Extreme heat and prolonged drought are severely depleting our lakes and rivers. State governments have exacerbated this crisis through gross mismanagement, prioritizing the coal industry and large corporations over the needs of families and farmers.

Despite their role in this escalating problem, governments are now asking citizens to solve the drought. We must unite and demand accountability, forcing them to take responsibility for their actions.

Let's work together to ensure state governments prioritize people and sustainable water management over the coal industry.

Our planet's forests are vital in mitigating climate change by actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Understanding this natural process underscores the importance of tree replanting as a key solution to limit global warming and protect our future.

Professor Carlos Nobre emphasizes the importance of valuing standing forests and their products. He illustrates this by explaining how the açaí berry is projected to generate billions for the Amazon economy.

Nobre also presents his vision for agroforestry as a crucial solution for protecting tropical forests globally.

Massive wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, have devastated California. However, experts and victims primarily attribute these disasters to PG&E's criminal negligence. Faulty power lines and ignored maintenance since the 1990s led to deadly events like the Camp Fire, resulting in $30 billion in liabilities and the company's bankruptcy. Calls for accountability and reform are mounting.

Beyond wildfires, California faces extreme drought and rainfall cycles, intensified by climate change. This tumultuous water history and future needs are explored in Mark Arax's book, "The Dreamt Land." Discussions center on sustainable water management for the state's agriculture and population. Learn more at climateone.org.

Katie Wallace, New Belgium Brewing's director of social & environmental impact, believes regenerative agriculture can transform beer's significant agricultural footprint into a solution.

Wallace is also optimistic that businesses and policymakers will embrace 100% renewable energy to further reduce their environmental impact.

Wildfires are increasing in Northern California during the mid-growing season. This trend can cause grapes to develop an undesirable, smoky flavor.

San Francisco Chronicle wine critic Esther Mobley notes that these grapes can sometimes emerge tasting like an ashtray.

Border Patrol is consuming millions of gallons of groundwater for wall construction in southeastern Arizona. This practice imperils rare desert springs and the endangered species that depend on them.

We visited the San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge on the border to observe the impact firsthand.

Nadya, living in the world's second-largest plastic-contributing country, champions personal responsibility: "Be an example. Start from yourself and together we do good things to our environment."

She adopted this philosophy two years ago during an environmental NGO internship. Working on a zero-waste-to-ocean project, Nadya realized she, too, had been a significant waste contributor, prompting her commitment to change.

This message was shared at a TEDx event, independently organized by a local community. Learn more about TEDx at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Angela Whitney recently highlighted the critical importance of policymakers developing climate investment plans. She shared her insights during the Workshop on Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions and the Role of National Finance Institutions.

To learn more about RMI's work in this vital area, visit their Climate Finance Team page.

Siva Visvesvaran advocates for rethinking waste management beyond recycling, emphasizing reduction and reuse to minimize environmental impact. He develops innovative solutions, such as a Linear Water Storage system for rainwater, and studies electrical engineering to bring sustainable energy to developing countries. As co-founder of Project Paplet, his 'Reuse Initiative' transforms one-sided used paper into booklets for 50 refugee schools in Malaysia via UNHCR, saving around 5 tons of paper since 2016. Siva is also a Royal Commonwealth Society associate fellow and a 2018 Queen's Young Leader.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Explore the full library of TED Talks at TED.com, offering subtitles, translations, and personalized recommendations. Our channel features leading thinkers and doers sharing ideas on technology, science, business, global issues, and the arts in 18 minutes or less.

Discover actionable insights, such as Mohammad Modarres's talk on empowering farmers and transforming the food industry. Learn how your purchasing power can support local agriculture and address the disparity where farmers often cannot afford the very foods they grow.

Connect with TED on social media: follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. For commercial use, submit a Media Request via media-requests.ted.com.

Deep-sea footage from Nautilus Live shows marine life scavenging a baleen whale carcass. Explore more about marine life in our Encyclopedia: http://bit.ly/2oc1zBb.

