[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] what is the scariest ride that you have
what is the scariest ride that you have
what is the scariest ride that you have ever been on
ever been on
ever been on possibly a roller coaster at Six Flags
possibly a roller coaster at Six Flags
possibly a roller coaster at Six Flags Disneyland or some other amusement park
Disneyland or some other amusement park
Disneyland or some other amusement park right well the scariest ride that I have
right well the scariest ride that I have
right well the scariest ride that I have ever been on was sitting in the back of
ever been on was sitting in the back of
ever been on was sitting in the back of a taxi in New Delhi India a couple of
a taxi in New Delhi India a couple of
a taxi in New Delhi India a couple of years ago while sitting in this taxi a
years ago while sitting in this taxi a
years ago while sitting in this taxi a thick layer of smog filled the air and
thick layer of smog filled the air and
thick layer of smog filled the air and made visibility only a couple yards
made visibility only a couple yards
made visibility only a couple yards vehicles seem to just appear out of the
vehicles seem to just appear out of the
vehicles seem to just appear out of the smog and the driver would veer left and
smog and the driver would veer left and
smog and the driver would veer left and right to avoid them all the while I was
right to avoid them all the while I was
right to avoid them all the while I was sitting in the back frozen in terror
sitting in the back frozen in terror
sitting in the back frozen in terror then all of a sudden the red taillights
then all of a sudden the red taillights
then all of a sudden the red taillights of a truck appeared and the driver
of a truck appeared and the driver
of a truck appeared and the driver slammed on the brakes our taxi skid to a
slammed on the brakes our taxi skid to a
slammed on the brakes our taxi skid to a halt just inches away from the truck in
halt just inches away from the truck in
halt just inches away from the truck in front of us that was the first time that
front of us that was the first time that
front of us that was the first time that I experienced the dangers of smog for
I experienced the dangers of smog for
I experienced the dangers of smog for those of you who do not know what smog
those of you who do not know what smog
those of you who do not know what smog is it is created when fog combines with
is it is created when fog combines with
is it is created when fog combines with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants
smoke and other atmospheric pollutants
smoke and other atmospheric pollutants to create a dense almost brownish layer
to create a dense almost brownish layer
to create a dense almost brownish layer of air that is extremely unhealthy to
of air that is extremely unhealthy to
of air that is extremely unhealthy to breathe experiencing this pollution
breathe experiencing this pollution
breathe experiencing this pollution angered me and showed me how much carbon
angered me and showed me how much carbon
angered me and showed me how much carbon dioxide we humans are dumping into our
dioxide we humans are dumping into our
dioxide we humans are dumping into our atmosphere I was frustrated so once I
atmosphere I was frustrated so once I
atmosphere I was frustrated so once I got back to the US I set out to learn
got back to the US I set out to learn
got back to the US I set out to learn more about pollution and soon I realized
more about pollution and soon I realized
more about pollution and soon I realized that smog wasn’t the only effect carbon
that smog wasn’t the only effect carbon
that smog wasn’t the only effect carbon dioxide from automobiles factories and
dioxide from automobiles factories and
dioxide from automobiles factories and power plants are melting the polar ice
power plants are melting the polar ice
power plants are melting the polar ice caps which is in turn increasing sea
caps which is in turn increasing sea
caps which is in turn increasing sea levels I learned that as carbon dioxide
levels I learned that as carbon dioxide
levels I learned that as carbon dioxide increases in our atmosphere sea water
increases in our atmosphere sea water
increases in our atmosphere sea water becomes more acidic which then kills
becomes more acidic which then kills
becomes more acidic which then kills coral these coral are home to millions
coral these coral are home to millions
coral these coral are home to millions of species of fish which feed almost 1
of species of fish which feed almost 1
of species of fish which feed almost 1 billion people on this earth but this is
billion people on this earth but this is
billion people on this earth but this is probably old news to most of you you’ve
probably old news to most of you you’ve
probably old news to most of you you’ve all seen the pictures of stranded polar
all seen the pictures of stranded polar
all seen the pictures of stranded polar bears and smokestacks dumping tons of
bears and smokestacks dumping tons of
bears and smokestacks dumping tons of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere yet
greenhouse gases into our atmosphere yet
greenhouse gases into our atmosphere yet at the end of the day most of us forget
at the end of the day most of us forget
at the end of the day most of us forget about the changing climate
about the changing climate
about the changing climate because we have the privilege of doing
because we have the privilege of doing
because we have the privilege of doing so but all around the world there are
so but all around the world there are
so but all around the world there are already people who are suffering from
already people who are suffering from
already people who are suffering from the preliminary effects of climate
the preliminary effects of climate
the preliminary effects of climate change such as the people in the
change such as the people in the
change such as the people in the Marshall Islands whose homes are swept
Marshall Islands whose homes are swept
Marshall Islands whose homes are swept away by rising sea levels or the Indian
away by rising sea levels or the Indian
away by rising sea levels or the Indian farmers whose crops are completely
farmers whose crops are completely
farmers whose crops are completely destroyed due to extreme rainfall these
destroyed due to extreme rainfall these
destroyed due to extreme rainfall these people don’t have the privilege of
people don’t have the privilege of
people don’t have the privilege of forgetting about climate change because
forgetting about climate change because
forgetting about climate change because it affects them every day of their lives
it affects them every day of their lives
