1 00:00:00,039 --> 00:00:02,011 [Citizens of the world] 2 00:00:02,035 --> 00:00:05,146 [We face a global crisis of unprecedented scale] 3 00:00:05,170 --> 00:00:07,529 [Please stand by for a message from ... ] 4 00:00:07,553 --> 00:00:10,746 [the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres] 5 00:00:10,746 --> 00:00:14,889 The climate emergency is the defining crisis of our time. 6 00:00:14,913 --> 00:00:17,970 We are in a race against time, and we are losing. 7 00:00:18,294 --> 00:00:22,009 There is a growing tide of impatience, especially among young people, 8 00:00:22,033 --> 00:00:23,761 with global inaction. 9 00:00:23,785 --> 00:00:25,697 We need more ambition from all: 10 00:00:25,721 --> 00:00:29,850 governments, cities, businesses, investors and people everywhere. 11 00:00:30,319 --> 00:00:33,636 So I'm pleased you are launching TED Countdown. 12 00:00:33,660 --> 00:00:36,708 Your influence and ideas can help accelerate momentum 13 00:00:36,732 --> 00:00:39,387 for a carbon-neutral world by 2050. 14 00:00:39,836 --> 00:00:43,656 That is the only way to avert the worst impacts of global heating. 15 00:00:44,074 --> 00:00:47,089 We have the tools, the science and the resources. 16 00:00:47,526 --> 00:00:51,486 Let us now get into this race with political will and energy. 17 00:00:51,963 --> 00:00:55,796 To do anything less will be a betrayal of our entire human family 18 00:00:55,820 --> 00:00:57,669 and generations to come. 19 00:00:57,693 --> 00:00:58,843 Thank you. 20 00:00:59,487 --> 00:01:01,183 Announcer: And now, please welcome 21 00:01:01,207 --> 00:01:03,666 one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement 22 00:01:03,690 --> 00:01:04,849 Christiana Figueres 23 00:01:04,873 --> 00:01:06,898 and the head of TED, Chris Anderson. 24 00:01:06,922 --> 00:01:13,922 (Applause) 25 00:01:14,982 --> 00:01:16,776 Chris Anderson: Welcome, welcome. 26 00:01:17,540 --> 00:01:20,938 Something remarkable is going to happen in the next hour. 27 00:01:21,851 --> 00:01:24,486 The world's single most alarming challenge, 28 00:01:24,510 --> 00:01:26,204 which looks something like this ... 29 00:01:29,271 --> 00:01:30,817 is about to go head-to-head 30 00:01:30,841 --> 00:01:33,522 with some of the world's most amazing minds 31 00:01:33,546 --> 00:01:35,395 and courageous hearts, 32 00:01:35,419 --> 00:01:37,734 which look something like you. 33 00:01:38,434 --> 00:01:41,950 The extraordinary audience we have here in New York and around the world. 34 00:01:41,974 --> 00:01:45,307 Christiana, it's quite the crowd we get to hang out with this morning. 35 00:01:45,331 --> 00:01:47,387 Christiana Figueres: It sure is, no kidding. 36 00:01:47,411 --> 00:01:49,736 It's a good thing that everyone is here together, 37 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,475 because actually, this initiative that we're just about to launch 38 00:01:53,499 --> 00:01:55,752 needs everyone to participate. 39 00:01:56,173 --> 00:01:58,240 And here it is. 40 00:01:58,881 --> 00:02:00,031 Countdown. 41 00:02:00,358 --> 00:02:04,191 CA: Countdown is a global initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 42 00:02:04,215 --> 00:02:07,334 It's seeking bold solutions in five big areas, 43 00:02:07,358 --> 00:02:08,984 imagining what could be achieved 44 00:02:09,008 --> 00:02:13,656 if different groups broke out of their silos and acted together. 45 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:18,044 Starting today, you can go to countdown.ted.com 46 00:02:18,068 --> 00:02:20,335 and sign up to join the Countdown. 47 00:02:21,163 --> 00:02:22,893 Early in 2020, 48 00:02:22,917 --> 00:02:25,028 we'll be sharing plans on how you can connect 49 00:02:25,052 --> 00:02:27,594 with others in your company, your city or your school 50 00:02:27,618 --> 00:02:29,256 to engage in this issue. 51 00:02:30,442 --> 00:02:32,347 It's all leading up to global gatherings 52 00:02:32,371 --> 00:02:35,156 on 10.10.2020. 53 00:02:35,180 --> 00:02:38,220 Everyone in the world is invited to participate. 54 00:02:38,244 --> 00:02:39,418 CF: And so that's why, 55 00:02:39,442 --> 00:02:42,951 although I've been part of many initiatives along the years, 56 00:02:42,975 --> 00:02:44,903 I'm really excited about this one. 57 00:02:44,927 --> 00:02:49,401 Because Countdown is an invitation to everyone, everyone, 58 00:02:49,425 --> 00:02:51,828 to play their part in saving our planet 59 00:02:51,852 --> 00:02:55,447 and creating an exciting future. 60 00:02:55,471 --> 00:02:57,526 Politicians and citizens, 61 00:02:57,879 --> 00:03:00,149 CEOs and their customers, 62 00:03:00,173 --> 00:03:03,069 their employees, their investors, 63 00:03:03,093 --> 00:03:05,244 old and young, 64 00:03:05,268 --> 00:03:06,593 north and south. 65 00:03:06,617 --> 00:03:08,926 CA: (Laughs) I see what you did there. 66 00:03:08,950 --> 00:03:10,586 (Laughter) 67 00:03:10,982 --> 00:03:13,782 But look, our goal is not to plunge in 68 00:03:13,806 --> 00:03:15,671 with something new that is competitive 69 00:03:15,695 --> 00:03:18,703 with the amazing initiatives already out there. 70 00:03:18,727 --> 00:03:19,877 No. 71 00:03:19,901 --> 00:03:24,696 It's to identify the best solutions that have already been worked on, 72 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,101 to cross-fertilize them, to amplify them 73 00:03:28,125 --> 00:03:29,942 and then activate them 74 00:03:29,966 --> 00:03:32,886 by bringing together these different groups. 75 00:03:33,490 --> 00:03:34,697 CF: And if that happens, 76 00:03:34,721 --> 00:03:38,355 we believe there is a way out of the climate crisis. 77 00:03:38,379 --> 00:03:40,006 That's what we want to facilitate. 78 00:03:40,030 --> 00:03:41,790 But now, Chris, question: 79 00:03:42,815 --> 00:03:46,505 Why are you and TED interested in participating 80 00:03:46,529 --> 00:03:49,713 and actually activating the climate agenda, 81 00:03:49,737 --> 00:03:53,370 when I thought you were all about spreading ideas? 82 00:03:53,394 --> 00:03:57,498 CA: Well, indeed, that has been our focused mission for the last 15 years, 83 00:03:57,522 --> 00:03:58,988 Ideas Worth Spreading. 84 00:04:00,022 --> 00:04:01,268 But last summer, 85 00:04:01,292 --> 00:04:04,450 we concluded that the urgency of some issues, 86 00:04:04,474 --> 00:04:06,014 and especially climate, 87 00:04:06,038 --> 00:04:09,014 demanded that we try to do more than just spread ideas, 88 00:04:09,038 --> 00:04:11,910 that we actually try to activate them. 89 00:04:12,530 --> 00:04:15,839 Now, we're just a relatively small nonprofit -- 90 00:04:15,863 --> 00:04:20,172 that would not amount to anything if we fail to bring other people on board. 91 00:04:20,196 --> 00:04:22,895 But the amazing thing is that that has happened. 92 00:04:22,919 --> 00:04:27,799 Everyone we've spoken to about this has got excited about participating. 93 00:04:28,284 --> 00:04:32,389 And one of the key moments, frankly, was when you came on board, Christiana. 94 00:04:32,413 --> 00:04:36,540 I mean, you were key to the Paris Agreement. 95 00:04:36,564 --> 00:04:39,905 And the world was stunned at the consensus that emerged there. 96 00:04:39,929 --> 00:04:43,012 What was the key to creating that consensus? 97 00:04:43,036 --> 00:04:48,203 CF: I would say it was to really challenge and change people's assumption 98 00:04:48,227 --> 00:04:53,101 about what is possible if we set a shared intention 99 00:04:53,125 --> 00:04:57,394 and then collectively pursue it and achieve it. 100 00:04:57,736 --> 00:05:01,617 So our mantra then, and continues to be: 101 00:05:01,641 --> 00:05:04,728 "Impossible is not a fact, 102 00:05:04,752 --> 00:05:06,331 it's an attitude." 103 00:05:06,649 --> 00:05:08,339 In fact, only an attitude, 104 00:05:08,363 --> 00:05:10,763 and that is something we can change. 105 00:05:11,410 --> 00:05:14,626 CA: Well, that mantra, certainly, we're going to have to hold onto 106 00:05:14,650 --> 00:05:15,824 in the months ahead, 107 00:05:15,848 --> 00:05:19,250 because the scientific consensus is actually worsening. 108 00:05:19,989 --> 00:05:21,910 For a quick report from the front lines, 109 00:05:21,934 --> 00:05:24,373 here's the head of the thousands of scientists 110 00:05:24,397 --> 00:05:27,909 who make up the IPCC, Dr. Hoesung Lee. 111 00:05:29,795 --> 00:05:33,446 (Video) Hoesung Lee: We recently released three special reports 112 00:05:33,470 --> 00:05:38,352 that show the damage and risks of past and future climate change. 113 00:05:38,376 --> 00:05:41,291 They also show that stabilizing climate 114 00:05:41,315 --> 00:05:44,522 would imply a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 115 00:05:44,546 --> 00:05:45,696 in the near term. 116 00:05:46,062 --> 00:05:49,863 Society will have to go through unprecedented changes 117 00:05:49,887 --> 00:05:51,087 to meet this goal. 118 00:05:51,442 --> 00:05:54,752 Even limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius 119 00:05:54,776 --> 00:05:57,870 will bring more extreme weather, 120 00:05:58,403 --> 00:06:00,093 rising sea levels 121 00:06:00,117 --> 00:06:02,966 and water shortages in some regions, 122 00:06:02,990 --> 00:06:06,362 and threats to food security and biodiversity. 123 00:06:06,386 --> 00:06:10,595 Higher temperature will bring more of these damages, 124 00:06:10,619 --> 00:06:13,190 threatening lives and livelihoods 125 00:06:13,214 --> 00:06:16,147 of millions of people all around the world. 126 00:06:16,952 --> 00:06:19,974 CA: We're lucky to have with us another world-leading scientist, 127 00:06:19,998 --> 00:06:21,625 Johan Rockström here. 128 00:06:21,649 --> 00:06:26,053 He was responsible for creating the Planetary Boundaries framework. 129 00:06:26,546 --> 00:06:29,886 Johan, how serious is our situation? 130 00:06:31,330 --> 00:06:34,092 (Video) Johan Rockström: Last week, we released in "Nature" 131 00:06:34,116 --> 00:06:37,338 the 10-year update of the risk of crossing tipping points, 132 00:06:37,362 --> 00:06:40,006 irreversible tipping points, in the Earth system. 133 00:06:40,030 --> 00:06:42,721 We know 15 such tipping points, 134 00:06:42,745 --> 00:06:45,466 including the Greenland and West Antarctic ice shelf, 135 00:06:45,490 --> 00:06:48,617 and the permafrost in the Siberian tundra, for example, 136 00:06:48,641 --> 00:06:50,625 and we today have observational evidence, 137 00:06:50,649 --> 00:06:51,989 I mean, empirical evidence, 138 00:06:52,013 --> 00:06:55,935 that nine of the 15 have woken up and are on the move. 139 00:06:56,391 --> 00:06:58,344 We haven't crossed the tipping point yet, 140 00:06:58,368 --> 00:06:59,591 the window is still open, 141 00:06:59,615 --> 00:07:02,709 but they are warning us that now is the time to truly move, 142 00:07:02,733 --> 00:07:04,550 because the moment we cross them, 143 00:07:04,574 --> 00:07:08,390 like, for example, approaching a tipping point in the Amazon rain forest, 144 00:07:08,414 --> 00:07:10,881 we would risk losing the battle, 145 00:07:10,905 --> 00:07:14,676 because the planet will be taking over its self-reinforced warming. 146 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:18,096 So that is why this initiative is so incredibly important. 147 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:19,318 Let's go. 148 00:07:19,342 --> 00:07:20,492 CA: Well said. 149 00:07:20,516 --> 00:07:21,695 (Applause) 150 00:07:21,719 --> 00:07:26,183 So, both are very clear there that this agenda of cutting emissions 151 00:07:26,207 --> 00:07:28,052 is absolutely crucial. 152 00:07:28,076 --> 00:07:29,276 How has that been going? 153 00:07:29,300 --> 00:07:31,887 CF: Not very well, because despite what we know, 154 00:07:31,911 --> 00:07:34,014 despite everything that science has told us, 155 00:07:34,038 --> 00:07:35,805 despite everything that we have done, 156 00:07:35,829 --> 00:07:37,744 including adopting the Paris Agreement, 157 00:07:37,768 --> 00:07:42,974 we've actually been increasing greenhouse gases consistently 158 00:07:42,998 --> 00:07:44,451 over the past few decades, 159 00:07:44,475 --> 00:07:47,760 to the point where we're now at 55 gigatons 160 00:07:47,784 --> 00:07:49,466 of carbon dioxide equivalent 161 00:07:49,490 --> 00:07:53,796 that we are collectively, as humanity, emitting every year. 162 00:07:54,725 --> 00:07:58,469 And as we have heard, we have one path, 163 00:07:58,493 --> 00:08:01,391 there is one path that we have to follow, and that is: 164 00:08:01,415 --> 00:08:03,946 Start now to decrease emissions, 165 00:08:03,970 --> 00:08:05,578 instead of going up, go down -- 166 00:08:05,602 --> 00:08:07,869 reverse the trend, bend the curve. 