TODAY Climate: Women leading the charge to save our planet
kitchen. >> Waste from your rotten produce your leftover takeout containers. There's a lot of it in the food system. The state is a recent study found that the average U.S. household trash is about 30% of its food. That adds up to a mindblowing 240 billion dollars a year literally going in the garden, which I know seems like a huge problem to talk when you're just one person and corporations need to do their part. But a few small changes can make an impact. So today
I'm all about that low to no ways lifestyle, all be cooking with an expert in the sustainable food Space, Social Star maximum. Then I'm headed to a restaurant that compost all of its food waste. But first, my first needs a little love. So I headed to a low especially store and it looks like I've got some passing to do head out to go to pre cycle, which is a 0 waste grocery store in Brooklyn. The thing about 0, especially stores that
there's no packages. So we've got to come prepared. And luckily I looking for and the second. >> Recycle was started by Catarina Poca Tara in 2018, her goal eliminate wasteful plastic from food packaging in 2019 over 140 million tons of single use plastics were thrown out globally. Wild opens for drive to goode's have existing
of health food stores for many years. Catarina had a different vision, a one-stop shop with everything from flowers to produce and even cleaning supplies all without single-use packaging. >> Why did you decide to start? We say, oh, well, actually, it started with my own personal struggles to to win a lower waist lifestyle. When my son was 5 years old, he was in a
kindergarten and he had to stay in the U.S.. So one day he came home and said, Mommy, you know how long the plastic will remain in a landfill. And that moment it's sort of like made me realize that we have a responsibility towards a mix of future generations. So I took a very close look at my own trash at home. And I realize that a lot of the waste likely actually comes from food shopping, whether it's a packaging for food waste itself.
>> So we can thank your son for this is yes, you know, it feels like >> a really big challenge, right? For people to overhaul all of their life choices. It's possible to shop with with creating less waste and in any store is just kind of scene saying the right products. For example, I don't know. Instead of canned beans week one can buy dry beans in the book store using a fabric bag or just stopping it. We met there over the store for packaged produce or going to farmers market. And I think a lot of people get really excited when they go to the grocery store and they want to get everything right. Exactly. I think shopping for one or 2
means a couple of days in the balance is the key because when tend to buy a lot and then with every day that that products it's in your fridge is less likely you're going to use it. And that creates a lot of ways not to brag or anything. But I came very prepared. So tell me how I get started. It's very easy. So we can just
way you work your containers so that we know what to do that we check out. All right. All right. Let's do it. Let's do it. Here we go. And the wait is 0.9 7 begin right at with these washable
markers. Will that's edgy, perfect. And then you're going to deduct this from whatever >> It so we forgot containers. Don't worry. The store has a selection of glass stars and reusable bags. That's all the makings today. Honestly, what it might not be to. But actually I came here specifically to make a pasta, a wonderful have really nice likes and what is coming out.
>> So this Friday is amazing. Where do you source all of these amazing ingredients from so about 95% of all the products in the stores source locally and about 80 hyper locally. So this past days from New Jersey and this is SA made and in upstate New York, I also loaded up on my favorite kitchen. Staples, like moved out cashews and of course, a ton of days. It's the only appropriate sentence to get something to >> Recycle even has extra virgin olive oil and honey on tap. Even the tofu here comes without wrapping. >> Feels very overwhelming on where to start. You have a
couple easy, actionable tips for somebody looking to reduce their waste. Some of that simple ones are reasonable. Lot of all your own coffee cup. If you go to coffee shop or to simply bringing a bag or if you want to challenge just south of many, that some extent you can also look into just what ways to creating and an item that you can replace or source to friendly and works for you. I think it's a very individual journeys. It's that that there's no recipe that fits
all. >> Single use plastics are nearly impossible to avoid at most grocery stores, but chopping up recycle gave me a new perspective on what's possible. Thank you so much. Thank you. So nice to me to thank you for having me. Is it also had me wondering how can I waste less in the kitchen? Up next, I've got a virtual cooking lesson with Max. One of the in chef known for his tasty and sustainable recipes.
>> Back at my apartment. I couldn't wait to get cooking to help upgrade Milo East game. I called on London Bay Chef Max on a Max is a vegan Social Star who focuses on sustainable cooking. And I am here for it.
>> Max, it's so good to see you and chat with you. We are online Instagram, friends, but not real life. And this is a slow says, really cut right now since you're in London. >> Hopefully when we meet in real life and I are a little of what we could be friends as well.
>> When the friends of the cooking person, but for now we're cooking online. Can you talk to you about your background and also what use are specialized in when it comes to food? >> Yeah, I'm a low a chef. I started cooking maybe about 15 years ago. My first job wasn't pizza restaurant and I've kind of just worked every single position in a restaurant. So, yeah, a few years ago I started seeing the problem that we were all currently living with the cause. At the end of the day, it's not just food that we're
wasting its money its time. Its energy is water transportation, its packaging, this so much that goes into the production of food that just throwing weekly doesn't make any sense. >> In 2019, Americans through a over 133 billion pounds of food. >> The major culprits are typically fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, potatoes, and bread. So a lot is being thrown away. But we as consumers can make small changes every day to waste less food. >> On Instagram, Max teaches his 1 million followers easy low East food tips. One in particular went pretty viral.
Yes. You really can't eat an entire strawberry stems leaves and all. >> Okay. I'm really excited to get cooking with you. So can you tell me what we are making today? >> You're ready. We're making cauliflower of freedom.
