1
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♪♪
2
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-Bhutan.
3
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{\an1}High in the Himalayas.
4
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♪♪
5
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One of the last
Buddhist kingdoms.
6
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♪♪
7
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A country rich
in ancient culture.
8
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♪♪
9
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{\an1}But also very forward-thinking.
10
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♪♪
11
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{\an1}Bhutan is carbon-negative.
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{\an1}It's the only country
in the
world
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{\an1}that absorbs more carbon
than it produces...
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♪♪
15
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{\an1}...achieved by looking
after nature.
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♪♪
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{\an1}Despite this, Bhutan is now
vulnerable to climate change,
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{\an1}which is impacting our planet
faster than ever before.
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♪♪
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{\an1}This is a global problem,
that needs a global solution.
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♪♪
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{\an1}We're at a turning point
in history
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{\an1}and moving in a new direction.
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♪♪
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{\an1}How we live with nature now
will determine our future.
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♪♪
27
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{\an1}A new age is upon us.
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{\an7}The age of nature.
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{\an8}♪♪
30
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{\an7}[ Birds chirping ]
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{\an7}-So the fact that we are
carbon-negative today,
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{\an7}perhaps, may be an example
to the rest of the world,
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{\an7}but it's also very important
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{\an7}in the sense that we have
to realize and acknowledge
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{\an1}that this is the result
of decades
36
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of implementation
37
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of enlightened,
but courageous, policies.
38
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{\an1}[ Birds chirping ]
39
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{\an1}By law, we are required
to maintain a minimum
40
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{\an1}of 60% forest coverage,
but, in reality, 70%,
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{\an1}a little more than 70% of our
country is under forest cover.
42
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{\an1}Why are forests important?
43
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{\an1}Well, for many reasons,
44
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{\an1}and I can tell you
two very important reasons.
45
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{\an1}The first, everybody knows of.
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{\an1}It's because it helps to fight
against climate change.
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♪♪
48
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These forests are
a vast reserve of carbon.
49
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{\an1}It's a carbon sink.
50
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♪♪
51
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{\an1}The second reason is
52
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that our forests
are largely pristine.
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They're natural.
They've been undisturbed.
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{\an1}So our forests today
are a safe haven
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{\an1}for our very rich biodiversity.
56
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♪♪
57
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Trees, plants,
58
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fungi.
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{\an1}This is why it's very important
60
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{\an1}that you protect the forests
as they are.
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♪♪
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{\an1}Our country rises from about
100 meters above sea level
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{\an1}all the way up to about
7,500 meters above sea level.
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♪♪
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Bhutan is nothing
but mountains and valleys.
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♪♪
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-Look, look!
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{\an1}[ Birds chirping ]
69
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{\an1}-70% of the population live
along the banks of rivers.
70
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{\an1}It's the only farmable land.
71
00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:06,500
{\an1}-We've always had a very
strong association with water.
72
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{\an1}In terms of agriculture,
obviously, it's very important.
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As you can see,
the paddy fields around here,
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{\an1}they've required water
and, for centuries,
75
00:04:18,566 --> 00:04:21,533
{\an1}we've been cultivating rice
in these valleys.
76
00:04:31,666 --> 00:04:35,466
{\an1}-The Bhutanese also harness
the power of their rivers
77
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{\an1}to generate renewable energy.
78
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{\an1}It contributes to the country's
carbon-negative status.
79
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{\an7}But people here still face
an uncertain future.
80
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{\an1}They are on the front line
of the climate crisis.
81
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♪♪
82
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As a politician,
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{\an1}Tshering Tobgay is concerned
for the future of his country.
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♪♪
85
00:05:02,233 --> 00:05:04,800
He's monitoring
the growing threat,
86
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{\an1}which can only be seen high
up in the mountains.
87
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♪♪
88
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{\an1}-The entire Himalayan region
89
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{\an1}is the world's third-largest
repository of ice,
90
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{\an1}after the North and South Poles,
91
00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:20,200
{\an1}so this is why some scientists
92
00:05:20,233 --> 00:05:22,366
{\an1}have called this region
the third pole.
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♪♪
94
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Global warming
and climate change
95
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{\an7}is affecting the glaciers
in the Himalayas,
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00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,376
{\an7}just like they're affecting
glaciers all over the world.
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00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,133
♪♪
98
00:05:35,166 --> 00:05:36,800
-Over two-thirds
of these glaciers
99
00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:40,033
{\an1}are expected to melt
by the turn of the century.
100
00:05:40,066 --> 00:05:41,600
♪♪
101
00:05:41,633 --> 00:05:45,166
{\an1}And the glacial lakes holding
the meltwater are growing.
102
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♪♪
103
00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,366
{\an1}Currently held back
by natural dams,
104
00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,566
{\an1}it's only a matter of time
before the dams will give.
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♪♪
106
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And the flooding
will be disastrous.
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♪♪
108
00:06:06,833 --> 00:06:08,733
In 2010,
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00:06:08,766 --> 00:06:11,166
{\an1}a team of farmers and villagers
were recruited
110
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:12,433
{\an1}to lower the water levels
111
00:06:12,466 --> 00:06:15,133
{\an1}of a lake that was
near bursting point.
112
00:06:17,466 --> 00:06:25,466
♪♪
113
00:06:26,666 --> 00:06:29,266
{\an1}This involved moving
each rock by hand
114
00:06:29,300 --> 00:06:31,166
{\an1}to slowly release the water.
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00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,466
♪♪
116
00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:37,766
{\an1}Working at altitude
with little oxygen
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00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,300
{\an1}and in freezing conditions,
118
00:06:40,333 --> 00:06:45,233
{\an1}it took five years in total
to lower it by 15 feet.
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♪♪
120
00:06:51,266 --> 00:06:54,466
{\an1}This has bought some time,
121
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{\an1}but it hasn't solved
the problem.
122
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♪♪
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00:06:59,666 --> 00:07:03,400
The glaciers
are continuing to melt
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00:07:03,433 --> 00:07:07,366
{\an7}and Bhutan isn't the only
country that's vulnerable.
125
00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,233
{\an7}Eight others would also be
directly affected
126
00:07:10,266 --> 00:07:13,666
{\an8}by the melting
of the Himalayan ice cap,
127
00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:18,566
impacting
up to 1.6 billion people.
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00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,433
♪♪
129
00:07:21,466 --> 00:07:24,533
{\an1}-Well, on the one hand,
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{\an1}I know that humanity
will persevere.
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We will prevail.
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{\an1}Now, protecting the glaciers
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can't be done
by a single country.
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The entire world
must come together
135
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{\an1}to control global warming.
136
00:07:39,733 --> 00:07:43,366
♪♪
137
00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:49,400
{\an1}No one country can address
climate change adequately
138
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{\an1}to reverse its effects
139
00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:53,233
or to prevent
its future effects,
140
00:07:53,266 --> 00:07:56,366
{\an1}so we must come together
as a world.
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00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,100
♪♪
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00:07:58,133 --> 00:08:01,266
{\an1}So, if a small country
can do that,
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00:08:01,300 --> 00:08:03,100
my submission is
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00:08:03,133 --> 00:08:07,166
{\an1}larger, more powerful,
more rich countries,
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00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,600
{\an1}with a lot more knowledge
and experience,
146
00:08:09,633 --> 00:08:12,566
{\an1}they can obviously do
a
lot
more, and they must.
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♪♪
148
00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,233
{\an1}-Bhutan cannot fight
climate change alone.
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00:08:21,266 --> 00:08:24,133
♪♪
150
00:08:24,166 --> 00:08:28,500
{\an1}It is a global problem,
that needs global solutions.
151
00:08:28,533 --> 00:08:36,533
♪♪
152
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:38,700
{\an1}[ Birds chirping ]
153
00:08:38,733 --> 00:08:41,533
-Ultimately,
if we're gonna understand how
154
00:08:41,566 --> 00:08:43,166
{\an1}to stop climate change,
155
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{\an1}we need to understand our planet
and so that's what we do.
156
00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:49,666
{\an1}We try to categorize the forests
and the soils around the world
157
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{\an1}so we can understand
how much carbon is in them
158
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{\an1}and how much carbon
they could absorb.
159
00:09:00,033 --> 00:09:01,800
{\an1}-Tom Crowther and his team
160
00:09:01,833 --> 00:09:04,233
{\an1}collect information
from scientists working
161
00:09:04,266 --> 00:09:06,100
in different
forest environments.
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00:09:09,166 --> 00:09:11,100
They combine this
with satellite data
163
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{\an1}to generate world maps
that show where forests are
164
00:09:15,733 --> 00:09:17,833
{\an1}and their capacity
for storing carbon.
165
00:09:23,366 --> 00:09:26,033
{\an8}-So, every year,
166
00:09:26,066 --> 00:09:28,300
{\an1}we emit greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere.
167
00:09:30,233 --> 00:09:34,166
{\an1}And one of the main ones
is carbon dioxide.
168
00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,033
{\an1}Each year, we emit
about 10 gigatons of carbon
169
00:09:38,066 --> 00:09:39,433
{\an1}into the atmosphere.
170
00:09:39,466 --> 00:09:44,433
{\an1}That's like 27,000
Empire State Buildings.
171
00:09:44,466 --> 00:09:46,533
And, over time,
some of that gets absorbed
172
00:09:46,566 --> 00:09:48,600
{\an1}by the oceans or on land,
173
00:09:48,633 --> 00:09:51,133
{\an1}but, since the start
of the industrial revolution,
174
00:09:51,166 --> 00:09:53,633
{\an1}we've increased that number
in the atmosphere
175
00:09:53,666 --> 00:09:56,600
{\an1}by about 300 gigatons.
176
00:09:56,633 --> 00:09:58,733
{\an1}So that's
completely
changed our planet
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00:09:58,766 --> 00:10:01,366
{\an8}and our climate
across the globe.