167 00:08:08,601 --> 00:08:10,998 Reduce emissions, starting in 2020, 168 00:08:11,022 --> 00:08:16,744 to the point where we will be at one half the current level of emissions by 2030, 169 00:08:16,768 --> 00:08:22,443 and then continue decreasing them, until we are at net zero by 2050. 170 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:24,879 It's the only path that we can accept. 171 00:08:24,903 --> 00:08:28,806 CA: How do you even begin to start tackling a goal as daunting as that? 172 00:08:29,157 --> 00:08:33,331 CF: Well, we could starting by breaking 173 00:08:33,355 --> 00:08:36,498 the simple, yet daunting, challenge 174 00:08:36,522 --> 00:08:38,768 into its constituent pieces, 175 00:08:38,792 --> 00:08:40,211 five main areas. 176 00:08:42,066 --> 00:08:47,161 CA: And so these five together are actually all huge, 177 00:08:47,185 --> 00:08:50,446 and if we can find compelling solutions in each of them, 178 00:08:50,470 --> 00:08:54,040 they would actually add up to an action plan 179 00:08:54,064 --> 00:08:56,597 that matches the scale of the problem. 180 00:08:57,365 --> 00:08:58,965 Well, here are the five. 181 00:09:01,111 --> 00:09:02,261 CF: Power. 182 00:09:02,934 --> 00:09:07,365 How rapidly can we move to 100 percent clean energy? 183 00:09:08,007 --> 00:09:09,460 CA: The built environment. 184 00:09:09,484 --> 00:09:13,769 How can we re-engineer the stuff that surrounds us? 185 00:09:14,793 --> 00:09:15,943 CF: Transport. 186 00:09:16,252 --> 00:09:21,823 How do we transform the ways we move -- ourselves and goods? 187 00:09:22,728 --> 00:09:23,878 CA: Food. 188 00:09:24,323 --> 00:09:28,997 How can we spark a worldwide shift to healthier food systems? 189 00:09:29,567 --> 00:09:31,499 CF: And certainly, nature. 190 00:09:31,868 --> 00:09:35,918 How extensively can we re-green the earth? 191 00:09:36,662 --> 00:09:40,865 Now, it's worth noting that the answers to these questions 192 00:09:40,889 --> 00:09:43,252 and the measures that we would undertake 193 00:09:43,276 --> 00:09:45,950 don't just reduce net emissions -- 194 00:09:45,974 --> 00:09:49,220 they do that, certainly, together, to zero -- 195 00:09:49,244 --> 00:09:51,823 but they also point the way to a future 196 00:09:51,847 --> 00:09:55,950 that is much better and genuinely exciting. 197 00:09:55,974 --> 00:10:00,355 So, think about cool new forms of transport, 198 00:10:00,379 --> 00:10:04,543 clean air, healthier food, beautiful forests 199 00:10:04,567 --> 00:10:07,511 and oceans bursting with life. 200 00:10:08,268 --> 00:10:10,713 So, you know, solving the climate crisis 201 00:10:10,737 --> 00:10:15,681 isn't about sacrificing and settling for a mediocre future, 202 00:10:15,705 --> 00:10:18,015 it's about the exact opposite. 203 00:10:18,039 --> 00:10:21,824 It's about co-creating a much better future for all of us. 204 00:10:22,804 --> 00:10:25,717 CA: So how do we tackle these questions? 205 00:10:25,741 --> 00:10:26,931 (Laughter) 206 00:10:26,955 --> 00:10:30,717 CA: Let's take this question here and think about this. 207 00:10:30,741 --> 00:10:33,028 How extensively can we re-green the earth? 208 00:10:33,052 --> 00:10:36,299 I mean, there are obviously many responses to this question, 209 00:10:36,323 --> 00:10:37,474 many proposals. 210 00:10:37,498 --> 00:10:38,728 It's fundamentally about, 211 00:10:38,752 --> 00:10:42,410 "How do we increase the amount of sustainable photosynthesis 212 00:10:42,434 --> 00:10:43,585 on planet Earth." 213 00:10:43,609 --> 00:10:46,085 Photosynthesis sequesters carbon. 214 00:10:46,109 --> 00:10:50,656 There could be proposals around giant kelp forests or seagrass, 215 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:53,815 or about forms of plants that have deeper roots 216 00:10:53,839 --> 00:10:56,856 and can sequester across the planet. 217 00:10:57,785 --> 00:11:02,499 But suppose a major proposal that came out was about reforestation. 218 00:11:02,523 --> 00:11:07,183 A massive, global reforestation campaign. 219 00:11:07,498 --> 00:11:10,649 I mean, a single organization, no matter how big, 220 00:11:10,673 --> 00:11:12,926 cannot take that on. 221 00:11:13,815 --> 00:11:16,291 The key is for everyone to join forces, 222 00:11:16,315 --> 00:11:17,831 for governments (with zoning), 223 00:11:17,855 --> 00:11:19,172 businesses to invest, 224 00:11:19,196 --> 00:11:20,979 investors to do that investing, 225 00:11:21,003 --> 00:11:24,122 environmental groups and philanthropists who support them, 226 00:11:24,146 --> 00:11:28,836 and just a massive movement among citizens everywhere, 227 00:11:28,860 --> 00:11:31,710 transforming their lawns, their cities, their neighborhoods, 228 00:11:31,734 --> 00:11:32,910 going on trips together. 229 00:11:32,934 --> 00:11:37,091 That is where, suddenly, you can dream about something really big. 230 00:11:37,538 --> 00:11:39,593 CF: So can we test that theory? 231 00:11:39,617 --> 00:11:42,744 Because we are fortunate to have with us today 232 00:11:42,768 --> 00:11:47,649 someone who grew up inside a tree-planting movement, 233 00:11:47,673 --> 00:11:50,609 probably the most well-recognized tree-planting movement. 234 00:11:51,030 --> 00:11:54,037 And she is the daughter of the Nobel Prize winner 235 00:11:54,061 --> 00:11:55,260 Wangari Maathai, 236 00:11:55,284 --> 00:11:58,640 and she heads up the Wangari Maathai Foundation today. 237 00:11:58,942 --> 00:12:03,239 So can we invite our very dear friend Wanjira Mathai? 238 00:12:03,263 --> 00:12:05,366 (Applause) 239 00:12:05,390 --> 00:12:07,490 (Video) Wanjira Mathai: Thank you very much, 240 00:12:07,514 --> 00:12:09,300 Christiana and Chris, for doing this. 241 00:12:09,324 --> 00:12:13,283 Trees have been, indeed, a part of my life for as long as I can remember, 242 00:12:13,307 --> 00:12:15,537 but we also know that for centuries, 243 00:12:15,561 --> 00:12:20,742 trees and forests have cushioned us against the harsh impacts 244 00:12:20,766 --> 00:12:22,076 of climate variation 245 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:23,648 for very many years. 246 00:12:23,672 --> 00:12:24,965 In my lifetime, my mother, 247 00:12:24,989 --> 00:12:27,727 through the Green Belt Movement, as you mentioned, 248 00:12:27,751 --> 00:12:32,745 inspired the planting of 50 million trees and counting 249 00:12:32,769 --> 00:12:35,704 through the work of the Green Belt Movement, one organization. 250 00:12:35,728 --> 00:12:37,904 But the world now needs us 251 00:12:37,928 --> 00:12:43,061 to plant 100 times more trees than we did then. 252 00:12:43,085 --> 00:12:47,482 And the only way to do that is for all of us to come together -- 253 00:12:47,506 --> 00:12:52,704 cities, citizens, governments, companies, environmental organizations -- 254 00:12:52,728 --> 00:12:55,220 and we must believe, therefore, 255 00:12:55,244 --> 00:12:59,585 in the capacity for each of us to be potent agents of change. 256 00:12:59,609 --> 00:13:02,440 And that together, we are a force. 257 00:13:02,464 --> 00:13:05,804 And I hope you will all join us. 258 00:13:05,828 --> 00:13:06,978 (Applause) 259 00:13:07,002 --> 00:13:08,558 CF: So together we are a force. 260 00:13:08,582 --> 00:13:11,178 I think Wanjira really hits it right there on the head, 261 00:13:11,202 --> 00:13:13,205 because it's all about collaborating 262 00:13:13,229 --> 00:13:16,736 across a pretty broad spectrum of people. 263 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:22,347 And happily, there are representatives from all of those groups here today. 264 00:13:22,673 --> 00:13:26,118 And we will be inviting you toward further engagement. 265 00:13:26,142 --> 00:13:30,360 But we wanted today to introduce you to a couple of those people, 266 00:13:30,384 --> 00:13:32,789 speaking from their own perspective. 267 00:13:32,813 --> 00:13:36,365 So we would like to start with the voice of a politician. 268 00:13:36,749 --> 00:13:39,997 We are incredibly honored to have with us today 269 00:13:40,021 --> 00:13:42,505 the former prime minister of Bhutan, 270 00:13:42,529 --> 00:13:46,236 and I will have you know that Bhutan is the only country in the world 271 00:13:46,260 --> 00:13:49,959 that actually absorbs more carbon than what it emits. 272 00:13:50,284 --> 00:13:52,593 Our good friend, Tshering Tobgay. 273 00:13:52,617 --> 00:13:59,617 (Applause) 274 00:14:02,441 --> 00:14:07,613 Tshering Tobgay: My country is typical of the global south, 275 00:14:07,637 --> 00:14:12,299 in that we have not caused this climate-change crisis. 276 00:14:13,061 --> 00:14:16,053 Indeed, we are blessed 277 00:14:16,077 --> 00:14:19,403 with lush forests and many bountiful rivers 278 00:14:19,427 --> 00:14:23,417 that have enabled my country, Bhutan, to remain carbon-negative. 279 00:14:24,069 --> 00:14:29,187 And yet, climate change threatens to destroy our forests. 280 00:14:29,966 --> 00:14:32,473 And to turn those very rivers 281 00:14:33,713 --> 00:14:36,347 into terrible dangers for our people, 282 00:14:36,371 --> 00:14:41,394 as the Himalayan glaciers melt and threaten both near-term flooding 283 00:14:42,109 --> 00:14:47,277 and the longer-term loss of our natural water reserves. 284 00:14:48,458 --> 00:14:52,903 So, I'm proud to join 285 00:14:52,927 --> 00:14:55,403 this Countdown initiative 286 00:14:55,427 --> 00:14:58,426 and work with all of you and with you, and with you, 287 00:14:58,450 --> 00:14:59,609 (Laughter) 288 00:14:59,633 --> 00:15:05,327 constructively, to find solutions that are both powerful and just. 289 00:15:06,111 --> 00:15:07,268 Thank you. 290 00:15:07,292 --> 00:15:09,136 (Applause) 291 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:10,395 CA: Thank you. 292 00:15:10,419 --> 00:15:14,297 (Applause) 293 00:15:14,321 --> 00:15:16,853 CA: Business, of course, has a crucial role to play, 294 00:15:16,877 --> 00:15:21,734 and so do those who control the world's vast pools of investment capital. 295 00:15:21,758 --> 00:15:24,109 I was pleased to make the acquaintance recently 296 00:15:24,133 --> 00:15:25,943 of the chief investment officer 297 00:15:25,967 --> 00:15:30,585 of Japan's 1.6-trillion-dollar government pension fund. 298 00:15:30,609 --> 00:15:33,348 It's actually the world's largest pension fund. 299 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:37,064 He's willing and interested to come with us on this journey 300 00:15:37,088 --> 00:15:38,687 and to bring others with him. 301 00:15:38,711 --> 00:15:42,972 So, somewhere is, I believe, Hiro. 302 00:15:42,996 --> 00:15:44,155 Hiro Mizuno. 303 00:15:44,179 --> 00:15:46,179 And you're live. Welcome, Hiro. 304 00:15:47,377 --> 00:15:48,680 (Video) Hiro Mizuno: Great. 305 00:15:48,704 --> 00:15:52,307 Thanks, Chris and Christiana, and the staff of TED, 306 00:15:52,331 --> 00:15:54,220 for making this possible. 307 00:15:54,244 --> 00:15:57,976 As a person in charge of the largest pension fund in the world 308 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:03,595 and responsible for securing pension benefits for multiple generations, 309 00:16:03,619 --> 00:16:07,113 it is a hugely important issue, how to manage climate risk. 310 00:16:07,911 --> 00:16:10,355 We recently analyzed our global portfolio, 311 00:16:10,379 --> 00:16:12,998 how it's aligned with the Paris Agreement. 312 00:16:13,022 --> 00:16:14,411 It was diagnosed, 313 00:16:14,435 --> 00:16:18,092 our portfolio is on the path for more than three degrees. 314 00:16:18,116 --> 00:16:20,939 Far away from the Paris Agreement goals. 315 00:16:21,741 --> 00:16:24,328 Our portfolio is not only sizable 316 00:16:24,352 --> 00:16:28,098 but also one of the most globally diversified portfolios. 317 00:16:28,122 --> 00:16:30,706 So that means, the world is on that path. 318 00:16:31,450 --> 00:16:34,347 I'm tired of hearing the same comment repeatedly 319 00:16:34,371 --> 00:16:39,061 from our portfolio companies and, obviously, investment professionals: 320 00:16:39,085 --> 00:16:40,352 "We are realistic." 321 00:16:41,196 --> 00:16:44,648 Sorry, but being "realistic" is no longer an option. 322 00:16:45,395 --> 00:16:50,394 We are fully aware of our responsibility as the world's largest asset owner 323 00:16:50,418 --> 00:16:53,141 to inspire changes in the capital market. 324 00:16:53,165 --> 00:16:57,768 We will be actively engaging with all actors in the capital market 325 00:16:57,792 --> 00:16:59,283 to move the needle. 326 00:16:59,887 --> 00:17:04,244 I look forward to participating in this crucial dialogue with you all. 327 00:17:04,268 --> 00:17:05,601 Thank you. 328 00:17:05,625 --> 00:17:07,664 (Applause) 329 00:17:07,688 --> 00:17:12,403 CF: I'm sure all of you know that throughout the past 12 to 18 months, 330 00:17:12,427 --> 00:17:16,641 what has really been new and powerful and exciting 331 00:17:16,665 --> 00:17:19,863 is the amazing voices of so many young people, 332 00:17:19,887 --> 00:17:22,867 millions of young people who are out there on the streets, 333 00:17:22,891 --> 00:17:24,763 with anger, with outrage, with despair, 334 00:17:24,787 --> 00:17:27,009 and also, asking us to do our thing. 