DUE: Before Tuesday’s class, ideally Monday night.
Leonardo DiCaprio speaks at the opening of the United Nations Climate Summit 2014 September 23, 2014 at the United Nations in New York. AFP PHOTO/Don EmmertDON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images
1. Watch the United Nations Climate Summit 2014 opening speech by Leonardo DiCaprio and take notes.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTyLSr_VCcg
2. Answer the following questions in paragraph form (350-400 words) by typing your response in the comments section below.
-
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
-
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
-
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
You will be marked on the quality of your response and your response to other students’ posts:
9-10: Excellent and insightful; response shows superb understanding and critical analysis; contains great details and responds to complex ideas
7-8: Good; response shows thoughtful understanding; contains good details and responds to ideas
5-6: Satisfactory; response shows a basic understanding; contains basic details and responds only to major ideas
3-4: Unsatisfactory; response shows some misunderstanding; contains insufficient details and does not fully respond to the main ideas
1-2: Poor; response shows poor understanding; contains no details and does not respond to the task
EAP 300 
Nick Vo
a) What is DiCaprio’s primary message?
DiCaprio’s primary message is that global climate change is an urgent issue and requires immediate action. He emphasizes that solving this crisis is not a matter of politics but a question of our own survival. He believes that industries and governments worldwide must take decisive and large-scale action to combat climate change.
b) What climate change event concerns you the most, according to DiCaprio?
According to DiCaprio, drought is the climate change event that concerns him the most. He explains that drought is a natural disaster caused by a lack of water, and it is getting worse year by year due to extreme weather events resulting from global warming. He highlights the economic, environmental, and social implications of drought, such as accelerating hunger, poverty, and desertification, and the disparities it creates between developed and developing countries. He emphasizes that this issue is a global concern that requires cooperation from everyone.
c) According to DiCaprio, what actions should industries and governments take to a against climate change?
DiCaprio said that he believes industries and governments worldwide must take decisive and large-scale action to against climate change. He suggests that putting a price tag on carbon emissions and ending government subsidies for coal and other companies are necessary steps. He also stresses the importance of ending the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in a free-market economy because the collapse of our ecosystem leads to the collapse of the economy. Furthermore, he advocates for renewable energy, which he believes is not only achievable but also good economic policy.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
In his speech he emphasizes the seriousness of the climate crisis. Humanity cannot ignore the seriousness of this problem. The extreme weather events clearly show that climate change is now accelerating. In addition, we face the single greatest security threat posed by climate change. However, he said, action by us as individuals alone is not sound enough to remedy the situation. He said that now is the time for industry and governments around the world to take decisive and massive action. He said that the time is now for industry and governments around the world to take decisive, large-scale action, such as putting a price on carbon emissions and eliminating government subsidies, to preserve ecosystems. Now is the time for humanity to take a stand on this issue.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
My greatest concern is that the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting at a very fast rate. Of course, the measures people have taken to solve global warming have not been in vain. However, the fact that it is still decades ahead of scientific predictions is evidence that humans are still accelerating global warming. Also, if the ice continues to melt and sea levels rise, many countries will lose land for living and there will be many problems associated with that.
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
Unfortunately, humans are creatures that have a hard time resisting their desires. It is also true that many people and countries are driven by immediate profit, no matter how much they know it is not good for them. I feel that the only way for the world to change this is to establish strict regulations with severe penalties. For example, if a developed country exceeds the specified amount of carbon dioxide, it may be effective to make people feel the disadvantages of threatening the global environment more than the advantages, such as restricting their authority in some way.
LikeLike
a) His main massage is to stop the climate change and he also said it is already beyond choices that individual make.
And it is problems that larger scale organization like governments or industries.
Specifically, putting a tag on a carbon emission,
eliminating government subsidies for all oils, coal and gas companies…etc. were said.
Finally, He also mentioned it is question of survival,
I felt he wanted to emphasize it is urgent problem so much.
b) In climate change he mentioned, I concerned most about weather events. There are other events like drought but in case of weather I could feel closest for me. Because There are no drought but because of climate change typhoon often come to Japan. Typhoon change their course and how long they live. But nowadays sea temperatures got higher and it often come and live longer. Accident by typhoon happen every year, especially in Japan there are so many old people, so it is not good situation. And also, it affects fish. In Japan, fish food is one of primary food and I often effect of climate change like decreasing number of fish caught. On TV, I also saw like these problems. Usually if water is cold, it goes down and mix with water of deep sea and also water of deep sea goes up. By doing this activity, nutrition of deep sea mix up with surface. But in case of water of surface is high, it stacks on the surface, it seems circulation of nutrition does not happen.
c) In case of Japanese government, they are in difficult situation to reduce greenhouse gas.
