"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.

So proud of my fellow Americans for their thoughtful, emotive, and informed testimony to the EPA today regarding the proposed recision of the 2009 Endangerment Finding. Ameen (speaking, pictured) represents #BLKHLTH.

Elected officials, attorneys general, organizations, companies, and (so far) 225 private individuals are scheduled to speak at the public hearing (starting tomorrow) about the proposed recision of EPA's Endangerment finding. Link here is the latest official PDF of speakers/timing lnkd.in/dhCsfiNb

Next week, the U.S. EPA is holding public hearings on the proposal to rescind the 2009 #EndangermentFinding, which is used to curb #greenhouse-gas emissions. Want to attend/participate in public hearings and/or comment on the proposal? Learn how here: sustainlab.substack.com/p/inconvenie...

#Exousiazopolitics: why some authoritarians misuse #academic #research to justify their decisions. I think it's also how #sustainability decisions get made.

In a letter to #investment companies, state financial officers from 21 states made demands against environmental, social, and governance (#ESG) goals that represent #sustainability in #business. Expected but missing from the signatories: #Arkansas, #Georgia, #Montana, #Nevada, and #Ohio.

Acting locally on #sustainability: I recently replaced my gas cooktop with electric and wish I’d thought about trying to get my neighbors to go in on a bulk purchase.... What sustainability projects might you do in your habitat that could benefit both you and your neighbors working together?

We absolutely should not become numb to this

#AI may one day help us close those most persistent gaps between the #future we imagine and the world we create. But we have to decide to use AI to help us close those gaps, first.

"Trump is a gift to our #industry because he is forcing us to think very differently.” — John Elkington, Volans, 15 July 2025 Every day, it can seem more discouraging to discuss #sustainability and #climatechange in the #USA. But silence begets silence. It's past time to provoke discourse.

So #T-Mobile 'abandoned #DEI' to secure 2 deals needing U.S. FCC approval? 🤔 Appears only a change of words. For example, T-Mobile's General Counsel writes: "employees who focused on diversity and inclusion" will shift to "employee culture and engagement." Full letter: www.fcc.gov/ecfs/documen...

There’s nothing stopping individuals with sufficient resources residing in “the land of the free and the home of the brave” from making impactful choices for #sustainability. Who has sufficient resources? The world's top 1% > US$150,000 and top 10% > US$52,000....

Given the concern by the majority of surveyed big businesses about the impacts of #ClimateChange as well as the short- medium- and long-term risks, it seems it is in their economic interests for the U.S. not to shift economic advantages to oil and gas production. My latest for SustainLab.

Ms. Payne, quoting “the poignant and prophetic words of Audre Lorde: “‘To refuse to participate in the shaping of our #future is to give it up. Do not be misled into passivity either by false security (they don’t mean me) or by despair (there’s nothing we can do). #Militancy no longer means…. ‘”

The question is not whether the #sustainability transition will face challenges, but how leaders will respond: with retreat, rebranding, recommitment, or renewal. My latest for SustainLab.

The first step to any good communications strategy is understanding those you’re talking with. Do you know how the people in your habitat think about #ClimateChange? If not, what, if anything, prevents you from finding out? How might you craft an open-ended question to learn their thoughts?

Do we really need nuclear-powered #search? Beyond considering #energy and the #environment, perhaps curb #AI for consumer choice -- allowing people to turn it off? Parents turning it off for their children? Schools turning it off for students in classes? sustainlab.substack.com/p/nuclear-po...

At #WWDC 25 today, Apple announced introducing more #AI into its software... whether people know they're using AI or not. What would be the various effects of putting policies and laws in place to eliminate or curb the use of AI for everyday tasks such as internet searches and queries?

In the name of sustainability, what are we, ourselves, afraid of losing in a #sustainability transformation? What might we gain by letting it — whatever it is — go? My latest for SustainLab:

Currently watching Marcia McNutt, President, National Academy of Sciences deliver the 2nd annual National State of the Science Address. "We're embarking on a radical new experiment," she says, given Trump's policy changes, and that the U.S. is not on a path for sustainable leadership in science.

What will it take for the Trump Administration to embrace an international #ClimateChange deal? Perhaps a trade deal that "not only encourages domestic investment in manufacturing but also cleans up the global environment"? SustainLab's first #podcast. Thanks @uchicagoalumni.bsky.social

For more about the landmark case, and what prompted it -- sustainlab.substack.com/p/a-patient-...