335 00:17:28,002 --> 00:17:30,533 And they have been inspired by Greta Thunberg 336 00:17:30,557 --> 00:17:33,995 but by so many other fantastic young people 337 00:17:34,019 --> 00:17:35,884 in almost every country of the world. 338 00:17:35,908 --> 00:17:40,577 And today, we are delighted to have four young activists 339 00:17:40,601 --> 00:17:42,663 come join us today. 340 00:17:42,687 --> 00:17:45,647 (Applause) 341 00:17:45,671 --> 00:17:47,502 (Cheers) 342 00:17:47,526 --> 00:17:54,526 (Applause) 343 00:17:55,959 --> 00:17:57,681 Alexandria Villaseñor: This Friday, 344 00:17:57,705 --> 00:18:00,181 I'll have been on climate strike for 52 weeks. 345 00:18:00,205 --> 00:18:01,879 That's an entire year. 346 00:18:02,435 --> 00:18:03,657 During that time, 347 00:18:03,681 --> 00:18:06,418 I found that many people don't know about climate change 348 00:18:06,442 --> 00:18:08,918 or how serious the climate crisis is. 349 00:18:08,942 --> 00:18:11,498 So I founded Earth Uprising International 350 00:18:11,522 --> 00:18:14,133 to teach young people about climate change, 351 00:18:14,157 --> 00:18:17,323 because when they know the science and the impacts, 352 00:18:17,347 --> 00:18:19,014 they want to take action. 353 00:18:19,498 --> 00:18:22,497 Being an activist means making change happen. 354 00:18:23,077 --> 00:18:25,077 Jamie Margolin: I became a climate activist 355 00:18:25,101 --> 00:18:26,807 because my life depends on it. 356 00:18:26,831 --> 00:18:28,498 I'm applying to colleges right now, 357 00:18:28,522 --> 00:18:30,236 trying to plan for my future. 358 00:18:30,260 --> 00:18:32,188 There will be nothing to look forward to 359 00:18:32,212 --> 00:18:35,172 if we don't take urgent action to stop the climate crisis now. 360 00:18:35,803 --> 00:18:40,874 I started the youth climate justice movement called Zero Hour back in 2017, 361 00:18:40,898 --> 00:18:44,279 because this is zero hour to act on climate change. 362 00:18:44,303 --> 00:18:45,835 We have no more time. 363 00:18:45,859 --> 00:18:47,014 It became clear to me 364 00:18:47,038 --> 00:18:49,474 that our leaders were not going to take real action 365 00:18:49,498 --> 00:18:51,537 unless the people stood up and demanded it, 366 00:18:51,561 --> 00:18:53,815 so that's exactly what we did. 367 00:18:53,839 --> 00:18:56,211 Natalie Sweet: I became a climate-justice activist 368 00:18:56,235 --> 00:18:59,481 because if I don't fight for the rights of the people today, 369 00:18:59,505 --> 00:19:01,084 and for the people in the future, 370 00:19:01,108 --> 00:19:02,258 who will? 371 00:19:02,282 --> 00:19:04,893 Xiye Bastida: I became a climate justice activist 372 00:19:04,917 --> 00:19:09,474 when I realized that the climate crisis impacts marginalized communities the most, 373 00:19:09,498 --> 00:19:11,617 including my town in Mexico. 374 00:19:11,641 --> 00:19:13,724 I strike with Fridays for Future 375 00:19:13,748 --> 00:19:14,909 every Friday, 376 00:19:14,933 --> 00:19:17,804 because our movement is not about gaining momentum 377 00:19:17,828 --> 00:19:20,311 but about igniting cultural change. 378 00:19:20,335 --> 00:19:24,473 But the fact that thousands of students strike for climate 379 00:19:24,497 --> 00:19:27,172 means that we are already implementing climate justice 380 00:19:27,196 --> 00:19:29,418 into every aspect of our lives, 381 00:19:29,442 --> 00:19:31,726 which is already redefining the world. 382 00:19:32,398 --> 00:19:34,168 JM: Over the course of our lifetimes, 383 00:19:34,192 --> 00:19:37,191 we've seen the Earth deteriorate at a rapid speed 384 00:19:37,215 --> 00:19:39,618 and groups of people traumatized and displaced 385 00:19:39,642 --> 00:19:42,477 by an ever-increasing number of natural disasters. 386 00:19:42,905 --> 00:19:45,421 In 2030, I'll be 28 years old. 387 00:19:46,001 --> 00:19:47,833 AV: I'll be 24 years old. 388 00:19:48,152 --> 00:19:49,707 XB: I will be 27. 389 00:19:50,103 --> 00:19:51,540 NS: I'll be 26. 390 00:19:51,564 --> 00:19:54,669 We want to be able to hand the planet over to our children 391 00:19:54,693 --> 00:19:56,224 and our children's children, 392 00:19:56,248 --> 00:19:58,724 just like many of you have been able to do. 393 00:19:59,193 --> 00:20:01,097 AV: So unless everyone -- 394 00:20:01,121 --> 00:20:05,855 governments, companies, schools, scientists and citizens -- 395 00:20:05,879 --> 00:20:10,442 make a united commitment to reversing the damage that we've caused, 396 00:20:10,466 --> 00:20:12,466 it will be too late. 397 00:20:13,644 --> 00:20:16,882 XB: We are not only asking you to take care of our future, 398 00:20:16,906 --> 00:20:19,844 we are also asking you to take care of our past. 399 00:20:20,183 --> 00:20:24,982 Indigenous people have been taking care of the Earth for thousands of years, 400 00:20:25,006 --> 00:20:28,291 which is why indigenous philosophy is crucial 401 00:20:28,315 --> 00:20:30,515 when implementing climate action. 402 00:20:32,427 --> 00:20:36,053 JM: This climate crisis can feel like an impossible thing to fix. 403 00:20:36,077 --> 00:20:37,239 But it's not. 404 00:20:37,263 --> 00:20:38,415 And it can't be, 405 00:20:38,439 --> 00:20:40,363 because failure is simply not an option. 406 00:20:40,387 --> 00:20:42,412 Failure means losing everything we love 407 00:20:42,436 --> 00:20:44,315 and everything that matters. 408 00:20:44,339 --> 00:20:47,720 So many of us are already working to save the future of our world, 409 00:20:47,744 --> 00:20:50,712 but it can't just be on the next generation to fix. 410 00:20:50,736 --> 00:20:54,204 This is too much of a burden to just put on young people's shoulders. 411 00:20:54,982 --> 00:20:57,768 It is time for you to go all hands on deck 412 00:20:57,792 --> 00:21:02,434 and do everything within your power to save everything before it's too late. 413 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:03,950 Are you with us? 414 00:21:04,519 --> 00:21:05,682 Audience: Yes. 415 00:21:05,706 --> 00:21:12,706 (Applause and cheers) 416 00:21:12,730 --> 00:21:19,373 (Applause) 417 00:21:19,397 --> 00:21:21,299 CA: Thank you. Thank you, thank you. 418 00:21:21,323 --> 00:21:22,477 And then, of course, 419 00:21:22,501 --> 00:21:26,371 there's a crucial role to be played by the world's storytellers, 420 00:21:26,395 --> 00:21:30,704 and those with influence on social media platforms. 421 00:21:30,728 --> 00:21:32,887 Each of the following has expressed excitement 422 00:21:32,911 --> 00:21:34,204 to be part of this project. 423 00:21:34,228 --> 00:21:36,141 They've lent us their names and support. 424 00:21:36,165 --> 00:21:37,728 We have some of them here today. 425 00:21:37,752 --> 00:21:39,885 Thank you so much for being here. 426 00:21:40,228 --> 00:21:42,649 And let's hear from one of them, actually. 427 00:21:42,673 --> 00:21:44,355 Jimmy Kimmel: Hi, I'm Jimmy Kimmel, 428 00:21:44,379 --> 00:21:47,655 and I was asked to explain why I'm passionate about climate change. 429 00:21:47,679 --> 00:21:50,306 And the reason I'm passionate about climate change 430 00:21:50,330 --> 00:21:55,274 is the same reason people who are drowning are passionate about lifeguards. 431 00:21:55,298 --> 00:21:58,331 I care about this planet, because I live on it. 432 00:21:58,355 --> 00:21:59,879 I don't want to move to Mars, 433 00:21:59,903 --> 00:22:01,196 Mars seems terrible. 434 00:22:01,220 --> 00:22:04,744 I want my kids and their kids to be able to live on Earth, 435 00:22:04,768 --> 00:22:07,561 with air they can breathe and water they can drink. 436 00:22:07,585 --> 00:22:10,291 That's why I care about climate change. 437 00:22:10,315 --> 00:22:13,006 And also, I have a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio. 438 00:22:13,030 --> 00:22:15,752 (Applause) 439 00:22:15,776 --> 00:22:18,279 CF: So with all these people coming together, 440 00:22:18,303 --> 00:22:22,537 we have an opportunity to explore a new space of possibility 441 00:22:22,561 --> 00:22:25,672 for solutions based on working together, 442 00:22:25,696 --> 00:22:27,204 challenging each other 443 00:22:27,228 --> 00:22:29,124 and inspiring one another. 444 00:22:29,466 --> 00:22:31,490 So in October next year, 445 00:22:31,514 --> 00:22:35,149 we will be inviting more or less 1,000 people 446 00:22:35,173 --> 00:22:39,728 from different constituencies to meet in Bergen, Norway 447 00:22:39,752 --> 00:22:44,886 to align on specific answers to our five big questions. 448 00:22:45,395 --> 00:22:47,995 CA: It will certainly be an epic event. 449 00:22:48,482 --> 00:22:50,990 But even more significant than what happens in Norway 450 00:22:51,014 --> 00:22:53,855 is what happens elsewhere in the world. 451 00:22:53,879 --> 00:22:55,934 Because on the final day of that conference, 452 00:22:55,958 --> 00:23:00,577 we're planning a major activation of our global TEDx community. 453 00:23:01,315 --> 00:23:05,216 TEDx allows initiatives to organize local events, 454 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,321 and there are now 4,000 such events annually. 455 00:23:08,345 --> 00:23:10,145 Here's what they look like. 456 00:23:12,550 --> 00:23:15,505 They take place in more than 200 different countries, 457 00:23:15,529 --> 00:23:18,339 generate more than a billion views annually on YouTube. 458 00:23:18,363 --> 00:23:21,006 We're expecting to see events in hundreds of cities. 459 00:23:21,030 --> 00:23:23,213 We'll be connecting our TEDx organizers 460 00:23:23,237 --> 00:23:27,791 with city mayors committed to a clean future for their cities. 461 00:23:27,815 --> 00:23:29,053 This is the key to this. 462 00:23:29,077 --> 00:23:31,100 It's this connection between the powerful, 463 00:23:31,124 --> 00:23:34,013 who usually own the conversation, 464 00:23:34,037 --> 00:23:35,973 and millions of people around the world. 465 00:23:35,997 --> 00:23:39,640 Because of the zeitgeist shift that's happened in the last year or two, 466 00:23:39,664 --> 00:23:42,077 suddenly, ignition can happen here, 467 00:23:42,101 --> 00:23:44,180 because there's enough critical groundswell. 468 00:23:44,204 --> 00:23:46,442 If we can give people visibility of each other, 469 00:23:46,466 --> 00:23:47,704 connection to each other, 470 00:23:47,728 --> 00:23:49,379 let's dream a little here, 471 00:23:49,403 --> 00:23:51,347 and give each other permission to dream. 472 00:23:51,371 --> 00:23:54,529 CF: So our goal here is to build connections 473 00:23:54,553 --> 00:23:59,117 with and among all of the other organizations that are working on climate. 474 00:23:59,141 --> 00:24:00,292 For example, 475 00:24:00,316 --> 00:24:02,648 the Solutions Project is a wonderful initiative 476 00:24:02,672 --> 00:24:05,733 founded by Mark Ruffalo and Don Cheadle. 477 00:24:06,347 --> 00:24:10,212 And let's hear from some of the leaders that they have supported. 478 00:24:10,236 --> 00:24:11,934 CA: Welcome, you're live. 479 00:24:11,958 --> 00:24:12,989 (Laughter) 480 00:24:13,013 --> 00:24:16,751 (Video) Wahleah Johns: Hi, my name is Wahleah Johns, 481 00:24:16,775 --> 00:24:18,498 I'm with Native Renewables, 482 00:24:18,522 --> 00:24:24,045 and we are working to provide solar power for tribes 483 00:24:24,069 --> 00:24:25,712 throughout the world. 484 00:24:25,736 --> 00:24:29,712 We have over 15,000 Native American families 485 00:24:29,736 --> 00:24:32,329 that don't have access to electricity, 486 00:24:32,353 --> 00:24:37,266 and we are working to provide solar plus battery storage for these families 487 00:24:37,290 --> 00:24:38,536 in the United States 488 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:40,950 that don't have access to electricity. 489 00:24:40,974 --> 00:24:43,506 And they are located on my reservation, 490 00:24:43,530 --> 00:24:44,730 the Navajo Nation. 491 00:24:45,411 --> 00:24:46,799 Anna Lappé: Hi, everyone, 492 00:24:46,823 --> 00:24:49,616 I am Anna Lappé with Real Food Media, 493 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,045 and we work to uplift the stories of farmers and ranchers 494 00:24:54,069 --> 00:24:56,942 as a key solution to the climate crisis. 495 00:24:56,966 --> 00:25:00,633 The global food system right now is a huge contributor to this crisis, 496 00:25:00,657 --> 00:25:02,156 but it doesn't have to be. 497 00:25:02,180 --> 00:25:03,831 Farmers and ranchers we really see 498 00:25:03,855 --> 00:25:07,235 as on the front lines of being part of solving the crisis. 