When it is extended back, the story starts from earthquake in east Japan. Because of that earthquake nuclear power plant broke and effects many things. After that they cover most of electrics with thermal power plant. That lead to discharge more greenhouse gas. So what government is trying to do is they take back nuclear power plant. Some plant already got back but other plants does not. It also causes high electric bill and, in this situation, (war in Ukraine), most of Japanese people suffer from these bills. Thus, condition in Japan is whether taking a risk or not.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
his main message is that we need to solve the climate crisis. He said that people ignored climate change” as if it were fiction. But the events of undeniable climate are happened every week and it is accelerated climate changes. For example, drought are intensifying, ocean are acidifying and methane plumes are rising up from the ocean. Also, West Antarctic and Greenland’s ice is melting ahead of scientific projections. It is not a problem of politics, but it is about problems for our living. In the movie, the characters can solve problems but in this world mankind have to solve problems. However, we need a large scale action, not a individual.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
I concern about ice melting. It is because it makes animal endangered species. Because of the climate change,some animals lost their habitat. Polar bear is one of the best example who lost their living place because of ice melting. Ice melting is happened because of humans. The animals didn’t do any bad things but they lost their lives. To keep habitat of animals and their lives, we have to think more about eco friendly actions individually. However, the problem of ice melting is not only endangered animal but also our land. Ice melting makes the sea level rising by 40 to 70 meters. It means we are also going to lose the place that we can live. The problem is expanded to all over the world.
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
He said that industries and governments should take a large scale of actions. For example, eliminate the subsidies for oil, coal and gas companies and put the price tag with carbon emissions. It is because it doesn’t deserve our tax dollars. Also, we need to monitoring them. We need to end the free market economy not to collapse the eco system.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I agree with your opinion that people ignored climate change as if it were fiction. I’m also concerning about ice melting. People will lose not only their lands but also their culture and heritages if their lands get sinking to the ocean. Both government and individuals should take action to solve environmental problems. First of all, they must stop ignoring climate issues. Then, they should pay much attention for it. They have already known it, but they don’t.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I have the same opinion. Some animals are losing habitat because of human activity. Breaking ecosystems leads to big problems not only for animals but also humans so we should solve problems as soon as quickly. In addition, small islands also will sink. I’m from Japan. Japan is also an island so I worried about this problem. we should think about climate change carefully.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
-Climate change has become a global challenge today. But people have ignored these issues as if they were fiction. But with accelerating climate change, we need to solve this problem more than ever. He said the problem is difficult but achievable. He also said industry and governments need to take specific steps to stop climate change such as ending government subsidies to all oil, coal and gas companies.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
-The most concerning thing is West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates. I feel that this extreme weather is a distant thing that has nothing to do with me, but if this extreme weather progresses, Japan, which is my home country, may sink. Since Japan is an island country, the melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets will lead to sea level rise. This could cause sea levels to rise and Japan to sink. Therefore, I am most concerned about the melting of this ice sheet. Also, the melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets will become extinct the animals living in those areas. I am also concerned about this issue.
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
-Industry and government need to eliminate government subsidies for all oil, coal, and gas companies. In addition, they need to finish the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free-market economy. It is also necessary to use renewable energy that is feasible. These are also excellent economic policies and should be adopted by governments and companies.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
He is very interested in global environmental issues, and in particular, he says that if global warming continues at its present rate, the global environment will become even worse and become irreversible. To prevent this, governments must reduce subsidies to oil and gas companies and work to reduce CO2 emissions.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening.
Which one concerns you the most?
He explained three main examples: droughts, ocean acidification, and the melting of the ice sheets in the Arctic and Greenland. I was particularly interested in the melting of the ice sheets. The reason is that some studies show that while ice facing the ocean in West Antarctica is decreasing, snow shipping inland is increasing. These are thought to be due to changes in the balance of the ozone layer caused by global warming, though. I am interested in the effects of global warming on ice.
a) “This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make.
about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale
(2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
Today, we live in a world in which energy is essential. This is the same situation for companies and individuals equally. Energy is often taken from oil and natural gas. In many countries, energy is the foundation of the nation. Therefore, energy prices and supply stability are essential to the stability of each country. Therefore, in many countries, governments support stability by providing large subsidies to oil and natural gas companies. However, DiCaprio says this is leading to more consumption and argues that countries should stop subsidizing oil and other natural gas companies.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I agree with your mention about a).
