In 2008, fifth-grader Cassandra Lin founded Turn Grease Into Fuel (TGIF) after learning used cooking oil could be converted into affordable, clean-burning biodiesel for home heating. TGIF partners

In 2008, fifth-grader Cassandra Lin founded Turn Grease Into Fuel (TGIF) after learning used cooking oil could be converted into affordable, clean-burning biodiesel for home heating. TGIF partners with local restaurants to collect kitchen grease, which is then recycled and distributed to charities assisting families with heating needs. This initiative has already helped offset over two million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Lin and her team further championed environmental efforts by drafting Rhode Island's Used Cooking Oil Recycling Act in 2011. Passed into law in 2012, this legislation expanded TGIF's reach, establishing a robust network that effectively addresses community needs while significantly reducing waste and pollution.

David Wallace-Wells observes that few Silicon Valley titans are addressing climate change, despite the opportunity to leave a significant legacy. He points to Bill Gates-funded negative emissions

David Wallace-Wells observes that few Silicon Valley titans are addressing climate change, despite the opportunity to leave a significant legacy. He points to Bill Gates-funded negative emissions technology, which could enable current industrial activity without global warming.

This technology would cost $3 trillion annually to operate worldwide. While substantial, this figure is less than the $5 trillion spent each year on global fossil fuel subsidies.

Wallace-Wells, author of [The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming](https://amzn.to/2Of5N3y), shared these insights. Read more at BigThink.com, and follow Big Think on [YouTube](http://goo.gl/CPTsV5), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BigThinkdotcom), and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/bigthink).

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation to ban the domestic shark fin trade. This action addresses shark finning, a cruel practice where fins are removed at sea and the

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation to ban the domestic shark fin trade. This action addresses shark finning, a cruel practice where fins are removed at sea and the shark's body is discarded. While finning is illegal in U.S. waters, fins are still traded, often imported from countries with inadequate protections.

The global shark fin trade is a primary driver of declining shark populations worldwide, impacting an estimated 73 million sharks annually. This unsustainable demand has led to over 90% declines in some populations, threatening one-third of species in major trade hubs with extinction. The U.S. ban aims to mitigate this devastating impact.

Music by Adam Lindquist.

Join Nate Abercrombie, CCL Conservative Outreach Coordinator, for a training on effectively communicating the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act to conservatives.

Nate reviews

Join Nate Abercrombie, CCL Conservative Outreach Coordinator, for a training on effectively communicating the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act to conservatives.

Nate reviews conservative climate messaging, emphasizing how the bill aligns with core conservative political and economic values. The session covers general communication tips and key aspects of climate change that resonate most with conservatives.

Further resources are available at cclusa.org/communicating-with-conservatives, citizensclimatelobby.org/conservatives-on-climate-change/, citizensclimatelobby.org/conservative-guide-climate-policy/, and community.citizensclimate.org/topics/communicating-across-the-aisle/conservatives.

Doorae Shin fell in love with Hawai‘i's majestic landscapes as a freshman on O‘ahu, but was dismayed by Styrofoam litter and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems. In fall 2012, she

Doorae Shin fell in love with Hawai‘i's majestic landscapes as a freshman on O‘ahu, but was dismayed by Styrofoam litter and its devastating impact on marine ecosystems. In fall 2012, she partnered with the Surfrider Foundation to lead a student petition, gathering 1,000 signatures. This effort successfully prompted the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa to ban single-use foam packaging from all campus dining locations.

Following this campus victory, Shin spent two years advocating for a statewide Styrofoam ban. When that initiative failed, she joined efforts for a county-wide ban on O‘ahu. Shin will soon begin her role as the University of Hawai‘i system's first student sustainability coordinator.

Daniel C. Esty, Yale Professor and editor of "A Better Planet: 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future" (purchase [here](https://bigth.ink/Esty)), argues generational pressure is key to climate

Daniel C. Esty, Yale Professor and editor of "A Better Planet: 40 Big Ideas for a Sustainable Future" (purchase [here](https://bigth.ink/Esty)), argues generational pressure is key to climate change policy. He contends environmental progress requires a fundamental shift in values, viewing planetary contamination as a moral wrong. Young people are driving this transformation, demanding action from leaders and challenging the status quo, mirroring past societal shifts like attitudes towards smoking.

Watch Esty's full discussion and other expert-driven content on Big Think. Get new videos daily on [YouTube](https://bigth.ink/youtube) and exclusive access via [Big Think Edge](https://bigth.ink/Edge). Explore more at [BigThink.com](https://bigth.ink) and follow Big Think on social media, including [Facebook](https://bigth.ink/facebook) and [Instagram](https://bigth.ink/instagram).

Changing weather patterns, with stronger storms and droughts, demand land restoration. We need to free land to absorb flooding, recover hydrology, and enhance natural systems for CO2

Changing weather patterns, with stronger storms and droughts, demand land restoration. We need to free land to absorb flooding, recover hydrology, and enhance natural systems for CO2 sequestration.

The automotive age has brought mobility at a steep environmental cost. Gas cars are disastrous, leading to ecosystem loss as paved surfaces cover soil and absorb heat; EVs don't solve this land-use issue. Additionally, three-quarters of arable land converted to animal agriculture compounds this recipe for disaster.

For further insights, consult Bill Selby's The California Skywatcher or visit the FacingFuture Library for more information.

Amara Ifeji, 20, recognized the lack of environmental opportunities in marginalized communities. In 2018, she began facilitating environmental learning for students of color. She later became a

Amara Ifeji, 20, recognized the lack of environmental opportunities in marginalized communities. In 2018, she began facilitating environmental learning for students of color. She later became a director for the Maine Environmental Changemakers Network, an intergenerational group of 400+ youth promoting a just, inclusive, and equitable environmental movement.

Amara elevates youth voices in state and federal policy. In 2021, she coordinated Maine’s first climate education summit, gathering young people’s visions. This led to her helping create and implement a bill funding over $2 million for climate education in the state. Learn more at broweryouthawards.org.

Earth Guardians and CREDO Mobile present a video highlighting CREDO's over $100 million in donations to environmental and social justice nonprofits, including Earth Guardians. Since 2017, CREDO

Earth Guardians and CREDO Mobile present a video highlighting CREDO's over $100 million in donations to environmental and social justice nonprofits, including Earth Guardians. Since 2017, CREDO has supported Earth Guardians' youth-led climate initiatives and global justice efforts.

The video features Kellie Berns, Earth Guardians' Global Program Director, discussing CREDO's tangible impact on their programs and operations.

Watch the video to learn how you can make a difference. Support Earth Guardians by switching to CREDO Mobile, turning your phone bill into a force for good, or by joining and donating to our movement. Together, we can protect our planet and empower future leaders.

Our bodies are naturally wired to conserve energy, a trait inherited from ancestors who faced food scarcity. Even today, we expend about 1,400 calories daily just to stay alive, leading us to

Our bodies are naturally wired to conserve energy, a trait inherited from ancestors who faced food scarcity. Even today, we expend about 1,400 calories daily just to stay alive, leading us to instinctively avoid unnecessary physical activity despite readily available energy sources. This perspective, distinguishing between athletic performance and true health, is explored by Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard professor of Human Evolutionary Biology.

Learn more from Daniel Lieberman on Big Think's YouTube channel, including his insights on exercise myths: Harvard professor debunks the biggest exercise myths. Read the full video transcript here.