senses and empathy—like listening to trees, feeling animal heartbeats, or sensing earthquakes—so we can connect with nature without violence or exploitation.

Reinventing Markets

Surfing the Future • 159 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
💼 Business Sustainability
  1. The challenge is to change markets, not just corporations.
  2. Design tomorrow's markets to be humane, responsible, sustainable, and regenerative.
  3. While corporate work is important, there needs to be a shift towards influencing market dynamics for a better future.

Blueprints: Exploring System Change

Surfing the Future • 279 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🔬 Science Sustainability
  1. 2024 marks the 50th year of the author engaging professionally in sustainability agendas.
  2. The author plans a 'Blueprints' discovery process throughout the year, involving thinkers and practitioners of system change.
  3. Key themes of the discovery process include the role of science fiction in systemic solutions, younger generations' views, scaling sustainability solutions, market-based ecosystem regeneration, and AI's future applications.

How does geothermal energy work, and why don’t we use it more?

Sustainability by numbers • 294 implied HN points • 30 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Geothermal energy is mostly untapped, even though there's a lot of heat under the Earth's surface. It only provides about 0.3% of the world's electricity, which is quite low considering its potential.
  2. There are different types of geothermal energy like shallow heat for home heating and deep heat for electricity generation. However, to produce electricity, we need very high temperatures which are only found in certain areas of the world.
  3. Despite being cost-effective in the long run, geothermal projects have high initial costs and risks, making investment less appealing. Government support for geothermal energy is also not as strong as for other renewable sources.

This Map Might Change Where You Live

The New Urban Order • 119 implied HN points • 01 May 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Close is an interactive map that helps people find neighborhoods with amenities important to them, like public schools, increasing personalized walkability.
  2. Close uses free spatial datasets and user feedback to build a detailed destinations roster, showing a commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement.
  3. Close differs from tools like Walkscore by focusing on transparency, user customization, and the 'time to furthest important destination' approach to assess walkability in cities.

The Anthropocene: What's In A Name?

Surfing the Future • 139 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Naming periods of significant change is crucial for understanding history and its impact on the present and future.
  2. The concept of Anthropocene, denoting the era where human activities have significant geological impacts, sparks debates among scientists about its start date and implications.
  3. Embracing new paradigms like sustainability and circularity is essential for addressing climate and biodiversity emergencies, even if the recognition like the Anthropocene remains a point of contention.

The Future Looks Green: Hemp, Algae, and Ideas for Ecovillages and Cooperative Life

Sunshine and Seedlings: A Newsletter by HydroponicTrash • 511 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Plants like hemp and algae have a wide range of uses and can help in creating sustainable communities.
  2. Circular systems can help in stopping waste and regenerating the ecosystem for a better future.
  3. Exploring alternative energy sources like biogas from hemp and algae can provide sustainable solutions to our energy needs.

How big is the generational divide on climate change?

Sustainability by numbers • 304 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. People of all ages generally agree about climate change and its seriousness. The gaps in belief between younger and older generations are smaller than many think.
  2. While younger people often feel more emotional about climate change, older generations do recognize its impacts from personal experience. This doesn't mean they don't care;
  3. Younger generations tend to advocate for big changes from systems and corporations, while older generations often focus on individual actions they can take.

The EU as suicide pact, or: How Germany is slowly dismantling its electrical grid and why the EU won't let them fix it

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 262 implied HN points • 08 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Germany is moving away from reliable energy sources like coal and gas in favor of wind and solar, but these new sources can be unreliable. This could lead to problems keeping the lights on.
  2. The EU is blocking Germany's plans to build new gas plants to support its energy transition, despite a clear need for more stable power. Without these plants, the energy grid might face failures.
  3. The push for renewables might not solve climate issues and could actually lead to dangerous situations. It's essential to find practical solutions that ensure energy security while addressing environmental concerns.

Appitalism

¡Do Not Panic! • 471 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Progress should focus on fundamental advancements, like clean water and mass vaccination programs.
  2. Relying on one-and-done technological fixes in crises may lead to temporary relief but not long-term solutions.
  3. Sustainable progress requires system change that respects nature and natural limits, not just technological tweaks.

Running Dry: The Devastating Cost of Groundwater Extraction

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Most of the world's water is used for farming, especially irrigation. This means we're using a lot of groundwater to help grow our food.
  2. Many parts of the world are losing groundwater faster than it can be replaced. This can lead to issues like less drinking water and even rising sea levels.
  3. To prevent further problems, we need to monitor our groundwater and find ways to use water more wisely. This includes using different sources and conservation measures.

A Night of Food Futurism

Asimov Press • 277 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. The dinner aimed to showcase a future of food that uses technology, like GMOs and cellular agriculture, instead of just small-scale farming. It's all about creating a food system that is sustainable and efficient.
  2. To get people interested in new food technologies, it's important to tell engaging stories and appeal to emotions, not just logic. People need to see the positive side of these innovations to accept them.
  3. The event was a fun mix of traditional American dishes and futuristic ingredients, like GMO foods and plant-based proteins, showing that the future of dining can be both familiar and innovative.

