It's CERAWeek, the annual energy conference, and it seems -- at least here in the U.S. -- the fossil fuel industry is focused on making short-term profits due to higher oil prices & using its financial power + political influence to ensure the industry’s own “sustainability” for decades to come.

Tomorrow we find out about billion-dollar company D.R. Horton’s “Development in the Dark” in Jamestown, NC. I don’t like reporting by (unpaid) Letter to the Editor, but in a time with increasing threats of lawsuits, local reporting still needs to be done. www.yesweekly.com/news/jamesto...

It is "paltering" to discount the need to address climate change by saying "fossil fuels are important for economic growth and development." But there’s no denying the truth of that statement itself for as long as the U.S. lacks the political will to transition away from fossil fuels.

“A growing number of recruitment drives are vying to entice disgruntled or displaced researchers to Canada, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other countries.”

Never let anyone tell you your individual vote couldn’t change an election outcome. 2 votes separate Sheriff Sam Page from NC Senate leader Phil Berger, who gerrymandered for and was endorsed by Trump. All precincts have reported. Certification will take weeks with a mandatory recount. Wow.

It’s primary election day here in North Carolina and Republicans where I live are choosing either * a sheriff with $39,000 in his campaign account, or * the incumbent State Senator with $2.4 million and the full weight of a political machine. Why it’s a real race: www.facebook.com/share/1CFCri...

“A war is a time when we will be told not to ask questions. But a war is actually when questions must be asked. And they must be asked in light of what we already know.” — from the author of “On Tyranny,” among others

Earlier this week, my “Covering Sustainability” course at Ansbach University formally came to a close. Upon reflection, I'm feeling hopeful.

Was A.I. used to make up the justification for repealing the EPA's own 2009 Endangerment Finding? I grok that it at least played a role... and have inquired of the EPA to find out more.

“He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” — The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776 On #Sustainable #Infrastructure -- three types: sustainlab.substack.com/p/sustainabl...

I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people. But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.

I just called my U.S. House/Senate reps again. As always, it meant leaving voicemails. Does anyone answer the phone anymore? But I believe calls to reps are better than responding to reps' social media posts. If you're a U.S. citizen, please consider making calls. This website makes it easy.

The White House is altering images now. Tell everyone to diversify news sources. Noem’s original: x.com/KristiNoem/s... White House’s manipulated: x.com/whitehouse/s...

To respond to a bully, sometimes a bully’s own language is appropriate… even in formal situations. But, in a different venue, I did also appreciate the recent thoughtful speech by Mark Carney, PM of Canada, at the World Economic Forum annual meeting. youtu.be/flsgJe8mN-A (starts at 2:40)

"Unlimited arbitrariness and violence unchecked by any legal guarantees"? The U.S. President's power — becoming ever more centralized — is also becoming more unsustainable. One year in, the time to act is now, while we still can.

Most times the President uses or threatens to use tariffs, he’s saying there’s an emergency. The Supreme Court is deliberating the legality of these emergency tariffs. IMHO, reminding the public of that should be part of every journalism story. On tariff powers: taxfoundation.org/blog/preside...

A wonderful description of "Fascism" written by and for the men and women that confronted and defeated it in WWII

The highest hotel tax rate in the U.S. is in a special district in Omaha, Nebraska, at 20.5%. Hawaii just raised its hotel tax rate 0.75%, making it's tax rate nearly 19%. So why is Hawaii's new rate being challenged in court? The additional 0.75% also applies to cruise ships.

This was way back on November 2, 2025. Where will it end? What is the “Index of American Democracy” now, @nytimes.com Editorial Board?

“What did the oil companies know, and when?”

This year, @science.org broke with tradition to highlight a non-scientific achievement as its 2025 "Breakthrough of the Year." It's an achievement that, as News Editor Tim Appenzeller put it, is "going to have a lot of consequences for society as a whole." Our reliance on fossil fuels won’t last.

“Imagine a lifetime of CO2-induced #headaches, not only for yourself but for your children and grandchildren, too. Would such a future humanity even want to #procreate?” It’s possible if we burn all our planet’s #FossilFuels. Once CO2 is added to the atmosphere it stays for hundreds of years.

"Given that we must get off fossil fuels anyway and that virtually all scientists agree that dramatically increasing atmospheric and oceanic carbon levels is insane, the faster we achieve sustainability, the better." -- Elon Musk, 2016 There are so many good arguments for #sustainability.

Yesterday, the latest survey results collectively titled “Climate Change in the American Mind” showed the disconnect between how Americans—depending on political party—view climate change’s importance. It’s a reminder of how direct-to-consumer information-sharing has splintered journalism.

Whether you live in a megacity, a rural village, or anywhere in between, you can contribute meaningfully to more sustainable development. The United Nations is calling for more volunteers. Is there a way to make volunteerism itself more sustainable? To encourage more of us to be/become helpers?

As the news today includes reports about rolling back U.S. federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules, or "CAFE standards," a reminder that the justification for the policy change appears to have been "made up" by A.I.. sustainlab.substack.com/p/policy-inf...