it affects them every day of their lives what saddens me the most is that these
what saddens me the most is that these
what saddens me the most is that these people barely contribute any carbon
people barely contribute any carbon
people barely contribute any carbon dioxide to our atmosphere and yet they
dioxide to our atmosphere and yet they
dioxide to our atmosphere and yet they are the ones that are paying the biggest
are the ones that are paying the biggest
are the ones that are paying the biggest price after understanding all of this I
price after understanding all of this I
price after understanding all of this I really wanted to get involved in a
really wanted to get involved in a
really wanted to get involved in a solution
solution
solution I started out small and on my own home
I started out small and on my own home
I started out small and on my own home by trying to limit electricity usage
by trying to limit electricity usage
by trying to limit electricity usage because electricity production is the
because electricity production is the
because electricity production is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases of
largest emitter of greenhouse gases of
largest emitter of greenhouse gases of any industry in the United States but
any industry in the United States but
any industry in the United States but for me turning off the lights more often
for me turning off the lights more often
for me turning off the lights more often or unplugging electronics wasn’t enough
or unplugging electronics wasn’t enough
or unplugging electronics wasn’t enough I wanted a source of clean renewable
I wanted a source of clean renewable
I wanted a source of clean renewable energy powering my home because whatever
energy powering my home because whatever
energy powering my home because whatever electricity I was using was still coming
electricity I was using was still coming
electricity I was using was still coming from fossil fuels and power plants so I
from fossil fuels and power plants so I
from fossil fuels and power plants so I managed to convince my dad to invest in
managed to convince my dad to invest in
managed to convince my dad to invest in solar power having solar panels on my
solar power having solar panels on my
solar power having solar panels on my house for the past few months has really
house for the past few months has really
house for the past few months has really shown me how cool renewable energy is no
shown me how cool renewable energy is no
shown me how cool renewable energy is no matter how much we use them they can
matter how much we use them they can
matter how much we use them they can never run out let’s take solar power as
never run out let’s take solar power as
never run out let’s take solar power as an example until the Sun burns out in
an example until the Sun burns out in
an example until the Sun burns out in five billion years solar power is useful
five billion years solar power is useful
five billion years solar power is useful that means we have five billion years
that means we have five billion years
that means we have five billion years worth of electricity and energy waiting
worth of electricity and energy waiting
worth of electricity and energy waiting for us in the sky
for us in the sky
for us in the sky it just seems laughable to use
it just seems laughable to use
it just seems laughable to use non-renewable resources such as coal and
non-renewable resources such as coal and
non-renewable resources such as coal and oil in comparison but the sad reality is
oil in comparison but the sad reality is
oil in comparison but the sad reality is that our world runs on these fossil
that our world runs on these fossil
that our world runs on these fossil fuels and the emissions from them are
fuels and the emissions from them are
fuels and the emissions from them are polluting our skies let’s look at the
polluting our skies let’s look at the
polluting our skies let’s look at the emissions from this school folks Academy
emissions from this school folks Academy
emissions from this school folks Academy and over for example we use about 13
and over for example we use about 13
and over for example we use about 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity
million kilowatt hours of electricity
million kilowatt hours of electricity annually that is about enough
annually that is about enough
annually that is about enough electricity to power 1,350 homes for a
electricity to power 1,350 homes for a
electricity to power 1,350 homes for a year and the carbon emissions are
year and the carbon emissions are
year and the carbon emissions are equivalent to burning 9 million 700,000
equivalent to burning 9 million 700,000
equivalent to burning 9 million 700,000 pounds of coal but thankfully we have
pounds of coal but thankfully we have
pounds of coal but thankfully we have initiatives and measures on this campus
initiatives and measures on this campus
initiatives and measures on this campus to work towards a sustainable future but
to work towards a sustainable future but
to work towards a sustainable future but think of the carbon
think of the carbon
think of the carbon footprint of all of the high schools
footprint of all of the high schools
footprint of all of the high schools middle schools and colleges around the
middle schools and colleges around the
middle schools and colleges around the country what if these places could be
country what if these places could be
country what if these places could be powered by renewable energies imagine
powered by renewable energies imagine
powered by renewable energies imagine the impact that would have on both the
the impact that would have on both the
the impact that would have on both the environment and on the minds of students
environment and on the minds of students
environment and on the minds of students around the country but before we can
around the country but before we can
around the country but before we can install panels on schools around the
install panels on schools around the
install panels on schools around the country the national mindset surrounding
country the national mindset surrounding
country the national mindset surrounding global climate change needs to be
global climate change needs to be
global climate change needs to be repaired it should not be the subject of
repaired it should not be the subject of
repaired it should not be the subject of debate because it has been proved
debate because it has been proved
debate because it has been proved countless times by scientists yet still
countless times by scientists yet still
countless times by scientists yet still people like certain politicians and
people like certain politicians and
people like certain politicians and legislators they claim that climate
legislators they claim that climate
