This Election day,Bill Nyehas one message for young people: Vote with theclimatein mind.
I wanted to talk about the climate stakes in this presidential election.
And so these [climate] videos are aimed at young people, young voters.
Bill NyeSacha Lecca for Rolling Stone
And so the world changed with that.
So I just really want to emphasize to young people.
They grew up with it.
So I grew up with Earth Day, and when Earth Day was created, everybodys concern was pollution.
That humankind was making the environment dirty, toxic chemicals.
Youve probably heard the expression, forever plastics, that was a big concern.
It wasnt something discovered in their lifetime, it was before they were born.
Thats a big word over there: climate extremists.
And thats not right.
That weve reached a tipping point.
The word people throw [around] is doomism that were doomed.
But I will claim I will pound my fist on the editorial desk!
that the latest research points out that theres no tipping point.
You havent reached a point of no return.
Its just that things get worse and worse.
So, the sooner you do something about it, the better.
… Theres a real cost here: financial costs to rebuilding.
Theyre going to move.
And where are they going to go, and what are they going to do when they get there?
And these are real costs that were all going to carry.
And so young people: Understand that.
Lets do something about it.
You dont want climate deniers in any of those positions.
So yes, all the way down the ballot.
So work the problem from both ends.
The future is exciting.
I say all the time: You got to be optimistic.
If youre not optimistic, youre not going to get anything done.
You dont go into the game thinking youre going to lose.
You go into it thinking youre going to win.
Many climate activists and scientists have said that the United States needs to take the lead on climate action.
Why is this so important for the U.S. to do?
Because the United States is the worlds most influential culture.
you’ve got the option to go anywhere in the world and people know of Hollywood.
They know who the U.S. president is.
They know know the word okay.
Thats one of my favorites.
That is a U.S. word named after Old Kinderhook.
U.S. culture is everywhere, and the U.S. has to lead.
Just cut it out and lead.
And then we can take a meeting about whos contributing what to what.
My mother was recruited by the navy to be a code breaker.
People of all ages, everybody was doing one thing: Were going to win this war.
Parts of this interview have been edited for length and clarity.