Three years ago, on 30 November 2022, America’s largest homebuilder, D.R. Horton, made a request of the small town of Jamestown, North Carolina. What unfolded in the weeks to follow revealed not only a lack of transparency, but deception and disregard for good governance. Read more in SustainLab.

Singapore may be the first country to explicitly charge customers for the increased costs of procuring More Sustainable Aviation Fuel. But it almost certainly won’t be the last. sustainlab.substack.com/p/up-in-the-...

It's #COP30 (this week and next), and world leaders have another opportunity to negotiate agreements to address, among other things, “thirsty” and “gassy” A.I. use. My latest on SustainLab -- informed by a scientific briefing at #SciWri25 hosted by @sciencewriters.org + @sciencewriting.bsky.social

Will a thorough listing of nature’s data and a complete understanding of A.I.’s proposed solutions to sustainability... ...persuade the world’s fossil fuel companies to go along with policies that phase out their industry? My latest for SustainLab sustainlab.substack.com/p/the-ai-sus... #COP30

If I were in a Signal chat with Secretary Pete Hegseth, I’d point out “circumstances to decline acceptance” comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/d... Even the “appearance of integrity” being compromised is reason to decline. Also see 5.2.5.3. regarding present or prospective business with DoD.

On this day twenty years ago, Walmart CEO Lee Scott gave his first livecast speech to every one of his company’s stores, clubs, and distribution centers. It reads like a conversion narrative. My latest for SustainLab.

Posting AI-generated videos gets attention. Using AI to make up policy justifications? Not so much. Which is going to have a bigger effect on American society? Journalism is having a (long) moment: We're trying to figure out how to do important work in a way that is financially sustainable.

When your Substack is ahead of coverage from The New York Times, something must be going... right? (It's because I don't have to get a fact-checker, editor, or publisher involved... I do it all myself at this point.)

Tomorrow, the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the #UN, will vote whether to implement the world’s first global tax on fossil-fuel emissions -- those emitted by large ships. Markets may respond immediately. But it will be years before any actual taxes are levied.

Journalist here I’m interested in talking to a federal agency scientist who was fired, then rehired. I can keep you anonymous. I’m on Signal ginnyg.04 Reposts are appreciated!

We journalists and science communicators need to think differently about informing people regarding slow-moving existential threats such as #ClimateChange. I think our work needs to be #local and #actionable. My latest for SustainLab. (Image is from Netflix's satire "Don't Look Up")

I just voted in my local, non-partisan, primary. But voting is not enough. "If you ‘think globally,’ it is overwhelming and you do not have enough energy left to ‘act locally.’ Just act locally and see what a difference you can make!" — Dr. Jane Goodall, may she rest in peace

Have you considered hosting your own ClimateWeek, or some version of it suitable to your community? My latest for SustainLab: sustainlab.substack.com/p/your-commu...

When it comes to #ClimateChange actions, do you know, simply, "where to begin"? My latest for SustainLab -- simple poll included.

National Academies is releasing their fast-tracked review of the science of the endangerment finding in about 1 hour, with a webcast in about 2 hours. www.nationalacademies.org/event/45701_...

In an uncertain world of dangers and perils, we are compelled to seek certainty and safety. So how do we move beyond the easy binary choices -- e.g., fight or flight -- and take a pragmatic approach to DO SOMETHING? Thinking in terms of a spectrum of "more or less." My latest for SustainLab. 🧪

Fellow journalists -- having trouble getting scientist/scholar interviews? Seen these "Thematic analysis of scholars’ experiences with journalists in the clickbait era, organized by theme"? 🧪 Source: dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/... h/t @niemanlab.org www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/the-...

"They were very critical of the CDC. When I asked if they were referring to the current or former CDC, they looked at me with blank stares. 'What is the difference?' they said. They were completely unaware of what is going on with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr...."

There's a new podcast out there -- called "Shocked" -- about sustainable solutions to climate problems. Its first episode published today. As a long-time podcaster, here's my short review of the first episode titled "Bad Energy."

Today I got an email from the U.S. National Academies titled “Resources for Educators” that starts with “School Active Shooter Drills.” The rest of the resources are related to STEM education and curriculum. mailchi.mp/nationalacad...

On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina... I learned the flood protection system for New Orleans -- that Congress authorized in 1965 -- was still not finished when Hurricane Katrina hit 40 years later. 😱

42% of U.S. conservatives say climate change is not a threat, compared with 9% of moderates and just 2% of liberals. But to respondents from 7 countries in the Global South "Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing." sustainlab.substack.com/p/setting-pr...

"Climate change is the most important longer term problem the world is facing." -- ranked the most common viewpoint (of 10 options) re: climate change in a rare survey of 7 countries in the Global South. In this post, I reviewed the recent research published last Friday in Nature Climate Change.

There's one way to be responsible to the planet -- whether you're a sustainability leader, follower, or none of the above.