HEALTH
Ultimately , that is the problem : We ’ re killing ALL of the systems that would normally help stabilize the Earth ’ s climate , such as oceans and rainforests .
Carbon displacement is real , and soil erosion and the burning of fossil fuels are taking carbon from the land and moving it to water and air . Regenerative agriculture is the most promising and productive means we have to remedy this situation while improving the quality of our foods and water efficiency .
7 .
Destroying the Lungs of the World
Another type of oil that is robbing our grandchildren of a future is palm oil , an inexpensive oil found in countless household products , from soaps and cosmetics to processed foods and cooking oils . In Indonesia , massive fires are intentionally set to clear rainforest for palm oil plantations .
As noted in the film , “ This cheap commodity is making companies tremendous profits .” The ultimate price : rainforests — the lungs of the world . Today , palm oil plantations have taken over about 80 percent of the rainforest in Indonesia .
The forest fires of 2015 released more carbon into the atmosphere than the entire U . S . economy , each and every day . In the process , populations of rhino , orangutans , elephants and tigers were also decimated . The reasons these forests are being destroyed is because people keep buying products containing palm oil . This is yet another case where the purchasing decisions of consumers are driving an incredibly destructive process .
8 .
Is Transition to Solar Energy a Feasible Goal ?
Revisiting the issue of transitioning to renewable energy like solar , DiCaprio talks to Elon Musk , CEO of SpaceX and Tesla . Would it actually be possible to transition not only the U . S . but the entire world to solar energy ?
At Tesla ’ s gigafactory in Reno , Nevada , Musk is working on producing batteries that can efficiently store solar energy . This is a much-needed component of the solution , as the sun does not always shine , no matter where you live . A massive advantage of solar panels and batteries is that you avoid having to build any kind of electrical power plants .
A single battery pack could store energy collected by solar panels and supply power to an entire village , without having to build a power plant and draw power lines .
48 | HAPI Guide