Rivian's CEO on Elon's Influence, The Plan For Profitability, And The Grid’s Risky Future

Big Technology • 750 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Sustainability
  1. Rivian wants to make electric cars appealing to everyone, not just one type of buyer. They're focused on inviting all people into the electrification movement and fostering a diverse community of users.
  2. The company is dealing with challenges in becoming profitable while also launching new vehicles. They're now working on lowering costs and improving supply chains to achieve positive cash flow.
  3. Rivian believes that moving away from fossil fuels is essential for the future. They see a big responsibility in transitioning to renewable energy and are committed to creating products that contribute to this change.

💡 My Quick Q&A with … data scientist Hannah Ritchie on building a sustainable planet

Faster, Please! • 1919 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The technologies needed for a sustainable planet are already available, they just need to be deployed at scale.
  2. Most of the crucial technologies like solar, wind, and batteries are already there, but some sectors still require more work.
  3. We are just at the beginning of deploying sustainable technologies, and there is room for significant progress in bending the curve down further.

It's the economic growth, stupid

¡Do Not Panic! • 452 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Continued energy growth, irrespective of the source, could lead to catastrophic levels of waste heat.
  2. Global economic growth at 2.3% annually may hit a saturation point in 200 years due to resource constraints.
  3. Physical limits to growth, driven by raw physics, will eventually necessitate radical changes to current economic, political, and social systems.

Warning for 2025: Last Year Saw Record-breaking Disasters and Losses

Adetokunbo Sees • 208 implied HN points • 26 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Last year was extremely tough for many countries, with record disasters and a lot of deaths due to climate issues. Places like Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and several others faced serious problems like extreme heat and floods.
  2. The Earth's temperatures were the highest ever recorded, indicating that climate change is getting worse. Many regions are seeing more heat, heavier rain, and rising sea levels as a result.
  3. If we keep consuming resources the same way, we will face even more disasters in the future. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take steps now to protect our planet.

Solar capture price in Germany: details on 2023 and prospects for 2024

GEM Energy Analytics • 339 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Solar energy in Germany shows strong seasonal patterns, with the best month generating up to 12 times more power than the worst month. This means energy production is not consistent throughout the year.
  2. The average solar capture price in 2023 is 72 €/MWh, which is a capture rate of 75%. However, this rate is expected to decline in 2024 due to the increase in solar capacity.
  3. Germany is rapidly expanding its solar capacity, aiming for 215 GW by 2030. This increased capacity can lead to lower energy prices, especially during times of high solar generation.

X-Change: Batteries

Renewable Revolution • 299 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Battery demand is rising rapidly. Sales are doubling every few years, and this growth will help reduce fossil fuel use significantly.
  2. As battery production increases, costs go down and quality improves. This creates a cycle where more sectors start using batteries, from cars to energy storage.
  3. The push for battery technology is a global effort. Countries around the world are adopting and investing in batteries, which is crucial for reaching climate goals.

As Winter Melts Away

The Crucial Years • 1544 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. The changing climate is causing dramatic and extreme changes around the planet, with record-breaking temperatures and reduced snow coverage indicating the ongoing warming of the Earth.
  2. The diminishing cold air supply in the Arctic is a clear sign of the planet's warming climate, leading to changes in weather patterns and ecological impacts like ice melting and more extreme weather events.
  3. The impact of the climate crisis goes beyond physical consequences, affecting the psychological and emotional connection to the changing seasons and nature, emphasizing the importance of fighting to save the beauty and meaning of the natural world.

Parmesan Pea Spread

Susanality • 412 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability
  1. The Parmesan Pea Spread recipe makes a versatile and easy springtime appetizer.
  2. Suzanne Lenzer, a food stylist and author, creates beautiful wooden bowls using a Japanese wood preservation method called shou sugi ban.
  3. Suzanne Lenzer's approach to woodworking focuses on using local, salvaged wood to create unique pieces with natural imperfections.

Fully Recharged

The Crucial Years • 1684 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Batteries have greatly improved energy density over the last century, making them more practical for cars and other uses.
  2. The rapid progress in battery technology is expected to continue, with increasing energy density, affordability, and innovation.
  3. Efforts are being made to ensure ethical sourcing of materials for batteries, address social inequities, and push for sustainable growth in the battery industry.

Democracies, Dr. Putin Will See You Now

Surfing the Future • 139 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Sustainability
  1. Democracy is facing challenges globally, with a recurring pattern of decline observed in capitalism, democracy, and sustainability.
  2. Existential shocks are needed to reshape assumptions in the realms of Democracy and Sustainability.
  3. Leaders like Putin in power for long periods exhibit authoritarian tendencies, highlighting the need to revamp democratic systems.

Beyond the carbon buzz

Topsoil • 373 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainability
  1. Agriculture has a significant impact on the environment, beyond just carbon sequestration.
  2. Sustainability in agriculture requires real changes on farms, operational support for farmers, and financial incentives.
  3. Financing and risk-sharing across the agricultural value chain are crucial for accelerating adoption of sustainable practices.