>> That's a simple easy. But there is a little know ways secret because we're going to use the entire thing, right? >> The entire thing. Nothing's going to some everything. Yes, the core. The leaves. Even this guy right here. The florets everything. >> First up, prepping our colleague power. I just have a
saucepan of It doesn't get much simpler than that. You don't need to prep for CA do anything. You just literally take the entire cauliflower submerged in the water for about 5 minutes until it gets for tender. But I'm going to put some salt in there with the summer. >> I'm with you, but I'm just going to chop it up. Super
roughly before adding to my steaming basket. >> You know, you can also save your leads. And if you were, if you want to, you can roast them in the oven and it would be nice. And crunchy crispy little soft and tender on the
inside. Without further ado, some haha. >> The cauliflower steams for about 5 minutes. Just until fork. Tender now on to the garlic.
>> What you can do with garlic feelings. You can actually eat the whole targeted killing as well. But we're not going to we want you to hear. You're not going to do that for me. I'm upset. I want to know will now not so 2 things you can do.
You can dehydration, the skin. Once it gets nice and dry, you can blend it into a powder. He's consistency and that can be basically is a power that can go into any kind of like soups stews or stir fries. The other thing I like to do is actually keep my feelings. Yeah, I keep my feelings and will make a bad stock afterwards. >> Max Tate is garlic and olive oil for a subtle sweetness.
But I'm leaving and offer a spice your cake. So >> I love this recipe because it the sauce is super easy. So you're literally just adding all the ingredients into a blender. It's going to cut right down the cauliflower.
My colleague was finally done. Okay. So we're both adding or cauliflower. Fluoresce stems leaves all of the above. We'll add my garlic
and pasta water. >> Okay. So I'm going to add my garlic in. And then I'm also going to add a little bit of my reserved pasta water, just a touch and this will this help it blend. And also tonight we did not waste or hostile water gets everything really nicely. Nice and velvety. You're using silken tofu for this recipe. Right? And I'm going to use hummus. So this is kind of a nice
alternative. If you don't do soy, you can try it with miss. If you do like saw you can try it with tofu. So we've got options for everyone. And what do you think that through adds to your off to max? >> To visit in protein. But it's also adding another layer of creaminess as well. Maybe a lighter creaminess from the hummus but still cream.
>> Give them in years. We have. Okay. So I'm going to get my lemon
and I want to ask you what you do with lemon peel. >> The appeal itself has so much flavor and I'm getting is that just use the zest first and then use the Jews. The other thing I like to do as well if not going to use my lemons and time, I blame the whole entire lemon with some water and then I pour them into ice cube trays, freeze it annexed. I have frozen limon cubes and then I can see at some him.
>> Sparkling water. That's really nice. I'm going to show that half the lemon gets tested right into the blender. The rest is saved for later is that a lot of are elements in here. But now we're going to go in with some nutritional, the stray a little bit of business, a savory flavor. All right. What are you reading this? I'm going to add some being partners on nice. So this is cool because we've got the
usual use for that cheesy flavor using some vegan parm and then the cauliflower that with us. They'll these really nice. Yeah. Yeah. Like creamy elements, right? >> That's this is this is my preparation dance for once.
It's all coming together to take. >> I had some leftover veggies, stock. So I poured that in for a little extra flavor and practicing and up dancing time to get lending again. I just hit the switch.
>> All the 2 creamy sauces are complete. I'm ready for the pasta. You also have some fettuccine. I do using finishing pasta. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Okay. So I'm probably I'm a little bit of the sauce into the pan to start just to get it nicely coated with the pasta and then I'll go ahead and add the PA sit there and then I'll go ahead and at some of the rest of the sauce. >> There's some other things you can do with the sauce because this quite a bit of it, right? So what you could end up doing with the sauce is use it for soups. Use it for us to use. Use it for even a debt. I mean, I think having a bit of like a chip in there. >> That's really good way. Quite nice. Okay. So I'm at my
pasta into my little can and the rest of my sauce. It's so creamy. It's like luscious love a saucy process. I was a refuge that yield a lot of soft because I like let's go. You know, a gentle toss in the sauce ensures every piece of pasta is well coated.
>> I'm I'm I'm ready to play out some. >> I'm ready to play to to mask a face on this eve. This process us for tomorrow. But you can also freeze it, too. So that's another option. Time to get this pasta and no waste case. >> So we've got a proper. We've got our lemon zest or
sol. What do you want to garnish with a lemon zest? >> Often the side. It's on top lemon zest with the ball.
I'm happy with the result. How's it looking on your list? >> You know what I think we both have in common is that our phones eat before us, shall we do. Have a little fun. You up for us. Okay. Ready?
I'm ready. Yeah, I'm ready. Yeah. Okay. Let's do it for years. This is so unexpected and so good. So creamy. >> That's what was going to say is that this is very, very creamy.
>> So what are some tips that you have some other tips for people who are looking to reduce their waste in the kitchen and want to contain? >> I think the most practical and easy thing is to cook the food you already have before going out and buying more food, then shopping and creating a list with that shopping list and 6 that lets them go off the list by other different bits and bobs like stick to that list. But before you go there, I think find recipes that work with your schedule. Donating food is a great option. But also my favorite compost
composting food shows that food is going back into the Earth back into the sort of give rich nutrients to the soil. Getting rich, rich nutrients to the plants that grow our food. >> That's this was so much fun and thank you for. >> Doing your work and educating and inspiring people to cook in, you know, waste and waste. It's incredible. That's delicious. This recipe is me and repeat for me.