178
00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,766
{\an7}This is a NASA simulation
of the carbon cycle
179
00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,233
{\an7}changing throughout the year.
180
00:10:05,266 --> 00:10:06,600
{\an7}And what's cool is you can see
181
00:10:06,633 --> 00:10:09,033
{\an7}the high concentrations
of carbon indicated
182
00:10:09,066 --> 00:10:10,609
{\an8}by the red colors
in the high latitudes.
183
00:10:10,633 --> 00:10:13,366
{\an1}But as we take on into spring
and then summer,
184
00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,366
we see these concentrations fade
185
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,200
{\an1}and that's caused by one thing.
186
00:10:17,233 --> 00:10:20,200
{\an1}It's just the emergence
of leaves on trees.
187
00:10:20,233 --> 00:10:23,000
This transforms
the carbon cycle each year.
188
00:10:23,033 --> 00:10:25,533
Just look at the power of trees.
189
00:10:25,566 --> 00:10:27,533
{\an1}Just imagine what was
possible if we had more.
190
00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:33,033
{\an1}-The scale of global
forest cover
191
00:10:33,066 --> 00:10:35,100
{\an1}has only recently become clear.
192
00:10:37,333 --> 00:10:39,766
{\an1}-So we use a really
brand-new approach.
193
00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,800
{\an1}Our models are made from
peopleon the ground all over the world
194
00:10:43,833 --> 00:10:46,700
{\an1}actually counting trees
and saying how big they are
195
00:10:46,733 --> 00:10:49,500
{\an1}and, by sending us in all
of that information,
196
00:10:49,533 --> 00:10:52,433
{\an1}we use machine learning
and artificial intelligence
197
00:10:52,466 --> 00:10:54,633
{\an1}to then build the maps
from the bottom up.
198
00:10:54,666 --> 00:10:57,766
{\an1}So it's
really
so much stronger
that we can build them
199
00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,500
from real,
on-the-ground information.
200
00:11:01,533 --> 00:11:03,166
{\an1}So this map actually shows
201
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,200
{\an7}where the existing trees are
around the planet.
202
00:11:06,233 --> 00:11:09,600
{\an7}But, by characterizing
which ecosystems store trees,
203
00:11:09,633 --> 00:11:12,400
{\an1}we can also say how many
trees there could be,
204
00:11:12,433 --> 00:11:14,700
{\an1}and that's indicated
by the yellow colors.
205
00:11:14,733 --> 00:11:18,766
{\an1}See, before the expansion
of human civilization,
206
00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,000
{\an7}there was almost twice
as many trees on the planet
207
00:11:21,033 --> 00:11:22,400
{\an7}as there are today.
208
00:11:22,433 --> 00:11:25,433
{\an7}There's about 5.8 trillion
trees across the planet.
209
00:11:25,466 --> 00:11:29,200
{\an1}Now, obviously, we've
depletedthat by about almost 3 trillion,
210
00:11:29,233 --> 00:11:33,266
{\an1}so there's
huge
areas that
are available for restoration.
211
00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:34,666
Obviously,
we can't use the areas
212
00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:37,600
that we're using for agriculture
or urbanization,
213
00:11:37,633 --> 00:11:39,000
but there's still
214
00:11:39,033 --> 00:11:41,633
{\an1}almost a billion hectares
of forest area
215
00:11:41,666 --> 00:11:43,333
{\an1}around those spaces
216
00:11:43,366 --> 00:11:45,700
{\an1}that we could actually
use right now.
217
00:11:45,733 --> 00:11:47,666
♪♪
218
00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:51,033
{\an1}It's degraded ecosystems
that aren't being developed,
219
00:11:51,066 --> 00:11:53,566
{\an1}so, if we were to make
the most of those regions,
220
00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,033
{\an1}we could go a
long
way in the
fight against climate change.
221
00:11:57,066 --> 00:12:02,133
♪♪
222
00:12:02,166 --> 00:12:03,633
{\an1}-We've known, for a long time,
223
00:12:03,666 --> 00:12:07,800
{\an1}that trees draw down carbon
from the atmosphere.
224
00:12:07,833 --> 00:12:11,766
{\an1}But it's only now that we can
really see their potential.
225
00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,566
♪♪
226
00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,466
{\an1}-So the key is that we
restore these ecosystems
227
00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:21,433
in the right,
ecologically minded way.
228
00:12:21,466 --> 00:12:23,433
{\an1}That means we don't plant trees
229
00:12:23,466 --> 00:12:26,100
{\an1}in ecosystems that would
naturally be grasslands
230
00:12:26,133 --> 00:12:30,433
{\an1}and we also restore trees
in a very biodiverse mixture.
231
00:12:30,466 --> 00:12:32,000
{\an1}We don't just want plantations,
232
00:12:32,033 --> 00:12:34,000
monocultures
of the same species.
233
00:12:34,033 --> 00:12:36,400
{\an1}You need all the different
interacting species
234
00:12:36,433 --> 00:12:37,800
{\an1}which help one another
235
00:12:37,833 --> 00:12:40,277
- {\an1}to grow and capture huge
- amounts of carbon.
236
00:12:40,333 --> 00:12:42,466
♪♪
237
00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:44,500
{\an1}There are
no
downsides.
238
00:12:44,533 --> 00:12:47,400
{\an1}As long as we restore
in the right ecosystems,
239
00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:49,200
{\an1}that would naturally be forests,
240
00:12:49,233 --> 00:12:52,233
{\an1}and we restore good,
healthy biodiversity,
241
00:12:52,266 --> 00:12:54,400
{\an1}then, we get strong
carbon capture
242
00:12:54,433 --> 00:12:57,066
{\an1}and all the other thousands
of ecosystem services
243
00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:58,366
{\an1}that forests provide.
244
00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,300
♪♪
245
00:13:02,333 --> 00:13:04,710
{\an1}We absolutely
246
00:13:04,734 --> 00:13:07,133
need nature
to survive on this planet.
247
00:13:07,166 --> 00:13:09,200
{\an1}If humanity is gonna
have a chance,
248
00:13:09,233 --> 00:13:12,677
- {\an1}we're gonna need to restoreecosystems
all - across the globe.
249
00:13:12,733 --> 00:13:14,733
♪♪
250
00:13:14,766 --> 00:13:17,500
{\an1}So there are people
restoring ecosystems already.
251
00:13:17,533 --> 00:13:20,210
- {\an1}All - over the world,
there's thousands of projects,
252
00:13:20,266 --> 00:13:22,066
{\an1}but this
has
to increase,
253
00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:23,700
both in the scale
of those projects
254
00:13:23,733 --> 00:13:25,100
{\an1}and in the number of projects.
255
00:13:25,133 --> 00:13:27,266
♪♪
256
00:13:27,300 --> 00:13:29,300
So the really
fascinating thing is
257
00:13:29,333 --> 00:13:31,700
{\an1}the areas that are most
important for carbon storage
258
00:13:31,733 --> 00:13:36,100
{\an1}are also the most important
for biodiversity.
259
00:13:36,133 --> 00:13:39,033
And biodiversity
isn't just a magical thing.
260
00:13:39,066 --> 00:13:42,766
{\an1}It's the life support system
for our planet.
261
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:47,233
♪♪
262
00:13:47,266 --> 00:13:55,266
♪♪
263
00:13:57,266 --> 00:14:04,433
♪♪
264
00:14:04,466 --> 00:14:06,000
{\an1}-The Olavsoka, in Poland,
265
00:14:06,033 --> 00:14:08,233
{\an1}is the oldest forest
in Europe...
266
00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:11,333
♪♪
267
00:14:11,366 --> 00:14:14,366
{\an1}...one of the last ancient
woodlands left standing.
268
00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:18,366
♪♪
269
00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,533
{\an1}It's a rare example of nature
in good condition.
270
00:14:21,566 --> 00:14:29,566
♪♪
271
00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:32,733
The perfect place
to study biodiversity.
272
00:14:32,766 --> 00:14:39,300
♪♪
273
00:14:39,333 --> 00:14:40,533
{\an1}-This forest is unique.
274
00:14:40,566 --> 00:14:42,266
{\an1}You don't have second forest
275
00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:43,633
{\an1}like this in the world.
276
00:14:43,666 --> 00:14:46,166
♪♪
277
00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,700
{\an1}It's also irreplaceable.
278
00:14:47,733 --> 00:14:49,266
{\an1}We humans cannot recreate it.
279
00:14:49,300 --> 00:14:51,733
{\an1}We cannot do anything
to get it back if it...
280
00:14:51,766 --> 00:14:55,300
{\an1}if it's just gets damaged,
if it gets cut down.
281
00:14:55,333 --> 00:15:00,566
♪♪
282
00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,633
{\an1}What we know, that the more
species there are
283
00:15:02,666 --> 00:15:05,666
{\an1}in an ecosystem, the more
stable and resilient it is.
284
00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:06,666
{\an1}[ Birds chirping ]
285
00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:10,533
[ Bird cawing ]
286
00:15:10,566 --> 00:15:13,333
{\an1}[ Creature whooping ]
287
00:15:13,366 --> 00:15:14,633
{\an1}-This ancient woodland
288
00:15:14,666 --> 00:15:19,566
is made up
of a great variety of trees
289
00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,233
{\an1}and an even greater
variety of fungi.
290
00:15:24,266 --> 00:15:26,533
-So, in the whole
Olavsoka forest,
291
00:15:26,566 --> 00:15:29,133
{\an1}it's estimated that it's about
292
00:15:29,166 --> 00:15:32,766
{\an1}between 4,000 and 5,000
of species of fungi.
293
00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,266
{\an7}And it is also said that it's
probably an underestimation.
294
00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,633
{\an7}It can be much more, but they
still haven't been discovered
295
00:15:38,666 --> 00:15:40,666
and there can be
many more species
296
00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:42,300
{\an1}that we don't know about.