499 00:25:07,259 --> 00:25:11,873 So we try to share the stories of the millions of farmers 500 00:25:11,897 --> 00:25:15,230 from Andhra Pradesh, India to the highlands of Oaxaca 501 00:25:15,254 --> 00:25:20,768 that are using regenerative agriculture to build healthy, carbon-rich soil, 502 00:25:20,792 --> 00:25:21,983 grow good food 503 00:25:22,007 --> 00:25:26,108 and foster the kind of resilient communities that we need. 504 00:25:27,736 --> 00:25:30,865 Rahwa Ghirmatzion: Hello from PUSH Buffalo -- my name is Rahwa -- 505 00:25:30,889 --> 00:25:34,966 where every day, residents are visioning, planning and designing 506 00:25:34,990 --> 00:25:38,093 an equitable, holistic and sacred neighborhood, 507 00:25:38,117 --> 00:25:41,538 like where I'm phoning in from, School 77, 508 00:25:41,562 --> 00:25:43,831 a renovated vacant school building 509 00:25:43,855 --> 00:25:48,673 that has the first 100 percent affordable community solar array 510 00:25:48,697 --> 00:25:49,895 in New York state 511 00:25:49,919 --> 00:25:51,807 installed by local residents. 512 00:25:51,831 --> 00:25:55,450 It's also serving 30 affordable senior apartments 513 00:25:55,474 --> 00:25:58,863 and a mix of intergenerational spaces 514 00:25:58,887 --> 00:26:00,847 that serves as a community hub, 515 00:26:00,871 --> 00:26:03,347 where we're practicing new economy strategies 516 00:26:03,371 --> 00:26:05,038 towards a livable planet. 517 00:26:06,006 --> 00:26:07,157 CF: Thank you. 518 00:26:07,181 --> 00:26:08,466 CA: Bravo. 519 00:26:08,490 --> 00:26:11,269 (Applause) 520 00:26:11,293 --> 00:26:12,491 CA: It's so great. 521 00:26:12,515 --> 00:26:13,725 (Applause) 522 00:26:13,749 --> 00:26:15,648 CF: So you see, this is about everyone. 523 00:26:15,672 --> 00:26:16,826 It's about cities, 524 00:26:16,850 --> 00:26:19,074 it's about grassroots organizations, 525 00:26:19,098 --> 00:26:21,489 but it's also, of course, about business. 526 00:26:21,879 --> 00:26:24,545 And so we're inviting all companies -- 527 00:26:24,569 --> 00:26:26,268 underlined "all" -- 528 00:26:26,292 --> 00:26:27,918 to join this initiative, 529 00:26:27,942 --> 00:26:32,910 to engage with your employees on how you can best protect the planet 530 00:26:32,934 --> 00:26:35,714 and your future, at the same time. 531 00:26:36,188 --> 00:26:39,506 So early next year, we'll be sharing a toolkit 532 00:26:39,530 --> 00:26:41,256 that can guide companies 533 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,403 toward moving quickly towards science-based targets, 534 00:26:45,427 --> 00:26:49,863 which gets them then to net zero emissions 535 00:26:49,887 --> 00:26:52,594 by 2050 at the latest. 536 00:26:53,307 --> 00:26:54,498 CA: So think about this, 537 00:26:54,522 --> 00:26:56,617 because as an individual, 538 00:26:56,641 --> 00:27:00,553 many individuals feel powerless on this issue. 539 00:27:00,577 --> 00:27:05,497 But if you were to team up with others in your company, 540 00:27:05,521 --> 00:27:08,187 you might be amazed at how much power you actually have. 541 00:27:08,211 --> 00:27:13,489 Almost all emissions come from a company somewhere on the planet. 542 00:27:13,513 --> 00:27:16,536 And the thing is, many CEOs today 543 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,473 are actually eager to help solve the problem. 544 00:27:19,497 --> 00:27:24,172 We just heard this morning from Anand Mahindra, 545 00:27:24,196 --> 00:27:26,569 who heads India's biggest business group, 546 00:27:26,593 --> 00:27:28,799 that he is personally committed on this issue 547 00:27:28,823 --> 00:27:31,029 and wants to be part of this journey with us -- 548 00:27:31,053 --> 00:27:32,683 he's a supporter of Countdown. 549 00:27:33,434 --> 00:27:36,492 CEOs will be able to move much faster 550 00:27:36,516 --> 00:27:42,768 if there's a group of employees there to brainstorm with, to support them, 551 00:27:42,792 --> 00:27:47,501 to keep that sort of sense of urgency on the topic. 552 00:27:47,929 --> 00:27:51,691 Our website will help you connect with others in your company 553 00:27:51,715 --> 00:27:54,762 and give you guidance on smart questions to ask, 554 00:27:54,786 --> 00:27:56,723 initiatives to suggest, 555 00:27:56,747 --> 00:28:00,828 because if companies can be persuaded to do the right thing, 556 00:28:00,852 --> 00:28:04,794 suddenly, this problem seems to become solvable. 557 00:28:05,533 --> 00:28:10,838 CF: So all of these efforts are building toward one fantastic day: 558 00:28:10,838 --> 00:28:13,974 Saturday, October 10, 2020 -- 559 00:28:13,998 --> 00:28:18,910 that is, "10.10.2020." -- easy to remember -- 560 00:28:18,934 --> 00:28:22,783 when this fantastic gathering will take place around the world. 561 00:28:23,284 --> 00:28:25,958 And we hope to have, by then, 562 00:28:25,982 --> 00:28:29,434 thrilling news of the report of the very specific solutions 563 00:28:29,458 --> 00:28:33,798 that nations, cities, companies, citizens 564 00:28:33,822 --> 00:28:36,848 are actually already collaborating on by then. 565 00:28:37,326 --> 00:28:40,540 It's a day when every citizen of the planet 566 00:28:40,564 --> 00:28:42,625 is invited to participate. 567 00:28:42,649 --> 00:28:46,839 Your one ticket of entrance is you are a citizen of the planet. 568 00:28:46,863 --> 00:28:51,873 CA: Key to the success of the event is for this to happen at scale. 569 00:28:51,897 --> 00:28:54,524 We want to make it easy for anyone and everyone 570 00:28:54,548 --> 00:28:57,880 to find out about the initiative and to play an active part in it. 571 00:28:57,904 --> 00:28:59,190 But how do you do that? 572 00:28:59,214 --> 00:29:01,283 You know, the world's a noisy place. 573 00:29:01,307 --> 00:29:03,950 I mean, the TED platform can help a bit, maybe, 574 00:29:03,974 --> 00:29:07,641 but there's a much bigger content platform out there. 575 00:29:07,665 --> 00:29:09,901 It's called YouTube. 576 00:29:10,249 --> 00:29:13,939 And we're delighted to be working with them on this endeavor. 577 00:29:13,963 --> 00:29:16,368 We'll be inviting many of their top creators 578 00:29:16,392 --> 00:29:18,600 to be part of Countdown. 579 00:29:19,257 --> 00:29:22,280 Collectively, they could reach an audience in the many millions. 580 00:29:22,304 --> 00:29:23,842 In fact, let's meet one of them, 581 00:29:23,866 --> 00:29:25,835 Dr. Joe Hanson of "Hot Mess," 582 00:29:25,859 --> 00:29:29,954 a new web series about the impact of climate change on all of us. 583 00:29:31,284 --> 00:29:33,260 (Video) My name's Joe Hanson, 584 00:29:33,284 --> 00:29:34,637 and I am a YouTube educator. 585 00:29:34,661 --> 00:29:36,601 And you can count me in. 586 00:29:36,625 --> 00:29:40,111 I work with tomorrow's scientists, inventors and leaders, 587 00:29:40,135 --> 00:29:43,687 and they deserve to know the truth of what the science says, 588 00:29:43,711 --> 00:29:47,804 so that they can help us invent a better future for everyone. 589 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:51,840 CA: Imagine that multiplied by many others -- 590 00:29:51,864 --> 00:29:53,889 it's very, very exciting, honestly. 591 00:29:54,561 --> 00:29:57,609 CF: And of course, when it comes to spreading the word, 592 00:29:57,633 --> 00:30:01,594 every one of you in this room can actually play your part. 593 00:30:02,014 --> 00:30:05,517 So if you have any way of reaching anyone 594 00:30:05,541 --> 00:30:08,259 who is concerned about building a better future -- 595 00:30:08,283 --> 00:30:11,188 and that should be every single one of us -- 596 00:30:11,212 --> 00:30:14,149 please, invite them to join Countdown. 597 00:30:14,173 --> 00:30:16,125 CA: There's one more card up our sleeve. 598 00:30:16,149 --> 00:30:20,698 We're excited to unveil a global media campaign. 599 00:30:20,722 --> 00:30:22,761 This is a campaign with a difference. 600 00:30:22,785 --> 00:30:24,912 Just as TEDx exploded 601 00:30:24,936 --> 00:30:28,460 by being allowed to grow as a grassroots phenomenon, 602 00:30:28,484 --> 00:30:33,685 this campaign is designed to be co-opted everywhere on the planet. 603 00:30:34,421 --> 00:30:37,198 If you happen to own a billboard company, 604 00:30:37,222 --> 00:30:39,284 or a TV station, or a radio station, 605 00:30:39,308 --> 00:30:40,768 or a website, 606 00:30:40,792 --> 00:30:43,942 or a social media account, 607 00:30:43,966 --> 00:30:47,253 we invite all of you to take the images you're about to see 608 00:30:47,277 --> 00:30:49,991 and to just spread them far and wide. 609 00:30:50,015 --> 00:30:52,285 Our website will make this easy. 610 00:30:52,309 --> 00:30:54,896 We actually plan to translate them into many languages, 611 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:59,825 courtesy of our volunteer army of more than 20,000 translators worldwide. 612 00:30:59,849 --> 00:31:01,293 Some of them are with us here. 613 00:31:01,317 --> 00:31:04,250 If you're a TED translator, would you wave, please? 614 00:31:05,539 --> 00:31:06,701 CF: There we go. 615 00:31:06,725 --> 00:31:08,863 (Applause) 616 00:31:08,887 --> 00:31:12,053 CA: Your work carries powerful ideas to every corner of the earth. 617 00:31:12,077 --> 00:31:14,315 We're so proud of you, so grateful to you. 618 00:31:14,339 --> 00:31:17,688 So this campaign's designed to grab attention 619 00:31:17,712 --> 00:31:20,847 and to communicate, yes, urgency 620 00:31:20,871 --> 00:31:23,141 but also a little smidgen of hope. 621 00:31:23,165 --> 00:31:27,688 We think it might be that combination is what is needed to really drive action. 622 00:31:27,712 --> 00:31:31,768 We'd love you to let us know what you think of these. 623 00:31:31,792 --> 00:31:32,947 CF: Right now. 624 00:31:32,971 --> 00:31:34,293 [Choose your future.] 625 00:31:34,317 --> 00:31:37,500 (Applause) 626 00:31:37,524 --> 00:31:39,537 [Turn fear into action Join the countdown.] 627 00:31:39,561 --> 00:31:42,728 (Applause) 628 00:31:43,090 --> 00:31:44,299 [Action inspires action 629 00:31:44,323 --> 00:31:46,577 Join the countdown. The Earth will thank you.] 630 00:31:46,601 --> 00:31:47,752 (Applause) 631 00:31:47,752 --> 00:31:50,331 [10.10.2020 Climate's Day of Destiny. You're invited.] 632 00:31:50,331 --> 00:31:51,720 CF: Remember the date. 633 00:31:51,744 --> 00:31:54,110 [Mass destruction. No biggie. (If we prevent it.)] 634 00:31:54,134 --> 00:31:55,728 (Applause) 635 00:31:55,752 --> 00:31:59,021 [Giant asteroid heading our way The common enemy that can unite us.] 636 00:31:59,045 --> 00:32:01,674 (Applause) 637 00:32:02,099 --> 00:32:04,695 [We love natural disasters anyway -- said no one ever. 638 00:32:04,719 --> 00:32:06,180 So why are we causing them?] 639 00:32:06,204 --> 00:32:07,711 (Applause) 640 00:32:08,292 --> 00:32:10,799 [Relax, there's nothing you can do about the climate 641 00:32:10,823 --> 00:32:13,201 Unless you work for a company. Or live in a city. 642 00:32:13,205 --> 00:32:14,601 Or own a phone. Or a brain.] 643 00:32:14,625 --> 00:32:16,982 [Cause of death: Apathy. But there's an antidote.] 644 00:32:17,006 --> 00:32:19,544 (Applause) 645 00:32:19,568 --> 00:32:20,983 [Stop f*cking everything up 646 00:32:21,007 --> 00:32:23,365 Inaction on climate is obscene. We can fix this.] 647 00:32:23,389 --> 00:32:24,556 CA: Too much? 648 00:32:24,580 --> 00:32:26,549 CF: No, not too much, yay, go for it. 649 00:32:26,573 --> 00:32:27,754 (Applause) 650 00:32:27,778 --> 00:32:29,500 [Have you gotten any action lately? 651 00:32:29,524 --> 00:32:31,991 Here's your chance. Help turn the tide on climate.] 652 00:32:32,015 --> 00:32:33,197 (Laughter) 653 00:32:33,221 --> 00:32:35,715 CA: I didn't like this one, but my team, you know -- 654 00:32:35,739 --> 00:32:38,017 CF: Apparently, there are many who do like it. 655 00:32:38,041 --> 00:32:40,334 (Laughter) 656 00:32:40,358 --> 00:32:41,771 [We give up. Sincerely, TED. 657 00:32:41,795 --> 00:32:44,514 Spreading ideas isn't enough. It's time to act. Join us?] 658 00:32:44,538 --> 00:32:46,800 CA: This is, unfortunately, truer than you know. 659 00:32:46,824 --> 00:32:49,070 [Some things matter more than partisan politics 660 00:32:49,094 --> 00:32:51,087 Come fight the enemy that can unite us.] 661 00:32:51,111 --> 00:32:52,168 (Applause) 662 00:32:52,192 --> 00:32:53,343 [Stop burnout 663 00:32:53,367 --> 00:32:55,237 Your company can help save the earth.] 664 00:32:55,261 --> 00:32:57,380 [Give the planet more than you take from it 665 00:32:57,404 --> 00:32:59,188 Join the countdown.] 666 00:32:59,212 --> 00:33:00,559 [Despair, meet hope 667 00:33:00,583 --> 00:33:03,611 We can avoid climate catastrophe if we take urgent action now.] 668 00:33:03,635 --> 00:33:04,786 CA: That's it. 669 00:33:04,810 --> 00:33:07,852 (Applause and cheers) 670 00:33:07,876 --> 00:33:09,359 CF: To bring this full circle, 671 00:33:09,383 --> 00:33:12,519 we would like to bring someone very special in. 672 00:33:12,543 --> 00:33:14,209 (Video) Hi, I'm Claire O'Neill. 