Earth Day Special pt. 1: How Young People Can Help Save the Planet

<p>For Earth Day week, we bring you a look at ways young people can help save the planet! We’ll be talking with Cliff Lewis, author of We the Future!</p><p></p><p>This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at ways young people can help make Earth a better place to live. Later in the show, we’re going to be talking with Cliff Lewis, author of We the Future! </p><p>[This episode is aimed toward young people, but there are plenty of lessons in here for everyone, so keep watching, regardless of your age.] {Thank you!}</p><p>Since the start of the Industrial Revolution the Earth’s climate has been rapidly changing due to human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. In fact, it has been 46 years since our planet last experienced a year with cooler-than-normal temperatures.</p><p>Now, I know you’ve heard the term “global warming” before, and you might think it just means that the Earth is getting a little warmer, no big deal. But here’s the thing: global warming is already resulting in some pretty serious problems.</p><p></p><p>Listen to the podcast here, or <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/mSTLJEYQLfc">watch the video version of this episode</a>!</p><p></p><p>The production of greenhouse gases is causing the Earth’s temperature to increase, leading to rising sea levels, more frequent and intense natural disasters, and setting off a cascade of plant and animal extinctions.</p><p>Rising temperatures are causing glaciers and ice caps to melt, which could mean more flooding, more intense storms, and the pollution of water supplies for large cities.</p><p>[It’s too bloody hot!]</p><p>Climate change is also resulting in more extreme weather, like heatwaves and droughts, which can harm crops and lead to food shortages. Ocean temperatures are also rising, driving deaths of coral reefs and a loss of biodiversity.</p><p>But there is hope. We can take action to protect our planet and prevent the worst effects of climate change. We can reduce our carbon footprint by driving less, using