How much do you know about climate change? The educational organization, This is Planet Ed, at the Aspen Institute conducted research that showed that while 85% of teenagers are worried about climate change, less than 15% know about the causes or possible solutions.
This is Planet Ed is holding their Planet Media Climate Summit from April 9 to the 11th in Los Angeles, to focus on the vital role of media and education in developing young people’s climate literacy.
Earlier this morning, the summit stopped at USC, where Annenberg’s Dean Willow Bay sat down with actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss the way we talk about climate change.
“I think the important thing is, again, communication, because we have a tendency of always kind of telling young people the world they’re inheriting is terrible. It’s doomed. It’s the end of the world. And I think that we have to do it the other way around, because eventually [the] brain gets numb,” Schwarzenegger said. “Eventually, people start throwing in the towel and say, forget it. If that’s the future, then why would I do anything?”
Schwarzenegger emphasized that instead of mulling over the negative aspects of climate change, young people should focus on hope and solutions for the future.
“I know that people say that hope is not a good strategy and all this stuff, but you still have to have hope. And I think there is a way forward, as I’ve just said. California has moved forward. Los Angeles has moved forward in an environmental way,” Schwarzenegger said. “Each and every one of us can do something. And this is one of the criticisms that I have about a lot of environmental events and conferences, they never really talk about what can be done.”
Schwarzenegger’s biggest emphasis was on collective action, or as he dubbed it, “people power.”
“The people created the change. That’s what you have to do. That’s what you have to tell our students,” he said.
The climate conversation doesn’t end with Schwarzenegger’s speech, though. Oscar-nominated actress Stephanie Hsu was interviewed by Dean Elizabeth Daley of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. On Friday, the summit continues with attendees being sent to LAUSD schools to see climate learning in action.