673 00:33:14,233 --> 00:33:18,712 I am the COP president-designate for next year's Conference of the Parties, 674 00:33:18,736 --> 00:33:21,633 the annual UN climate change talks, which will be in the UK, 675 00:33:21,657 --> 00:33:23,958 and we're looking forward to welcoming you there. 676 00:33:23,982 --> 00:33:26,768 But right now, I'm in Spain, in Madrid, 677 00:33:26,792 --> 00:33:29,410 at COP25, this annual event 678 00:33:29,434 --> 00:33:32,688 where we send negotiators and activists from all over the world 679 00:33:32,712 --> 00:33:35,387 to see what we can do to reduce CO2 emissions. 680 00:33:35,411 --> 00:33:38,545 But the problem is this: emissions are going up, not down. 681 00:33:38,569 --> 00:33:41,609 And what I'm feeling is that 2020 is the year of action, 682 00:33:41,633 --> 00:33:43,443 the year where we have to stop talking 683 00:33:43,467 --> 00:33:44,815 and we have to start acting. 684 00:33:44,815 --> 00:33:47,014 And not just here, in these conference centers, 685 00:33:47,014 --> 00:33:48,165 but everybody. 686 00:33:48,189 --> 00:33:50,740 And so the value of the TED process, 687 00:33:50,764 --> 00:33:52,791 the value of what we're all doing together 688 00:33:52,815 --> 00:33:54,950 is that we're spreading out the conversations 689 00:33:54,974 --> 00:33:58,268 and the solutions from inside this space 690 00:33:58,292 --> 00:33:59,688 out to everybody. 691 00:33:59,712 --> 00:34:02,529 And I'm really looking forward to working with the TED group 692 00:34:02,553 --> 00:34:03,744 over the next year. 693 00:34:03,768 --> 00:34:06,824 2020, for me, will be the most important year for climate action, 694 00:34:06,848 --> 00:34:09,602 and we're all going to deliver this together. 695 00:34:09,626 --> 00:34:12,277 (Applause) 696 00:34:12,301 --> 00:34:14,248 CF: OK, friends, so we're nearly there 697 00:34:14,272 --> 00:34:17,688 but just a few more very special snippets. 698 00:34:17,712 --> 00:34:22,140 First, a word from one of the many great minds 699 00:34:22,164 --> 00:34:25,125 who will be accompanying us on this journey. 700 00:34:25,149 --> 00:34:29,688 A message from the great author, historian and futurist 701 00:34:29,712 --> 00:34:30,862 Yuval Harari. 702 00:34:31,927 --> 00:34:34,721 Yuval Harari: Climate change is about inequality. 703 00:34:34,745 --> 00:34:38,768 Inequality between the rich, who are mainly responsible for it, 704 00:34:38,792 --> 00:34:41,392 and the poor, who will suffer the most. 705 00:34:41,792 --> 00:34:44,562 Inequality between us, Homo sapiens, 706 00:34:44,586 --> 00:34:46,180 who control this planet, 707 00:34:46,204 --> 00:34:49,622 and the other animals, who are our helpless victims. 708 00:34:50,355 --> 00:34:52,760 Inequality between the scientists, 709 00:34:52,784 --> 00:34:55,776 who painstakingly search for the truth, 710 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,815 and the professional deceivers, 711 00:34:57,839 --> 00:35:00,805 who spread falsehoods at the click of a button. 712 00:35:01,950 --> 00:35:04,776 Climate change is about making a choice. 713 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,831 What kind of planet do we want to inhabit, 714 00:35:07,855 --> 00:35:10,588 and what kind of humans do we want to be? 715 00:35:11,371 --> 00:35:14,679 A choice between greed and compassion, 716 00:35:14,703 --> 00:35:17,774 between carelessness and responsibility, 717 00:35:17,798 --> 00:35:20,814 between closing our eyes to the truth 718 00:35:20,838 --> 00:35:23,742 and opening our hearts to the world. 719 00:35:24,696 --> 00:35:26,807 Climate change is a crisis, 720 00:35:26,831 --> 00:35:31,299 but for humans, a crisis is always also an opportunity. 721 00:35:31,744 --> 00:35:35,228 If we make the right choices in the coming years, 722 00:35:35,252 --> 00:35:38,188 we cannot only save the ecosystem, 723 00:35:38,212 --> 00:35:41,760 but we can also create a more just world 724 00:35:41,784 --> 00:35:44,226 and make ourselves better people. 725 00:35:46,228 --> 00:35:53,022 (Applause) 726 00:35:53,046 --> 00:35:56,300 CF: So isn't that a powerful framing of what we have ahead of us, 727 00:35:56,324 --> 00:35:59,806 and honestly, I think it is tragic 728 00:35:59,830 --> 00:36:03,545 that the power of transformation that we have ahead of us 729 00:36:03,569 --> 00:36:08,136 is so severely diminished by those who would want to politicize the issue 730 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,525 and separate it into partisan politics. 731 00:36:11,549 --> 00:36:14,168 It cannot be a partisan issue, 732 00:36:14,192 --> 00:36:16,392 it cannot be a politicized issue. 733 00:36:16,768 --> 00:36:19,561 Happily, there are some who are working against that. 734 00:36:19,585 --> 00:36:22,434 Today, we have one of those people, 735 00:36:22,458 --> 00:36:25,768 a fantastically courageous climate scientist, 736 00:36:25,792 --> 00:36:27,728 who is a committed Christian, 737 00:36:27,752 --> 00:36:29,594 and who has been working on this issue 738 00:36:29,618 --> 00:36:33,944 with conservatives and with the religious and spiritual communities for years, 739 00:36:33,968 --> 00:36:36,142 with incredible courage. 740 00:36:36,572 --> 00:36:37,722 Katharine Hayhoe. 741 00:36:38,437 --> 00:36:40,524 (Applause) 742 00:36:40,548 --> 00:36:43,790 Katherine Hayhoe: When someone says climate change, we often think, 743 00:36:43,814 --> 00:36:45,764 "Oh, that's just an environmental issue. 744 00:36:45,788 --> 00:36:48,431 People who are tree huggers or scientists care about it, 745 00:36:48,455 --> 00:36:51,897 or maybe people who are on the left hand-side of the political spectrum." 746 00:36:51,921 --> 00:36:54,084 But the reality is, whether we know it or not, 747 00:36:54,108 --> 00:36:57,347 we already care about climate change, no matter who we are. 748 00:36:57,371 --> 00:36:58,539 Why? 749 00:36:58,563 --> 00:37:02,117 Because climate change affects everything we already care about today. 750 00:37:02,141 --> 00:37:03,553 It affects our health, 751 00:37:03,577 --> 00:37:05,307 it affects the food we eat, 752 00:37:05,331 --> 00:37:08,077 the water we drink, the air that we breathe. 753 00:37:08,101 --> 00:37:11,403 Climate change affects the economy and national security. 754 00:37:11,427 --> 00:37:15,339 I care about a changing climate because it is, as the military calls it, 755 00:37:15,363 --> 00:37:16,902 a threat multiplier. 756 00:37:17,331 --> 00:37:19,926 It takes issues like poverty and hunger, 757 00:37:19,950 --> 00:37:22,403 disease, lack of access to clean water, 758 00:37:22,427 --> 00:37:24,260 even political instability, 759 00:37:24,284 --> 00:37:26,550 and exacerbates or amplifies them. 760 00:37:27,069 --> 00:37:29,172 That's why, to care about a changing climate, 761 00:37:29,196 --> 00:37:31,307 we don't have to be a certain type of person. 762 00:37:31,331 --> 00:37:33,633 A thermometer isn't blue or red, 763 00:37:33,657 --> 00:37:35,229 liberal or conservative -- 764 00:37:35,253 --> 00:37:38,156 it gives us the same number no matter how we vote. 765 00:37:38,180 --> 00:37:41,577 And we are all affected by the impacts of a changing climate. 766 00:37:41,601 --> 00:37:43,410 So to care about a changing climate, 767 00:37:43,434 --> 00:37:45,196 all we have to be is one thing: 768 00:37:45,220 --> 00:37:47,276 a human, living on planet Earth. 769 00:37:47,300 --> 00:37:48,958 And we're all that. 770 00:37:49,831 --> 00:37:52,807 (Applause) 771 00:37:52,831 --> 00:37:53,982 CF: And finally, 772 00:37:54,006 --> 00:37:58,720 the man who brought this issue so powerfully to everyone's attention 773 00:37:58,744 --> 00:38:00,228 years ago 774 00:38:00,252 --> 00:38:05,367 and has continued tirelessly to work on that issue ever since. 775 00:38:05,391 --> 00:38:08,516 The one and very only, Al Gore. 776 00:38:08,907 --> 00:38:12,278 (Applause) 777 00:38:12,302 --> 00:38:13,608 (Video) Al Gore: Thank you. 778 00:38:13,632 --> 00:38:14,955 (Applause) 779 00:38:14,979 --> 00:38:16,434 Thank you so much, Christiana, 780 00:38:16,458 --> 00:38:19,163 and thank you for your outstanding leadership, 781 00:38:19,187 --> 00:38:23,042 and thank you, Chris Anderson and the entire TED community, 782 00:38:23,066 --> 00:38:26,669 YouTube and all of the others who are joining 783 00:38:26,693 --> 00:38:28,843 in this fantastic initiative. 784 00:38:29,479 --> 00:38:31,244 I have just three messages. 785 00:38:31,268 --> 00:38:34,883 Number one, this crisis is incredibly urgent. 786 00:38:35,495 --> 00:38:38,819 Just yesterday, the scientists gave us the report 787 00:38:38,843 --> 00:38:41,573 that emissions are still going up. 788 00:38:41,597 --> 00:38:42,883 Every single day, 789 00:38:42,907 --> 00:38:48,765 we're putting 150 million tons of man-made global warming pollution 790 00:38:48,789 --> 00:38:52,281 into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet. 791 00:38:52,305 --> 00:38:56,688 The accumulated amount now traps as much extra energy every day 792 00:38:56,712 --> 00:39:01,928 as would be released by 500,000 first-generation atomic bombs 793 00:39:01,952 --> 00:39:04,217 exploding every single day. 794 00:39:04,543 --> 00:39:07,805 And the consequences are increasingly clear -- 795 00:39:07,829 --> 00:39:10,752 all that mother nature is telling us, 796 00:39:10,776 --> 00:39:12,569 the fires, and the sea-level rise, 797 00:39:12,593 --> 00:39:14,696 and the floods, and the mud slides, 798 00:39:14,720 --> 00:39:16,672 and the loss of living species. 799 00:39:16,696 --> 00:39:21,535 But the second message that I have is the hope is very real. 800 00:39:21,559 --> 00:39:25,615 We actually do have the solutions available to us. 801 00:39:25,639 --> 00:39:28,656 It is unfortunately true at this moment, 802 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:34,536 that the crisis is getting worse faster than we are mobilizing these solutions. 803 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:36,656 But renewable energy and electric vehicles 804 00:39:36,680 --> 00:39:38,958 and batteries and regenerative agriculture, 805 00:39:38,982 --> 00:39:40,768 circular manufacturing, 806 00:39:40,792 --> 00:39:44,749 and all of these other solutions are gaining momentum. 807 00:39:45,162 --> 00:39:46,908 The late economist Rudi Dornbusch, 808 00:39:46,932 --> 00:39:50,702 in articulating what's known as Dornbusch's law, said, 809 00:39:50,726 --> 00:39:54,210 "Things take longer to happen than you think they will. 810 00:39:54,234 --> 00:39:57,490 But then, they happen much faster than you thought they could." 811 00:39:57,919 --> 00:40:00,316 We can pick up the pace. 812 00:40:00,340 --> 00:40:02,086 We are gaining momentum 813 00:40:02,110 --> 00:40:04,895 and soon, we will be gaining on the crisis. 814 00:40:04,919 --> 00:40:07,936 But it is essential that everyone join -- 815 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,149 of every political persuasion, 816 00:40:10,173 --> 00:40:12,387 every ideological persuasion, 817 00:40:12,411 --> 00:40:13,654 every nationality, 818 00:40:13,678 --> 00:40:18,403 every division has to be obliterated, so that we, humanity, 819 00:40:18,427 --> 00:40:20,442 can join together. 820 00:40:20,466 --> 00:40:24,601 And in closing, I would just say that for anyone who doubts 821 00:40:24,625 --> 00:40:27,372 that we as human beings 822 00:40:27,396 --> 00:40:31,173 have the ability to rise to this occasion, 823 00:40:31,197 --> 00:40:33,299 when everything is on the line, 824 00:40:33,323 --> 00:40:37,982 just remember that political will is itself a renewable resource. 825 00:40:38,885 --> 00:40:39,886 (Laughter) 826 00:40:39,910 --> 00:40:46,910 (Applause) 827 00:40:50,554 --> 00:40:51,752 CA: Thank you so much. 828 00:40:51,776 --> 00:40:54,418 Thank you so much, Al, for your leadership on this issue 829 00:40:54,442 --> 00:40:55,642 for so many years. 830 00:40:56,617 --> 00:40:58,409 None of this would be possible 831 00:40:58,433 --> 00:41:02,156 without an extraordinary and fast-growing list of partners. 832 00:41:02,180 --> 00:41:04,047 I'd like to acknowledge them. 833 00:41:04,791 --> 00:41:08,888 (Applause) 834 00:41:08,912 --> 00:41:10,110 If you're watching this, 835 00:41:10,134 --> 00:41:12,825 you believe your organization should be part of this, 836 00:41:12,849 --> 00:41:14,539 you can help in some way, 837 00:41:14,563 --> 00:41:17,015 join us, email me, chris@ted.com. 838 00:41:17,434 --> 00:41:19,505 This is going to take everyone. 839 00:41:19,887 --> 00:41:21,807 OK, before the Q and A, 840 00:41:21,831 --> 00:41:25,164 I just want to ask you a question personally, Christiana. 