297
00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:49,300
{\an1}-The diversity of fungi shows
this is a healthy forest.
298
00:15:49,333 --> 00:15:57,333
♪♪
299
00:15:58,733 --> 00:16:00,566
Another indicator
is the presence
300
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,400
of a very rare keystone species.
301
00:16:03,433 --> 00:16:04,400
♪♪
302
00:16:04,433 --> 00:16:05,533
-[ Snort ]
303
00:16:05,566 --> 00:16:08,766
[ Rumbling ]
304
00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,233
{\an1}-This is the last place
in Europe where European bison
305
00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:16,433
{\an1}can be seen roaming free
in the forest, in the fields.
306
00:16:16,466 --> 00:16:18,766
{\an1}[ Insects buzzing ]
307
00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,233
{\an1}And I think you can call it
a success story,
308
00:16:21,266 --> 00:16:23,500
{\an1}European bison disappeared
from this area.
309
00:16:23,533 --> 00:16:26,766
{\an1}The last one was shot
about 100 years ago.
310
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,666
{\an1}But people realized
that this is a problem
311
00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:33,233
{\an1}and they made efforts
to reintroduce the species.
312
00:16:33,266 --> 00:16:36,466
♪♪
313
00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:39,800
{\an8}So, now, we have
about 700 bisons
314
00:16:39,833 --> 00:16:41,733
{\an7}roaming the Olavsoka forest
315
00:16:41,766 --> 00:16:45,433
{\an7}and I think they have quite
a large role in the ecosystem.
316
00:16:45,466 --> 00:16:53,466
♪♪
317
00:16:55,266 --> 00:16:58,100
♪♪
318
00:16:58,133 --> 00:16:59,400
{\an1}-Bringing the bison back
319
00:16:59,433 --> 00:17:01,233
{\an1}has helped make the Olavsoka
320
00:17:01,266 --> 00:17:03,100
{\an1}as natural as possible.
321
00:17:03,133 --> 00:17:06,133
♪♪
322
00:17:06,166 --> 00:17:09,400
They spread seeds
over
long
distances
323
00:17:09,433 --> 00:17:11,466
{\an1}and maintain open spaces...
324
00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:14,066
♪♪
325
00:17:14,100 --> 00:17:17,633
{\an1}...creating a variety
of habitats for other species.
326
00:17:17,666 --> 00:17:21,500
♪♪
327
00:17:21,533 --> 00:17:24,400
{\an1}This is how biodiversity works.
328
00:17:24,433 --> 00:17:28,633
♪♪
329
00:17:28,666 --> 00:17:31,800
{\an1}-So, the more complex
a forest is,
330
00:17:31,833 --> 00:17:35,233
{\an1}the more resilient against
different changes it will be,
331
00:17:35,266 --> 00:17:37,700
against different
environmental pressures,
332
00:17:37,733 --> 00:17:40,700
{\an1}which is really important now,
in relation to climate change.
333
00:17:40,733 --> 00:17:43,166
Because, the more
complexity there is,
334
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,766
{\an1}it's easier to adapt
to new conditions
335
00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:47,333
{\an1}because, even if one species
336
00:17:47,366 --> 00:17:49,076
{\an1}with some particular function
in an ecosystem
337
00:17:49,100 --> 00:17:50,666
disappears
because of climate change,
338
00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:53,200
{\an1}there will be other species
that take over this function.
339
00:17:56,333 --> 00:18:01,133
{\an1}-This complexity gives the whole
ecosystem a natural buffer,
340
00:18:01,166 --> 00:18:04,800
{\an1}helping it to cope
with
any
disruption.
341
00:18:04,833 --> 00:18:08,266
{\an1}A forest like this is likely
to stay healthier.
342
00:18:10,366 --> 00:18:13,166
{\an1}-And natural forest
is not a stable forest.
343
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,466
{\an1}It's not that you always have,
let's say, 20% of spruce,
344
00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:19,700
{\an1}10% of pine, and 30% of oak.
345
00:18:19,733 --> 00:18:21,200
{\an1}It is changing with time.
346
00:18:21,233 --> 00:18:24,300
{\an1}It's a very long process,
but it's changing.
347
00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:26,266
{\an1}I think also that's why
it's quite important
348
00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:29,733
{\an1}to keep the forest like this,
as a place of research
349
00:18:29,766 --> 00:18:32,400
{\an1}where you actually can learn
how things work
350
00:18:32,433 --> 00:18:35,000
{\an1}and the different connections
between species.
351
00:18:35,033 --> 00:18:36,600
♪♪
352
00:18:36,633 --> 00:18:38,433
And I would say that this is why
353
00:18:38,466 --> 00:18:41,066
{\an1}biodiversity decline
is such a worrying thing,
354
00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:42,766
{\an1}because, if you have
less biodiversity,
355
00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,466
{\an1}the ecosystems will be simpler.
356
00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:48,300
{\an1}They will not be that complex,
as they should be,
357
00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:50,700
{\an1}to be able to withstand
358
00:18:50,733 --> 00:18:53,266
{\an1}different pressures,
like climate change.
359
00:18:53,300 --> 00:18:56,300
♪♪
360
00:18:56,333 --> 00:18:59,500
{\an1}We humans are realizing
that we have done
361
00:18:59,533 --> 00:19:04,433
{\an1}quite many bad things to nature
and we see our mistakes.
362
00:19:04,466 --> 00:19:07,133
{\an1}We also realize that nature
gives us so much
363
00:19:07,166 --> 00:19:09,233
{\an1}and can give even more
in the future
364
00:19:09,266 --> 00:19:13,600
{\an1}and I guess we'll definitely
learn from this,
365
00:19:13,633 --> 00:19:15,100
{\an1}learn from what we have done,
366
00:19:15,133 --> 00:19:18,333
{\an1}and so I look brightly
into the future,
367
00:19:18,366 --> 00:19:19,500
{\an1}[ Laughs ] I guess.
368
00:19:19,533 --> 00:19:25,233
♪♪
369
00:19:25,266 --> 00:19:27,500
-Nature
is one of our best allies
370
00:19:27,533 --> 00:19:29,633
in the fight
against climate change.
371
00:19:29,666 --> 00:19:32,800
♪♪
372
00:19:32,833 --> 00:19:35,133
{\an8}And scientists
are discovering new ways
373
00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:38,033
{\an7}of working with it
in our modern world.
374
00:19:38,066 --> 00:19:44,800
♪♪
375
00:19:44,833 --> 00:19:49,266
{\an1}Dr. Joanne Chory works at the
Salk Institute in California.
376
00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:52,733
{\an1}Her project genetically
modifies crop plants,
377
00:19:52,766 --> 00:19:56,300
{\an1}to see if they can store
more carbon.
378
00:19:56,333 --> 00:20:00,333
{\an1}-We're looking for the plants
to be better at three traits.
379
00:20:00,366 --> 00:20:02,733
{\an1}The three traits are...
Make more of this,
380
00:20:02,766 --> 00:20:06,800
{\an1}make more of a carbon storage
kind of molecule,
381
00:20:06,833 --> 00:20:09,033
{\an1}and that molecule's
called suberin.
382
00:20:09,066 --> 00:20:13,566
{\an1}The second is make plants
that have more root biomass.
383
00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,066
{\an1}And then, the third thing is
384
00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:17,466
{\an1}make the plants have
longer roots.
385
00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:19,266
{\an1}And that's because
we want the plant
386
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:24,233
{\an1}to bury that fixed carbon
into the ground for us.
387
00:20:24,266 --> 00:20:27,166
{\an8}♪♪
388
00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,800
{\an7}-Plants need carbon to grow.
389
00:20:29,833 --> 00:20:32,633
{\an7}They draw it from the atmosphere
during photosynthesis.
390
00:20:32,666 --> 00:20:40,533
♪♪
391
00:20:40,566 --> 00:20:43,533
{\an1}The roots take some
of that carbon underground,
392
00:20:43,566 --> 00:20:46,566
{\an7}where it remains for as long
as the soil is undisturbed.
393
00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,400
{\an8}♪♪
394
00:20:49,433 --> 00:20:51,666
{\an1}Dr. Chory's ambition is
to create crops
395
00:20:51,700 --> 00:20:54,566
{\an1}that will lock away
three times the carbon.
396
00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,300
♪♪
397
00:20:56,333 --> 00:21:00,000
{\an1}And around the world,
there's 4
billion
acres
398
00:21:00,033 --> 00:21:02,233
{\an1}of arable farmland
to plant them in.
399
00:21:02,266 --> 00:21:04,700
♪♪
400
00:21:04,733 --> 00:21:08,133
{\an1}-I think the main benefit
of our solution is that
401
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:11,100
it's gonna happen
in a time-frame
402
00:21:11,133 --> 00:21:12,733
{\an1}that will make a difference
403
00:21:12,766 --> 00:21:18,366
{\an1}as we try to relieve ourselves
of our carbon dependence.
404
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,166
{\an1}This work is so important
because we face
405
00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,533
{\an1}an existential threat
with climate change.
406
00:21:25,566 --> 00:21:30,100
♪♪
407
00:21:30,133 --> 00:21:32,166
{\an1}Our hope for this project
is that, you know,
408
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,166
{\an1}we can be part of the solution,
409
00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,533
{\an1}of the changes that are
happening in temperature,
410
00:21:37,566 --> 00:21:40,666
which are causing
all these climate extremes.
411
00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:42,633
{\an1}I don't know if there is
a right place
412
00:21:42,666 --> 00:21:45,700
{\an1}to find the answer
to problems of climate change.
413
00:21:45,733 --> 00:21:49,366
{\an1}All I think, though,
is that nature itself
414
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,600
{\an1}can play a big role
in this process.
415
00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:55,333
{\an1}But, in addition to that,
we need to get rid
416
00:21:55,366 --> 00:21:58,100
of our dependence
on fossil fuels
417
00:21:58,133 --> 00:22:02,333
{\an1}and so humans have to get back
into the equation.