Join our community of Wavemakers! Subscribe to our channel and connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceana/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/oceana Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceana/.

It was over an ironing board that Jason realized many everyday products are 90% water, contributing to billions of pounds of plastic waste annually. This insight inspired Replenish, a reusable bottle and concentrate refill platform. It empowers consumers to add their own water at the point of use, breaking the endless cycle of waste in consumer goods.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a UK charity launched in 2010, accelerates the transition to a circular economy. Founded by Ellen MacArthur, it is a global thought leader influencing business, government, and academia. Explore their work at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org and connect via YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter.

Algramo scales reusable packaging globally. With over 2,000 convenience stores and 80%+ reuse rates, it attracts brands like Unilever and Nestle. They co-develop technology, such as Packaging as a Wallet (PaaW) for IoT vending machines, enabling Unilever to sell detergent 30% cheaper. Algramo is also developing a flagship store and electric tricycle fleet.

Launched in 2010 by sailor Ellen MacArthur, the UK's Ellen MacArthur Foundation accelerates the transition to a circular economy. As a global thought leader, it influences business, government, and academia, supported by various partners.

Learn more at ellenmacarthurfoundation.org. Subscribe on YouTube and follow on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Medium.

Jeannette is dedicated to creating circular systems that eliminate disposable packaging. After nearly a decade researching reusable solutions, she launched reCIRCLE in 2016. This network now includes almost 1,000 partner restaurants, replacing approximately 50,000 disposable containers daily. With a Master's in environmental technology, Jeannette envisions reusable systems transforming many industries.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a UK charity founded in 2010 by Ellen MacArthur, accelerates the transition to a circular economy. A global thought leader, it influences business, government, and academia. Explore their work at [www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org](https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org) and connect via social media: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/made2bemadeagain), [Instagram](http://instagram.com/ellenmacarthurfoundation), [Facebook](http://facebook.com/EllenMacArthurFoundation), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellenmacarthurfoundation), [Twitter](http://twitter.com/circulareconomy), [Medium](http://medium.com/circulatenews).

Once plastic is disposed of, its journey often continues far beyond the bin. This discarded material frequently finds its way into our oceans, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems.

From the vast expanses of the sea, plastic fragments break down into microplastics, entering the food chain. This process ultimately impacts wildlife and potentially human health, highlighting the critical need to understand and address plastic pollution.

World record-breaking sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur discusses how her extensive time at sea provided a profound revelation about managing our planet's finite resources.

She shares her optimism for transitioning to a circular economy, a system focused on dramatically reducing waste and pollution.

Dal and Mike created "Trash Isles," a new country recognized by the United Nations, to combat plastic pollution. This initiative became one of 2018's most awarded campaigns, highlighting solutions to environmental challenges.

Working at AMV BBDO London for eight years, Dal and Mike are board members whose globally recognized work includes AMV's first White Pencil, the UK's first Green Pencil at The One Show, two Cannes Grand Prix, and a prestigious Design Museum trophy. They also collaborated with figures like Al Gore and David Attenborough on the campaign.

This discussion was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

News media must address climate change with urgency. Over 150 outlets, partnering with Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, dedicated a week (September 16-23) to reporting on humanity's devastating impact on the planet.

Teenage climate activist Alexandria Villaseñor shares her perspective within this initiative. Explore CJR's full series: https://www.cjr.org/covering_climate_now/

The global resale market, currently valued at $24 billion, is projected to reach $51 billion within five years, underscoring its rapid expansion.

Yerdle collaborates with leading brands like Patagonia, REI, Eileen Fisher, Arc’teryx, and Taylor Stitch. They develop white-label channels, empowering these companies to control their own resale marketplaces. Key questions remain regarding Yerdle's strategy for achieving this success and the individuals CEO Andy Ruben persuaded to embrace their model.