Katharine Hayhoe Talks Climate Change with President Obama and Leonardo DiCaprio

 

Katharine Hayhoe, director of the Texas Tech University Climate Science Center, was part of a conversation on climate change with President Barack Obama, moderated by Academy Award-winning actor, producer and activist Leonardo DiCaprio on the south lawn of the White House. The South by South Lawn event happened in October. The discussion focused on the importance of protecting the planet for future generations.

"I am honored to participate in an event that puts a spotlight on this critical global issue," Hayhoe said. "Some people may say, why focus on climate change when we have so many other, bigger problems in the world today? The reality is we can pour all our money and our efforts, our time and our prayers into trying to fix the big issues, like global hunger, poverty, water contamination and disease; but if we don't fix climate, we don't have a chance of fixing these other problems, either. Climate change is affecting our food, our water, our air and even our economy – and those already vulnerable and disadvantaged are the ones being hit the hardest by its impacts."