841 00:41:25,188 --> 00:41:27,082 Like, what do you really think? 842 00:41:27,554 --> 00:41:28,577 (Laughter) 843 00:41:28,601 --> 00:41:31,545 No, you've been in so many of these. 844 00:41:31,569 --> 00:41:33,903 Does this initiative have a chance? 845 00:41:35,394 --> 00:41:38,037 CF: Well, first of all, 846 00:41:38,061 --> 00:41:41,584 we are at the point where everything plays. 847 00:41:41,608 --> 00:41:43,410 Everything plays. 848 00:41:43,434 --> 00:41:46,045 And I'm really excited about this, 849 00:41:46,069 --> 00:41:51,727 because it has been very painful to me to see how over the past 12 to 18 months 850 00:41:51,751 --> 00:41:55,100 because of the tragically insufficient response 851 00:41:55,124 --> 00:41:56,879 that we have had to climate change, 852 00:41:56,903 --> 00:42:00,188 how that zeitgeist has been changing from where we were in Paris, 853 00:42:00,212 --> 00:42:02,498 which was pretty positive and optimistic, 854 00:42:02,522 --> 00:42:06,070 to, now, despair, helplessness, anger. 855 00:42:06,602 --> 00:42:08,896 That's what is out there, roaming on the streets. 856 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:11,397 And I don't blame them, and I have the same feelings. 857 00:42:11,421 --> 00:42:12,657 But the point is, 858 00:42:12,681 --> 00:42:17,376 we have to be able to transform that into making the difference. 859 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:22,368 And I think this is what this initiative is actually potentially ready to do, 860 00:42:22,392 --> 00:42:26,672 which is to give every single person who feels helpless -- 861 00:42:26,696 --> 00:42:29,482 give them a tool to do something. 862 00:42:29,506 --> 00:42:31,808 Some will contribute small efforts, 863 00:42:31,832 --> 00:42:33,614 some will contribute large efforts -- 864 00:42:33,638 --> 00:42:37,084 depends on what your influence area is. 865 00:42:37,108 --> 00:42:42,514 And to those who feel angry and despairing, 866 00:42:42,538 --> 00:42:47,347 well, give them also an opportunity to channel that energy -- 867 00:42:47,371 --> 00:42:49,197 which is very powerful energy -- 868 00:42:49,221 --> 00:42:51,450 into solutions. 869 00:42:51,815 --> 00:42:54,855 And finally, what is very exciting about this 870 00:42:54,879 --> 00:42:56,918 is the scale, Chris, right? 871 00:42:56,942 --> 00:43:00,783 I mean, just look at those partners that are going to be there. 872 00:43:00,807 --> 00:43:04,175 We have attempted many, many things to bring to scale. 873 00:43:04,199 --> 00:43:09,206 But this, I think, is the most promising initiative that I have seen, 874 00:43:09,230 --> 00:43:11,437 to be able to bring people to scale, 875 00:43:11,461 --> 00:43:13,855 to bring efforts and solutions to scale. 876 00:43:13,879 --> 00:43:15,553 And speed. 877 00:43:15,577 --> 00:43:20,474 Because if there's one thing that we cannot, cannot fail on, 878 00:43:20,498 --> 00:43:21,998 is addressing climate change, 879 00:43:22,022 --> 00:43:23,180 but not only that, 880 00:43:23,204 --> 00:43:24,871 to do so in a timely way. 881 00:43:25,625 --> 00:43:27,815 CA: Thank you, that is eloquent. 882 00:43:27,839 --> 00:43:28,998 And thank you. 883 00:43:29,022 --> 00:43:30,175 That's it. 884 00:43:30,199 --> 00:43:37,199 (Applause) 885 00:43:37,561 --> 00:43:43,442 OK, we have many members of the world's leading media here. 886 00:43:43,466 --> 00:43:44,911 We're going to have a Q and A, 887 00:43:44,935 --> 00:43:47,236 they should probably have priority on questions. 888 00:43:47,260 --> 00:43:50,275 If it all goes deathly silent, someone else can ask a question. 889 00:43:50,299 --> 00:43:52,556 If you're a member of the media here, 890 00:43:52,580 --> 00:43:56,114 please feel free to put your hand up -- we'll throw a mic to you, 891 00:43:56,138 --> 00:43:58,072 and we'll do the best we can. 892 00:43:59,022 --> 00:44:01,053 Rachel Crane: Hi, Rachel Crane from CNN. 893 00:44:01,363 --> 00:44:04,379 My question for you is about more specific action 894 00:44:04,403 --> 00:44:05,966 that will come out of Countdown. 895 00:44:05,990 --> 00:44:07,141 We heard a lot today 896 00:44:07,165 --> 00:44:09,657 about how this is mobilizing the globe on this issue, 897 00:44:09,681 --> 00:44:12,775 breaking people out of their silos, companies out of their silos, 898 00:44:12,799 --> 00:44:15,070 but I'm curious to know, paint a picture for us, 899 00:44:15,094 --> 00:44:18,419 of what the action that will come out of this initiative 900 00:44:18,443 --> 00:44:19,785 could potentially look like. 901 00:44:19,809 --> 00:44:21,594 I'm sure it's all in early phases, 902 00:44:21,618 --> 00:44:23,689 we won't hold you specifically to this. 903 00:44:23,713 --> 00:44:27,830 CA: There's an intense process going on between now and October, 904 00:44:27,854 --> 00:44:29,227 where we're trying to engage 905 00:44:29,251 --> 00:44:32,727 all of the world's best thinking on climate 906 00:44:32,751 --> 00:44:34,640 around those five big areas. 907 00:44:34,664 --> 00:44:38,057 What we're hoping to have there is multiple proposals in there 908 00:44:38,081 --> 00:44:42,725 that collectively take a huge bite out of those issues. 909 00:44:42,749 --> 00:44:46,424 Some of them, there may be one big one that dominates. 910 00:44:46,448 --> 00:44:48,606 You know, so transport, for example. 911 00:44:49,455 --> 00:44:51,607 Could we accelerate the end 912 00:44:51,631 --> 00:44:53,723 of the internal combustion engine, somehow? 913 00:44:53,747 --> 00:44:54,932 What would that take? 914 00:44:54,956 --> 00:44:57,603 That would be a classic problem made for this approach, 915 00:44:57,627 --> 00:45:00,524 because what governments decide right now 916 00:45:00,548 --> 00:45:03,869 depends on what they see happening elsewhere. 917 00:45:04,259 --> 00:45:06,727 Would the decisions of auto executives be shifted 918 00:45:06,751 --> 00:45:09,588 if they saw millions of people on social media saying, 919 00:45:09,612 --> 00:45:11,639 "I will never buy a combustion engine"? 920 00:45:11,663 --> 00:45:15,361 Would they be shifted by the market signal of a few hundred mayors, saying, 921 00:45:15,385 --> 00:45:19,488 "We are creating a carbon-zero zone in our city, 922 00:45:19,512 --> 00:45:21,306 and we're going to expand it, 923 00:45:21,330 --> 00:45:22,641 and we're doing that soon"? 924 00:45:22,665 --> 00:45:26,657 Would they be shifted by a visionary auto CEO taking the risk 925 00:45:26,657 --> 00:45:28,094 and coming forward and saying, 926 00:45:28,094 --> 00:45:31,115 "You know when we said we were going to continue this till 2050? 927 00:45:31,139 --> 00:45:33,003 No. We can see the writing on the wall, 928 00:45:33,027 --> 00:45:35,075 we want to be on the right side of history, 929 00:45:35,099 --> 00:45:36,352 we're doing this in 2030." 930 00:45:36,376 --> 00:45:38,423 We think there might be a pathway to that. 931 00:45:38,447 --> 00:45:39,783 So on some of these issues, 932 00:45:39,807 --> 00:45:44,847 it's going to depend on a massive amount of discussion, bringing people together, 933 00:45:44,871 --> 00:45:48,396 showing -- this is what you're so masterful at -- 934 00:45:48,420 --> 00:45:50,918 is showing that other people don't have the attitudes 935 00:45:50,942 --> 00:45:52,244 that you think they have. 936 00:45:52,268 --> 00:45:54,323 They're actually shifting, you better shift. 937 00:45:54,347 --> 00:45:58,474 And so it's mutually raising everyone's ambition level. 938 00:45:58,863 --> 00:46:01,315 And that is a cycle that happens, 939 00:46:01,339 --> 00:46:03,125 and we've already seen it happening. 940 00:46:03,149 --> 00:46:06,141 And so, on each of these issues, that's what we're looking for. 941 00:46:06,165 --> 00:46:07,783 The biggest, boldest things. 942 00:46:07,807 --> 00:46:09,696 Dream bigger than we normally do, 943 00:46:09,720 --> 00:46:13,402 because there are more people at the table than there normally are, 944 00:46:13,426 --> 00:46:16,506 i.e. millions of citizens engaged in this. 945 00:46:16,530 --> 00:46:19,117 That's the process, and while that is happening, 946 00:46:19,141 --> 00:46:23,061 there'll be multiple other engagements in companies and cities around the world. 947 00:46:23,085 --> 00:46:27,109 We hope that it all comes together in a thrilling manner in October 948 00:46:27,133 --> 00:46:28,812 and we have something to celebrate. 949 00:46:28,836 --> 00:46:31,273 Dominique Drakeford: My name is Dominique Drakeford 950 00:46:31,297 --> 00:46:35,267 with MelaninASS, or social media as a form of media. 951 00:46:36,836 --> 00:46:39,823 In understanding the inherent correlation 952 00:46:39,847 --> 00:46:45,085 between the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere 953 00:46:45,109 --> 00:46:47,675 and the cumulative exploitation 954 00:46:47,699 --> 00:46:52,458 and extraction, extractivism economy, 955 00:46:52,482 --> 00:46:56,736 which creates sacrifice zones for black and indigenous communities, 956 00:46:56,760 --> 00:46:59,029 how do we plan to, 957 00:46:59,053 --> 00:47:04,609 or how do you guys plan to mitigate those systems of oppression 958 00:47:04,633 --> 00:47:09,710 as part of your strategies within those five various components, 959 00:47:09,734 --> 00:47:13,131 so that we can really begin to reduce emissions? 960 00:47:13,829 --> 00:47:16,586 CF: If the transformation in our economy and our society 961 00:47:16,610 --> 00:47:22,251 does not include inequality closing and social justice issues, 962 00:47:22,275 --> 00:47:24,091 then we're doing nothing. 963 00:47:24,115 --> 00:47:26,663 Because all of those things will come back to bite us. 964 00:47:26,687 --> 00:47:30,251 So we have to put our arms around the entire package. 965 00:47:30,275 --> 00:47:32,537 That is not easy, but it is entirely possible. 966 00:47:32,561 --> 00:47:35,926 And that's one of the things that I am so excited about climate change, 967 00:47:35,950 --> 00:47:40,029 because it is at the front of this transformation, 968 00:47:40,053 --> 00:47:43,855 but it will bring many of the other issues 969 00:47:43,879 --> 00:47:49,947 that have been relegated to nonattention. 970 00:47:49,971 --> 00:47:52,249 It will bring those issues to the fore as well. 971 00:47:52,273 --> 00:47:56,670 So the transformation has to be an integrative transformation. 972 00:47:56,694 --> 00:47:58,617 Ellen Maloney: Hi, Chris, hi, Christina. 973 00:47:58,641 --> 00:48:01,363 My question is, are individual efforts, 974 00:48:01,387 --> 00:48:05,688 like ditching plastic straws or going vegan, 975 00:48:05,712 --> 00:48:06,966 making a difference 976 00:48:06,990 --> 00:48:10,149 or are they just tokenistic drops in the ocean? 977 00:48:10,173 --> 00:48:11,355 CF: Good question. 978 00:48:11,379 --> 00:48:12,807 CA: It's a good question. 979 00:48:12,831 --> 00:48:15,149 CF: They are totally important. 980 00:48:15,173 --> 00:48:16,697 Absolutely important. 981 00:48:16,721 --> 00:48:19,951 Because it's not just about the one straw that I use. 982 00:48:19,975 --> 00:48:22,547 It's about me not using that straw, 983 00:48:22,571 --> 00:48:24,800 going to a restaurant and telling the waitress, 984 00:48:24,824 --> 00:48:27,371 "Excuse me, I don't want a plastic straw, because --" 985 00:48:27,395 --> 00:48:28,918 and giving her a little lesson, 986 00:48:28,942 --> 00:48:32,432 then she goes up to the manager, the manager comes to the table and says, 987 00:48:32,456 --> 00:48:34,551 "Excuse me, could you explain that to me?" 988 00:48:34,575 --> 00:48:36,088 Then you go through the lesson. 989 00:48:36,112 --> 00:48:37,401 And sooner than you think, 990 00:48:37,425 --> 00:48:39,668 you have that restaurant, plus the other ones. 991 00:48:39,692 --> 00:48:42,266 Actually, information is contagious. 992 00:48:42,736 --> 00:48:46,395 And wanting to do the right thing is also contagious. 993 00:48:46,419 --> 00:48:50,442 So don't look at it as just simply, you know, "What is a straw? 994 00:48:50,466 --> 00:48:56,018 Am I using the straw or am I not using plastic bags, 995 00:48:56,042 --> 00:49:02,900 I have my plant-based bags to go shopping," etc., etc. 996 00:49:03,575 --> 00:49:05,220 All of that counts. 