Because it is important aspect to reduce the resouses, for example fuel and coal to stop the climate change events.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
His main message is facing on climate changing problems on a global scale right now. Because almost all people used to see the climate changing problems as not real situation like a fiction and avoid to face on this problem. But now, there are a lot of problems are occurring. The climate changes are happen every week. He said that this problem is difficult, but it is achievable task. In addition, this problem is not political question, but this is our own survival question. So we have to face on this problem as a world’s problem not as individual problem.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
I’m concerning that West Antratictic and Greanland ice shees melting problem before decades ahead than many scientists had expected. Because if this phenomenon proceed, a lot of land will be losted. It means that all human lost the place which we can live. After that, maybe it will occur a lot of war due to get the place which we can live. Finally, the human will be died. The human lost our lives by ourselves. So the climate change event hat ice sheets melting is most dangerous and we must solve the problem right now.
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
Industries and government should do that reducing the resources which occurs the climate changes. For example, oil, coal and gas. So far, they didn’t control those things, rather they promote those things for companies because of improving their economy. As a result, a lot of companies used to consume a lot of resources which occur climate change events, and then many climate change events are happening. If they don’t control them, climate change events are increased and the earth’s environment will be gotten worse and the human will be dead in the future. So government should control the companies’ consumption, companies should reduce the resources which occur the climate change event right now.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion. I agree with your mention about anser of C.Because, I think that your statement is almost true.
LikeLike
a) What is DiCaprio’s main message?
His main message is that we are facing serious climate change, and we have to tackle with this problem urgently without pretending not to see. The climate change has grown beyond our individual actions, so now is the time for industries and governments all over the world to take decisive large-scale action immediately. For example, putting a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminating government subsidies for all oil, coal and gas companies are necessary in order to avoid collapsing our ecosystems which leads to the economic death. Moreover, he stated that renewable energy is achievable and good economy policy, and it is the good news for us.
b) He mentioned that many climate change events are happening. Which one concerns you the most?
I concern intensive and frequent rain storm which cause flood and landscape the most. A sudden heavy rain deprives us of our daily life in a moment. In Japan, the heavy rain storm hit some regions every year and we human being cannot take any measures for it once it occurs. It often happens in a very short-period and suddenly, therefore some people cannot prepare for evacuating. It is said that this disaster will increase and threaten our life.
c) “This disaster has grown beyond choices that individuals make. This is about industries and governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.” (2:15) What actions should industries and governments take?
I think industries should have strict rules for carbon dioxide emission and try to reduce their use of energy, change their using energy into renewable one, and improve the energy efficiency in order to reduce carbon dioxide emission. Moreover, they should try to develop other renewable energy. On the other hand, government should make more strict law and observe the amount of carbon emission carefully. In addition, government should take measures by making some institution organized by specialists and citizens in order to tackle with the issue together. Making an education system learning ecology for children is also effective.
LikeLike
Hello, Nobu. Thank you for sharing your opinion!
I have same opinion. I think governments should make some strict politics to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases because companies produce the most greenhouse gases.
I was very impressed of your considered opinion for the future. Education for children is also important to stop global warming.
LikeLike
Hello Nobu.
I feel sympathy of your opinion. When I lived in Mie prefecture in Japan, I also experienced rainstorm. The place where I lived sunk under water, and I could not get back from work. I experienced massive typhoon when I live in Kyoto too. I heard climate change influence strength of typhoon too. When that moment, some train stopped, and electricity stopped too and I remember all of ice-cream in my refrigerator compilatory melted. Before that I have never consciousness how dangerous it is because my hometown disaster does not often happen. I think people live in Okinawa feel more insecure that us because they get typhoon often.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion.
As you said, in Japan, the intensive heavy rain has caused serious problem during the summer season and the scale of damage will be bigger over the past 10 years. Actually, government strictly address the carbon neutrality project to inhibits the increasing carbon emission in Japan. But looking at the consumer aspect, some eco-friendly technology especially the price of hybrid-vehicle and electric-vehicle are more expensive. So I guess government need more budget to subsidize to some consumer who really want to purchase like these vehicle in order to boost this project progress.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Rain storm are one of the common problem in Japan. There is nothing we can do about sudden heavy rain. Some Japanese are preparng to evacuate. It is important to be prepared.
LikeLike