Why generational pressure is the key to climate change policy? Watch Dan Esty on Big Think New videos DAILY: https://bigth.ink/youtube Join Big Think Edge for exclusive videos:

Why generational pressure is the key to climate change policy? Watch Dan Esty on Big Think New videos DAILY: https://bigth.ink/youtube Join Big Think Edge for exclusive videos: https://bigth.ink/Edge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DAN ESTY Daniel C. Esty is the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the Yale Law School. Known for his innovative policy ideas and commitment to transformative change, Dan served as head of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection from 2011 to 2014. He is the editor of "A Better Planet: 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future." Purchase "A Better Planet: Forty Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future" here: https://bigth.ink/Esty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSCRIPT: The key to progress on environment broadly and on climate change in particular is to change values. I think this has to be understood as in some regards an ethical issue, a moral issue and one has to see it as a wrong to contaminate the planet and to put at risk the future of humanity on the planet. And I think that change is coming and curiously but perhaps not really surprisingly it is coming from young people much more from the generation that’s currently in positions of leadership. Greta and other young people are out there saying to the leaders and political positions of power not only in the United States but across the world step up. You need to do more. And I think we have seen again and again that transformational change is often driven by generational change. And I think it’s almost certainly going to be true on climate change. Fifty years ago if we’d had this interview I’d probably be smoking or maybe smoking a pipe as a professor. That’s so unacceptable now you don’t even have to tell me that I can’t come in and light up a cigarette. Norms have changed. Values have changed. We know now that that’s completely unacceptable and a threat to public health. And I think we’re starting to get there on climate change. Things that might have in the past seemed normal, acceptable, even if they seemed a little bad, a little bit of harm are increasingly totally unacceptable and we therefore have I think the foundation for the kind of generational change and change in values that can really drive us more quickly towards climate change solutions. And in our Better Planet book there’s a really beautiful essay by one of the students at Yale, one of several student essays in this case by a guy named Paul Rink spelling out how young people in particular are starting to drive some of these court cases where they take on both the government and the big energy industry companies and say it’s up to you to make our future secure and you’re not doing the job you need to do. ABOUT BIG THINK: Smarter Faster™ Big Think is the leading source of expert-driven, actionable, educational content -- with thousands of videos, featuring experts ranging from Bill Clinton to Bill Nye, we help you get smarter, faster. S​ubscribe to learn from top minds like these daily. Get actionable lessons from the world’s greatest thinkers & doers. Our experts are either disrupting or leading their respective fields. ​We aim to help you explore the big ideas and core skills that define knowledge in the 21st century, so you can apply them to the questions and challenges in your own life. Other Frequent contributors include Michio Kaku & Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Michio Kaku Playlist: https://bigth.ink/kaku Bill Nye Playlist: https://bigth.ink/BillNye Neil DeGrasse Tyson Playlist: https://bigth.ink/deGrasseTyson Read more at Bigthink.com for a multitude of articles just as informative and satisfying as our videos. New articles posted daily on a range of intellectual topics. Join Big Think Edge, to gain access to an immense library of content. It features insight from many of the most celebrated and intelligent individuals in the world today. Topics on the platform are focused on: emotional intelligence, digital fluency, health and wellness, critical thinking, creativity, communication, career development, lifelong learning, management, problem solving & self-motivation. BIG THINK EDGE: https://bigth.ink/Edge If you're interested in licensing this or any other Big Think clip for commercial or private use, contact our licensing partner, Executive Interviews: https://bigth.ink/licensing ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Big Think here: 📰BigThink.com: https://bigth.ink 🧔Facebook: https://bigth.ink/facebook 🐦Twitter: https://bigth.ink/twitter 📸Instagram: https://bigth.ink/Instragram 📹YouTube: https://bigth.ink/youtube ✉ E-mail: info@bigthink.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Third Act empowers people over 60 to drive social change, leveraging their wisdom and energy to support younger generations in building a healthy, equitable world. Co-founded by Bill McKibben, this vital movement is explained by renowned activist and leadership educator Akaya Windwood.

Akaya, an award-winning transformation facilitator and author, brings extensive experience from various leadership roles to her work as Lead Advisor for Third Act. Her insights guide how we can participate in this exciting new movement.

Learn more at bioneers.org.

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Earth Guardians and CREDO Mobile present a video highlighting CREDO's over $100 million in donations to environmental and social justice nonprofits, including Earth Guardians. Since 2017, CREDO has supported Earth Guardians' youth-led climate initiatives and global justice efforts.

The video features Kellie Berns, Earth Guardians' Global Program Director, discussing CREDO's tangible impact on their programs and operations.

Watch the video to learn how you can make a difference. Support Earth Guardians by switching to CREDO Mobile, turning your phone bill into a force for good, or by joining and donating to our movement. Together, we can protect our planet and empower future leaders.

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Changing weather patterns, with stronger storms and droughts, demand land restoration. We need to free land to absorb flooding, recover hydrology, and enhance natural systems for CO2 sequestration.

The automotive age has brought mobility at a steep environmental cost. Gas cars are disastrous, leading to ecosystem loss as paved surfaces cover soil and absorb heat; EVs don't solve this land-use issue. Additionally, three-quarters of arable land converted to animal agriculture compounds this recipe for disaster.

For further insights, consult Bill Selby's The California Skywatcher or visit the FacingFuture Library for more information.

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Our bodies are naturally wired to conserve energy, a trait inherited from ancestors who faced food scarcity. Even today, we expend about 1,400 calories daily just to stay alive, leading us to instinctively avoid unnecessary physical activity despite readily available energy sources. This perspective, distinguishing between athletic performance and true health, is explored by Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard professor of Human Evolutionary Biology.

Learn more from Daniel Lieberman on Big Think's YouTube channel, including his insights on exercise myths: Harvard professor debunks the biggest exercise myths. Read the full video transcript here.

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America faces undeniable economic inequality. Bill's essay highlights extreme wealth and poverty, exemplified by California's Silicon Valley. There, tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Apple create millionaires, while the region's homeless population has surged 20% in two years, living in tent cities near these companies.

A social equality illustration by Brandon Cripps accompanies this discussion.

This content was originally published on April 11, 2013.

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