legislators they claim that climate change isn’t real lawmakers have even
change isn’t real lawmakers have even
change isn’t real lawmakers have even passed legislation to make rooftop solar
passed legislation to make rooftop solar
passed legislation to make rooftop solar power in Florida a scarcity Florida is
power in Florida a scarcity Florida is
power in Florida a scarcity Florida is the Sunshine State what we need is a
the Sunshine State what we need is a
the Sunshine State what we need is a culture shift in society the politicians
culture shift in society the politicians
culture shift in society the politicians that run this country they follow the
that run this country they follow the
that run this country they follow the will of the people
will of the people
will of the people so if the people say that climate change
so if the people say that climate change
so if the people say that climate change is a central issue they will have no
is a central issue they will have no
is a central issue they will have no choice but to address it if we don’t
choice but to address it if we don’t
choice but to address it if we don’t start acting and cutting back our
start acting and cutting back our
start acting and cutting back our emissions now though in just 25 years we
emissions now though in just 25 years we
emissions now though in just 25 years we are going to reach the point of
are going to reach the point of
are going to reach the point of no-return at which global climate change
no-return at which global climate change
no-return at which global climate change becomes irreversible our society needs
becomes irreversible our society needs
becomes irreversible our society needs to stop debating and start acting before
to stop debating and start acting before
to stop debating and start acting before it is too late in order to take action
it is too late in order to take action
it is too late in order to take action we need leaders who can inspire a
we need leaders who can inspire a
we need leaders who can inspire a movement and I believe that young people
movement and I believe that young people
movement and I believe that young people can be those leaders in fact I would go
can be those leaders in fact I would go
can be those leaders in fact I would go as far as to say that young people are
as far as to say that young people are
as far as to say that young people are the solution to global climate change we
the solution to global climate change we
the solution to global climate change we are the future of the country
are the future of the country
are the future of the country so if global climate change is an
so if global climate change is an
so if global climate change is an important issue for us it will
important issue for us it will
important issue for us it will eventually become an issue for the
eventually become an issue for the
eventually become an issue for the nation but we don’t have to wait until
nation but we don’t have to wait until
nation but we don’t have to wait until we’re adults to make a difference now we
we’re adults to make a difference now we
we’re adults to make a difference now we are connected like no other generation
are connected like no other generation
are connected like no other generation because of the internet and social media
because of the internet and social media
because of the internet and social media whether it is the bottle flipping crazy
whether it is the bottle flipping crazy
whether it is the bottle flipping crazy beneficial trends like the ALS ice
beneficial trends like the ALS ice
beneficial trends like the ALS ice bucket challenge we have mastered the
bucket challenge we have mastered the
bucket challenge we have mastered the art of spreading the word now imagine if
art of spreading the word now imagine if
art of spreading the word now imagine if you took that level of connectivity and
you took that level of connectivity and
you took that level of connectivity and combined it with the credibility of
combined it with the credibility of
combined it with the credibility of scientific data that right there is a
scientific data that right there is a
scientific data that right there is a powerhouse for change so I urge you to
powerhouse for change so I urge you to
powerhouse for change so I urge you to go in your community and take all of the
go in your community and take all of the
go in your community and take all of the scientific research we have
scientific research we have
scientific research we have and educate those who don’t understand
and educate those who don’t understand
and educate those who don’t understand the severity of the situation get
the severity of the situation get
the severity of the situation get involved with sustainability projects or
involved with sustainability projects or
involved with sustainability projects or start those projects yourself enough is
start those projects yourself enough is
start those projects yourself enough is enough with the political rhetoric our
enough with the political rhetoric our
enough with the political rhetoric our generation of young people needs to
generation of young people needs to
generation of young people needs to start taking responsibility of the world
start taking responsibility of the world
start taking responsibility of the world that will soon inherit and make sure
that will soon inherit and make sure
that will soon inherit and make sure that the generations to come have a safe
that the generations to come have a safe
that the generations to come have a safe world to live in in 100 in 200 and 300
world to live in in 100 in 200 and 300
world to live in in 100 in 200 and 300 years I want people to still be able to
years I want people to still be able to
years I want people to still be able to see the beautiful blue sky that I see
see the beautiful blue sky that I see
see the beautiful blue sky that I see and not some smoggy haze full of toxic
and not some smoggy haze full of toxic
and not some smoggy haze full of toxic pollution we have just 25 years to make
pollution we have just 25 years to make
pollution we have just 25 years to make a difference the time for change is now
a difference the time for change is now
a difference the time for change is now quoting the Cree Indian prophecy only
quoting the Cree Indian prophecy only
quoting the Cree Indian prophecy only when the last tree has been cut down the
when the last tree has been cut down the
when the last tree has been cut down the last fish caught and the last stream
last fish caught and the last stream
last fish caught and the last stream poisoned will we realize we cannot eat
poisoned will we realize we cannot eat
poisoned will we realize we cannot eat money thank you
money thank you
money thank you [Applause]
”
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