[Music] in August in September of this year 2017
in August in September of this year 2017
in August in September of this year 2017 we witnessed three powerful hurricanes
we witnessed three powerful hurricanes
we witnessed three powerful hurricanes emerge the atlantic these contributed to
emerge the atlantic these contributed to
emerge the atlantic these contributed to the most powerful hurricane season on
the most powerful hurricane season on
the most powerful hurricane season on record the damage that these storms did
record the damage that these storms did
record the damage that these storms did to lives and livelihoods is staggering
to lives and livelihoods is staggering
to lives and livelihoods is staggering hurricane Harvey dumped 40 inches of
hurricane Harvey dumped 40 inches of
hurricane Harvey dumped 40 inches of rain in four days in parts of Texas
rain in four days in parts of Texas
rain in four days in parts of Texas hurricane Irma followed behind and with
hurricane Irma followed behind and with
hurricane Irma followed behind and with his powerful winds damaged nearly every
his powerful winds damaged nearly every
his powerful winds damaged nearly every building on some Caribbean islands and
building on some Caribbean islands and
building on some Caribbean islands and in parts of Florida behind that came
in parts of Florida behind that came
in parts of Florida behind that came Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico wiping out the entire electricity system
wiping out the entire electricity system
wiping out the entire electricity system and most of the drinking water system
and most of the drinking water system
and most of the drinking water system for a population of three and a half
for a population of three and a half
for a population of three and a half million people at the same time we had
million people at the same time we had
million people at the same time we had wildfires burning in the western United
wildfires burning in the western United
wildfires burning in the western United States destroying thousands of homes the
States destroying thousands of homes the
States destroying thousands of homes the costs estimated to repair from these
costs estimated to repair from these
costs estimated to repair from these damages totals over 300 billion dollars
damages totals over 300 billion dollars
damages totals over 300 billion dollars unfortunately this is the new normal
unfortunately this is the new normal
unfortunately this is the new normal now scientists have studied that and
now scientists have studied that and
now scientists have studied that and determined that the sea levels are
determined that the sea levels are
determined that the sea levels are rising because of melting glaciers and a
rising because of melting glaciers and a
rising because of melting glaciers and a process called thermal expansion as the
process called thermal expansion as the
process called thermal expansion as the warmer temperatures warm up the Seas
warmer temperatures warm up the Seas
warmer temperatures warm up the Seas they gain more volume higher seas yield
they gain more volume higher seas yield
they gain more volume higher seas yield to higher yield higher storm surges
to higher yield higher storm surges
to higher yield higher storm surges during hurricanes which results in more
during hurricanes which results in more
during hurricanes which results in more flooding we also know that the air
flooding we also know that the air
flooding we also know that the air surface and water temperatures are
surface and water temperatures are
surface and water temperatures are increasing why and warmer water give
increasing why and warmer water give
increasing why and warmer water give hurricanes more power making them dump
hurricanes more power making them dump
hurricanes more power making them dump more rain and giving them powerful winds
more rain and giving them powerful winds
more rain and giving them powerful winds hurricane Irma gusts were recorded at
hurricane Irma gusts were recorded at
hurricane Irma gusts were recorded at 215 miles an hour climate change will
215 miles an hour climate change will
215 miles an hour climate change will impact all of us for the rest of our
impact all of us for the rest of our
impact all of us for the rest of our lives even if we stopped emitting fossil
lives even if we stopped emitting fossil
lives even if we stopped emitting fossil fuels today
fuels today
fuels today the emissions that we’ve pumped into the
the emissions that we’ve pumped into the
the emissions that we’ve pumped into the atmosphere so far will continue to
atmosphere so far will continue to
atmosphere so far will continue to generate unprecedented warmth
generate unprecedented warmth
generate unprecedented warmth unprecedented increase in temperatures
unprecedented increase in temperatures
unprecedented increase in temperatures for decades if not centuries to come
climate change is causing the decline of
climate change is causing the decline of crop yields it’s causing the spread of
crop yields it’s causing the spread of
crop yields it’s causing the spread of many diseases beyond their normal range
many diseases beyond their normal range
many diseases beyond their normal range it’s contributing to our sixth mass
it’s contributing to our sixth mass
it’s contributing to our sixth mass extinction it’s contributing to an
extinction it’s contributing to an
extinction it’s contributing to an increase in both droughts and floods
increase in both droughts and floods
increase in both droughts and floods it’s causing a greater frequency of
it’s causing a greater frequency of
it’s causing a greater frequency of deadly heat waves it’s causing more
deadly heat waves it’s causing more