>> Composting is a crucial part of a low waste lifestyle. A pup you can set to you and Santa Monica. The owners are committed to composting 100% of leftover food. They operate their own kitchen to compost facility for scraps are turned into a nutrient rich mulch. >> Let me show you around the our low establishment.
>> Let's do it. Few who said she translates to taste buds in life. It's run by Kalen sent shock and his wife Marina. They use simple but effective methods to cut down on waste. >> So starting with a two-goal everything's going post. The ball is studying for the leads. The trace? Of course the map does and all the companies made out of wood of or all the combustible material, the push through walls, even trash bags.
You do see the special guest as the outcome portable as well. >> Even the restaurant's napkins are hand sewn from recycled teen scraps and to avoid plastic in the kitchen. Chefs use only glass bowls and containers. And what happens to
him to be the fruit or vegetables that aren't perfect when you receive them. >> In the gents we make bases and for that, we actually look for it for fruits and vegetables that might be its that the blemish right by the perfect and we hate to see the farmers to have to throw those away. >> You have a really huge compost mission with the restaurant. Can you show me how that's kind of done got here is well, yes. >> This is all our own compost, which is coffee for goodies and shells. Avocado peels everything else show season. Yes, of course. Actual eggs, eggs and coffee.
Actually one of the best that you can feed the soil for classes because the costume because of all the other than with against. So that's that makes your garden futile. >> I'm so excited and ready to try to do and should we get into it? >> Absolutely. Let's try everything. Let's do it. Arena and Kalen are both passionate about building sustainable habits, which led them to the food industry. What was your inspiration behind starting this restaurant? >> First, we actually were inspired. Just opened a coffee shop, coffees and teas, single origin like really good quality. But then eventually people are asking as well more they want is food. They want to breakfast lunch and the
>> But killing them arena. Our justice focus on what happens after the tables are cleared. >> You own the composting process from start to finish even the facility. Can you tell me about that process from start to finish? >> We have these to your property in in downtown. We have another company and you know, begin, why don't we use that right? So its really search and then it became the that's very easy to pump us. If you need, what do your heart into it? So you have to do is to be some all the polls Arie them properly and just makes all your your your compass there and then eventually can use it from growing crops.
>> What do you think the restaurant industry can learn from your low lease model? >> Well, that they were. And that's actually the easy the you only have to come. You don't have to put the system in place and he's going make a great impact that the end of the day. >> You have kids and this mission is really important to saving our right. Absolutely. We're doing for the generation
before all things we did for everybody but their kids and their kids and all the generations. Yeah. >> The food here speaks for itself and they even have begun for science in the 60's. So happy. I could never have croissants.
>> It's very important for me to take a photo of everything because others will forget. And this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. >> After lunch, my leftover scraps went straight into the compost bin.
No food waste. And Santa Monica, California. Tough you can set TV is on a mission to stop food waste. I hope to load up the truck
that will take their kitchen scraps to the restaurant's very own composting facility. Kevin Conaway is peels expert, compost or composting. That's cool. The composting site is located about an hour from the restaurant here. They've transformed an empty lot into an urban garden. What are we doing today? >> What you need to know about composting is that there's not much to know pretty much just layering up. >> Once we put everything and what happens in the process.
>> Microorganisms are going to eat the food. They're gonna break it down and pretty much it will just disappear. All just little. Just be back. And we keep it wet. Just just a
little bit of water. Okay. But it's too dry that slows everything down. >> It's best to compost in a shady area. So Kevin dug up
large pits by trees, but you can also compost in any kind of container from a storage bin to a trash can. All right, Kevin, I'm ready to compass is everything we're compass to say. Right? First we made a layer of green materials which is basically anything left over from the kitchen or guard.
Thank veggie scraps, coffee grounds. Eggshells and plant remains yeah. Making masks and I can toss the bag into a tree. Then we added carbon rich brown materials. This can include shredded paper, cardboard, twigs and dried leaves. And what do those layers to? What is the cardboard the sticks? Why are we adding that to compost? >> Process because if you have all worked all scraps and no >> cardboard or no carbon on top of it.
>> It just turns into a mushy. >> Queuing mess then just continue alternating with green and brown layers until the waste is all used up. >> I have become one with the compost meat. Dairy and oils should only be broken down by
industrial composting facilities. They can attract unwanted pest, like rats and fries and a home garden. We can also contain harmful bacteria like salmonella, which can spread throughout gardens edible plants. How long
does it take for a compost? A breakdown, Kevin. >> Generally anywhere, 6 months to a year to keep it moist, it will be pretty much ready to go in 6, 9, months. >> Finished compost is a nutrient rich mulch. It's a
deep brown that basically looks just like dirt. So what have you been growing then with the soil that you kind of create through the complex, just questions mostly about the >> And as tomatoes, anything that Flynn thinks he needs for his menu. >> And we'll plan this. Compost garden is still a work in progress. But by next spring, it will produce enough food for regular restaurant use. Kevin, it's really interesting because
brands such an industrial area right here, literally creating a compost facility. Right? And it's not like you are. >> And, you know, the plot of land compost, you can literally composting apartment. We all the smaller scale, this kind of material in a landfill. It doesn't really break down and do any good.