997 00:49:05,244 --> 00:49:06,956 It counts for you, first of all, 998 00:49:06,980 --> 00:49:12,054 because it is a personal reminder of who you are and what you stand for, 999 00:49:12,078 --> 00:49:16,110 but it is also a very important tool 1000 00:49:16,134 --> 00:49:18,403 to educate everyone around you. 1001 00:49:18,721 --> 00:49:21,261 CA: Right, and I think the core of our initiative is, 1002 00:49:21,285 --> 00:49:23,432 all that stuff matters -- what you eat, 1003 00:49:23,456 --> 00:49:25,861 how you transport yourself, etc., it matters a lot. 1004 00:49:25,885 --> 00:49:29,817 But there is another piece of power that individuals have 1005 00:49:29,841 --> 00:49:33,291 that they don't think about as much, perhaps, 1006 00:49:33,315 --> 00:49:35,895 and that we think that they should, we invite them to, 1007 00:49:35,919 --> 00:49:38,061 which is what they can do as an employee 1008 00:49:38,085 --> 00:49:40,101 and what they can do as a member of a city. 1009 00:49:40,125 --> 00:49:41,847 There's a coming together here, 1010 00:49:41,871 --> 00:49:44,871 where by getting organized, by connecting with others, 1011 00:49:44,895 --> 00:49:48,543 we think there is a direct route to changing decisions 1012 00:49:48,567 --> 00:49:51,737 that will have an even bigger impact on the problem. 1013 00:49:51,761 --> 00:49:55,367 So it's yes, all of that, but more as well. 1014 00:49:55,391 --> 00:49:56,574 (Laughter) 1015 00:49:56,598 --> 00:50:00,899 CF: There is an online [question], from a classroom of children. 1016 00:50:00,923 --> 00:50:02,552 CA: From a classroom of children? 1017 00:50:02,576 --> 00:50:03,907 CF: "What can students do?" 1018 00:50:03,931 --> 00:50:06,712 Yay, I love that question, totally love that question. 1019 00:50:06,736 --> 00:50:08,426 So first of all, 1020 00:50:08,450 --> 00:50:10,584 Fridays, 11 o'clock, go strike. 1021 00:50:11,668 --> 00:50:13,291 I mean, honestly, right? 1022 00:50:13,315 --> 00:50:14,680 (Applause) 1023 00:50:14,704 --> 00:50:16,061 Let's go, let's go. 1024 00:50:16,085 --> 00:50:18,649 And that pressure has to be maintained. 1025 00:50:18,673 --> 00:50:21,196 I'm totally delighted that there's some people here 1026 00:50:21,220 --> 00:50:24,109 who've been here doing it for 52 weeks. 1027 00:50:24,133 --> 00:50:25,888 The problem with this is, folks, 1028 00:50:25,912 --> 00:50:28,626 this is not a sprint, it's a marathon. 1029 00:50:28,650 --> 00:50:32,856 So you better get ready for many more 52 weeks, right? 1030 00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:34,411 And get more people involved, 1031 00:50:34,435 --> 00:50:36,649 because this is not easy. 1032 00:50:36,673 --> 00:50:38,553 If it were easy, we would have done it. 1033 00:50:38,577 --> 00:50:40,903 This is going to be a long-term effort. 1034 00:50:40,927 --> 00:50:43,561 But fantastic to be out there in the streets, 1035 00:50:43,585 --> 00:50:46,125 you are getting so much more attention from the media, 1036 00:50:46,149 --> 00:50:49,244 from us stupid adults who have not done our job -- 1037 00:50:49,268 --> 00:50:50,418 it is fantastic. 1038 00:50:50,442 --> 00:50:52,799 So, you know, get your voices out there. 1039 00:50:52,823 --> 00:50:54,434 Also, in school, 1040 00:50:54,458 --> 00:50:57,712 you can definitely go and improve -- 1041 00:50:57,736 --> 00:50:59,926 The question that you just asked to TED, 1042 00:50:59,950 --> 00:51:02,974 that's the question every student should be asking their school: 1043 00:51:02,998 --> 00:51:04,590 "Where's my energy coming from?" 1044 00:51:04,614 --> 00:51:05,851 Let's get with it, right? 1045 00:51:05,875 --> 00:51:07,277 Students in colleges -- 1046 00:51:07,301 --> 00:51:10,304 how is it possible that we still have colleges and universities 1047 00:51:10,328 --> 00:51:13,493 that are not 100 percent clean energy 1048 00:51:13,517 --> 00:51:17,581 and that haven't shifted their capital and their endowment 1049 00:51:17,605 --> 00:51:19,629 over to low carbon? 1050 00:51:19,653 --> 00:51:21,156 I mean, it's just incredible. 1051 00:51:21,180 --> 00:51:23,101 (Applause) 1052 00:51:23,125 --> 00:51:27,363 And finally, the most important thing that young people can do 1053 00:51:27,387 --> 00:51:30,117 is ask your parents, 1054 00:51:30,141 --> 00:51:32,882 "What the hell are you doing about my future?" 1055 00:51:33,300 --> 00:51:36,480 Because here is an amazing thing. 1056 00:51:37,241 --> 00:51:39,725 I have spoken in -- I was thinking how many -- 1057 00:51:39,749 --> 00:51:45,185 I've spoken to at least three if not four CEOs from the oil and gas industry. 1058 00:51:45,209 --> 00:51:49,543 I've spoken to three or four major investors, 1059 00:51:49,567 --> 00:51:51,670 heads of their investment firms, 1060 00:51:51,694 --> 00:51:54,932 who come up to me, usually in private, 1061 00:51:54,956 --> 00:52:00,655 and say, "Christiana, the reason why I'm changing what I do in my business 1062 00:52:00,679 --> 00:52:03,949 is because my daughter, or my son, 1063 00:52:03,973 --> 00:52:09,298 asks me at night, 'What the hell are you doing about my future?' " 1064 00:52:10,209 --> 00:52:13,122 That is a very powerful question, 1065 00:52:13,146 --> 00:52:16,066 and only young people can ask that question. 1066 00:52:16,090 --> 00:52:18,353 Use that tool -- 1067 00:52:18,377 --> 00:52:22,117 ask your parents what are they doing about your future. 1068 00:52:22,141 --> 00:52:23,674 Sorry about the h-word. 1069 00:52:24,322 --> 00:52:31,083 (Applause) 1070 00:52:31,107 --> 00:52:33,440 Jo Confino: Hi, I'm Jo Confino, the HuffPost. 1071 00:52:33,464 --> 00:52:35,583 Christiana, a question for you, 1072 00:52:35,607 --> 00:52:38,794 which is one of the things that didn't come out so much 1073 00:52:38,818 --> 00:52:41,283 and this is about the spiritual traditions 1074 00:52:41,307 --> 00:52:43,585 and the role they play, 1075 00:52:43,609 --> 00:52:45,216 because what we're seeing 1076 00:52:45,240 --> 00:52:47,539 is that, actually, old wisdom is coming out 1077 00:52:47,563 --> 00:52:49,082 in terms of interdependence 1078 00:52:49,106 --> 00:52:51,119 and nothing is separate from anything else. 1079 00:52:51,143 --> 00:52:53,651 What is the spiritual tradition we can bring to this 1080 00:52:53,675 --> 00:52:55,393 that will make, also, a difference? 1081 00:52:55,417 --> 00:52:58,731 CF: What I think is very powerful about understanding, 1082 00:52:58,755 --> 00:53:02,291 whether you happen to be a spiritual person 1083 00:53:02,315 --> 00:53:06,107 that pursues meditation and mindfulness 1084 00:53:06,131 --> 00:53:08,670 or whether you're a religious person or not, 1085 00:53:08,694 --> 00:53:10,773 what I think is very powerful 1086 00:53:10,797 --> 00:53:15,712 about the spiritual understanding of the human presence on this earth, 1087 00:53:15,736 --> 00:53:20,021 is to understand that we are not separate. 1088 00:53:20,371 --> 00:53:23,481 It's not like, "Over there is planet Earth, 1089 00:53:23,505 --> 00:53:25,672 and then humans are over here." 1090 00:53:25,696 --> 00:53:28,606 And we are totally interconnected with all other species 1091 00:53:28,630 --> 00:53:30,387 and with all other living beings, 1092 00:53:30,411 --> 00:53:34,077 and doing the responsible thing by them, 1093 00:53:34,101 --> 00:53:36,172 does the responsible thing by us. 1094 00:53:36,196 --> 00:53:37,522 And vice versa. 1095 00:53:37,546 --> 00:53:39,363 And so that interconnectedness 1096 00:53:39,387 --> 00:53:41,847 is one that comes from the spiritual traditions, 1097 00:53:41,871 --> 00:53:45,077 but you don't have to be religious or spiritual to understand that. 1098 00:53:45,101 --> 00:53:46,474 You know, the fact is, 1099 00:53:46,498 --> 00:53:50,108 every single drop of water that we drink comes from nature. 1100 00:53:50,132 --> 00:53:52,545 Every single morsel of food that we eat 1101 00:53:52,569 --> 00:53:53,720 comes from nature. 1102 00:53:53,744 --> 00:53:56,109 And we've got to heal that connection. 1103 00:53:56,133 --> 00:53:57,680 CA: We would welcome engagement. 1104 00:53:57,704 --> 00:54:01,353 (Applause) 1105 00:54:01,815 --> 00:54:04,926 Kaley Roshitsh: Hi, Kaley Roshitsh from Women's Wear Daily. 1106 00:54:04,950 --> 00:54:07,697 Obviously, the fashion industry is responsible for a lot 1107 00:54:07,721 --> 00:54:09,234 of the carbon output, 1108 00:54:09,258 --> 00:54:13,099 so I wondered what is your perspective on conscious consumption? 1109 00:54:13,496 --> 00:54:18,003 CA: The key goal here is to align, at the same time, 1110 00:54:18,027 --> 00:54:20,266 to change opinion on what companies do, 1111 00:54:20,290 --> 00:54:22,528 what employees do, what consumers do. 1112 00:54:22,988 --> 00:54:27,662 It's the shifts all happening at the same time that can make change. 1113 00:54:27,686 --> 00:54:29,869 Right now, someone else is always the problem. 1114 00:54:29,893 --> 00:54:32,027 "Our investors wouldn't allow us to do that." 1115 00:54:32,051 --> 00:54:35,624 "There is no market for this better, more sustainable product." 1116 00:54:35,965 --> 00:54:39,036 And so, all the pieces need to happen at the same time. 1117 00:54:39,060 --> 00:54:40,782 That's our hope. 1118 00:54:40,806 --> 00:54:42,974 And so the lead on this is not us, 1119 00:54:42,998 --> 00:54:46,386 it's employees and CEOs and leadership teams 1120 00:54:46,410 --> 00:54:48,807 working in that industry. 1121 00:54:49,657 --> 00:54:52,218 Get together, make something happen. 1122 00:54:52,242 --> 00:54:56,982 And ride the tide of the zeitgeist shift that is happening -- 1123 00:54:57,006 --> 00:54:59,978 it's going to work out from the business point of view as well. 1124 00:55:00,002 --> 00:55:01,658 CF: Can I jump on that as well? 1125 00:55:01,682 --> 00:55:05,293 Because for years, for centuries, 1126 00:55:05,317 --> 00:55:10,341 we have been on a consumer extract-and-consume mentality. 1127 00:55:10,365 --> 00:55:12,268 They way we go about our life 1128 00:55:12,292 --> 00:55:14,379 and the way that businesses are created 1129 00:55:14,403 --> 00:55:18,077 is extract, use, discard, extract, use, discard. 1130 00:55:18,101 --> 00:55:21,351 That's a simplification, but honestly, it's about as simple as that. 1131 00:55:21,375 --> 00:55:25,978 And to understand that that linear extraction to discard 1132 00:55:26,002 --> 00:55:29,017 can no longer be the case, that it needs to be circular now, 1133 00:55:29,041 --> 00:55:32,564 we have to go into a circular economy 1134 00:55:32,588 --> 00:55:35,480 that uses every single resource that we extract -- 1135 00:55:35,504 --> 00:55:37,330 because we will continue to extract -- 1136 00:55:37,354 --> 00:55:40,453 that uses it not once but two, three, four, five, 10 times, 1137 00:55:40,477 --> 00:55:41,992 around and around in circles. 1138 00:55:42,016 --> 00:55:43,387 That's a circular economy. 1139 00:55:43,411 --> 00:55:45,490 And we have to get to that point, 1140 00:55:45,514 --> 00:55:50,085 because frankly, we're running out of resources to continue to extract. 1141 00:55:50,109 --> 00:55:52,371 Jodi Xu Klein: Hi, my name is Jodi Xu Klein. 1142 00:55:52,395 --> 00:55:57,442 I'm with the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong publication here in the US. 1143 00:55:57,466 --> 00:56:00,968 So, we've been reporting on trade war for more than a year, 1144 00:56:00,992 --> 00:56:03,599 and we're actually living in a world 1145 00:56:03,623 --> 00:56:06,507 where countries are decoupling from each other. 1146 00:56:06,531 --> 00:56:11,865 How do you overcome that trend and bring everyone together? 1147 00:56:11,889 --> 00:56:13,087 CA: We don't know, 1148 00:56:13,111 --> 00:56:14,833 these are really challenging issues. 1149 00:56:14,857 --> 00:56:17,769 What we do know is that we have to bring everyone to the table 1150 00:56:17,793 --> 00:56:19,031 and have the discussion. 1151 00:56:19,055 --> 00:56:20,714 There are so many people in China, 1152 00:56:20,738 --> 00:56:22,127 including, on many occasions, 1153 00:56:22,151 --> 00:56:25,547 the Chinese government has made bold steps 1154 00:56:25,571 --> 00:56:27,452 to tackle this issue. 1155 00:56:27,476 --> 00:56:31,061 There's a lot that the West can learn from what's happening in China. 1156 00:56:31,085 --> 00:56:32,236 CF: I would say, 1157 00:56:32,260 --> 00:56:37,474 in a world in which we're seeing a wave of nationalism and populism, 1158 00:56:37,498 --> 00:56:41,337 the way we go at this is actually to expand 1159 00:56:41,361 --> 00:56:44,314 the breadth of engagement, 1160 00:56:44,338 --> 00:56:49,136 so not to let the responsibility of engaging on climate 1161 00:56:49,160 --> 00:56:51,542 be in national government hands only. 1162 00:56:51,566 --> 00:56:53,218 Yes, they have an important role, 1163 00:56:53,242 --> 00:56:55,798 but we can bring it down as well 1164 00:56:55,822 --> 00:57:00,218 to a different level of engagement which is every single human being. 1165 00:57:00,242 --> 00:57:03,357 And once we understand that we're all human beings 1166 00:57:03,381 --> 00:57:05,151 and that we all have a common future, 1167 00:57:05,175 --> 00:57:07,595 there's no such thing as all of us being in a boat 1168 00:57:07,619 --> 00:57:10,841 and only the one closest to the hole in the boat are going to sink. 1169 00:57:10,865 --> 00:57:12,016 No. 1170 00:57:12,040 --> 00:57:14,111 Either we all sink or we all float together. 