deadly heat waves it’s causing more violent conflict it’s even generating
violent conflict it’s even generating
violent conflict it’s even generating refugees collectively we need to come up
refugees collectively we need to come up
refugees collectively we need to come up with some solutions and this the leaders
with some solutions and this the leaders
with some solutions and this the leaders of the immediate future how do you think
of the immediate future how do you think
of the immediate future how do you think about climate change is going to
about climate change is going to
about climate change is going to determine what kind of solutions you
determine what kind of solutions you
determine what kind of solutions you imagine so how do we think about climate
imagine so how do we think about climate
imagine so how do we think about climate change one very prominent way is as an
change one very prominent way is as an
change one very prominent way is as an environmental issue this makes sense
environmental issue this makes sense
environmental issue this makes sense climate change will alter our
climate change will alter our
climate change will alter our environment
environment
environment scientists conservatively estimate that
scientists conservatively estimate that
scientists conservatively estimate that the extinction rates that we’ve seen
the extinction rates that we’ve seen
the extinction rates that we’ve seen over the last 120 years should have
over the last 120 years should have
over the last 120 years should have taken between
taken between
taken between eight hundred and ten thousand years and
eight hundred and ten thousand years and
eight hundred and ten thousand years and remember that extinction means that
remember that extinction means that
remember that extinction means that species is gone and we’re wiping out
species is gone and we’re wiping out
species is gone and we’re wiping out millions of years of biological
millions of years of biological
millions of years of biological evolutionary processes environmental
evolutionary processes environmental
evolutionary processes environmental organizations are concerned about
organizations are concerned about
organizations are concerned about climate change because of the potential
climate change because of the potential
climate change because of the potential loss of dominant species like polar
loss of dominant species like polar
loss of dominant species like polar bears because of the potential loss of
bears because of the potential loss of
bears because of the potential loss of our coral reefs and the like
our coral reefs and the like
our coral reefs and the like organizations prominent organizations
organizations prominent organizations
organizations prominent organizations like Greenpeace International Friends of
like Greenpeace International Friends of
like Greenpeace International Friends of the Earth 350.org and World Wildlife
the Earth 350.org and World Wildlife
the Earth 350.org and World Wildlife Fund are taking up the mantle of climate
Fund are taking up the mantle of climate
Fund are taking up the mantle of climate change the other way that we can look at
change the other way that we can look at
change the other way that we can look at climate change and I think we often do
climate change and I think we often do
climate change and I think we often do as is as an economic issue there’s been
as is as an economic issue there’s been
as is as an economic issue there’s been a great deal of economic research on the
a great deal of economic research on the
a great deal of economic research on the potential costs the climate change will
potential costs the climate change will
potential costs the climate change will have on our economy as well as using
have on our economy as well as using
have on our economy as well as using economic tools to disincentivize our use
economic tools to disincentivize our use
economic tools to disincentivize our use of fossil fuels
of fossil fuels
of fossil fuels recent research predicts the climate
recent research predicts the climate
recent research predicts the climate change will cost the economy in the
change will cost the economy in the
change will cost the economy in the United States 1 billion dollars a day
United States 1 billion dollars a day
United States 1 billion dollars a day within the coming decade this is not
within the coming decade this is not
within the coming decade this is not centuries from now this is within the
centuries from now this is within the
centuries from now this is within the coming decade and that’s half of our
coming decade and that’s half of our
coming decade and that’s half of our estimated economic growth others have
estimated economic growth others have
estimated economic growth others have done research and projected that by the
done research and projected that by the
done research and projected that by the end of the century
end of the century
end of the century our global GDP will be down 20% because
our global GDP will be down 20% because
our global GDP will be down 20% because of the costs of climate change other
of the costs of climate change other
of the costs of climate change other economists have developed tools like
economists have developed tools like
economists have developed tools like carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems
carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems
carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems to try and get us to use fewer fossil
to try and get us to use fewer fossil
to try and get us to use fewer fossil fuels so again climate change makes
fuels so again climate change makes
fuels so again climate change makes sense as an economic issue as well the
sense as an economic issue as well the