So set on a minute landfill just going to waste. We cycled to chance, but back in the soil. >> Kevin, thank you so much for teaching at a compost. It was shockingly. >> Way easier than I expected and I will be back to the claim. It is your practice. Compost. Thank you. >> Managing food waste is a massive undertaking and many changes can only be made through legislation. The EPA
found that less than 10% of us households had access to curbside compost collection in 2017. That's a lot of foods we could be saving from landfills. If we just had compost bins next, recycling and trash. Some big changes are already in
the works. Major cities like Los Angeles and New York are expanding city-run composting and those advances are due in large part to individuals petitioning for better policies. Sometimes it takes local changes to kick start a global impact. >> I feel being in this this national park? Well, you know what? We get out of the city and were among trees and woods and critters or I feel better.
>> Mister President, it's you've got this new series. It looks at not just our national parks and national parks around the world. >> Species found nowhere else on Earth.
Joining in the celebration of our planet's greatest national parks and wilderness. >> After looking at all, this does is give you hope that these parks, these places of refuge, are kind of a buffer in a sense against what we see on the outside world, including climate change. Well, one of the great things about national parks is they belong to everybody. And one of the reasons I want to do the show about these great national parks is is really one of America's great exports. Teddy Roosevelt
designated Yellowstone as a as a national park. We had one now around the world. There are 4,000. >> Great national parks. And what we do is we look at
the variety of landscapes from, you know, Monterey Peninsula and it amazing waters that are filled with all kinds of sea animals that are are continually replenishing our air and our water now to Savile and Africa. This massive park, you know, that's full of lions, elephants and and amazing creatures. But part of what we also see in these national parks is how people are learning, too, take care of these amazing landscapes, but also the dangers that are posed by human encroachment. And and I'm
hoping that by us reminding ourselves of how precious these resources are that, you know, we're going to learn something not just about how to maintain national parks, but why it's so important to deal with issues like climate change that from the entire point, we we have younger kids, we, Sasha, Malia, that this generation that demands with us being better care takers. Will people seeing this heed that call? What one of being a amazing things about the footage. It reminds you of the incredible bio diversity of our planet, but we are continually losing species were losing plants were losing the land on which they thrive. As you point out now, I think that the generation of of our kids, well more mindful of how we haven't always taken care of the planet and with climate change affecting everything, they are demanding action. And my hope is that what the show does is not only remind us why we need to act, but also gives you some indication of the ways in which we can actually restore and rebuild some of these landscapes that were devastated. You think
about even here in the United States, a place like Yellowstone where for a while, there were almost no bison, they we were right on the verge of extinction. And now when you go into these national parks, you have entire herds that, you know, running across the plains, nature is more resilient. Then we think if we are intentional about. But you know, when you look at
the recent reports, for example, from the international panel on climate change, the window for us to act us to ensure that we don't have a cataclysmic climate change and that window is closing and we're going to seize on you as a boy went to national parks and you've gone with the family. Is that one of the impetus is for this? Part of what I want us to do is to as families rediscover a this amazing treasure that we have because I think back to my own you, I was lucky enough to live when I was a kid in Hawaii. The whole state almost is a is a national park. And so the oceans, the coral reefs, the mountains, the force, that that was part of my everyday life. Yeah. And you know, part of what we do in the show is track some of the areas like Indonesia, Kenya, Patagonia places where I've traveled, but it stirred when I was a child, a sense of how big the world was and how interconnected we all are. Speaking of the
interconnected, I mean, we've we've climate is one of those >> That gets pushed down when things happened. For example, things. in that we've got Ukraine. And there's a talk about let's ramp up production of fossil fuels because, you know, we inflation higher gas prices. You worry that that's going to push back the initiative. >> Well, interestingly, when we see what's happened with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it argues for us redoubling our efforts to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.
Russia is emboldened and empowered in part because they think we have to buy their oil and gas. And one of the things I've been very encourage by because it's not easy to do is is the Biden administration's ability to mobilize Europe, countries like Asia and Korea. It to say not only that, we're going to sanction Russia for this vicious and unjustified invasion of an independent country, but also that we now have to think about how to weed revamp our energy and so that we are no longer dependent on these fossil fuels.
It's not just that it is contributing to the heating of our planet. It's also that it ends up in power in folks that we don't want to power. >> Speaking of a letter to put your one of the few people have been in the room with him. Is this what you see happening now? Is this the vida Mia Putin that you had to deal with? >> Putin has always been ruthless against his own people as well as others.
He has always been somebody who's wrapped up in this twisted, distorted sense of grievance and ethnic nationalism. That part of proven, I think as always has always been there. What we've seen with the invasion of Ukraine is him being reckless in a way that you might not have anticipated 10 years ago? But, you know, the danger was always there.
And I think that as I said, the encouraging thing is then the extraordinary courage of the Ukrainian people, but also the ways in which the majority of the world has been repulsed by it. And he's wrecked into. We're all going to have a part to play in not only helping the Ukrainian people, but also looking at some of these larger trends. How can we reduce our dependence on fossil fuel so that we can shift to a more clean energy future? That's going to be good for all of us to talk about current administration. You're just at
the White House the first time in 5 years. How did how did that feel? You know, it was wonderful to see some of the old team people who we interacted with every day for 8 years work so hard, folks who looked after us, not just the policy people, but the staff that do the little things every day to to make your life easier. The fact that I could leave was nice. >> Were you surprised that a lot of people, I think when you made that you're the vice the vice President, Biden, Joe, you little surprise that people are like, hey, what's up with that? You know what courage? >> President Biden and I have a an extraordinary friendship as well as a professional relationship. And our families
are each other. Are his grandkids are close friends with my daughters. And and I think that he understands what I came to understand when I was president, which is each of us when we occupy that seat. You know, we're we're really runners. You know, we're we're trying to move the ball forward. Issues are tough.
