When it comes to addressing climate change, the Earth's oceans need to have a larger role in our efforts to combat the crisis, according to Phillippe and Ashlan Cousteau, co-authors of Oceans for Dummies, and the sea is in fact "central" to the discussion.
"When you think about our planet, 71 percent is ocean, so right there we have a lot of space to cover. And really, our ocean has done us a huge service by actually absorbing about a third of the carbon emissions that we have put into our atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels," Ashlan Cousteau said.
She explained that while the ocean acts as one of our first lines of defense, it has become overwhelmed, the waters have become acidic, and as a result, crucial resources at the bottom of the food chain have been significantly impacted.
The couple also agreed that one of the biggest misconceptions about the ocean is that it's "too big to fail" but in reality, it is already failing. One of the biggest indicators that the oceans are in dire need of restoration is the fact that they are warming.
"In some cases, we talk about climate 'weirding' or certainly climate change, it's because of the function of the ocean and how it moves heat around the planet. As it's warming, that is being impeded and thus our entire planet is changing with disastrous consequences," noted Phillippe, the grandson of legendary undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau.
Furthermore, not only are humans distorting the physical makeup of the ocean, we are also depleting food resources through excessive fishing, said the duo.
The couple heads up the nonprofit organization EarthEcho International where the mission is to empower global youth populations and educate them so they can set out to "restore and protect the ocean and planet."
"Fundamentally, what it's about is recognizing the next generation is optimistic and determined, and we can't build an effective global environmental movement and grow that movement without targeting education and youth empowerment," Phillippe said.
As President Joe Biden hosts world leaders in a virtual climate summit to establish goals to keep warming at bay, the Cousteaus are hoping the role oceans play in the fight against climate change gets prioritized.
"I think that a lot of times the ocean has been left out of our planet conversation, out of our save the planet, and out of the climate crisis," Ashlan said. "So, we really do hope that people are coming around, and we think that they are. Literally, there is a wave of people that see the ocean now as one of our best ways to save us."
Following the invasion of Ukraine, a multitude of Western companies have paused doing business with Russia. PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Starbucks are the most recent companies to temporarily cease operations in Russia. Dean of Miami Herbert Business School at the University of Miami, John Quelch, joined Cheddar News to discuss what message this sends to Russia and the Russian consumer. “I would not underestimate the collective strength of all of these multinational companies, essentially coming together to make their collective statement in support of the political statements that have come out of Washington," he said.
The war in Ukraine continues to reveal heartbreaking gut-wrenching stories. The war in itself is not only devastating but also expensive. Experts estimate that Russia is draining nearly $20 million dollars each day to continue occupying and invading Ukraine. All this could force the country to turn to cryptocurrencies. It's a major turn for the country that briefly considered outlined digital assets entirely, but it could also have serious implications for cryptos. Managing Director at Quantum Fintech Group, Harry Yeh, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
President Biden announced a ban on Russian oil and natural gas imports to the U.S. in response to its invasion of Ukraine, a move he warned could lead to an even greater surge in gas prices. The ban is prompting a conversation about the current oil production levels in the U.S. and whether or not the industry can ramp up production to soften the blow to American families at the gas pump. Clark Williams-Derry, Energy Finance Analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, breaks down the state of the U.S. oil industry and how the ban might impact production levels here at home.
PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Starbucks are the latest American food brands to have halted business operations in Russia after having faced scrutiny and criticism for originally failing to do so amid the country's invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia intensifies its war on Ukraine, President Biden announced a ban on oil imported from the aggressor nation. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best way to force Putin to pull back, but curbs on Russian oil exports are expected to send already skyrocketing oil and gas prices even higher, further impacting consumers, businesses, financial markets, and the global economy. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce and Technology Council, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss. "It's certainly going to increase pricing, but it is the right thing to do," she said. "The industry itself has already pulled out of the significant portion of its operations in Russia."
Sports Betting in the U.S. is booming. According to industry experts, we could see another boom this year as more states move towards statewide legalization of sports wagering. While this comes as huge news for fans, there are some very real concerns as to whether or not sports betting potentially poses a threat to public health. Senior Clinician at the Caron Treatment Centers, Eric Webber, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Biden administration has made gender policy a core part of how it governs. The president established the first Gender Policy Council. It's on the same level as the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council, putting the interests of women and other underserved groups at the table for the most important policy discussions.
Cheddar News sat down with Jennifer Klein, executive director and co-chair of the White House Gender Policy Council, to discuss the council's work and its significance during Women's History Month.
State Representative Jessica González, Vice Chair of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest Texas anti-transgender directive.
The United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack joins None of the Above to discuss the newly emerging conflict in Europe, what it means for agriculture in the states, dairy and meat consumption, and how the department is planning to promote climate-smart agriculture.