sense as an economic issue as well the third very prominent way that we look at
third very prominent way that we look at
third very prominent way that we look at climate change is as an energy issue
climate change is as an energy issue
climate change is as an energy issue global warming and climate change are
global warming and climate change are
global warming and climate change are caused by the burning of fossil fuels
caused by the burning of fossil fuels
caused by the burning of fossil fuels coal oil and natural gas that we burn in
coal oil and natural gas that we burn in
coal oil and natural gas that we burn in our vehicles in our homes and in our
our vehicles in our homes and in our
our vehicles in our homes and in our production so a lot of organizations are
production so a lot of organizations are
production so a lot of organizations are concerned about how do we change that so
concerned about how do we change that so
concerned about how do we change that so they are developing and/or lobbying for
they are developing and/or lobbying for
they are developing and/or lobbying for a switch to alternative fuels that use
a switch to alternative fuels that use
a switch to alternative fuels that use less carbon burn less fossil fuels so
less carbon burn less fossil fuels so
less carbon burn less fossil fuels so things like solar and hydroelectric Al
things like solar and hydroelectric Al
things like solar and hydroelectric Al Gore’s climate reality project and Elon
Gore’s climate reality project and Elon
Gore’s climate reality project and Elon Musk’s Tesla are just a couple of
Musk’s Tesla are just a couple of
Musk’s Tesla are just a couple of examples of organizations that are
examples of organizations that are
examples of organizations that are working in one way or another from this
working in one way or another from this
working in one way or another from this perspective my challenge to you today is
perspective my challenge to you today is
perspective my challenge to you today is in addition to those perspectives and
in addition to those perspectives and
in addition to those perspectives and underline any perspective that you may
underline any perspective that you may
underline any perspective that you may have about climate change we need to add
have about climate change we need to add
have about climate change we need to add the principles of justice if you think
the principles of justice if you think
the principles of justice if you think about the principles of justice and
about the principles of justice and
about the principles of justice and their most basic sense we think about
their most basic sense we think about
their most basic sense we think about fairness we think about equal treatment
fairness we think about equal treatment
fairness we think about equal treatment before the law and we think about
before the law and we think about
before the law and we think about holding people who are responsible for
holding people who are responsible for
holding people who are responsible for harming others we want to hold them
harming others we want to hold them
harming others we want to hold them responsible for that behavior right and
responsible for that behavior right and
responsible for that behavior right and we seek we seek justice through
we seek we seek justice through
we seek we seek justice through punishment like incarceration or maybe
punishment like incarceration or maybe
punishment like incarceration or maybe with the restitution through fines for
with the restitution through fines for
with the restitution through fines for people who have caused others harm now
people who have caused others harm now
people who have caused others harm now understanding the causes and
understanding the causes and
understanding the causes and consequences may make this justice
consequences may make this justice
consequences may make this justice perspective more
perspective more
perspective more so how do we look at the causes and
so how do we look at the causes and
so how do we look at the causes and consequences of climate change let’s
consequences of climate change let’s
consequences of climate change let’s start with the causes if we look at us
start with the causes if we look at us
start with the causes if we look at us at a singular global problem as if we’re
at a singular global problem as if we’re
at a singular global problem as if we’re all in this together the problem is is
all in this together the problem is is
all in this together the problem is is that that masks a lot of variation in
that that masks a lot of variation in
that that masks a lot of variation in the the causes of climate change so we
the the causes of climate change so we
the the causes of climate change so we can look at look at it from a global
can look at look at it from a global
can look at look at it from a global perspective and greenhouse gases which
perspective and greenhouse gases which
perspective and greenhouse gases which they’re referred to as such because of
they’re referred to as such because of
they’re referred to as such because of their heat trapping ability a carbon
their heat trapping ability a carbon
their heat trapping ability a carbon dioxide is the most prominent of a
dioxide is the most prominent of a
dioxide is the most prominent of a handful that are contributing to climate
handful that are contributing to climate
handful that are contributing to climate change so if we look at the co2
change so if we look at the co2
change so if we look at the co2 emissions in the atmosphere in this case
emissions in the atmosphere in this case
emissions in the atmosphere in this case from 1970 to 2012 we see a general trend
from 1970 to 2012 we see a general trend