418
00:22:02,366 --> 00:22:04,333
{\an1}We can't just say nature
can do it for us,
419
00:22:04,366 --> 00:22:06,533
while we sit back
and do nothing.
420
00:22:06,566 --> 00:22:08,300
{\an1}So I think, together,
421
00:22:08,333 --> 00:22:13,433
{\an1}humanity and nature
will solve the problem.
422
00:22:13,466 --> 00:22:17,266
{\an1}Whether or not I will see
my plants out in the field,
423
00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:20,566
{\an1}I can't say, you know,
because I'm 64 years old
424
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,600
{\an1}and I may or may not be around
425
00:22:22,633 --> 00:22:25,133
{\an1}when that will have
its big impact.
426
00:22:25,166 --> 00:22:26,776
{\an1}But that doesn't bother me,
that, you know,
427
00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,233
{\an1}I might not be there
for the impact.
428
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:31,633
{\an1}I just hope that, you know,
someone will carry it on.
429
00:22:31,666 --> 00:22:37,233
♪♪
430
00:22:37,266 --> 00:22:42,666
♪♪
431
00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:47,300
{\an1}-Fighting climate change
is a race against time.
432
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:48,666
{\an1}Nowhere is this clearer
433
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:51,666
{\an1}than in the Great Barrier Reef
of Australia.
434
00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:53,300
♪♪
435
00:22:53,333 --> 00:22:56,633
{\an1}It's the largest coral reef
in the world,
436
00:22:56,666 --> 00:23:02,433
{\an1}extending over 400 miles
along the Queensland coast,
437
00:23:02,466 --> 00:23:06,433
home to more than
3,000 individual reefs
438
00:23:06,466 --> 00:23:08,700
{\an1}and more than 600 islands.
439
00:23:08,733 --> 00:23:14,600
♪♪
440
00:23:14,633 --> 00:23:19,466
{\an1}Coral reefs cover less than 1%
of the planet's surface,
441
00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:22,200
yet, a quarter
of all ocean species
442
00:23:22,233 --> 00:23:24,466
depend on them
for food and shelter.
443
00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:29,700
♪♪
444
00:23:29,733 --> 00:23:32,800
{\an1}The whole reef is sustained
by an annual event
445
00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:36,066
{\an1}that scientists have been
studying for 40 years...
446
00:23:36,100 --> 00:23:38,766
♪♪
447
00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,066
{\an1}...the spawning of the coral.
448
00:23:41,100 --> 00:23:43,466
♪♪
449
00:23:46,766 --> 00:23:50,066
{\an1}-In 1981, I was workingwith
some friends and colleagues
450
00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:52,433
{\an1}and discovered something
quite extraordinary...
451
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:58,766
{\an1}...the mass coral spawning
on the Great Barrier Reef,
452
00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,733
{\an1}where many different types
of corals
453
00:24:00,766 --> 00:24:03,800
{\an1}and literally hundreds
of thousands of colonies
454
00:24:03,833 --> 00:24:06,633
{\an1}all spawn together
on just a few nights each year
455
00:24:06,666 --> 00:24:10,366
{\an1}after full Moon periods
in late spring or early summer.
456
00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,666
♪♪
457
00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:18,566
{\an1}Corals are incredibly
beautiful creatures.
458
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,033
{\an1}They have these amazing,
microscopic
459
00:24:22,066 --> 00:24:26,166
{\an1}architectural masterpiecesthat
they create, the skeletons,
460
00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,533
{\an1}and their tissues are
extraordinarily beautiful.
461
00:24:29,566 --> 00:24:35,766
♪♪
462
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,800
At present,
the Great Barrier Reef is
in trouble.
463
00:24:38,833 --> 00:24:40,466
{\an1}When corals become stressed
464
00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:43,033
{\an1}by high temperature
and high light,
465
00:24:43,066 --> 00:24:44,366
{\an1}this beautiful symbiosis
466
00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,666
{\an1}between the millions
of algae in their tissues
467
00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:49,666
{\an1}and the coral tissue itself
starts to break down.
468
00:24:49,700 --> 00:24:51,600
{\an1}As a result of that,
469
00:24:51,633 --> 00:24:53,600
they're expelled
from the coral tissue
470
00:24:53,633 --> 00:24:55,400
{\an1}and therefore the corals
turn white,
471
00:24:55,433 --> 00:24:57,800
{\an1}which is why it's called
coral bleaching.
472
00:24:57,833 --> 00:25:00,700
{\an1}The problem for corals is
that they, in many cases,
473
00:25:00,733 --> 00:25:03,033
{\an1}rely, to a very large extent,
474
00:25:03,066 --> 00:25:06,033
{\an1}on the energy that's
provided by those algae
475
00:25:06,066 --> 00:25:08,466
{\an1}and, when those algae are
nolonger present in their tissues,
476
00:25:08,500 --> 00:25:10,800
{\an1}they run out of energy
really quickly.
477
00:25:10,833 --> 00:25:14,166
{\an1}But if they don't reacquire
some of that energy,
478
00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,400
{\an1}then, the coral tissues start
to dissolve and the coral dies,
479
00:25:18,433 --> 00:25:21,100
{\an8}leaving a dead,
bare skeleton behind.
480
00:25:23,166 --> 00:25:25,200
{\an1}I'd seen one of the first
bleaching events
481
00:25:25,233 --> 00:25:27,700
{\an1}on the Great Barrier Reef
way back in 1982
482
00:25:27,733 --> 00:25:29,733
{\an1}and that was itself
a bit of a shock
483
00:25:29,766 --> 00:25:31,500
{\an1}and a bit of a wake-up call.
484
00:25:31,533 --> 00:25:35,633
{\an1}But the 2016 and 2017
marine heat waves were
485
00:25:35,666 --> 00:25:39,666
{\an1}at a scale and severity that
had not previously been seen.
486
00:25:39,700 --> 00:25:47,700
♪♪
487
00:25:48,033 --> 00:25:51,400
{\an1}-As the temperature
in the ocean continues to rise,
488
00:25:51,433 --> 00:25:53,133
{\an1}there is a real danger
489
00:25:53,166 --> 00:25:56,566
{\an1}that the Great Barrier Reef
could be lost forever.
490
00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:04,600
♪♪
491
00:26:05,733 --> 00:26:09,566
{\an1}In an effort to stop
these corals going extinct,
492
00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,800
{\an1}Peter is leading the
largest project of its kind.
493
00:26:12,833 --> 00:26:17,400
♪♪
494
00:26:17,433 --> 00:26:20,566
{\an1}-It's an idea that I first
had back in 1982.
495
00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,233
♪♪
496
00:26:23,266 --> 00:26:25,400
I was swimming
in a sea of sexual soup
497
00:26:25,433 --> 00:26:27,733
{\an1}after one of these
great spawning events.
498
00:26:27,766 --> 00:26:32,600
♪♪
499
00:26:32,633 --> 00:26:34,300
{\an1}And I was literally surrounded
500
00:26:34,333 --> 00:26:36,733
{\an1}by
millions
of eggs
and sperm in the water
501
00:26:36,766 --> 00:26:39,366
{\an1}and I was thinking,
"It must be possible
502
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:40,700
{\an1}to capture some of these,
503
00:26:40,733 --> 00:26:43,300
grow larvae,
and retain them on the reef,
504
00:26:43,333 --> 00:26:45,466
{\an1}rather than having them
disappear in currents."
505
00:26:45,500 --> 00:26:48,233
♪♪
506
00:26:48,266 --> 00:26:50,766
{\an1}And, if we could do that,
we could put them back
507
00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:52,233
{\an1}onto the damaged reef systems
508
00:26:52,266 --> 00:26:53,600
{\an1}and kick-start the recovery
509
00:26:53,633 --> 00:26:56,133
{\an1}of the coral communities.
510
00:26:56,166 --> 00:26:59,066
{\an1}The initial experiments
were done at small scale
511
00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:01,033
{\an1}on the highly degraded
reef systems.
512
00:27:01,066 --> 00:27:03,000
We've proven
that it can be effective
513
00:27:03,033 --> 00:27:05,433
{\an1}and we can rapidly restore
breeding populations
514
00:27:05,466 --> 00:27:07,200
{\an1}on these reef systems.
515
00:27:07,233 --> 00:27:11,166
{\an1}The challenge now is to take
what we know and scale it up.
516
00:27:14,666 --> 00:27:16,166
{\an7}Within the next few years,
517
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,100
{\an7}we have to be operating
at kilometer scales
518
00:27:19,133 --> 00:27:20,666
{\an7}if we're going to have an impact
519
00:27:20,700 --> 00:27:24,300
{\an1}and start to reverse
the decline of corals.
520
00:27:24,333 --> 00:27:26,133
♪♪
521
00:27:26,166 --> 00:27:29,500
{\an7}So we're in a race against time
to make this meaningful
522
00:27:29,533 --> 00:27:31,533
{\an1}and to try and protect
and preserve
523
00:27:31,566 --> 00:27:35,000
{\an1}as many corals as we can.
524
00:27:35,033 --> 00:27:38,066
{\an1}-With scientists like Peter
fighting for it,
525
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:41,200
{\an1}the Great Barrier Reef
still has a chance.
526
00:27:41,233 --> 00:27:43,733
♪♪
527
00:27:43,766 --> 00:27:48,666
But, in 2020,
it's bleaching again.
528
00:27:48,700 --> 00:27:50,700
{\an1}Our best hope of saving it
529
00:27:50,733 --> 00:27:55,066
{\an1}is if we can find ways
to slow climate change
530
00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:59,333
{\an1}by drawing down as much carbonas
possible from the atmosphere.
531
00:27:59,366 --> 00:28:01,600
{\an1}♪♪
532
00:28:01,633 --> 00:28:04,433
The reef itself
is not a carbon sink.
