Delete the Climate Button (the Roundup)
New national security strategy, rare earths and the race for the Arctic + all the important stories you've missed (Dec 6, 2025)
đ Welcome to A World Reconfigured - your guide to a world changed by climate, geopolitics and technology. I write about how climate change is creating a new world with new rules, and often cover topics like the âď¸Arctic, đ¤ˇââď¸Rare Earths and đťData Centers.
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TL;DR
The Bigger Things
US launched a new National Security Strategy (wait whereâs the Arctic in this one)
China eases rare earth element export controls (see you at the next round Beijing)
The Arctic Heats Up, Slowly (Putin makes a lot of people nervous or something)
Big week for Data Centers and Nuclear (lots of drama in DataCenterLand)
The Smaller Things
Zillow deletes its climate risk function (I guess it worked too well?)
Personal stories over the climate insurance crunch (there are people behind numbers)
The Talk of the Town
Genesis Mission, cold-war AI, AI jagged frontiers, Chinaâs 2025 climate scores and dispatches from Aceh
Creator Spotlight
Sustainability by the Numbers (Hannah Richie breaks down climate debates with actual facts)
The Bigger Things
The biggest stories you probably missed:
US launches a new National Security Strategy
What Happened? While this is not a NatSec blog, I did want to highlight the new National Security Strategy (NSS) document published by the Trump Administration this week. This 20âsomethingâpage document defines (or redefines) Americaâs priorities in the region, while effectively declaring that America is âsoo backâ.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because this document defines the USâs national security priorities and essentially tells us how the Trump Administration sees the world. If youâve been following US moves this past year, you probably can already guess 80% of the document.
My Take: âď¸ Iâll let the geopolitics experts weigh in, but as far as my coverage is concerned, I am somewhat surprised by the scant to no attention to the Arctic and to rare earths (only one reference), given how much attention the US gives these two topics in practice.
China Eases Rare Earth Export Controls (For Now)
What Happened? Following its announced truce with the US, China has finally issued new licenses to export rare earths. These oneâyear, more flexible export licenses were given to three Chinese companies. Still, it doesnât seem like China has changed its policies in a strategic or structural way.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because this looks like a tactical pause in the USâChina minerals cold war, and itâs still unclear how deep or lasting the easing will be.
My Take: âď¸ Nice move by Beijing, but I donât see Chinaâs move impacting the global race for mineral independence, given that the Chinese can just shut the floodgates the next time Trump gets under their skin.
The Arctic Gets Hotter, Slowly
What Happened? Thereâs a lot happening on the Arctic front: NATO chief Mark Rutte stopped in Reykjavik to highlight Icelandâs strategic role, NATOâs Standing Maritime Group 1 deployed to Norwayâs Arctic waters, and Norway ordered more submarines for âturbulent timesâ. Oh yeah, cool as a cucumber.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because the Arctic is turning into a contested arena for asymmetric pressure - informational, economic and military - and Russiaâs recent moves have NATO states visibly on edge.
My Take: âď¸ Youâd be surprised at just how much the the RussiaâUkraine peace talks are making Northern states nervous, many of them worried that Putin will turn to the high north next.
Big Week for Data Centers and Nuclear
What Happened? Nuclear and data centers both had a big week, full of drama and fun. Google is exploring nuclear power for an Iowa data center in Tornado Alley, and the Trump administration just committed $800M to nextâgen nuclear projects. At the same time, Georgia proposed letting data centers contract directly with cleanâenergy developers, PJMâs ombudsman warned against adding more data centers to an alreadyâstrained grid, and a new report says data centers could use about 40 percent more electricity than previously expected.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because the issues of data centers, the grid and nuclear power are intertwined. Whether the US can power data centers or not will have significant consequences.
My Take: âď¸ The landscape really is chaotic: tech, utilities, regulators and nuclear are all pulling in different directions, and thereâs no coherent plan yet. Right now it looks less like a strategy and more like a liveâfire experiment in how far the grid can stretch.
The Smaller Things
The stories you should have on your radar:
Zillow Deletes its Climate Risk Feature
What Happened: Homeâbuying platform Zillow removed a feature it launched last year that let buyers see a propertyâs exposure to climate risks like floods, wind and fire. The change came after realâestate agents and homeowners complained the scores were arbitrary and hurt sales. Instead of inâhouse scores, Zillow now links out to First Street, the nonprofit that powered the original tool.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because Zillowâs move shows two things at once: First, that climate risk warnings do in fact work (perhaps too well) and influence peopleâs decisions, and that the tide has in fact turned against climate monitoring and transportability. Neither is a great sign.
My Take: âď¸ I guess some things work a little too well. Zillow may solve a shortâterm sales problem, but itâs inviting a longerâterm fight over how much climate risk buyers deserve to see upfront.
Home Insurance Sees Climate Crunch
What Happened: The NYT has gathered stories and evidence of how the rise in climate related disasters are influencing home insurance, chronicling everyday Americansâ encounters with increased premiums and reduced coverage.
Why Care? đ¤ˇââď¸ Because behind statistics there are people who cannot afford insurance and see their coverage declining, and the NYT has done a great job in capturing these stories.
My Take: âď¸ The Insurance market in the US is experiencing a visible and noticeable crunch that is only set to increase as the planet becomes more volatile. I suspect we will see more and more of these stories popping up, and not only during national-scale disasters.
Talk of the Town:
I read way too much Linkedin, Twitter and Substack for my own good. Here are a few of my favorites this week:
âď¸ Matthew Jensen explores the Genesis Mission and an app-replacing agentic future
âď¸ Jordan Schneider interviews Helen Toner about her new role at CSET, AIâs Jagged Frontier and more. Itâs a wonderful interview that explores modern think-tanking and the frontiers of AI research.
âď¸ Hannah Ritchie recaps 2025 for Chinaâs energy and climate. Itâs a lot more complicated than youâd think and far more nuanced.
âď¸ MAATTR explores the connection between extraction economics to the recent mudslides in Aceh in a deeply personal and beautifully written essay.
âď¸ David Schatsky warns of possible overinvestments in AI and brings up a Cold-War corollary
Creator Shoutout
Every week Iâm going to highlight a writer/creator I am inspired by.
This weekâs shoutout goes to:
Sustainability by the Numbers
Hannah Ritchie authors an excellent evidence-based substack dedicated to bringing balance and nuance to the sustainability debate.
Her writing is accessible and engaging and makes delving into the data fun and easy. Reading Ritchieâs blog, it is easy to orient around hard cold facts that are often confusing and locked away in complex industry jargon.
Personally, I canât wait to read the next post and make sure to look at her work to inform my own writing.
Check it out here!
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