from 1970 to 2012 we see a general trend pretty continuous increase however as a
pretty continuous increase however as a
pretty continuous increase however as a globe we are still a planet of
globe we are still a planet of
globe we are still a planet of relatively sovereign and independent
relatively sovereign and independent
relatively sovereign and independent nations so if we look at it from a
nations so if we look at it from a
nations so if we look at it from a national perspective again for 2014
national perspective again for 2014
national perspective again for 2014 again looking at carbon dioxide
again looking at carbon dioxide
again looking at carbon dioxide emissions we see some pretty clear
emissions we see some pretty clear
emissions we see some pretty clear patterns where China is the primary
patterns where China is the primary
patterns where China is the primary emitter of the emissions that are
emitter of the emissions that are
emitter of the emissions that are causing climate change now the problem
causing climate change now the problem
causing climate change now the problem with that is that countries have greatly
with that is that countries have greatly
with that is that countries have greatly varying levels of population so if we
varying levels of population so if we
varying levels of population so if we look at it from a per capita emissions
look at it from a per capita emissions
look at it from a per capita emissions rate then we can adjust for that level
rate then we can adjust for that level
rate then we can adjust for that level of population and again we see a very
of population and again we see a very
of population and again we see a very different picture in this case the
different picture in this case the
different picture in this case the United States becomes the prominent and
United States becomes the prominent and
United States becomes the prominent and primary emitter of co2 responsible for
primary emitter of co2 responsible for
primary emitter of co2 responsible for carbon dioxide in fact it takes two
carbon dioxide in fact it takes two
carbon dioxide in fact it takes two people from China two people from
people from China two people from
people from China two people from Germany two people from the UK on
Germany two people from the UK on
Germany two people from the UK on average to emit similar levels of
average to emit similar levels of
average to emit similar levels of emissions as a single person from the
emissions as a single person from the
emissions as a single person from the United States it takes six people from
United States it takes six people from
United States it takes six people from bazzill nine people from India 13 people
bazzill nine people from India 13 people
bazzill nine people from India 13 people from Honduras to emit the similar level
from Honduras to emit the similar level
from Honduras to emit the similar level of emissions as the average single
of emissions as the average single
of emissions as the average single person in the United States it takes 30
person in the United States it takes 30
person in the United States it takes 30 people from kira bas a small island
people from kira bas a small island
people from kira bas a small island nation that’s predicted to be submerged
nation that’s predicted to be submerged
nation that’s predicted to be submerged by rising sea levels to generate the
by rising sea levels to generate the
by rising sea levels to generate the same amount of emissions as a single
same amount of emissions as a single
same amount of emissions as a single person in the United States 50 people
person in the United States 50 people
person in the United States 50 people from Kenya 56 people from Nepal the same
from Kenya 56 people from Nepal the same
from Kenya 56 people from Nepal the same amount of emissions as one person from
amount of emissions as one person from
amount of emissions as one person from the United States so in many respects
the United States so in many respects
the United States so in many respects the responsibility for the causes of
the responsibility for the causes of
the responsibility for the causes of climate change are becoming more clear
climate change are becoming more clear
climate change are becoming more clear one last way that we can look at the
one last way that we can look at the
one last way that we can look at the causes is from a historical perspective
causes is from a historical perspective
causes is from a historical perspective because a lot of the warming that we’re
because a lot of the warming that we’re
because a lot of the warming that we’re experiencing today is the result of
experiencing today is the result of
experiencing today is the result of emissions that were put into our
emissions that were put into our
emissions that were put into our atmosphere a decade maybe even a century
atmosphere a decade maybe even a century
atmosphere a decade maybe even a century ago many the co2 and other gases linger
ago many the co2 and other gases linger
ago many the co2 and other gases linger for a long time and so if we look from a
for a long time and so if we look from a
for a long time and so if we look from a historic affective from the history of
historic affective from the history of
historic affective from the history of industrialization when we started
industrialization when we started
industrialization when we started burning fossil fuels we see again that
burning fossil fuels we see again that
burning fossil fuels we see again that the United States is by far the most
the United States is by far the most
the United States is by far the most prominent single nation in contributing
prominent single nation in contributing
prominent single nation in contributing to the problem that we’re all