533
00:28:04,466 --> 00:28:06,666
♪♪
534
00:28:06,700 --> 00:28:09,000
{\an1}But right next to it,
535
00:28:09,033 --> 00:28:13,066
{\an1}there's an ecosystem that could
make a real difference.
536
00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:17,700
♪♪
537
00:28:20,166 --> 00:28:22,033
-So here we are
on the Great Barrier Reef
538
00:28:22,066 --> 00:28:24,200
{\an1}and we discovered,
about a decade ago,
539
00:28:24,233 --> 00:28:27,433
{\an1}that one of the world's largestsea
grass meadows is right here.
540
00:28:27,466 --> 00:28:30,300
{\an1}It's an area about the size
of Switzerland.
541
00:28:30,333 --> 00:28:31,733
{\an1}And we've started taking samples
542
00:28:31,766 --> 00:28:35,033
{\an1}to measure carbon sequestration
by this meadow.
543
00:28:35,066 --> 00:28:36,766
And we've learnt
that this meadow is
544
00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,133
storing
enormous
amounts of carbon.
545
00:28:39,166 --> 00:28:45,200
{\an1}We estimate it is storing
274 million tons.
546
00:28:45,233 --> 00:28:47,133
And, to put that
into perspective,
547
00:28:47,166 --> 00:28:50,200
{\an1}it is about equivalent
to the yearly emissions
548
00:28:50,233 --> 00:28:52,633
{\an1}of 200 million cars on the road.
549
00:28:52,666 --> 00:29:00,500
♪♪
550
00:29:00,533 --> 00:29:03,300
{\an1}-Sea grass meadows are found
in shallow water.
551
00:29:03,333 --> 00:29:05,300
♪♪
552
00:29:05,333 --> 00:29:09,133
{\an1}They, along with other
coastal ecosystems,
553
00:29:09,166 --> 00:29:10,766
{\an1}like tidal marshes...
554
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,533
♪♪
555
00:29:14,566 --> 00:29:16,433
{\an1}...and mangrove forests...
556
00:29:16,466 --> 00:29:21,666
♪♪
557
00:29:21,700 --> 00:29:25,033
{\an1}...all lock massive amounts
of carbon underwater.
558
00:29:25,066 --> 00:29:29,700
♪♪
559
00:29:29,733 --> 00:29:32,300
{\an1}This is known as blue carbon.
560
00:29:32,333 --> 00:29:38,533
♪♪
561
00:29:38,566 --> 00:29:41,800
-Yeah, blue carbon is definitely
one of the new heroes
562
00:29:41,833 --> 00:29:44,166
{\an1}in the climate change
mitigation scene.
563
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:46,000
{\an1}They're really seen
as like a new weapon
564
00:29:46,033 --> 00:29:48,533
{\an1}we've just discovered in the
fight against climate change.
565
00:29:48,566 --> 00:29:51,233
{\an1}And it's not just their ability
to sequester carbon
566
00:29:51,266 --> 00:29:53,133
and help mitigate
climate change.
567
00:29:53,166 --> 00:29:55,710
- {\an1}They provide these other,
amazing - co-benefits.
568
00:29:55,766 --> 00:29:58,200
{\an1}They really give a lot of bang
for our carbon buck
569
00:29:58,233 --> 00:30:00,800
{\an1}because, in addition
to the carbon sequestration,
570
00:30:00,833 --> 00:30:02,600
{\an1}they're protecting our coasts.
571
00:30:02,633 --> 00:30:04,576
{\an1}They can mean the difference
between life and death
572
00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,200
{\an1}in many parts of the world.
573
00:30:06,233 --> 00:30:08,766
{\an1}They support about half
the world's fisheries,
574
00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:12,100
{\an1}providing valuable
nutrition to people.
575
00:30:12,133 --> 00:30:14,700
{\an1}-Blue carbon could make
a huge difference.
576
00:30:16,833 --> 00:30:21,200
But, here, too,
nature is out of balance.
577
00:30:21,233 --> 00:30:23,400
{\an1}-Now, when there's
too many herbivores,
578
00:30:23,433 --> 00:30:25,700
{\an1}like turtles, in a landscape,
579
00:30:25,733 --> 00:30:29,200
they can destroy
sea grass meadows.
580
00:30:29,233 --> 00:30:31,766
{\an1}Whether or not turtles
are removing a lot of sea grass
581
00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:35,533
has been quite
a contentious issue.
582
00:30:35,566 --> 00:30:37,800
So we said,
"Well, let's test this out.
583
00:30:37,833 --> 00:30:40,000
{\an1}Let's put some cages out here,
584
00:30:40,033 --> 00:30:42,300
{\an1}to restrict the ability
of turtles
585
00:30:42,333 --> 00:30:44,433
{\an1}to eat the sea grass
and let's see what happens."
586
00:30:46,266 --> 00:30:49,666
{\an1}Sure enough, in areas where the
cages had been put in place,
587
00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:51,800
we started to see
that sea grass flourishing.
588
00:30:55,766 --> 00:30:58,266
{\an1}We've removed a lot of apex
predators from the oceans...
589
00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,733
{\an1}sharks, for example...
And what we've started to see
590
00:31:01,766 --> 00:31:04,400
{\an1}is that the sharks
and their removal
591
00:31:04,433 --> 00:31:06,466
can affect even
the sea grass meadows.
592
00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:08,342
{\an1}For example, out here
in the Great Barrier Reef,
593
00:31:08,366 --> 00:31:11,733
{\an1}we've shown that removal of the
sharks affects turtle behavior.
594
00:31:13,733 --> 00:31:18,066
{\an1}There's been about a 75% to 90%
loss of sharks in this area.
595
00:31:19,266 --> 00:31:23,400
[ Squawking ]
596
00:31:27,333 --> 00:31:28,476
One of the things that amazes me
597
00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:30,800
{\an1}bout these apex predators is
598
00:31:30,833 --> 00:31:32,700
{\an1}they're not eating
many turtles...
599
00:31:32,733 --> 00:31:34,233
[ Squawking ]
600
00:31:34,266 --> 00:31:36,566
but they have remarkable ability
601
00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,333
{\an1}to affect the
behavior
of turtles
602
00:31:39,366 --> 00:31:41,733
{\an1}and other organisms,
through fear.
603
00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:44,066
{\an1}It's called the ecology of fear.
604
00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,400
{\an1}Through fear, they affect
how much turtles breed,
605
00:31:47,433 --> 00:31:49,800
{\an1}where they forage,
where they move around.
606
00:31:51,666 --> 00:31:54,266
{\an1}And so we're studying
the possibility
607
00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:56,266
{\an1}of rewilding our oceans
and bringing back
608
00:31:56,300 --> 00:32:00,166
{\an1}that natural food web,
with apex predators at the top,
609
00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,433
{\an1}turtles in healthy balance,
and sea grass meadows thriving.
610
00:32:05,433 --> 00:32:13,133
♪♪
611
00:32:13,166 --> 00:32:16,466
{\an1}I think we're learning
that blue carbon ecosystems
612
00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:19,400
are a form
of life support for us.
613
00:32:19,433 --> 00:32:20,733
{\an1}We depend on nature.
614
00:32:20,766 --> 00:32:23,100
{\an1}We depend on these
blue carbon ecosystems
615
00:32:23,133 --> 00:32:27,200
{\an1}and, now, these blue carbon
ecosystems are depending on us.
616
00:32:27,233 --> 00:32:28,473
{\an1}So we've got a lotta work to do
617
00:32:28,500 --> 00:32:30,133
{\an1}to try and protect them
going forward.
618
00:32:30,166 --> 00:32:37,233
♪♪
619
00:32:37,266 --> 00:32:44,266
♪♪
620
00:32:44,300 --> 00:32:47,200
{\an1}-Even the very smallest plants,
621
00:32:47,233 --> 00:32:49,533
{\an1}microscopic phytoplankton,
622
00:32:49,566 --> 00:32:52,333
{\an1}can lock up carbon
through photosynthesis.
623
00:32:52,366 --> 00:32:55,033
♪♪
624
00:32:55,066 --> 00:32:59,266
{\an1}In Antarctica, under 24 hours
of daylight in summer,
625
00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:01,266
{\an1}they turn the water green.
626
00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:05,100
♪♪
627
00:33:05,133 --> 00:33:09,400
When they bloom,
it can be seen from space.
628
00:33:09,433 --> 00:33:17,233
♪♪
629
00:33:17,266 --> 00:33:21,800
♪♪
630
00:33:21,833 --> 00:33:23,466
{\an1}[ Wind whistling ]
631
00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:26,633
{\an1}These phytoplankton areat
the bottom of the food chain.
632
00:33:28,566 --> 00:33:30,333
{\an1}They feed krill,
633
00:33:30,366 --> 00:33:33,366
{\an1}one of the most important
animals on the planet.
634
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,666
♪♪
635
00:33:36,700 --> 00:33:40,666
They, too,
can live in vast shoals,
636
00:33:40,700 --> 00:33:43,633
{\an1}supporting a
huge
web
of marine life.
637
00:33:43,666 --> 00:33:47,566
♪♪
638
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,566
[ Squawking ]
639
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:52,133
♪♪
640
00:33:52,166 --> 00:33:54,333
[ Groans ]
641
00:33:54,366 --> 00:33:57,333
[ Trilling ]
642
00:33:57,366 --> 00:34:01,400
[ Chattering ]
643
00:34:01,433 --> 00:34:03,233
- [ Growl ]
- [ Squeak ]
644
00:34:03,266 --> 00:34:11,266
♪♪
645
00:34:13,266 --> 00:34:15,333
♪♪
646
00:34:15,366 --> 00:34:18,033
These whales are
consuming the krill.
647
00:34:18,066 --> 00:34:19,533
♪♪
648
00:34:19,566 --> 00:34:22,666
But they're also
sustaining them.