It's it's not always easy. But you know, if we've got good people around us and and a good team, we can get things done and I think they're getting good. Good stuff done. midterms. It we took a shellacking, took a show at
this. What do you think's going to happen in this year's >> Well, it's too early to say. I mean, we're still far away. midterm election? I will say this. I think the Biden administration has overcome some extraordinary circumstances, the economy and now most recently Ukraine and they have handled the policy right look understand why people feel exhausted by COVID. That was a traumatic experience for a lot of people, even tougher on a lot of working families who didn't have the option of zooming from home when it came to work. And and and people who've lost loved ones. So that
was tough. And that's going to create a that's going to dampen the mood of the country. Inflation is a real issue. A lot of it is having to do would be COVID and supply chains and now Putins gas tax essentially by virtue of his invasion of Ukraine. But the underlying economy, there's a good story to tell. I mean,
unemployment is close to record lows and wages are up. People are finding jobs. And so there what I've said consistently as Democrats have to go out there and tell the story and then, you know, we'll see how it plays out. Ultimately the voters decide on this thing. But the one thing I
always that I learned, I guess from my own experience, typically in any election, you know, you've got to tell a story that people find compelling. And and, you know, you're sometimes if you built a better mousetrap, the people would be the path to your door. But sometimes you've got to go out there. So what about the show? Want to master of the spring us, you know, you mentioned COVID you 80 million Americans have tested positive for. How are you feeling? I feel fine. I mean, I looked I was fortunate that I did not get it until I had been vaccinated. And I had been
boosted and I barely had symptoms. And, you know, this is one of the arguments that for your for those who are still hesitating about getting a vaccination because they save themselves well, you got vaccinated and he's still got COVID. I barely had any symptoms and and the risk of hospitalization. We all long COVID symptoms that will linger on for years are all awful lot lower. If you take advantage of this modern medical miracle that now has been tested on probably about a billion people. What where the almost no evidence of
any significant side effects. This is something that I hope people continue to take seriously and continue to take advantage of it. Most presidents. What has life is how has life changed for you, Michelle, Sasha and Malia, there's nothing that come that compares to the privilege and honor of serving the American people in the highest office in the land. And you know, there are times where I mess. There are times where I miss being credible, camaraderie that you build with a team of people who are incredibly dedicated working amazingly hard and you're in the foxhole together, right? That the adrenaline that comes with that and the team spirit that comes with that. I don't miss the
hoopla. No, I don't miss the confinement. And and, you know, we're finding that we can be really a productive contributing citizens and all kinds of other ways. I worked in Michelle's work with the foundation. We're training a whole new set of leaders all around the world and here in the United States who are interested in figuring out how do we solve big problems like climate change, our ability to do projects like this one with the great national parks, which by the way, not only is are we do we have a show on Netflix, but we're also partnering with, you know, the Wildlife Conservation Society with something called Wild for all. And you can go on a website wild for all and find out ways in which you viewers connect with participating in helping to build a con conservation mindset and appreciate our national parks. There are a lot of fun things that we're able to do, but things that I think are meaningful as well. And I hope, you know, we can able to continue to do during your presidency. You protected more
public lands, more waterways than any previous administration. Now that you are a private citizen is is climate change and the environment, one of your top priorities? I think it has to be one of the top priorities for all of us. You and I were fortunate enough growing up and then almost doesn't matter where you were on the planet where as we were coming of age and environmental movement, you know, if you are a little older than us and you're living in La, you couldn't breathe because I'm too small. If you're a little older than us and you're living in Chicago, this Chicago River caught on fire because of the environmental movement. All of us ended up living happier, healthier lives and that was passed on was because of the work of a generation. Before us.
The threat of climate change is many times over a bigger threat. Then pollution wants because we start seeing temperatures tip to a point in which we can reverse that and ocean start rising as you know, better than anybody. The climate patterns in the jet stream huge global system start changing The consequences for all of us farmers, people who live on coastlines, you know, the consequences for public health, insect borne diseases, mass migration, conflict, those things are going to accelerate. And so I don't want to live. I don't want to leave that kind of legacy for my kids and my grandkids. And I don't think any of us knew. And so that means that we've got to get to
work in. The good news is that we have it on the shelves right now. Technologies. If we deployed them one completely eliminate the guess greenhouse gases that are causing climate change but would dampen them down and give us more time to create new energy sources. It's just a matter of will, and that's getting ourselves organized. And we're going to do that here in the United States is a major contributor to these greenhouse gases. We've got to set a good example. And then we're going to have to help mobilize the world. And that's
not easy to do. But we've got hard things before. arsenic is getting ready to go to college, either not to leave Denver and I are like, I can't believe that you you've been through it. >> Get get any tips or for us as far as empty nesting. Well, first it is. You are going to we've copiously would drop a cough, a college, but you can't let him see you cry. So you drop
him off and then you quickly leave and then your crime, a car. That's tip number one because you don't want them to feel bad, Mr. Getting all excited about their new life. You'll feel horrible. Thank you to number 2 is you try to bribe them with light. Nice trips. Hey, we're going to show why you guys want to come so that they show up and and and keep the refrigerator stocked because they can afford it are fresh fruit and things like that.
