I should clarify that I am not against recycling of glass. I actively do it (but then I live in Europe.

I agree that we are using sand at an unsustainable rate.

However I am disputing the assertion that the USA recycling its glass will make a material impact on climate change, compared to switching to nuclear/solar/other

While this is true, I'm not sure this statement alone is helpful to the discussion. I'm not sure that mining of any material is not ecologically destructive. So we have to compare _how_ destructive different materials are to gather and then probably full chain. Given the glass can be recycled, that's an advantage on full chain. Maybe someone knows more than me (not my field) but I'm willing to bet that glass is better in both amounts when compared to the popular alternative, plastic.

Depends on the kind of sand, that worry is more about sharp sand. I believe ocean sand can be used for glass?

not only that but we're actually running out of the stuff:

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is...