A climate change solution that's right under our feet

So one of the most important solutions

to the global challenge
posed by climate change

lies right under our foot every day.

It's soil.

Soil's just the thin veil that covers
the surface of land,

but it has the power to shape
our planet's destiny.

See, a six foot or so of soil

lose soil material that covers
the Earth's surface

represents the difference between life
and lifelessness in the Earth system,

and it can also help us
combat climate change

and if we can only stop
treating it like dirt.

Climate change is happening,

the Earth's atmosphere is warming,

because of an increasing amount
of greenhouse gases

we keep releasing into the atmosphere.

You all know that.

But what I assume you might not have heard

is that one of the most important things
our human society could do

to address climate change

lies right there in the soil.

I'm a soil scientist who has
been studying soil since I was 18

because I'm interested in unlocking
the secrets of soil

and helping people understand this
really important climate change solution.

So here are the facts about climate.

The concentration of carbon dioxide
in the Earth's atmosphere

has increased by 40 percent

just in the last 150 years or so.

Human actions are now releasing
9.4 billion metric tons of carbon

into the atmosphere

from activities such as
burning fossil fuels

and intensive agricultural practices

and other ways we change
the way we use land,

including deforestation.