But look seriously. Michelle always said that she's absolutely right about this. Our job as parents. >> Is to teach our kids not to meet us. It hurts. But when you see them as
accomplished, confident, kind, thoughtful, responsible people, then you know, you you've done your job. And and it turns out that, you know, after the been away from you for a little while, they've got to remember sort of like that and they start showing up for you as this makes the heart grow vibes, the lone survivor. Thank you, Mister President appreciates appreciates.
Good luck. Thank you. so many of us. >> Are removed from nature and most of the time and one of the great inventions America to that has now been export around the world is a national park. And I know you spent time as a kid in national parks. We've got some great ones, too.
>> Well, guys for the boys. >> And the former president is also hoping to inspire the next generation to get involved with the national parks and share his love of nature. So we let some local kids on a scavenger >> Was very nice to meet you. And mom, a different type of
hunt. haha. It's okay. Look sharp. Well, is this team Roker as this team has a, you know, this team? He knows and he knows a lot about this stuff either. You know, I miss me. Plus, earnings are to play Joe. A very nice to take his team. Got a great you are. Well, We've got going for it.
We're going go fund starts at all report >> We've got to set the expectation that this team is going to win. So haha, I'm here we go. >> He was in a yellow flower.
You can see some yellow flowers. I think. All right. Good. Well, what about a big tree beginning? All I'm saying thank you. You can. And the animal kingdom.
It is a male. >> It looks fancy years more colorful, et cetera, because they're trying to attract the female. All you see. So the wind up, we had piers really in greens and
blues and oranges, all kinds of different color. So I think that means that I'm a female of that. >> It was fun. And it is. So does everybody know that there's enough and are in the most ranging from got you're just going to be a fun guy. I wonder that the there's us on the branch said that. >> You know, here's some birds. So
this is now the migration, the spring migration for birds. And there's, if you will, of burgers, like to check birds off. Let's kind of like what we're doing. They want to attract the birds closer to them so that they can see those birds. That's how the way you can identify verges by, like we're talking about the ducks. But looking at there
their feathers, right? And so to attract birds, you can you can fish by using your out. Right? And then the birds are curious or interested is what the noises and they can come closer so that they're easier to identify or where you can use a bird called all of you guys presence. I know you are. >> Well that I was.
sounds like the best way to migrate all the swim all the way, though, when they were all that bad. >> I was born in for a little effect through the age of the loop. Thank you to, you know, more than some people, but where? >> So this is good and that sky. And what do you think they
Al Roker see had one may. Oh my. That's not all that snow like this. We are told is calm before. Yeah, yeah. If you don't want to know the president where we're going for it around the village people and that the cabin side a bedroom so far. I mean, former president was anybody know where there's a former where.
>> I think the moment we've got to take advantage of something. One of the things on our list. >> As the weather experts were going to grab this guy, I'll take a quick picture. >> We have fled. Yeah. Let's make a play and I raised our right. We should stand up for this. Yeah. I'm unclear as the junior Ranger I promised to learn about the world around me. A lot of the national far or
help protect the natural in called true. Haha. And let's start research, resources and historic resources. The national parks, the National Park says that they will be here so now artificially January and the debate is still very low. >> Hi, everybody. I'm Al Roker and welcome to climate change and super solutions from the gardens here at 30 Rock Earth Day 2023 is falling right on the heels of a dire UN report.
It says the chance to secure a livable future for everyone on this earth. It's slipping away. The authors of that report putting the heat on government saying they need to act swiftly to keep harmful greenhouse gases that worsen the effects of climate change at bay. Still, there is hope as the report states a clear path exist to a more sustainable world and a stable climate. If we act now, super solutions to climate change are popping up all around the world which proved the inherent human will. 2 problems mixed with a little creativity for getting us closer to a better future. We're going to talk to one of the nation's leading conservationist about that pathway. But first, let's look at some innovative solutions
that are being implemented around the country. I visited to Aqua Farms and underwater sustainable way to raise native seafood and plants. Not only do they provide food, they're also helping save the planet. And Dylan Dryer is in a coastal town witnessing the unique way they're fighting sea level rise. Take a look. >> In the oceans, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, a new blue technique is taking hold.
It's called optical and its combating overfishing, climate change and saving many endangered species. >> When you talk about aquaculture wire used so heavily investing in that. >> We import about 90% of the seafood that we consume in the United States. So this helps put people to work in a way
that helps sustain ourselves. >> Waukee cost in dollars runs the port of San Diego's pilot Blue economy program. That includes 2 pop-culture going under water farm for sustainable seafood and shellfish. >> We were looking for new and innovative ways to solve some of the big environmental challenges that we're facing.
>> The port works with NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help farmers like Tori Kelly T of some can see week. >> The Tory when what I think about a farm, I I don't think about seeing 6 buoys flood water. What is this? >> What we're doing here is testing the feasibility of different seeming species that can be scaled up and Southern California underneath the surface where these buoys are. I just have a frame and has lines going across it. They're like so many
applications of c wade. I focus on food. I like feeding people. >> And that's exactly what he did to Henri and renowned San Diego Sheriff Joe Joe Ruiz. We're prepared a meal of fresh local Apple culture. Cuisine album and endangered. Need to show you now being grown here at the port.
