The 10 best newsletters for environmental and social change in 2021

We're nearing the end of 2021, which means it's time for some ✨content roundups✨! We're kicking off our 2021 wrap-up by sharing our favorite newsletters; we'll cut to the chase and tell you what they are and why we love them.

Take a sec to sign up for our bite-sized action plans to get the rest of our roundup series on books, podcasts, and more resources that's made us better humans during this year of poo poo. 💩

Here are the best newsletters tackling climate change and social justice in 2021

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1. ‍Changeletter by Soapbox Project
   
   ‍You knew we were going to start with our own 😉. Our Changeletter is best for social change beginners who want to make a difference on issues like climate change but don't know where to start. Or maybe you just need a little more accountability. Or maybe you're looking for new friends!
   
   Whatever your goals are, Soapbox Project is a social justice funnel that makes it easy for anyone in the world to make a meaningful difference in their community. Through our Changeletter, we send 3-minute bite-sized climate action plans on a monthly topic, which we break down into READ, LISTEN, ACT, and REFLECT modules each Wednesday of the week. It's the fastest way to level up your environmental and social impact!
   
   ‍Get your copy here for free.
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2. Rest of World
   
   There's no denying that most the news we consume is US or UK centric. This warps what's going on in the rest of the world — we have an outsized understanding of the West, but don't fully grasp the realities of countries that have been extracted from. Thanks to the Rest of World newsletter, you can get the latest stories, analysis, and trend-spotting on tech from every corner on earth.
   
   ‍Get your copy here for free.
   
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3. The Factual
   
   The Factual will change your attitude towards news — no more sorting through sources to understand how biased a specific author or publication is. The Factual does that all for you. In a time when mainstream media (and links arbitrarily shared on social media) can wreak havoc on our lives, The Factual comes through with its bias ratings, so you can truly get a holistic perspective of what's happening in the world.
   
   ‍Start here for free.
   
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4. Tangle
   
   Similar to The Factual, Tangle is another unbiased-y publication. Two main differences: Tangle actually creates, vs. curates content. The second main difference is it's US centric. Tangle's fearless leader, Isaac Saul, writes about what's going on in America on the left, right, and then provides his opinion. We've seen his commentary from topics like gun control to vaccines to everything in between, and it's a great way to wrap your head around the garbage fire that is US politics. He only covers one main topic per newsletter, so it won't make your brain explode.
   
   ‍Start here for free.
   
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5. Climate Changemakers
   
   This one's a bit of a cheat, because you get the full value of Climate Changemakers when you join their community and weekly action hours, but if you're looking to make meaningful, high-leverage policy change on climate issues, start by grabbing your copy of their weekly newsletters.
   
   Their advocacy director tells you, right in the comfort of your inbox, why you should show up for their action hour on a specific week, what changes you'll be fighting for, and why it matters. It's a GREAT, easy-to-understand policy primer, so drop your email into their caring hands and drop by a weekly action hour once you're ready.
   
   Join here.
   
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6. Frame
   
   Frame. Is. So. Cool. They know they're talking to a bunch of cellphone addicts, and it's so clear that they know what they're doing.
   
   When you sign up for their text-based newsletters, you get access to interactive documentaries (there was a really cool one on mutual aid), in-depth investigative journalism, and the right level of context on the issues we're all struggling to solve. Think Instagram stories meets TikTok meets... idk, the New York Times interactive reports?
   
   ‍You have to see it for yourself.
   
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7. Below the Fold
   
   We love Below the Fold because it's exactly what it's named — their editorial team sends newsworthy content that doesn't make the headlines. Through their newsletter, we learned about how Indigenous people in Nicaragua are being genocided for beef because of COVID supply chain disruptions and greed... and a bunch of other stuff that makes you think "why isn't this on the news?!?!"
   
   Well, it is. It's just not getting the attention it deserves. Below the Fold is changing that.
   
   ‍Get your copy here for free.
   
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8. ProPublica's Big Story
   
   ProPublica's pretty mainstream and you've probably heard about it, but their Big Story newsletter is an excellent chance to make sure you don't miss breaking investigative reports.  We don't need to convince you of how important ProPublica is to revealing some real messed up 💩; sign up here.
   
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9. HEATED
   
   Emily Atkin writes HEATED, a newsletter for people who are pissed off about climate change. Her reporting is sharp, funny, and thorough, and makes a clear case for why we should support individual journalists instead of simply following publications.
   
   She's interviewed John Kerry and Al Gore, written for All We Can Save, exposed Big Oil's deception, and more. If there's one actual journalistic climate publication you're signing up for that will give you in-depth coverage, HEATED is the one.
   
   ‍Get your copy here for free.
   
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10. The Beacon by Grist
    
    Finally, if you haven't signed up for Grist's Beacon, you're missing out. Grist is a climate-focused publication, and they cover topics from climate justice to policy to renewable energy to... well, all the things.
    
    They have a bunch of different newsletters and the Soapbox team probably gets all of them, but their Beacon provides a daily dose of good climate news, and we need these wins to show us how much our work really does matter. Let's get it!!
    
    ‍Get your copy here for free.