The hottest Sustainable Practices Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Climate & Environment Topics

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

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1201 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  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.

How We Make Progress Now

The Crucial Years • 3607 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. The new administration's actions have quickly reversed many climate policies, making it crucial to organize and push back against these changes over time.
  2. While traditional protests have been important, the current political climate may require fresh strategies and new ways of engaging people to create real change.
  3. There's a strong shift towards renewable energy that can be leveraged, as public support for clean energy is growing despite efforts from opposition.

Why we need seven bins

Odds and Ends of History • 1407 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Having more bins for waste helps us recycle better. It's easier to separate recyclables from trash when we do it ourselves, which saves money for local councils.
  2. The cost of waste disposal affects what gets recycled. It's cheaper to recycle valuable materials but some items are harder to process, making their disposal costly.
  3. Not everyone has the same ability to recycle, often due to income or living situation. Building better systems and increasing bins alone won't solve the recycling problem—we also need to support everyone in participating.

A self-governing forest

The Novelleist • 434 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. A group called Terra0 wants forests to be economically independent, meaning they can own land and profit from it just like people do. This could help protect forests from being cut down.
  2. Some places, like a river in New Zealand, have been given legal rights similar to people. Terra0's idea is to take this further by having forests that can manage themselves and make money.
  3. Their projects use technology and art, like NFTs, to create economic reasons to protect nature. By tying value to the environment, they hope people will take better care of it.

Top Links 776 California's carbon market hits the floor. Spying on luxury yacht builders. Kagame's extraordinary career & Goldin's sharp eye.

Chartbook • 329 implied HN points • 21 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. California's carbon market is struggling, with recent auctions hitting the lowest price allowed. This shows challenges in the effectiveness of cap-and-trade programs for reducing emissions.
  2. There are some intriguing details about luxury yacht builders. This topic highlights a different side of luxury and the business around it.
  3. A look at Kagame's career reveals it to be quite remarkable, and Goldin's insights offer a unique perspective on various issues in the world today.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How to build the future in place

The Raven • 216 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. The world is facing a crisis of climate and ecosystem breakdown due to human activities.
  2. Building the future at the local and regional levels through strong communities can help address global challenges.
  3. Focusing on community-based solutions like social housing, sustainable materials, and governance can create a more resilient and cooperative society.

Headlines of the Warming World No 15

The Climate Historian • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Denmark has introduced the world's first carbon tax for agricultural emissions to fight climate change. This tax aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming and could inspire other countries to take similar action.
  2. Extreme heatwaves are becoming more common and severe around the world due to climate change. Recent heatwaves in places like India and Mexico have resulted in fatalities and power outages.
  3. Microplastics have been found in human tissue, including penises, raising concerns about their impact on health. This highlights the widespread issue of microplastic pollution and its potential effects on the human body.

An Ode to Our Front Yard

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 179 implied HN points • 22 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Having a wild yard filled with native plants can support local wildlife and create a thriving ecosystem. It's great to see more people choosing this over traditional grass lawns.
  2. Neighbors might not always appreciate these wild gardens, but they bring more life and diverse plants and animals. A messy yard to some can mean a home for many creatures.
  3. Don't call grass lawns 'green deserts.' Even if they don’t have much diversity, they still support some life. We should think about how we use water and resources in our yards.

The Fate of the Chubby Unicorn

Who is Robert Malone • 10 implied HN points • 13 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Rhinos, often called 'Chubby Unicorns,' are in danger of extinction due to poaching for their horns. These horns are very valuable and have caused severe decline in their population, especially in Asia.
  2. Conservationists are working hard to save rhinos, using tracking devices and other methods to protect them from poachers. This work is challenging but crucial for the survival of the species.
  3. There is ongoing debate about legalizing the trade of rhino horns, but many conservationists fear it could worsen poaching. So far, efforts to save them focus more on direct conservation methods.