649
00:34:22,700 --> 00:34:25,533
{\an1}Their feces provide
essential nutrients,
650
00:34:25,566 --> 00:34:28,433
like nitrogen,
phosphorus, and iron,
651
00:34:28,466 --> 00:34:30,300
{\an1}that feed the phytoplankton.
652
00:34:34,700 --> 00:34:37,200
{\an1}And the circle of life
begins again.
653
00:34:43,533 --> 00:34:46,433
{\an1}These humpback whales
are a good-news story.
654
00:34:50,166 --> 00:34:54,333
{\an1}Whaling had taken almost
95% of their population.
655
00:34:59,833 --> 00:35:03,833
{\an1}But, with protection,
they're making a comeback.
656
00:35:14,500 --> 00:35:16,800
[ Rumbling ]
657
00:35:22,133 --> 00:35:25,533
{\an1}The more whales there are,
658
00:35:25,566 --> 00:35:27,300
{\an1}the more phytoplankton
there will be.
659
00:35:32,466 --> 00:35:36,100
{\an1}To help the great whales
of the ocean recover further,
660
00:35:36,133 --> 00:35:38,600
it's important
to protect their home.
661
00:35:42,033 --> 00:35:45,766
{\an1}-I've been coming to Antarctica
for the last 15 years and,
662
00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:47,600
{\an1}ever since my first
trip here, I've felt
663
00:35:47,633 --> 00:35:50,533
{\an1}such a visceral compulsion
to protect this place.
664
00:35:53,133 --> 00:35:54,666
{\an1}It's such an extreme
environment,
665
00:35:54,700 --> 00:35:58,300
{\an1}but it's incredibly beautiful
666
00:35:58,333 --> 00:36:00,333
{\an1}and no place I'd ever been
667
00:36:00,366 --> 00:36:03,700
had made me feel
so tiny and insignificant.
668
00:36:05,100 --> 00:36:09,100
{\an1}-The need to protect the
Southern Ocean seems obvious.
669
00:36:09,133 --> 00:36:12,800
{\an1}The political will to do so
is complicated.
670
00:36:12,833 --> 00:36:15,666
{\an1}-Antarctica is a global commons.
671
00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:17,433
{\an1}It simultaneously belongs
672
00:36:17,466 --> 00:36:20,200
{\an1}to no one and everyone
at the same time.
673
00:36:20,233 --> 00:36:24,066
{\an1}There are no states that have
sovereignty over Antarctica
674
00:36:24,100 --> 00:36:26,233
and so it becomes
a global responsibility
675
00:36:26,266 --> 00:36:28,466
to come together
to protect this place.
676
00:36:30,133 --> 00:36:31,466
{\an1}-The Ross Sea lies
677
00:36:31,500 --> 00:36:34,133
{\an1}in the southwest corner
of Antarctica
678
00:36:34,166 --> 00:36:37,400
{\an1}and it has the largest
ice shelf in the world.
679
00:36:37,433 --> 00:36:42,066
[ Chattering ]
680
00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,366
{\an1}Adélie penguins are one
of 16,000 species
681
00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:46,500
{\an1}thought to live here.
682
00:36:48,733 --> 00:36:52,633
{\an1}-The Ross Sea, in particular,
has been deemed to be
683
00:36:52,666 --> 00:36:55,166
perhaps the last
intact marine ecosystem
684
00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:57,166
we have left in the whole world.
685
00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:58,666
[ Squawking ]
686
00:36:58,700 --> 00:37:01,533
-If protected,
it would be a sanctuary...
687
00:37:01,566 --> 00:37:03,333
[ Rumbling ]
688
00:37:03,366 --> 00:37:05,600
{\an1}...a place where animals
can breed safely
689
00:37:05,633 --> 00:37:07,066
{\an1}and then disperse...
690
00:37:09,666 --> 00:37:12,700
{\an1}...replenishing the wider ocean.
691
00:37:12,733 --> 00:37:15,000
-And,
over the course of 10 years,
692
00:37:15,033 --> 00:37:16,733
a marine protected area proposal
693
00:37:16,766 --> 00:37:19,000
was formulated
and came to the table
694
00:37:19,033 --> 00:37:22,400
and, after many years of intense
political negotiations,
695
00:37:22,433 --> 00:37:24,800
{\an1}the protected area
was adopted in 2016
696
00:37:24,833 --> 00:37:27,066
{\an1}and I'll never forget
that feeling in the room.
697
00:37:27,100 --> 00:37:29,533
In the moment
when we came to consensus
698
00:37:29,566 --> 00:37:32,100
{\an1}and the Ross Sea Marine
Protected Area was adopted,
699
00:37:32,133 --> 00:37:35,166
{\an1}the entire room exploded
in applause.
700
00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:37,533
{\an1}My husband and I were
in the room during that moment
701
00:37:37,566 --> 00:37:40,566
{\an1}and it was one of the most
amazing moments of our life.
702
00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,033
{\an1}[ Groan, rumbling ]
703
00:37:43,066 --> 00:37:45,633
♪♪
704
00:37:45,666 --> 00:37:50,033
[ Squawking ]
705
00:37:50,066 --> 00:37:56,733
♪♪
706
00:37:56,766 --> 00:38:01,800
{\an1}We know that marine protected
areas can conserve biodiversity
707
00:38:01,833 --> 00:38:03,333
{\an8}and they're more
important than ever
708
00:38:03,366 --> 00:38:05,266
{\an7}because, in the face
of climate change,
709
00:38:05,300 --> 00:38:06,766
they may be one
of the only things
710
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:09,633
{\an1}that can provide resilience
to our system.
711
00:38:09,666 --> 00:38:12,666
{\an1}Our system is undergoing
incredible stress
712
00:38:12,700 --> 00:38:15,633
{\an1}and it's one thing
that we can help with,
713
00:38:15,666 --> 00:38:18,133
{\an1}is set aside areas
that we know are important,
714
00:38:18,166 --> 00:38:19,400
{\an1}that we know are vulnerable,
715
00:38:19,433 --> 00:38:21,800
{\an1}and give them a chance
to be resilient
716
00:38:21,833 --> 00:38:23,366
{\an1}in the face of climate change.
717
00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:28,800
♪♪
718
00:38:28,833 --> 00:38:31,700
- [ Trilling ]
- [ Cheeping ]
719
00:38:31,733 --> 00:38:36,500
♪♪
720
00:38:36,533 --> 00:38:39,033
-The Ross Sea
protected area shows
721
00:38:39,066 --> 00:38:41,600
that we
can
successfully cooperate
722
00:38:41,633 --> 00:38:45,300
{\an1}on global environmental issues,
723
00:38:45,333 --> 00:38:47,300
{\an7}putting nature first.
724
00:38:47,333 --> 00:38:49,100
{\an8}♪♪
725
00:38:49,133 --> 00:38:51,166
{\an7}There are now plans to protect
726
00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:55,700
{\an7}30% of the world's
oceans by 2030.
727
00:38:55,733 --> 00:39:03,400
♪♪
728
00:39:03,433 --> 00:39:05,600
{\an1}But there are landscapes
on Earth
729
00:39:05,633 --> 00:39:10,166
{\an1}that have suffered almost
a century of human destruction.
730
00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,433
{\an1}[ Flames crackling ]
731
00:39:12,466 --> 00:39:15,300
Every year,
fires burn out of control
732
00:39:15,333 --> 00:39:17,233
{\an1}across the island of Borneo.
733
00:39:17,266 --> 00:39:20,200
♪♪
734
00:39:20,233 --> 00:39:25,266
{\an1}In 2019, the blazes were
as bad as ever,
735
00:39:25,300 --> 00:39:28,133
putting farmers
in a desperate situation.
736
00:39:28,166 --> 00:39:36,166
♪♪
737
00:39:37,266 --> 00:39:42,766
♪♪
738
00:39:55,533 --> 00:39:57,233
{\an1}The fires are typically lit
739
00:39:57,266 --> 00:40:00,533
to clear land
for commercial plantations,
740
00:40:00,566 --> 00:40:05,600
{\an1}but, once burning, they
arealmost impossible to extinguish.
741
00:40:05,633 --> 00:40:09,166
{\an1}This has consequences
for the whole planet
742
00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,566
{\an1}because it's not just
the vegetation that's on fire.
743
00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,033
{\an1}It's also the ground beneath it.
744
00:40:15,066 --> 00:40:16,600
♪♪
745
00:40:16,633 --> 00:40:20,033
{\an1}[ Birds chirping ]
746
00:40:20,066 --> 00:40:25,633
♪♪
747
00:40:25,666 --> 00:40:29,600
{\an1}This is how forests should be...
748
00:40:29,633 --> 00:40:32,533
{\an1}lush, wet, tropical jungle.
749
00:40:32,566 --> 00:40:40,566
♪♪
750
00:40:41,266 --> 00:40:47,733
♪♪
751
00:40:47,766 --> 00:40:49,333
{\an1}Taryono is a scientist
752
00:40:49,366 --> 00:40:52,666
who works at the
Katingan Mentaya project,
753
00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:55,166
studying the soil
beneath the trees.
754
00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:57,266
♪♪
755
00:40:57,300 --> 00:41:01,433
{\an1}It's this soil that has
huge
significance for the climate.
756
00:41:01,466 --> 00:41:03,300
It's called peat.
757
00:41:17,633 --> 00:41:19,166
-[ Grunts ]
758
00:41:40,766 --> 00:41:43,666
{\an1}-Peat is an unusual
kind of soil,
759
00:41:43,700 --> 00:41:46,033
which only forms
in wet conditions.
760
00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:52,766
{\an1}The water slows the
decomposition of plant matter.
761
00:41:54,366 --> 00:41:57,233
{\an1}That's what makes it
such a good carbon sink.
762
00:42:04,733 --> 00:42:08,133
{\an1}But these wet forests
are being drained
763
00:42:08,166 --> 00:42:11,533
{\an1}by canals that were made by the
logging industry for transport.
