Quin, a 9th grader at Treasure Mountain Junior High in Park City, Utah, shares how his passion for recycling cardboard has led to lifelong adventures.

This presentation was delivered at a

Quin, a 9th grader at Treasure Mountain Junior High in Park City, Utah, shares how his passion for recycling cardboard has led to lifelong adventures.

This presentation was delivered at a TEDx event, an independently organized local community event following the TED conference format. Learn more about TEDx: https://www.ted.com/tedx

Youth action is crucial to combat climate change and environmental destruction. The solution lies at the intersection of personal responsibility, technology, and sustainability. I believe

Youth action is crucial to combat climate change and environmental destruction. The solution lies at the intersection of personal responsibility, technology, and sustainability. I believe environmental awareness, coupled with resilience and perseverance, can inspire individual behavior change and ultimately transform the world.

I'm Marcelo da Paz, a 12th-grade student passionate about programming, soccer, video games, and making a global impact. This talk was delivered at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Eleven-year-old Sri Nihal Tammana founded Recycle My Battery to envision a cleaner, safer world. His nonprofit aims to shift public mindset on used battery disposal and raise awareness about the

Eleven-year-old Sri Nihal Tammana founded Recycle My Battery to envision a cleaner, safer world. His nonprofit aims to shift public mindset on used battery disposal and raise awareness about the dangers of improper methods.

Recycle My Battery provides certified collection bins and educates communities. To date, they have recycled over 55,000 batteries and taught more than 400,000 people about proper battery recycling.

Nihal's ultimate goal is to eliminate the 15 billion batteries discarded annually. His inspiring message, "If I can make the earth a better place to live, you can! If you can make the earth a better place to live, we all can!", was shared at a TEDx event.

Aeshnina, a 13-year-old environmental activist, is known for her brave advocacy against plastic waste. She challenged world leaders, including Donald Trump and Australia's Prime Minister, to

Aeshnina, a 13-year-old environmental activist, is known for her brave advocacy against plastic waste. She challenged world leaders, including Donald Trump and Australia's Prime Minister, to manage waste in their countries and reclaim it from Indonesia. Aeshnina also works to clean the Brantas River, builds an imported waste museum, and runs online campaigns via @river.warrior and @info.mistik.

Her talk highlights deep concern over plastic pollution in Indonesia's rivers and seas, emphasizing that producers must take responsibility for collecting and processing their waste. This presentation was given at an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more here.

COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted the global energy system, making a sustainable recovery and accelerated clean energy transitions uncertain. The impact of government responses on reaching

COVID-19 has profoundly disrupted the global energy system, making a sustainable recovery and accelerated clean energy transitions uncertain. The impact of government responses on reaching international energy and climate goals remains to be seen.

Dr. Elizabeth A. Kócs, an environment-behavior scientist, specializes in energy, sustainability, and urban resilience. Her work focuses on transportation, the electrical grid, and smart cities, leveraging expertise to address climate-related energy and transportation challenges.

She serves as Director for Partnerships and Strategy for the UIC Energy Initiative, an Energy Executive for NREL, and co-founder of the Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability. This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Katharina Flatt, 16, an IB1 student, is adventurous, open-minded, and curious. Growing up in central Germany, limited opportunities and her siblings' lives sparked an early desire to explore

Katharina Flatt, 16, an IB1 student, is adventurous, open-minded, and curious. Growing up in central Germany, limited opportunities and her siblings' lives sparked an early desire to explore diverse cultures. This led to exchanges in France, Peru, and the US, alongside family travels fostering a deep passion for nature.

Her interests culminated in "Classroom under Sails," a transformative half-year Atlantic voyage. This challenging experience—living in close quarters, performing night watches, and studying on a wavy ocean—exposed her to new cultures and intense natural environments. The journey prompted profound reflection on her lifestyle, particularly regarding environmental issues and inequality, fundamentally shifting her perspective on consumer society. She will share these insights.

Learn more about TEDx events: ted.com/tedx.

The younger generation, dubbed 'GenClimate,' is spearheading the climate change agenda. With the most to lose or gain, they are driving media and public attention towards achieving carbon

The younger generation, dubbed 'GenClimate,' is spearheading the climate change agenda. With the most to lose or gain, they are driving media and public attention towards achieving carbon neutrality.

Angus Mackay, Director of UNITAR’s Division for Planet, leads efforts to align environmental activities with Agenda 2030. UNITAR focuses on skills development and assessments, helping countries address critical environmental challenges—including climate change, waste management, and biodiversity—for sustainable development.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at TEDx.

Universities are increasingly addressing the interconnected challenges of pandemics, racial justice, and climate change. Dr. Cynthia Klein-Banai, a dynamic change agent and collaborative leader,

Universities are increasingly addressing the interconnected challenges of pandemics, racial justice, and climate change. Dr. Cynthia Klein-Banai, a dynamic change agent and collaborative leader, founded the UIC Office of Sustainability twelve years ago to tackle these issues.

Her team provides institutional value by supporting sustainability planning, projects, and reporting, enhancing UIC’s mission of student success, public health, and community service. The Office promotes UIC’s Climate Commitments—Carbon Neutral, Zero Waste, Net Zero Water, and Biodiverse University—advancing sustainable infrastructure through various initiatives.

Dr. Klein-Banai holds a Ph.D. in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences from UIC, where she also serves as an adjunct assistant professor. This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Cities are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions, yet they can actively contribute to environmental decarbonization. Peter Droege, an architect and leading expert in sustainable design

Cities are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions, yet they can actively contribute to environmental decarbonization. Peter Droege, an architect and leading expert in sustainable design and urban planning, offers ten immediate action points for cities. His insights were featured as the introduction to our conference, "The Architecture of Transition," which explored the built environment's pivotal role in shaping sustainable futures through imaginative and precise design.

Discover other conference interventions, including talks by urban sustainability experts, on YouTube: [TEDxTalks - Braillard Search](https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks/search?query=braillard). Learn more about independently organized TEDx events at [TED.com/TEDx](https://www.ted.com/tedx).

Communities amplify climate-positive actions and drive cultural change, crucial for sustainable progress. However, they require nurturing to overcome barriers like a lack of empathy or

Communities amplify climate-positive actions and drive cultural change, crucial for sustainable progress. However, they require nurturing to overcome barriers like a lack of empathy or diversity.

Dr. Anna Hands will discuss how communities foster sustainable behavior change to tackle the climate crisis. As director of PPL PWR, a non-profit promoting sustainability, and a Public Officer at the Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr. Hands brings diverse expertise.

This talk was presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.