Village Lost to Time Reemerges as Greece Faces Historic Drought

The Climate Historian • 1 HN point • 03 Sep 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. The village of Kallio, once submerged under a reservoir, has reappeared due to Greece's severe drought. This shows how drought can reveal forgotten parts of history.
  2. Greece is currently facing a historic drought caused by extreme heat and lack of rainfall. These conditions are making water resources very limited and raising serious concerns.
  3. Climate change and overtourism are worsening Greece's water issues. Managing water use sustainably is now more important than ever to balance human needs and natural resources.

If You Have Pests, Now Feels Like The Time to Deal with Them.

OK Doomer • 84 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Sustainable Practices
  1. Using poison for pests can lead to serious problems, like dead animals causing bad smells in your home. It’s better to try and keep them out in the first place.
  2. Mice can carry diseases that can affect humans, so it's important to get rid of them quickly. A mouse problem is serious and can affect the safety of your home.
  3. One effective way to prevent pests, especially in apartments, is to protect your vents. Keeping these areas secure can help stop pests from getting in.

200 | 4 Years of Food Safety, Food Fraud and Sustainable Supply Chains |

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainable Practices
  1. The newsletter focuses on food safety and food fraud, giving valuable updates every week. It's designed to help professionals and the public stay informed about important trends and news.
  2. Celebrating four years of running, there are special offers for group subscriptions that can save companies a lot of money. It's a great chance for teams to stay updated together.
  3. Past popular articles highlight serious issues like food fraud and allergen recalls. These topics are crucial for awareness about food safety and potential risks.

Holy Crap! What goes around comes around

WeBeGreen • 39 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. There is a disconnect between our actions and their consequences, such as the impact of our waste on the environment like water scarcity.
  2. The process of treating wastewater to turn it into drinking water includes multiple steps like screening out contaminants and filtering out microplastics.
  3. Issues like sewage dumping scandals highlight the consequences of pollution on water quality and food sources, emphasizing the need for better regulations and accountability.

Displacement, Deforestation: How Sustainable turns Unsustainable in Lithium Production

Adetokunbo Sees • 3 HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Lithium production can lead to displacement of local communities, deforestation, and environmental degradation.
  2. To make lithium production sustainable, methods that reduce water and energy usage should be implemented, along with new technologies to decrease resource requirements.
  3. The growing demand for lithium, driven by the transition to clean energy, presents opportunities for investment and innovation in climate tech sectors like climate data analytics, satellite imaging, and carbon footprint management.

A Hole in the Sky (Part 2)

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Paul Crutzen's research showed how man-made chemicals like CFCs harm the ozone layer. His work helped us understand the direct link between our activities and environmental damage.
  2. The discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica led to global cooperation. Countries came together to create treaties like the Montreal Protocol to reduce substances that harm the ozone.
  3. Public awareness and strong environmental policies from leaders like Nixon and Carter played a key role in ozone protection. These actions set important regulations to help preserve our planet's atmosphere.

The Unseen Consequences of Climate Change

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Many young people worry a lot about climate change, which can lead to what's called eco-anxiety. This stress comes from thinking about problems like global warming and extinction.
  2. Eco-anxiety affects people's mental health and can cause feelings of hopelessness and despair. It can also disrupt daily life and create physical symptoms like sleeplessness and irritability.
  3. Taking action, like learning about climate change and adopting sustainable habits, can help ease eco-anxiety. Individual efforts and community involvement are important in fighting climate change together.

Rishi Sunak's Shift on Climate Leaves UK's Climate Policy in the Shadows

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Sustainable Practices
  1. Rishi Sunak has changed the UK's climate policies, aiming to increase oil production and delay green requirements. This is seen as a big step back for climate action.
  2. The UK has strong laws in place to reduce greenhouse gases by 2050, but Sunak's decisions threaten to undermine these efforts and hinder progress in reducing emissions from homes.
  3. Global investment in clean energy is rapidly growing, but the UK risks falling behind other countries that are making stronger commitments to green energy and climate action.