to the problem that we’re all
to the problem that we’re all experiencing now in climate change
unfortunately the consequences of
unfortunately the consequences of climate change despite these three very
climate change despite these three very
climate change despite these three very powerful hurricanes and the fires out
powerful hurricanes and the fires out
powerful hurricanes and the fires out west the consequences of climate change
west the consequences of climate change
west the consequences of climate change are not distributed proportional to
are not distributed proportional to
are not distributed proportional to those who caused it because we’re
those who caused it because we’re
those who caused it because we’re impacting the global atmosphere the
impacting the global atmosphere the
impacting the global atmosphere the United States is the leading historical
United States is the leading historical
United States is the leading historical emitter and the leading per capita
emitter and the leading per capita
emitter and the leading per capita emitter the consequences of that action
emitter the consequences of that action
emitter the consequences of that action spread beyond our own boundaries and
spread beyond our own boundaries and
spread beyond our own boundaries and beyond the impact on us so instead what
beyond the impact on us so instead what
beyond the impact on us so instead what we see is more impoverished countries
we see is more impoverished countries
we see is more impoverished countries more impoverished communities indigenous
more impoverished communities indigenous
more impoverished communities indigenous communities in our own country being
communities in our own country being
communities in our own country being more vulnerable to the consequences of
more vulnerable to the consequences of
more vulnerable to the consequences of climate change so when we think about
climate change so when we think about
climate change so when we think about increased frequency and strength of
increased frequency and strength of
increased frequency and strength of drought here in the United States our
drought here in the United States our
drought here in the United States our industrial agricultural system will
industrial agricultural system will
industrial agricultural system will develop drought resistant seeds will tap
develop drought resistant seeds will tap
develop drought resistant seeds will tap into our ability to irrigate our crops
into our ability to irrigate our crops
into our ability to irrigate our crops and this will buffer us somewhat from
and this will buffer us somewhat from
and this will buffer us somewhat from the immediate consequence
the immediate consequence
the immediate consequence of climate change a subsistence farmer
of climate change a subsistence farmer
of climate change a subsistence farmer in Malawi or pastoralist Masai community
in Malawi or pastoralist Masai community
in Malawi or pastoralist Masai community in southern Kenya that contributed
in southern Kenya that contributed
in southern Kenya that contributed almost nothing to the problem is they
almost nothing to the problem is they
almost nothing to the problem is they are already facing life life-threatening
are already facing life life-threatening
are already facing life life-threatening consequences of climate change and have
consequences of climate change and have
consequences of climate change and have few – no resources to deal with that as
few – no resources to deal with that as
few – no resources to deal with that as sea-level rise as the Seas rise as the
sea-level rise as the Seas rise as the
sea-level rise as the Seas rise as the sea level rises places like Wall Street
sea level rises places like Wall Street
sea level rises places like Wall Street in lower Manhattan and Miami we will and
in lower Manhattan and Miami we will and
in lower Manhattan and Miami we will and are building billion dollar sea walls we
are building billion dollar sea walls we
are building billion dollar sea walls we will have extensive pumping systems in
will have extensive pumping systems in
will have extensive pumping systems in my–in parts of Miami Beach they’re
my–in parts of Miami Beach they’re
my–in parts of Miami Beach they’re raising the streets so you walk out of a
raising the streets so you walk out of a
raising the streets so you walk out of a shop and the street is at this level now
shop and the street is at this level now
shop and the street is at this level now to prevent already frequent flooding
to prevent already frequent flooding
to prevent already frequent flooding well what about the 20 million people
well what about the 20 million people
well what about the 20 million people who live in relative poverty at or below
who live in relative poverty at or below
who live in relative poverty at or below sea level in southern Bangladesh who do
sea level in southern Bangladesh who do
sea level in southern Bangladesh who do not have the resources to just get up
not have the resources to just get up
not have the resources to just get up and move do not have the resources to
and move do not have the resources to
and move do not have the resources to build a billion-dollar seawall to keep
build a billion-dollar seawall to keep
build a billion-dollar seawall to keep those rising seas from coming in what
those rising seas from coming in what
those rising seas from coming in what about here abbas and other island
about here abbas and other island
about here abbas and other island nations who as the sea levels rise their
nations who as the sea levels rise their
nations who as the sea levels rise their cultures will have to disperse and
cultures will have to disperse and
