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Degrees Of Change: How Native American Communities Are Addressing Climate Change. Feb 7, 2020, Part 1

Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science, Life Sciences, Wnyc, Natural Sciences, Friday

4.46.3K Ratings

🗓️ 7 February 2020

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How Native American Communities Are Addressing Climate Change Indigenous peoples are one of the most vulnerable communities when it comes to the effects of climate change. This is due to a mix of cultural, economic, policy and historical factors. Some Native American tribal governments and councils have put together their own climate risk assessment plans. Native American communities are very diverse—and the challenges and adaptations are just as varied. Professor Kyle Whyte, a tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, says that many of the species and food resources that are affected by climate change are also important cultural pieces, which are integral to the identity and cohesion of tribes. Ryan Reed, a tribal member of the Karuk and Yurok Tribe and a sophomore undergrad student in Environmental Science at the University of Oregon, and James Rattling Leaf, tribal member of the Rosebud Sioux, and Tribal Engagement Leader for the Great Plains Water Alliance, join Ira for this segment. “One Trillion Trees”… But Where to Plant Them? In this week’s State of the Union address, President Trump didn’t utter the words “climate change”—but he did say this: “To protect the environment, days ago I announced the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together government and private sector to plant new trees in America and all around the world.” Planting trees to suck up carbon is an increasingly popular Republican alternative to limiting fossil fuel emissions—but how practical is it? In this segment, E&E News White House reporter Scott Waldman discusses the strategy.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is Science Friday. I'm Iroflato.

0:11.8

The climate is changing, and because we need to deal with it now, we open the next chapter of

0:17.4

our series, Degrees of Change. Our series explores the challenges of a changing climate

0:23.0

and how we as a planet and a people are adapting to the crisis. This hour will be talking

0:29.2

about the climate issues facing Native American communities and how they are tackling and

0:34.1

planning for environmental changes. More info on how you can get involved in our coverage and sign up for our climate newsletter

0:41.8

at science friday.com slash degrees of change.

0:46.2

First, we check in on the gatekeepers, the decision makers, the controllers of the purse strings.

0:51.4

In this week's state of the union address, President Trump, did not mention

0:55.2

two little words with big consequences, climate change. But he did say this. To protect the

1:02.2

environment days ago, I announced that the United States will join the one trillion trees

1:06.9

initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together government and private sector to plant

1:12.1

new trees in America and all around the world.

1:17.2

Planting trees to suck up carbon is an increasingly popular Republican alternative to

1:23.8

limiting fossil fuel emissions. But how practical is it?

1:28.2

Joining me to talk about that and other climate stories in the news this week,

1:32.5

Scott Waldman, White House reporter at E&E News in Washington.

1:36.8

Welcome back, Scott.

1:38.0

Thanks for having me, Ira.

1:39.1

Could you unpack this one trillion trees initiative for us, please?

1:43.4

Sure.

1:44.0

Well, this Trump first announced that the U.S. is going to participate in this.

...

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