>> And seaweed direct from to reach far. It's kind of like eating freeze except it's all to. >> We'll see what action has increased globally by nearly 75% over the past decades. And in the U.S. seaweed morning is the fastest growing awful culture crime. >> But colder farms like this one are the sustainable wave of the future from coast to coast. >> I met up with your blue. He took me out to his farm on
Long Island said you're an oyster farmer. >> How did you get the idea? Hey, welcome to the state. Started talking about it on the air. Will let's make a go of it. Sounds like in a way you're almost ahead of the market. Well, first we got to prove we can grow it right and house have ago. That's good.
>> Sugar, kelp like torrisi. We can also be used in food cosmetics or as potential bio fuels. >> It's a new and emerging industry. >> The kelp harvested here. Cops island is staying on.
The family used in a cosmetics line designed by 3rd generation farmer Jeanne Blue. >> We'll somewhat satisfying that. You know, you're kind of continue the way your family played. >> Yeah, definitely. I love merging the 2 together. And if it's good for the environment, it's good for you. >> This is the house could sell Hummer. And this is just a
byproduct of coconuts that are being used anyway, right? >> In New Jersey, beautiful beaches are part of the state's identity drawing thousands of tourists every year. But here in the small town of Neptune, the beloved shoreline is threatened by sea-level rise and erosion. >> With climate change, the storms have gotten worse. >> The impacts of got worse. Tim Dillingham is the executive director of the American Littoral Society. The organization overseeing Neptune's Beach Restoration Project funded by FEMA at the heart of the project is a wall of coconut hunts or core spanning more than 2000 feet along the river bank used to protect the beaches from erosion. He calls it a living shoreline. Why would you want
to use something like that as opposed to something that would last a lot longer like steel or, you know something stronger. >> So coconut fibers are natural. And ultimately after they've done their job of stabilizing the beach so that the grasses can grow, they'll disappear, they'll go into the environment. You're all whole goal was to try to restore the
natural processes where we can and not leave any footprints up. Speak on of the work. >> This is what coastal flooding looked like along the shore just months ago for the project was put in place. It was important for the community to find a solution that would preserve the shorelines ecosystem instead of building a more traditional bullpen. Arlene. Sure, APA is a longtime resident. People around here are environmentally
concerned, and I think that makes a big difference. The environmentally conscious solution begins thousands of miles away in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, some of the world's largest producers of coconuts. Instead of discarding it as waste, the highest is extracted processed and packaged before its exported to the U.S.. And even though it sounds like a costly operation, it was more affordable than the alternative. >> This project costs a little bit less than a million dollars to do if the town and ultimately decided to build off hard wall would have been more than 2 million dollars to do that. >> And all this work with coconut course is not just happening here in New Jersey.
>> That's right. Dylan were here in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, where this crew is working on this restoration project in a residential neighborhood. What they're doing is putting in those coconut war logs and this matting along the stream here to protect it from runoff and pollutants from getting into this water and eventually the Chesapeake Bay and our drinking water.
>> And the only confirmation of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania will be excited to see the success coconut virus had here in Austin, Texas. Back in 2009, this part of Lake Austin was eroding and core logs were installed more than 10 years later road and has slowed and plant life is thriving. >> Now the newly completed project in Neptune, New Jersey will be put to the test. Do you think the next big storm that comes through to do residents feel safe? >> Well, there's always the chance that there's going to be some flooding, but I think that the benefits of having be sure won. Well, our outweigh the possible effects of another storm and time will tell.
>> You know, storms happen and hurricanes happen in their way of life along the coastline. We think this will be resilient. If a storm comes in, that's large enough to destroy will come back and rebuild it. >> Joining me now is Rebecca better. She's the deputy
director of the Nature Conservancy's global climate he Rebecca, thanks for joining. It's such a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me. Well, here's the thing. We hear so much about technology trying to help us get ourselves out of this climate crisis. But at the end of the day, the church itself has to be part of the solution. >> Nature is I'll call it one of the most efficient technologies we couldn't ask for to help us mitigate global climate change.
If we're actually going to take some of the gas is out of the atmosphere that are causing us to warm, we need nature. It's unnatural and efficient way to mitigate global climate change. So what do you think it's going to take to really drive us forward? I think it's going to take us seeing the impacts of it. >> More and more and associate in those impacts the climate. We're going to see storms that put her houses underwater, close our businesses. And so I think it's those real consequences under so shooting those with sort of the impacts of climate change that will help us all realize how serious it is.
>> It sounds like so much doom and gloom, which correct? It is. It is. But there are solutions so that that if we maybe focus on that, there's more optimism, more hope and people respond more to that. >> My answer to that right now is we do have the solutions and even better news. We're deploying those solutions. The percentage of renewable energy resources are going up. More people are investing in ways to save the planet. So we just have to do more of what we're doing faster.
And we really do have hope. >> When we continue survey show that almost a quarter of young adults are rethinking whether they're going to become parents are not in this changing world and our climate. right now is Angie Lassman, one of our meteorologist here at NBC News. And Angie, we're at a point now. Climate change is affecting almost. >> Everything we talk yet. It's really especially
affecting Gen Z and millennial age groups that have gone through some of the worst changes with climate in history. And that's giving them some uncertainty about whether or not they want to have kids and what the future will look like for the kids that they currently have. >> As the climate crisis gets worse, it's fueling a wave of anxiety in younger generation. Some say they're rethinking
whether they want to start a family or even how they'll do it in a world with a very uncertain climate future. Not sure that we're going to have kids because you don't want to bring our kids into a world like this. >> I don't have kids, but it has impacted my thoughts.