cultures will have to disperse and struggle to survive what about the
struggle to survive what about the
struggle to survive what about the indigenous communities in Alaska who are
indigenous communities in Alaska who are
indigenous communities in Alaska who are literally seen their land erode away
literally seen their land erode away
literally seen their land erode away during winter storms due to higher sea
during winter storms due to higher sea
during winter storms due to higher sea levels and having to be moved to
levels and having to be moved to
levels and having to be moved to communities and lands that they are
communities and lands that they are
communities and lands that they are unfamiliar with what about bearing heat
unfamiliar with what about bearing heat
unfamiliar with what about bearing heat waves we’re gonna retreat to our air
waves we’re gonna retreat to our air
waves we’re gonna retreat to our air conditioning which ironically further
conditioning which ironically further
conditioning which ironically further exacerbates climate change we’re going
exacerbates climate change we’re going
exacerbates climate change we’re going to be able to avoid moving to the
to be able to avoid moving to the
to be able to avoid moving to the hottest places in our own country when
hottest places in our own country when
hottest places in our own country when they become intolerable southern Texas
they become intolerable southern Texas
they become intolerable southern Texas Arizona New Mexico we’re going to be
Arizona New Mexico we’re going to be
Arizona New Mexico we’re going to be able to avoid moving in those places or
able to avoid moving in those places or
able to avoid moving in those places or those there many of them will be able to
those there many of them will be able to
those there many of them will be able to move to cities of with higher latitudes
move to cities of with higher latitudes
move to cities of with higher latitudes that are cooler although some predict
that are cooler although some predict
that are cooler although some predict that by 2100 Chicago of the temperature
that by 2100 Chicago of the temperature
that by 2100 Chicago of the temperature range of McAllen Texas others in other
range of McAllen Texas others in other
range of McAllen Texas others in other parts of the world will not have those
parts of the world will not have those
parts of the world will not have those resources others who have not
resources others who have not
resources others who have not contributed to the
contributed to the
contributed to the causes of climate change as we have will
causes of climate change as we have will
causes of climate change as we have will not those resources to do do such a
not those resources to do do such a
not those resources to do do such a thing so if we can look pointings from a
thing so if we can look pointings from a
thing so if we can look pointings from a justice perspective this helps us to
justice perspective this helps us to
justice perspective this helps us to understand why developing nations are
understand why developing nations are
understand why developing nations are asking the United States and others to
asking the United States and others to
asking the United States and others to contribute billions of dollars to a fund
contribute billions of dollars to a fund
contribute billions of dollars to a fund to help them to adapt to climate change
to help them to adapt to climate change
to help them to adapt to climate change to mitigate their own emissions with
to mitigate their own emissions with
to mitigate their own emissions with using alternative sources of energy this
using alternative sources of energy this
using alternative sources of energy this can help us understand why people are
can help us understand why people are
can help us understand why people are calling for the open transfer of
calling for the open transfer of
calling for the open transfer of technology to allow them and assist them
technology to allow them and assist them
technology to allow them and assist them in adapting to climate change now even
in adapting to climate change now even
in adapting to climate change now even that the reduction of emissions is not
that the reduction of emissions is not
that the reduction of emissions is not equal when we think about reducing our
equal when we think about reducing our
equal when we think about reducing our emissions we’ve had well over a hundred
emissions we’ve had well over a hundred
emissions we’ve had well over a hundred years of fossil fuel-based driven
years of fossil fuel-based driven
years of fossil fuel-based driven development that has led to relatively
development that has led to relatively
development that has led to relatively very very comfortable lives and a level
very very comfortable lives and a level
very very comfortable lives and a level of consumption never seen before on this
of consumption never seen before on this
of consumption never seen before on this planet and now we’re asking other
planet and now we’re asking other
planet and now we’re asking other countries when we talk about climate
countries when we talk about climate
countries when we talk about climate change being kind of a singular global
change being kind of a singular global
change being kind of a singular global issue we’re asking other countries to
issue we’re asking other countries to
issue we’re asking other countries to not follow that same path that we did
not follow that same path that we did
not follow that same path that we did using those relatively cheap very
using those relatively cheap very
using those relatively cheap very powerful fuels and instead to pursue a
powerful fuels and instead to pursue a
powerful fuels and instead to pursue a path of development using mork’s