1171 00:57:14,135 --> 00:57:16,960 Justine Calma: My name is Justine Calma, I'm with The Verge, 1172 00:57:16,984 --> 00:57:18,593 thanks so much for this. 1173 00:57:18,617 --> 00:57:24,252 My question is about TED and YouTube's own carbon footprint. 1174 00:57:24,276 --> 00:57:28,347 Streaming video eats up a huge amount of energy, 1175 00:57:28,371 --> 00:57:33,697 and I'm curious what TED and YouTube 1176 00:57:33,721 --> 00:57:37,339 might be doing to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions 1177 00:57:37,363 --> 00:57:39,289 connected to that. 1178 00:57:40,323 --> 00:57:42,534 CA: I can't speak for YouTube, obviously. 1179 00:57:42,868 --> 00:57:46,756 I will say that, to quote a line from George Monbiot, 1180 00:57:46,780 --> 00:57:49,137 all of us are hypocrites in this movement. 1181 00:57:49,161 --> 00:57:51,074 If you've ever bought something 1182 00:57:51,098 --> 00:57:54,611 or you're wearing clothes, or you're eating food, 1183 00:57:54,635 --> 00:57:57,008 you're a hypocrite, you're creating emissions. 1184 00:57:57,032 --> 00:57:58,746 It's part of life. 1185 00:57:58,770 --> 00:58:02,814 And I think perfection is -- 1186 00:58:03,182 --> 00:58:04,926 There's a risk that perfection, 1187 00:58:04,950 --> 00:58:08,752 that an overpursuit and focus on that 1188 00:58:08,776 --> 00:58:11,852 and the judging that comes with it can slow everyone down. 1189 00:58:12,178 --> 00:58:15,686 We want this to be a coalition of the willing who accept 1190 00:58:15,710 --> 00:58:18,099 that they're not perfect but are willing to act. 1191 00:58:18,123 --> 00:58:22,321 Now, this whole process has sparked a huge conversation in TED 1192 00:58:22,345 --> 00:58:25,141 about how we act more responsibly, 1193 00:58:25,165 --> 00:58:26,487 and that will continue. 1194 00:58:26,511 --> 00:58:30,301 We're certainly not going to stop streaming videos. 1195 00:58:30,325 --> 00:58:31,968 At some point you have to do math, 1196 00:58:31,992 --> 00:58:35,055 it's like that -- give to the planet more than you take from it, 1197 00:58:35,079 --> 00:58:39,150 I think is the golden rule that I personally really believe in. 1198 00:58:39,174 --> 00:58:43,666 And so if an idea, powered by a little bit of electricity, 1199 00:58:43,690 --> 00:58:45,808 can ignite in someone's brain, 1200 00:58:45,832 --> 00:58:49,205 I would bet on the idea over saving the electricity. 1201 00:58:49,229 --> 00:58:50,855 But there's no perfection in this. 1202 00:58:50,879 --> 00:58:53,521 And we definitely have a lot that we need to improve on. 1203 00:58:53,545 --> 00:58:54,918 Let's go here and then back. 1204 00:58:54,942 --> 00:58:58,543 Lane Florsheim: Hi, I'm Lane Florsheim from the Wall Street Journal Magazine 1205 00:58:58,567 --> 00:59:00,773 and Chris, I really liked what you were saying 1206 00:59:00,797 --> 00:59:03,511 about the fashion industry and what they can do to change 1207 00:59:03,535 --> 00:59:06,118 and how it requires employees and CEOs to meet together 1208 00:59:06,142 --> 00:59:09,174 because who understands an industry better than the people in it 1209 00:59:09,198 --> 00:59:11,103 and their processes and infrastructure, 1210 00:59:11,127 --> 00:59:14,625 but I'm wondering, what about companies with huge footprints, 1211 00:59:14,649 --> 00:59:18,474 and two that come to mind first are Amazon and Zara, 1212 00:59:18,498 --> 00:59:19,863 where, by all accounts, 1213 00:59:19,887 --> 00:59:22,776 the workers, the employees there don't have very much power 1214 00:59:22,800 --> 00:59:27,156 and the CEOs don't have very much incentive to change right now. 1215 00:59:27,180 --> 00:59:30,283 What would you say about those kinds of companies? 1216 00:59:31,307 --> 00:59:34,702 CA: So this is going to be such an important conversation going forward, 1217 00:59:34,726 --> 00:59:36,982 because we're in the ironic position 1218 00:59:37,006 --> 00:59:40,649 where the people who can do the most to solve this problem 1219 00:59:40,673 --> 00:59:43,419 are the people who are currently the worst offenders. 1220 00:59:43,443 --> 00:59:44,606 So what do we do? 1221 00:59:44,630 --> 00:59:47,228 Do we make them part of the conversation or not? 1222 00:59:47,252 --> 00:59:49,315 I say we make them part of the conversation, 1223 00:59:49,339 --> 00:59:51,992 so long as we see serious engagement. 1224 00:59:52,434 --> 00:59:53,585 So take Amazon. 1225 00:59:53,609 --> 00:59:58,532 Jeff Bezos has actually listened to what many of his employees have said -- 1226 00:59:58,556 --> 01:00:00,990 they've been very vigorous, the employee base there, 1227 01:00:01,014 --> 01:00:02,283 about carbon footprint -- 1228 01:00:02,307 --> 01:00:05,672 has listened, has engaged with you and with others. 1229 01:00:05,696 --> 01:00:09,851 And they have announced, I think it's correct to say announced -- 1230 01:00:09,875 --> 01:00:11,041 CF: Yes, they have. 1231 01:00:11,065 --> 01:00:13,713 CA: ... an acceleration of their own commitment 1232 01:00:13,737 --> 01:00:19,333 to go to, basically, a net zero track by 2040, if I have it right. 1233 01:00:19,357 --> 01:00:24,611 It's the companies with the thousands, the tens of thousands of trucks 1234 01:00:24,635 --> 01:00:26,611 and the packaging and all the rest of it. 1235 01:00:26,635 --> 01:00:29,149 That is how this problem will get solved. 1236 01:00:29,173 --> 01:00:34,601 So I say we invite these CEOs to be part of this, 1237 01:00:34,625 --> 01:00:37,903 and urge them to take it seriously 1238 01:00:37,927 --> 01:00:42,061 and to go fast and maybe even faster than they're completely comfortable doing. 1239 01:00:42,085 --> 01:00:44,018 But that's, I think, what we have to do. 1240 01:00:44,042 --> 01:00:48,194 Not to defame, denounce, 1241 01:00:48,218 --> 01:00:51,931 before we've at least had a serious conversation about, 1242 01:00:51,955 --> 01:00:53,415 "It's time, 1243 01:00:53,439 --> 01:00:54,939 your employees want to do this, 1244 01:00:54,963 --> 01:00:56,617 your customers want to do this, 1245 01:00:56,641 --> 01:01:00,402 your investors increasingly want to do this, let's do this." 1246 01:01:00,807 --> 01:01:01,958 That's our hope. 1247 01:01:01,982 --> 01:01:04,958 CF: And the wonderful thing about companies the size of Amazon, 1248 01:01:04,982 --> 01:01:06,470 or Walmart when they did it, 1249 01:01:06,494 --> 01:01:09,236 is that they have a huge trickle-up effect. 1250 01:01:09,260 --> 01:01:11,299 Because when Jeff Bezos came out and said, 1251 01:01:11,323 --> 01:01:14,200 "I'm going to make Amazon climate-neutral by 2040 -- " 1252 01:01:14,224 --> 01:01:15,474 Paris Agreement says 2050, 1253 01:01:15,498 --> 01:01:18,004 of course he wants to do everything better than that, 1254 01:01:18,028 --> 01:01:19,585 so 2040 is for Amazon. 1255 01:01:19,609 --> 01:01:21,633 Well good, we're going to keep him to it. 1256 01:01:21,657 --> 01:01:23,864 Now, the amazing thing about that 1257 01:01:23,888 --> 01:01:28,022 is that in order for Amazon to be climate-neutral by 2040, 1258 01:01:28,046 --> 01:01:31,156 they have to work with all their supply chain going up. 1259 01:01:31,180 --> 01:01:33,466 They have to work with all of those companies 1260 01:01:33,490 --> 01:01:35,783 that deliver services and goods to them 1261 01:01:35,807 --> 01:01:38,330 for them to also be climate neutral ASAP. 1262 01:01:38,354 --> 01:01:41,014 Because otherwise, they can't meet their own commitment. 1263 01:01:41,038 --> 01:01:46,013 So large companies are actually very, very key and instrumental to this, 1264 01:01:46,037 --> 01:01:48,855 because it's not just about their footprint, 1265 01:01:48,879 --> 01:01:54,117 it's about the embedded footprint that they inherit in their supply chain. 1266 01:01:54,141 --> 01:01:57,236 And the transformation of that is really huge. 1267 01:01:57,888 --> 01:01:59,650 CA: Last question. 1268 01:01:59,674 --> 01:02:02,163 Jackie Padilla: My name is Jackie with NowThis News, 1269 01:02:02,187 --> 01:02:04,628 and every day, I work with young climate activists 1270 01:02:04,652 --> 01:02:06,207 like the ones we've heard today, 1271 01:02:06,231 --> 01:02:08,125 but when we do stories on them, 1272 01:02:08,149 --> 01:02:09,839 you know, including Greta Thunberg, 1273 01:02:09,863 --> 01:02:12,649 I see fierce criticism that they face 1274 01:02:12,673 --> 01:02:14,997 and largely, it's because of a generational gap. 1275 01:02:15,395 --> 01:02:18,291 I don't know if you're familiar with the phrase "OK Boomer," 1276 01:02:18,315 --> 01:02:23,365 but it seems like there's a lot of guilt or accountability 1277 01:02:23,389 --> 01:02:24,664 that some are looking for, 1278 01:02:24,688 --> 01:02:27,403 and on the other end, we're looking at a lack of education 1279 01:02:27,427 --> 01:02:28,966 or just ignorance on the issue. 1280 01:02:28,990 --> 01:02:33,534 So what is your advice to young people to respond to that criticism 1281 01:02:33,558 --> 01:02:36,400 to foster constructive conversations? 1282 01:02:36,424 --> 01:02:38,487 CF: We should probably ask them. 1283 01:02:38,511 --> 01:02:40,847 XB: Hi, thank you for your question. 1284 01:02:40,871 --> 01:02:42,538 CA: Come here. 1285 01:02:42,562 --> 01:02:44,521 (Applause) 1286 01:02:46,506 --> 01:02:49,141 XB: It is true that we increasingly face criticism, 1287 01:02:49,165 --> 01:02:52,283 and it's not only when we speak to people, with climate deniers 1288 01:02:52,307 --> 01:02:53,458 or things like that, 1289 01:02:53,482 --> 01:02:55,355 but also on social media. 1290 01:02:55,379 --> 01:02:58,760 It is as much a tool to spread information 1291 01:02:58,784 --> 01:03:00,090 and organize our strikes 1292 01:03:00,114 --> 01:03:02,029 and get the information out there, 1293 01:03:02,053 --> 01:03:05,172 but it's also a tool for people who want to undermine us, 1294 01:03:05,196 --> 01:03:07,569 to personally attack us. 1295 01:03:07,593 --> 01:03:11,244 And the way in which we stay resilient 1296 01:03:11,268 --> 01:03:14,990 is when we build community with each other, 1297 01:03:15,014 --> 01:03:16,363 when we organize, 1298 01:03:16,387 --> 01:03:18,720 we mimic the world we want to see. 1299 01:03:18,744 --> 01:03:21,371 There is no hierarchy in our organizing, 1300 01:03:21,395 --> 01:03:25,133 we are all working towards the same goal constructively, 1301 01:03:25,157 --> 01:03:30,499 choosing our passions towards making the strike the best it can be. 1302 01:03:30,523 --> 01:03:34,206 We got 300,000 people striking in New York, 1303 01:03:34,230 --> 01:03:36,600 we put together a whole concert, 1304 01:03:36,624 --> 01:03:39,131 people called it "Climchella," it was great. 1305 01:03:39,505 --> 01:03:41,298 (Laughter) 1306 01:03:41,322 --> 01:03:45,219 But the point is that it's not going to stop us. 1307 01:03:45,243 --> 01:03:47,132 The criticism is not going to stop us. 1308 01:03:47,156 --> 01:03:49,815 And even though we know that we are kids, 1309 01:03:49,839 --> 01:03:52,868 and we are not here to tell you all the solutions 1310 01:03:52,892 --> 01:03:55,807 that already are out there. 1311 01:03:56,125 --> 01:03:58,488 We are going to do it, 1312 01:03:58,512 --> 01:04:00,950 because every kid who cares about the climate crisis 1313 01:04:00,974 --> 01:04:05,625 is going to grow up to study through an environmental lens 1314 01:04:05,649 --> 01:04:08,386 and to change the world through that. 1315 01:04:08,752 --> 01:04:12,206 So we are here to tell you, 1316 01:04:12,230 --> 01:04:16,599 personally, climate activists that I know don't use "OK Boomer," 1317 01:04:16,623 --> 01:04:21,336 because we strive for intergenerational cooperation. 1318 01:04:21,840 --> 01:04:26,221 And I think that blaming and dividing each other 1319 01:04:26,245 --> 01:04:28,570 is not going to get us anywhere, 1320 01:04:28,594 --> 01:04:30,205 which is why we don't use it, 1321 01:04:30,229 --> 01:04:31,944 and I don't think it should be used, 1322 01:04:31,968 --> 01:04:36,593 and I actually want to thank everybody who is doing something, 1323 01:04:36,617 --> 01:04:39,723 because action inspires action. 1324 01:04:40,033 --> 01:04:42,661 And you inspire us, 1325 01:04:42,685 --> 01:04:45,484 and we're glad that we inspire you as well. 1326 01:04:45,508 --> 01:04:52,267 (Cheers and applause) 1327 01:04:52,291 --> 01:04:55,378 (Applause) 1328 01:04:55,402 --> 01:04:56,553 CA: Wow. 1329 01:04:56,577 --> 01:04:57,630 (Applause) 1330 01:04:57,654 --> 01:04:59,164 CF: There you have it. 1331 01:04:59,188 --> 01:05:02,751 (Applause and cheers) 1332 01:05:02,775 --> 01:05:08,285 (Applause) 1333 01:05:08,309 --> 01:05:13,190 CA: There is no better note on which to end this. 1334 01:05:13,214 --> 01:05:14,365 Thank you. 1335 01:05:14,389 --> 01:05:21,088 (Applause)