764
00:42:15,166 --> 00:42:18,400
{\an1}[ Creatures croaking ]
765
00:42:18,433 --> 00:42:23,700
{\an1}Although logging is now illegal,
the waterways are still here...
766
00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:27,666
{\an1}[ Creature calling ]
767
00:42:27,700 --> 00:42:30,166
{\an1}...slowly drying out the peat...
768
00:42:33,066 --> 00:42:34,733
{\an1}...making it vulnerable to fire.
769
00:42:41,133 --> 00:42:45,166
{\an7}There is so much carbon
locked up within the peat,
770
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:49,166
{\an7}when it burns, it escapes
into the atmosphere.
771
00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:51,266
[ Wind whipping ]
772
00:42:51,300 --> 00:42:55,766
{\an1}The Borneo fires of 2015
released more carbon
773
00:42:55,800 --> 00:43:00,000
{\an1}than all of North America's
industry that same year.
774
00:43:00,033 --> 00:43:02,733
{\an1}[ Flames crackling ]
775
00:43:02,766 --> 00:43:06,633
{\an1}Destroying nature is
directly
contributing to climate change.
776
00:43:08,500 --> 00:43:11,433
{\an1}Protecting these peat forests
will help slow it down.
777
00:43:16,300 --> 00:43:21,366
{\an1}And that protection is coming
from an unlikely place.
778
00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:24,766
{\an1}Companies that want to offset
their carbon emissions
779
00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:27,033
{\an1}can buy carbon credits
780
00:43:27,066 --> 00:43:30,500
{\an1}from projects that restore
and protect rainforests.
781
00:43:31,533 --> 00:43:32,600
{\an8}[ Horn honks ]
782
00:43:34,266 --> 00:43:38,800
{\an7}We are the project developers
of Katingan Mentaya project.
783
00:43:38,833 --> 00:43:41,566
{\an1}It's the largest forestry
carbon credit project
784
00:43:41,600 --> 00:43:43,466
{\an1}in the world registered today.
785
00:43:43,500 --> 00:43:45,033
♪♪
786
00:43:45,066 --> 00:43:48,566
So, when I started this in 2007,
787
00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:50,766
{\an1}I was actually on the brink
788
00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,700
{\an1}to go into palm oil
or to go to this project.
789
00:43:54,733 --> 00:44:02,733
♪♪
790
00:44:04,433 --> 00:44:07,400
{\an1}And, you know, now,
here we are, 12 years later.
791
00:44:07,433 --> 00:44:08,709
{\an1}We are the largest project
in the world,
792
00:44:08,733 --> 00:44:09,809
{\an1}so I think it's sort of like
793
00:44:09,833 --> 00:44:12,100
a dream-come-true
scenario for us.
794
00:44:12,133 --> 00:44:17,100
♪♪
795
00:44:17,133 --> 00:44:19,166
{\an1}-Dharsono's carbon
credit project
796
00:44:19,200 --> 00:44:21,233
protects an area
of peatland forest
797
00:44:21,266 --> 00:44:23,666
{\an1}almost twice the size
of New York City.
798
00:44:23,700 --> 00:44:31,700
♪♪
799
00:44:33,100 --> 00:44:36,300
{\an1}Businesses across the world
pay to look after nature,
800
00:44:36,333 --> 00:44:38,733
{\an1}in order to offset
their carbon footprint.
801
00:44:38,766 --> 00:44:42,233
♪♪
802
00:44:42,266 --> 00:44:45,400
{\an1}As well as protecting
the forest that's left,
803
00:44:45,433 --> 00:44:49,033
{\an1}they are planning to block the
drains and re-wet the peat...
804
00:44:49,066 --> 00:44:50,500
♪♪
805
00:44:50,533 --> 00:44:53,500
{\an1}...starting the long process
of restoration.
806
00:44:53,533 --> 00:45:00,366
♪♪
807
00:45:07,466 --> 00:45:13,300
{\an1}Peatlands only cover 3%
of the land on Earth,
808
00:45:13,333 --> 00:45:18,433
{\an1}but they absorb twice the carbon
as all the world's forests,
809
00:45:18,466 --> 00:45:21,733
{\an1}which are 10 times the size.
810
00:45:21,766 --> 00:45:26,066
♪♪
811
00:45:26,100 --> 00:45:30,733
{\an1}Not only is this peatland
forest a vital carbon sink,
812
00:45:30,766 --> 00:45:32,133
it is also home
813
00:45:32,166 --> 00:45:34,266
{\an1}to an extraordinary
biodiversity...
814
00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:36,466
♪♪
815
00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:38,800
{\an1}...including critically
endangered species,
816
00:45:38,833 --> 00:45:40,233
like orangutans.
817
00:45:40,266 --> 00:45:48,266
♪♪
818
00:45:50,266 --> 00:45:58,266
♪♪
819
00:45:58,333 --> 00:45:59,800
{\an1}For these peatland forests
820
00:45:59,833 --> 00:46:02,633
{\an1}to absorb carbon again
on a large scale,
821
00:46:02,666 --> 00:46:05,600
a
huge
amount
of restoration is needed.
822
00:46:05,633 --> 00:46:10,300
♪♪
823
00:46:10,333 --> 00:46:12,300
{\an1}Awareness is growing
824
00:46:12,333 --> 00:46:14,233
and there's
a grassroots movement
825
00:46:14,266 --> 00:46:17,366
{\an1}that's crucial to the future
of Borneo's forests.
826
00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:21,333
♪♪
827
00:46:21,366 --> 00:46:24,166
The first time
I experienced the fires
828
00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:26,133
is 23 years ago.
829
00:46:26,166 --> 00:46:28,733
It was when I was
five years old.
830
00:46:28,766 --> 00:46:31,200
But, at the time,
I didn't realize
831
00:46:31,233 --> 00:46:34,666
{\an1}that it was something
that should not be accepted.
832
00:46:34,700 --> 00:46:36,166
{\an1}[ Speaking foreign language ]
833
00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:38,266
{\an1}I believe in the power
of the youth.
834
00:46:38,300 --> 00:46:39,433
{\an1}I believe in youth power.
835
00:46:39,466 --> 00:46:41,800
{\an1}I believe in the power of unity
836
00:46:41,833 --> 00:46:43,733
{\an1}to stop the forest fires now
837
00:46:43,766 --> 00:46:48,033
{\an1}and to protect what is
left now in Kalimantan.
838
00:46:48,066 --> 00:46:49,566
{\an1}Climate emergency.
839
00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:54,066
I was born here
and it's not okay
840
00:46:54,100 --> 00:46:55,533
{\an1}to see your own home burning.
841
00:46:55,566 --> 00:46:58,266
{\an1}It's not okay to see
your own home being destroyed.
842
00:46:58,300 --> 00:47:06,300
♪♪
843
00:47:06,700 --> 00:47:10,133
{\an1}-Emmanuela Shinta works closely
with local youth groups
844
00:47:10,166 --> 00:47:12,300
{\an1}to promote indigenous rights.
845
00:47:14,233 --> 00:47:16,433
{\an1}Together, they begin
the long journey
846
00:47:16,466 --> 00:47:18,766
{\an1}to restore the forest
they have lost.
847
00:47:23,366 --> 00:47:25,800
{\an1}She sees the people
of Kalimantan
848
00:47:25,833 --> 00:47:29,100
{\an1}as the guardians of the forest.
849
00:47:29,133 --> 00:47:31,510
- {\an1}They
- are the people to protect it.
850
00:47:33,733 --> 00:47:36,366
{\an1}-What we see in the news,
it's always
851
00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:38,433
{\an1}[ Speaking foreign language ]
852
00:47:38,466 --> 00:47:40,066
money,
853
00:47:40,100 --> 00:47:41,766
dollars.
854
00:47:41,800 --> 00:47:43,600
{\an1}It's really annoying, actually,
855
00:47:43,633 --> 00:47:45,166
and, for me,
it's really emotional
856
00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:50,533
{\an1}because you have to see
forest more than that.
857
00:47:50,566 --> 00:47:54,466
♪♪
858
00:47:54,500 --> 00:47:59,800
{\an1}Take the strength to continue
walking and make a change.
859
00:47:59,833 --> 00:48:01,700
I think that's
the only way you can live.
860
00:48:01,733 --> 00:48:05,500
♪♪
861
00:48:05,533 --> 00:48:09,266
{\an1}-Our natural ecosystems
not only absorb carbon.
862
00:48:09,300 --> 00:48:10,400
♪♪
863
00:48:10,433 --> 00:48:13,200
We depend on them
for everything.
864
00:48:13,233 --> 00:48:15,533
♪♪
865
00:48:15,566 --> 00:48:18,366
{\an1}Protecting them is essential.
866
00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:22,733
♪♪
867
00:48:22,766 --> 00:48:25,000
{\an1}In Belize, in Central America,
868
00:48:25,033 --> 00:48:27,700
{\an1}the second-largest
barrier reef in the world
869
00:48:27,733 --> 00:48:30,233
was under
threat
from the oil industry.
870
00:48:30,266 --> 00:48:35,166
♪♪
871
00:48:35,200 --> 00:48:38,566
[ Explosion ]
872
00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:40,566
In 2016,
873
00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:44,533
{\an1}seismic survey shipswere
spotted just off the coast.
874
00:48:44,566 --> 00:48:46,600
{\an1}[ Explosion ]
875
00:48:46,633 --> 00:48:50,733
♪♪
876
00:48:50,766 --> 00:48:53,200
In their search for gas and oil,
877
00:48:53,233 --> 00:48:57,533
{\an1}they release explosions
that penetrate the seabed.
878
00:48:57,566 --> 00:49:00,300
These sounds
disrupt life underwater
879
00:49:00,333 --> 00:49:03,466
{\an1}and can deafen marine animals,
880
00:49:03,500 --> 00:49:06,433
{\an1}-You don't kill the goose
that lays the golden egg.