path of development using mork’s
path of development using mork’s currently more expensive and less widely
currently more expensive and less widely
currently more expensive and less widely available alternative sources so while
available alternative sources so while
available alternative sources so while climate change is such a large issue
climate change is such a large issue
climate change is such a large issue that it will require collective
that it will require collective
that it will require collective institutionally global action what can
institutionally global action what can
institutionally global action what can you do as an individual through this
you do as an individual through this
you do as an individual through this perspective well I think first and
perspective well I think first and
perspective well I think first and foremost we can think about what
foremost we can think about what
foremost we can think about what luxuries could we forego in order to
luxuries could we forego in order to
luxuries could we forego in order to assist somebody else who is doesn’t have
assist somebody else who is doesn’t have
assist somebody else who is doesn’t have those same resources and is already
those same resources and is already
those same resources and is already feeling the impact of climate change we
feeling the impact of climate change we
feeling the impact of climate change we can divest our own investments and ask
can divest our own investments and ask
can divest our own investments and ask our institutions like colleges and
our institutions like colleges and
our institutions like colleges and universities to divest their endowments
universities to divest their endowments
universities to divest their endowments from fossil fuel companies in order to
from fossil fuel companies in order to
from fossil fuel companies in order to stigmatize them
stigmatize them
stigmatize them and encourage society to alternative
and encourage society to alternative
and encourage society to alternative fuels we can challenge ourselves to
fuels we can challenge ourselves to
fuels we can challenge ourselves to learn more about climate change we can
learn more about climate change we can
learn more about climate change we can join social movements my own Ries my own
join social movements my own Ries my own
join social movements my own Ries my own Survey Research looking at large protest
Survey Research looking at large protest
Survey Research looking at large protest movements around climate change the
movements around climate change the
movements around climate change the people’s climate March in 2014 in New
people’s climate March in 2014 in New
people’s climate March in 2014 in New York City and one in DC earlier this
York City and one in DC earlier this
York City and one in DC earlier this spring shows that about 70 percent of
spring shows that about 70 percent of
spring shows that about 70 percent of the people in each of these protest
the people in each of these protest
the people in each of these protest events supported this ad this climate
events supported this ad this climate
events supported this ad this climate justice frame supported this idea that
justice frame supported this idea that
justice frame supported this idea that the United States and other highly
the United States and other highly
the United States and other highly developed nations owe or should provide
developed nations owe or should provide
developed nations owe or should provide millions of dollars to help developing
millions of dollars to help developing
millions of dollars to help developing countries overcome the challenges of
countries overcome the challenges of
countries overcome the challenges of climate change that we have caused
so with this justice perspective I think
so with this justice perspective I think we need to hold ourselves accountable we
we need to hold ourselves accountable we
we need to hold ourselves accountable we need to hold ourselves responsible for
need to hold ourselves responsible for
need to hold ourselves responsible for that which has benefited us we need to
that which has benefited us we need to
that which has benefited us we need to bring the conversation to any position
bring the conversation to any position
bring the conversation to any position that we have an opportunity to you are
that we have an opportunity to you are
that we have an opportunity to you are the leaders of the immediate future in
the leaders of the immediate future in
the leaders of the immediate future in education in business in organizations
education in business in organizations
education in business in organizations in all levels of government you will be
in all levels of government you will be
in all levels of government you will be talking about climate change in that
talking about climate change in that
talking about climate change in that positions I encourage you to bring this
positions I encourage you to bring this
positions I encourage you to bring this justice perspective to whatever those
justice perspective to whatever those
justice perspective to whatever those discussions are I hope that you will
discussions are I hope that you will
discussions are I hope that you will maintain a global perspective when you
maintain a global perspective when you
maintain a global perspective when you think about your consumption when you
think about your consumption when you
think about your consumption when you think about our wealth and when you
think about our wealth and when you
think about our wealth and when you think about your emissions thank you
think about your emissions thank you
think about your emissions thank you [Applause]
”
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