00:00There are lots of scary things in life, but nothing scarier than misinformation,
00:05especially when it comes to climate change. Now more than ever, climate change is a part of our
00:10public discourse and will play a significant role in the 2020 presidential election.
00:15But just what exactly is it? And why should it matter to me? Well, I'm glad you asked.
00:21According to the National Geographic, climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature
00:25and normal weather patterns. But since the mid-20th century, both humans and technology
00:30alike have made it all a lot worse. But how? Well, cue another phrase you may be very familiar with,
00:37global warming. Global warming is the process of the Earth's temperature rising due to the
00:42greenhouse effect. Climate change is the Earth getting warmer. Well, it's mainly the warming of
00:50the atmosphere and that causes extreme changes in climate. We, as the human race, have put so much
00:56carbon dioxide and other anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that it's causing the
01:02planet to warm. So we the people, yes, that's all of us in some way or another, have made the
01:08Earth's
01:09atmosphere thick with greenhouse gases that trap in the sun's heat. Think carbon dioxide and methane.
01:15This is known as the greenhouse effect. You know, like that greenhouse place your grandma grew
01:20all her tomatoes. It was always so, so hot in there. It's this effect that makes the Earth much,
01:25much warmer. And this all explains why we're experiencing longer, sweatier, blazing hot summers and
01:32finger-freezing cold winters. And why melting glaciers may force cute, cuddly polar bears out of their homes.
01:38And why rising sea levels mean islands in the Pacific are disappearing. And why there will be longer,
01:43more catastrophic hurricane seasons. And, and do I even really have to go on? Oh yeah, but there's
01:50one more thing. Annual average temperatures across the U.S. have risen by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since
01:55the beginning of the 20th century. And they're going to continue to rise. And as if all of that's not
02:01frightening enough, a think tank in Australia calls much chatter an alarm when it released a 2019 report
02:06describing climate change as a near to midterm existential threat to human civilization.
02:12Basically saying that if we don't address this issue ASAP, then we're in danger. Like real
02:17live danger of the world basically overheating by 2050. I mean, what do you think would happen if we
02:22don't fix climate change? Well, already right now, a lot of people are already feeling the effects of
02:28climate change. In Florida, there is already flooding. There's already people that have been forced out of
02:32their home. And I also think we're going to lose a lot of the species that we know and love.
02:37The coral
02:37reefs aren't going to be able to survive once the ocean reaches a certain temperature. And that will
02:42probably happen soon. But don't despair, Jess, yet. Let's dig in deeper. Who and what is causing
02:48climate change? You've probably heard about our dependence on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural
02:54gas that all contribute to the greenhouse effect. But what's this you hear about cows and farting?
03:00Yeah, you heard me right. Not only do cows and other two-toned livestock produce methane,
03:05but it turns out that these farts trap more heat and energy than carbon dioxide.
03:10Stop that stakeholder now. Okay, so I know that's a lot to process, but all hope is not lost.
03:17According to a report released by the United Nations in 2014, there's a 95% chance that humans have a
03:23direct impact on climate change. But hold up, is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? Well,
03:28since I'm a
03:28glass half full kind of woman, it seems to me that we humans still have a chance to do something
03:32about
03:33this crisis. And that's just what people like Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, and super smart climatologists
03:39propose. I know what you're thinking. Aren't there people out there who just don't believe in climate
03:44change? Indeed there are. But the fact is, the U.S. is the second worst emitter of carbon dioxide
03:50in the world. While most Americans agree climate change is real, its impact has sparked heated debate.
03:57Unintended. Mostly over how much of an impact humans really have. Even if you don't subscribe to the
04:03idea that if climate change isn't addressed soon, humanity will be threatened, there's scientific
04:08evidence to support the notion that we will experience its devastating effects. Extreme temperatures
04:14and drought are causing migrant populations to swell and some communities to lose stable access to food
04:20and water. Yeah, this just got real. Here are a few other suggestions of things we can all do.
04:27The first, recycle. At home and out in public. If you're unsure about what goes where, don't worry,
04:33I get confused all the time too. And you can reference the link at the bottom of this video
04:37for some really helpful tips. Second, consider your food options. Eat locally and seasonally.
04:44Basically, choose foods that have a low carbon footprint. The more food is flowing around the
04:48world on big cargo planes, the bigger the carbon footprint. Farmers markets, my friends, are the
04:54future. Third, consider your transportation options. Take the public bus or a train, buy a hybrid or electric
05:01car. Carpool, ride a bike, or just simply take a walk. Fourth, support sustainable brands and substitute
05:08single-use products for reusable ones, like taking your own bags to the market. And lastly, thrift that
05:15wardrobe. In short, reduce consumption. Buy less. The less we use, the less we leave behind. And these are
05:22just a few ways that we can all make a difference. After all, the earth is our only home. So
05:28while we're here,
05:28let's try to make love, not emissions.