881
00:49:06,466 --> 00:49:08,400
{\an1}I'm a third-generation
fishing guide
882
00:49:08,433 --> 00:49:11,166
{\an1}and this only came
because of sustainable fishing,
883
00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:13,033
{\an1}responsible fishing,
catch and release,
884
00:49:13,066 --> 00:49:16,033
things like this,
where we protect what we have.
885
00:49:16,066 --> 00:49:17,700
{\an1}Drilling in that reef
is the same thing.
886
00:49:17,733 --> 00:49:19,733
We don't...
There's no benefit to it.
887
00:49:19,766 --> 00:49:21,466
{\an1}It's not even about me.
888
00:49:21,500 --> 00:49:24,266
{\an1}It's about the next guy
that wants to fish after me,
889
00:49:24,300 --> 00:49:27,266
{\an1}or his son or his grandson,
you know.
890
00:49:27,300 --> 00:49:29,666
{\an1}It's the bigger picture.
891
00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:31,500
One spill,
and it's stuck on the reef
892
00:49:31,533 --> 00:49:33,733
{\an1}and let's say goodbye
to the second-largest
893
00:49:33,766 --> 00:49:36,600
{\an1}barrier reef in the world.
894
00:49:36,633 --> 00:49:39,266
-With the threat
of drilling looming,
895
00:49:39,300 --> 00:49:42,366
{\an1}11-year-old Madison Edwards
joined the movement.
896
00:49:44,333 --> 00:49:47,166
-We depend on the
Belize Barrier Reef so greatly.
897
00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:51,000
{\an1}We depend on it for food,
for tourism.
898
00:49:51,033 --> 00:49:54,100
We depend on it
for everything, really.
899
00:49:54,133 --> 00:49:56,266
♪♪
900
00:49:56,300 --> 00:49:57,800
-Madi. [ Laughs ]
901
00:49:57,833 --> 00:50:00,166
{\an1}Madi's my little hero.
902
00:50:00,200 --> 00:50:02,700
{\an1}I look at Madi and I say,
903
00:50:02,733 --> 00:50:04,733
"I wish that,
when I was her age,
904
00:50:04,766 --> 00:50:06,766
I would've had
the courage she has."
905
00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:08,333
♪♪
906
00:50:08,366 --> 00:50:11,733
{\an1}-Inspired by the uprising
around her,
907
00:50:11,766 --> 00:50:14,733
Madison began
a social media campaign.
908
00:50:14,766 --> 00:50:17,066
♪♪
909
00:50:17,100 --> 00:50:20,433
{\an1}-When they were fighting
to stop the offshore drilling
910
00:50:20,466 --> 00:50:22,766
{\an1}and the seismic ship
was out there
911
00:50:22,800 --> 00:50:24,742
{\an1}and a lot of people, I think,
were asking questions
912
00:50:24,766 --> 00:50:28,333
{\an1}and people were not sure what it
is that they were protecting,
913
00:50:28,366 --> 00:50:31,433
Madi, her family,
jumped in a sailboat
914
00:50:31,466 --> 00:50:33,176
and they sailed
the entire length of the reef
915
00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:34,700
{\an1}in front of Belize.
916
00:50:34,733 --> 00:50:37,433
♪♪
917
00:50:37,466 --> 00:50:39,100
{\an1}-I went on a reef swim
918
00:50:39,133 --> 00:50:42,100
{\an1}from north to south
of the Belize Barrier Reef
919
00:50:42,133 --> 00:50:46,666
{\an1}and we did this to spread
awareness and it really worked.
920
00:50:46,700 --> 00:50:48,733
{\an1}People really paid attention
921
00:50:48,766 --> 00:50:51,200
and they realized
how important the reef was.
922
00:50:51,233 --> 00:50:53,566
♪♪
923
00:50:53,600 --> 00:50:56,300
{\an1}-Everybody knew who Madi was.
924
00:50:56,333 --> 00:50:57,700
{\an1}Not just they knew who Madi was.
925
00:50:57,733 --> 00:51:00,000
{\an1}They were listening to Madi.
926
00:51:00,033 --> 00:51:01,700
{\an1}They were listening
to what she was saying
927
00:51:01,733 --> 00:51:03,433
and I think
that's the big thing.
928
00:51:03,466 --> 00:51:06,233
{\an1}She's given people
some courage to say,
929
00:51:06,266 --> 00:51:09,000
{\an1}"If Madi can stand up
to Big Oil,
930
00:51:09,033 --> 00:51:11,133
then we all need
to stand up behind her.
931
00:51:11,166 --> 00:51:14,500
-[ Chanting ]
932
00:51:14,533 --> 00:51:16,600
{\an1}-It made a big difference
into how much pressure
933
00:51:16,633 --> 00:51:18,233
{\an1}was then put on the government.
934
00:51:18,266 --> 00:51:19,466
{\an1}People signed the petitions.
935
00:51:19,500 --> 00:51:20,666
{\an1}She made a big impact
936
00:51:20,700 --> 00:51:23,533
{\an1}on getting that offshore
drilling stopped.
937
00:51:23,566 --> 00:51:26,600
♪♪
938
00:51:26,633 --> 00:51:29,200
-In late 2017,
939
00:51:29,233 --> 00:51:33,466
{\an1}Belize officially ended
oil activity in its waters.
940
00:51:33,500 --> 00:51:35,600
{\an7}-I think that people
of the world
941
00:51:35,633 --> 00:51:37,633
{\an7}should really look up
to the people in Belize.
942
00:51:37,666 --> 00:51:41,033
{\an7}They fight for something
that they really believe in
943
00:51:41,066 --> 00:51:42,300
{\an7}and something that they love
944
00:51:42,333 --> 00:51:44,066
{\an7}and, if the entire world
does that,
945
00:51:44,100 --> 00:51:46,800
{\an7}then, we have a really
bright future ahead of us.
946
00:51:48,266 --> 00:51:51,633
♪♪
947
00:51:51,666 --> 00:51:53,333
{\an1}-This is a moment where,
you know,
948
00:51:53,366 --> 00:51:57,200
{\an1}the truth had to come out
and the action has to be taken.
949
00:51:57,233 --> 00:51:58,600
I'm quite hopeful
950
00:51:58,633 --> 00:52:00,409
{\an1}the world is actually moving
to a better place.
951
00:52:00,433 --> 00:52:03,533
{\an1}I think we are smart enough,
humanity is smart enough,
952
00:52:03,566 --> 00:52:06,200
to figure out
if we want to do it.
953
00:52:06,233 --> 00:52:08,466
♪♪
954
00:52:08,500 --> 00:52:12,533
-With the
massive
energy that we
have behind the climate crisis,
955
00:52:12,566 --> 00:52:15,800
{\an1}I honestly think that it's
possible to stop this thing,
956
00:52:15,833 --> 00:52:19,200
{\an1}if we all get behind
these powerful solutions.
957
00:52:19,233 --> 00:52:21,600
{\an1}Even if you've only got
a tiny little garden,
958
00:52:21,633 --> 00:52:24,433
{\an1}just think, "Is there space
for nature on your land?"
959
00:52:24,466 --> 00:52:27,566
{\an1}Every little helps,
if we all pull together.
960
00:52:27,600 --> 00:52:30,333
{\an1}-We are not powerless.
961
00:52:30,366 --> 00:52:31,809
{\an1}I think this is the message
that's sort of
962
00:52:31,833 --> 00:52:33,433
{\an1}very, very important.
963
00:52:33,466 --> 00:52:35,166
{\an1}We are not powerless.
964
00:52:35,200 --> 00:52:37,700
{\an1}We showed the world
this is what we can do.
965
00:52:37,733 --> 00:52:45,133
♪♪
966
00:52:45,166 --> 00:52:48,000
{\an1}-Nature is a finely
tuned system.
967
00:52:48,033 --> 00:52:52,100
♪♪
968
00:52:52,133 --> 00:52:56,166
{\an1}When we upset the balance,
the consequences can be severe.
969
00:52:56,200 --> 00:53:03,233
♪♪
970
00:53:03,266 --> 00:53:06,466
♪♪
971
00:53:06,500 --> 00:53:09,266
{\an7}Events like the COVID pandemic
972
00:53:09,300 --> 00:53:13,166
{\an7}can show us just how
vulnerable humanity really is.
973
00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:21,200
♪♪
974
00:53:22,700 --> 00:53:25,000
{\an1}Now, more than ever,
975
00:53:25,033 --> 00:53:28,500
{\an1}we need to give nature
space and protection.
976
00:53:28,533 --> 00:53:31,400
♪♪
977
00:53:31,433 --> 00:53:35,066
{\an1}What it does for us
has never been clearer.
978
00:53:35,100 --> 00:53:40,000
♪♪
979
00:53:40,033 --> 00:53:45,733
{\an1}What we can do for nature
is our next challenge.
980
00:53:45,766 --> 00:53:52,366
♪♪
981
00:53:52,400 --> 00:53:54,600
{\an1}A global movement is happening.
982
00:53:54,633 --> 00:53:56,433
-[ Chanting ]
983
00:53:56,466 --> 00:53:58,700
{\an1}-People are calling for change.
984
00:53:58,733 --> 00:54:01,333
♪♪
985
00:54:01,366 --> 00:54:05,066
{\an1}This is the age of nature.
986
00:54:10,533 --> 00:54:13,133
{\an8}♪♪
987
00:54:13,166 --> 00:54:16,000
{\an8}-To order
"The Age of Nature" on DVD,
988
00:54:16,033 --> 00:54:20,166
{\an7}visit shopPBS or call
1-800-PLAY-PBS.
989
00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,933
{\an7}This program is also available
on Amazon Prime Video.
990
00:54:23,966 --> 00:54:31,866
{\an8}♪♪
991
00:54:31,900 --> 00:54:39,300
{\an8}♪♪