The hottest Sustainable Development Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

An America-sized hole in the world

The Crucial Years • 2172 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy Global Politics Environmental Policy Sustainable Development
  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.

The world's worst people to descend upon New York City next week

The Dossier • 6387 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Humanitarian Aid Sustainable Development International cooperation
  1. Various influential figures will attend events in New York City next week promoting their agendas.
  2. Events like the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings and Clinton Global Initiative will discuss topics like climate change.
  3. The United Nations General Assembly will have world leaders discussing the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

Taking Off, but Leaving a Lasting Mark: Airport Construction's Environmental Legacy

Adetokunbo Sees • 104 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Environmental Policy Biodiversity Pollution Sustainable Development Ecology
  1. Airport construction can harm the environment, leading to deforestation and loss of wildlife habitats. Many airports, like Heathrow and Istanbul, have caused significant damage to local ecosystems.
  2. Building or expanding airports increases greenhouse gas emissions. The aviation industry is responsible for a notable share of global carbon pollution, which could increase significantly without changes.
  3. It's important for airport authorities to engage with local communities and consider environmental impacts. Using cleaner fuels and adding green designs can help lessen the negative effects.

In which a leading Green intellectual demands wide-scale deindustrialisation, permanent rationing, the prohibition of all new construction and the end of the banking system – all to save the climate

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 235 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Environmentalism Energy transition Sustainable Development
  1. Some Green leaders in Germany want to reduce industry and even stop new buildings to help the environment. They believe this will improve climate conditions.
  2. The push for a more controlled economy includes ideas like rationing living space and limiting how much people can travel. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions.
  3. These ideas imply big changes, like having no banks and less personal wealth, which could upset many people's daily lives and freedoms.

Chartbook 267 JET-P: The "Paper Tigers" of Western climate geopolitics (also Carbon Notes #12)

Chartbook • 772 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Climate finance Sustainable Development
  1. The JET-P programs are well-designed but underfunded, serving more as gestures than impactful solutions.
  2. The discrepancy between ambitions and resources in global sustainable development highlights a fundamental issue within Western elite power dynamics.
  3. Private finance acts as a partner to bridge the gap between governmental ambitions and limited fiscal means, but the policies often lack real-world impact.
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From Population Control to Social Norms: A Century of Social Engineering

Satisologie: Systems//Creativity • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social norms Human Rights Sustainable Development
  1. Population control has been a big topic because of fears about too many people using up resources and harming the environment. Many believed that without control, we could face famine and poverty.
  2. Think tanks and foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation pushed for population control strategies, believing it would help society manage resources better. They funded programs for family planning and education to promote smaller families.
  3. Over time, the focus has shifted from controlling population to ensuring human rights and sustainability. Today, issues like sexuality and reproductive rights are central to discussions that were once about just managing growth.

Mangroves Over Carbon Capture Technologies:

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 27 Apr 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Ecosystems Carbon Sequestration Biodiversity Sustainable Development
  1. Mangroves are amazing at absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, doing a better job than many technical solutions like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). They absorb millions of tons of carbon each year, which is like taking millions of cars off the road.
  2. While CCS tries to use technology to solve carbon emissions issues, it can be very costly and often doesn't deliver on promises. It's complex and needs a lot of energy, which can sometimes create more pollution instead of reducing it.
  3. Protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems is a natural and effective approach to combat climate change. They not only help store carbon but also support wildlife and protect coastal communities from storms and erosion.

The Arctic and its Resources

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Resource Management Sustainable Development Climate change Biodiversity
  1. The Arctic is warming much faster than other parts of the world, leading to the loss of sea ice, which can cause more global warming and rising sea levels.
  2. Despite the Arctic being rich in resources like oil, gas, and minerals, the environmental risks from extracting these resources are significant, affecting both the ecosystem and local communities.
  3. As new shipping routes open up due to melting ice, there's potential for economic growth, but this must be balanced with the need to protect the fragile Arctic environment and support indigenous populations.

Breaking News from the COP28 Climate Talks

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Global Warming Environmental Activism Fossil fuels Sustainable Development
  1. A record number of fossil fuel lobbyists attended COP28, raising concerns about their influence on climate decisions. This year's summit has nearly four times more lobbyists than last year.
  2. Colombia and Samoa recently joined the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, showing a commitment to reduce fossil fuel dependency. These nations are taking steps toward managing a fair transition to renewable energy.
  3. Several oil and gas companies have made a pledge to cut methane emissions by 2030, but it's non-binding. This means they aren’t legally required to follow through, which makes it hard to trust their promises.

Headlines from a Warming World, no.10

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate Policy Energy transition Global Warming Sustainable Development
  1. The US and China have gotten together to cut emissions and expand renewable energy. They want to work on reducing methane emissions too, which is a big step for China.
  2. Recently, the world experienced its hottest 12-month period ever. Many people faced extreme heat waves that were made worse by climate change.
  3. The EU is making progress in its climate goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing renewable energy usage, especially after the energy disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine.