What people get wrong about climate change

When discussing climate change, it's not about saving the planet.

One of the common mistakes people make about climate change is saying that it’s about “saving the planet.” But that’s not really the right way to think about it.

Earth has gone through immense climate changes many times before, in some cases leading to mass species extinction. Now, we’re living through the onset of human-caused climate change, and slowing it down isn’t about saving the Earth. It’s about saving ourselves.

Humans have been around for just .004% of Earth’s history. And in all of human history – the 200,000 years since our species began – we’ve had agriculture for just 5% of that time and electricity for .07% of that time.

The simple truth about climate change is that it isn’t new to the planet, but civilization is. And with climate change we’re inviting a level of climate disruption that human civilization has simply never seen before.

[Paint]

0:48 that birth of civilization animation was kinda incredible

[supermitendo]

Looks like some of you guys misinterpreted the video. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't worry about climate change, nor we didn't cause the rise of global temperature. The video just stating that the *focus* is wrong, we often said that "we need to save the earth", or "we're destroying the earth". No, we're not destroying the earth itself, it wont be destroyed.... that's why the campaign is (maybe) ineffective. But life on the earth IS in danger, not 100% of them obviously, but most of them, including human. So, this video is telling us that focus of climate change campaign should've been life, nature, and human.


EDIT: for people who (still) say it doesn't matter, it does, at least psychologically. When the campaign say "save the earth" most people feel skeptical because they know we can't destroy this enormous rock in the first place. But if the campaigns are saying to save human and other life on the earth, it'll make them care more about it.

[stixtheminer]

As George Carlin put it: "The planet's fine. WE'RE fucked."

[OurChangingClimate]

Can you do more videos on climate change please? Thanks.

[alexacancio]

Great video! This is exactly what I tell people when I talk about climate change. The world doesn't need us. We are the most vulnerable species. We need the world.

[NajibElMokhtari]

anyone knows what's the musical track between 1:07 and 1:57. with the piano and strings?

[AvastarBin]

This should be a longer video. I know +Vox doesn't do long videos. But if they do, it should be this one. There's way more things to say about it and many things to get deeper into. Still good video, tho.

[supermonky]

Guys we are not destroying the earth We are destroying ourselves.

[ScottSlone]

NO [CC] Closed Captioning.. REALLY?
Please add it please.

[antwainclarke]

This is the most well thought out argument I've heard for taking climate change seriously. I was always on the fence about disappearing species. How I see it is that the only constant is change and animals must evolve with the changing times (and they have). Climate change is really not about the world as we know it disappearing, it's about us are becoming more vulnerable. Thank you Vox!

[johnbaker]

Vox's animation has been improving a lot. Add to it compelling a story and narration with great background music and you get a great video. I don't agree with everything you guys post, but I think that is suppose to be the point, but nonetheless you guys are doing impressive work. Keep up the good work.

[jonanice]

out of all the climate change films i've seen & things I've read this was the best I've seen. In that in just 2:45 minutes you produced such a clear message of the key problem that everyone should hear & know.

[MrCreeperO]

"It's not the end of the World, just the end of civilization."

[ravagetime]

Earth has never had an ideal climate for humans. Hence why we live indoors.

[NeuonAu]

Where do I become a patron? A channel that makes videos of this quality needs to be supported.

[yellowird]

Love the video. Content, bgm, voice over, everything's on point.

[armadillito]

The irony is that the selfishness got us here and selfishness, used right, will save us. Unfortunately, I suspect selfishness will just save the rich and leave the poor to suffer, we need to learn to share our selfishness. xD

[Brian-pqmo]

True, but that does not elevate the fact that we must do something in order to prevent this instability to get out of hand.

[pauledawson]

This is the best explanation of Climate Change I have ever seen. It makes it clear what the risks are for civilisation if we fail to take climate change seriously. It's not about saving the planet, it's about us and our vulnerability to a level of climate disruption civilisation has never seen.

[TheSeanUhTron]

*Republican Platform:* So basically this means we need to build a wall on out southern border?