I definitely want to leave the world a better place. >> For my kids, I want to make sure to raise children who are aware of this. Now, according to a recent poll, almost a quarter of them say climate change is impacting their decision to become a parent and people under the age of 35 or more likely to report climate change as a reason not to have children compared to those born in the decade before them. Millennials and Gen Z were born into their most rapid time of global warming and grew up with more frequent and intense climate change fuel disasters than any generation before them think Hurricane Katrina, the massive wildfires across the west and an unprecedented amount of tornado outbreaks there already double the average for this point in any single year.
Some experts say the concerns about how to raise a family during this time only growing. >> Children's symbolize the future. People tend to not want children if they don't feel hopeful and optimistic about the future ahead of them. >> Lindsay her but says climate change is a big factor in why she's not having children.
>> I would just be so scary to bring a child into this world right now. I know the world is not ending in 50 years, but the natural disasters are going to continue to get worse and worse. Growing up. The 38 year-old says she always thought she'd have kids. When she got older, her fit
started to rethink parenting. I started thinking about, like, what am I leaving my child too? And what world my leaving them, too. So it's just going to continue to get worse and tell we as a society and we as a government do something about it. A new UN report says there's still hope to curb the catastrophic effects of climate change if governments take swift action now. >> In the absence of effective leadership that really cares about this issue. Potential parents, people who want to have children, people who can air about the climate and care about future generations are really going to have to instill a completely different set of values in their own families. What's the plan to
solve climate change? >> Science moms, a group of moms from across the country looks to empower families to make changes to talk about climate change. When you decide to have kids, you don't know what having kids is going to be right. No one can prepare you for parenthood, including new ways to electrify are home talking and sharing with your children and other families about climate and asking local officials about plans to tackle pollution.
>> There's nothing that's going to commit you more to a better world than having a child. >> How climate anxiety has become a very common point of conversation in younger generations and it's impacting decisions like how do you start a family or should you start a family in a way other generations have itself? And you have been a major champion in this space. How have you seen throughout your career that consciousness of wanting to change from generation to generation to try and leave a better? >> Well, you know, and you look, I think it's I was there for the first Earth day, 53 years ago. And there was this
this this reckoning, this thought that, you know, we need to be better stewards of this earth and it's taken a while for it to gain traction. But I think ever since I would say Superstorm Sandy, I think that they the real impetus to make changes and to try to improve our environment and protect the earth has become stronger and stronger, not just with younger people, but older people like myself who are worried about the generations that are coming behind us. Yeah. And so how do you hope our generations? >> Set of the next generations to leave the better? >> Well, look, the fact of the matter is your generation and younger. You know, you look at somebody like credit and are,
you know, and these young kids who are speaking out and saying, no, we want action now, you know, they they that they want the climate action and social action for these young people or one in the same thing. And, you know, social justice, ecological justice, all those things. So I think that's a really important. And he's somebody who is who's in between the very young folks in the the more seasoned folks.
Well, where do you see your generation getting in on this? >> Yeah, I think, you know, some of the questions that I asked in these interviews that I did are questions that I've asked myself, you know, how can I know so much about climate and where it's going in the crisis as a whole and move forward and have a family? And so for me, I think that I hope my generation pays attention. I think that that's something that's that happened little by little and the generations that come after it. I hope that that that only grows it. >> That's what we're all yet. Coming up, we've got more super
solutions that are changing the world. Don't go. Super solutions are needed now more than ever to combat the climate crisis and pressure is on for entire industries to change course with more sustainable practices at options, everything from the energy we consume to the vehicles we drive even the kinds of food we eat and the way it's grown first, take a look at what one indigenous community did to ensure they had access to fresh produce and nutritious food that NBC's Maura Barrett shows us how small changes in our diet could be a driving force in saving the planet. >> Rollins remains in considering what you've seen outside.
>> Racing with lives on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to see the law greenhouse in the snow area. Dean of the meeting healthy affordable options aren't always nearby. Grocery stores scares and poor health conditions prevalent. And when the pandemic hit, community leaders were concerned, produce would become even harder to come by. >> So we started looking at ideas. How do we accomplish feeding ourselves if the if the roads are shut down? So the district pulled together their funds to build a greenhouse all the reservation. It's a multi family level of food production
so that we could grow as much food as possible in a year-round basis. >> It took 3 years for the walk pub in the lake community greenhouse to become fully functional, built 4 feet underground. >> Here is the actual geothermal tubes that are 10 feet deep to grab the Earth's ambient air temperature. >> It's actually 52 degrees. So during the wintertime that's nice and hot or cold weather temperature crops and then during the summertime, that's nice and cool for a hot >> Allowing ration and his team to provide consistent free produce to more than 40 families in the year. >> It's a gift from ourselves to ourselves.
>> But he's not the only Pine Ridge resident working to bring food to the Lakota people. This is Natalie Hat. She works with Conscious Alliance, a local nonprofit food pantry that gives free supplies to those in need. >> For the most part, it's, you know, your standard process, canned goods, which is fine for emergency food relief. But for the long term, you know, we want people to >> eat healthier, healthy eating means figuring out how to grow crops on the reservations. 2.1 million acres
of land that has rocked cold where harsh winds are a threat to crops and a
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