>> OUR NEXT GUEST IS THE NATIONAL CLIMATE ADVISOR FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

HIS JOB COULD NOT BE MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW WITH 23 SEPARATE BILLION-DOLLAR WEATHER AND CLIMATE DISASTERS THIS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT IT?

ALI ZAIDI JOINS MICHEL MARTIN, PART OF THE PERIL AND PROMISE, ON CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> THANKS.

ALI ZAIDI, THANKS FOR SPEAKING WITH US.

>> IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WHY DON'T WE START WITH THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THEY LAUNCHED THE AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS.

SAYING THAT IT WILL PUT 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ON CAREER PATHWAYS IN GROWING FIELDS OF CLEAN ENERGY, CONSERVATION, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

>> WE FACE A MASSIVE CHALLENGE IN THE FORM OF THE CLIMATE RICES.

THAT WE ALSO HAVE A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY.

THE PRESIDENT HAS LOOKED AT THE PLAYBOOK FROM THE NEW DEAL ERA AND IS LEVERAGING THAT PLAYBOOK HERE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE TASK OF BUILDING A CLEANER, MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY.

HOW IT WILL WORK IS WE HAVE CREATED A PATHWAY THAT HAS A LOWER BARRIER TO ENTRY.

20,000 FOLKS IN THE FIRST RECOUPMENT CLASS, OUR GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR.

WITH NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, THIS WILL BE THE WAY FOLKS FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS GET SUITED UP INTO CAREERS OF CLEAN ENERGY, AT A TIME WHEN WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM.

>> HOW DOES IT WORK?

SIGN UP, YOU MAY HAVE SOME SKILLS AND MAY NOT BUT YOU GET THE TRAINING YOU NEED AND YOU ARE DEPLOYED TO CERTAIN PLACES?

IS THAT THE IDEA HERE?

>> NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED, NO BACKGROUND NECESSARY, EVERY BACKGROUND WELCOME.

WE WERE WAR WE WILL WORK DOUBLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE SURE WE WORK.

THEY WILL --AS THEY LEARN THE BASIC SKILLS OF BEING PART OF THE CLEAN ENERGY, CONSERVATION OR RESILIENCE ECONOMY.

IF THEY ARE DOING SOLAR, GETTING COMFORTABLE BEING ON A ROOF AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE EQUIPMENT IS.

OF COURSE AFTER THIS THEY WILL JOIN AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND CONTINUE TO DEEPEN THEIR SKILLS.

BUT THIS IS THEIR ENTRY POINT.

>> CAN I STOP YOU THERE?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THERE ARE SUFFICIENT PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS TO EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE?

ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT ONCE THESE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED, WILL THEY HAVE SOMEPLACE TO GO TO USE THEIR SKILLS?

>> THIS IS A RED-HOT JOB MARKET.

WE TALKED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC THAT COMES UP WHEN THEY LOOK OUT THE FIGURES ON THE HORIZON IS ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE THE WORKERS NEEDED TO DO THIS WORK?

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF WIND AND SOLAR FARMS BEING BUILT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JUST ONE BEING CONNECTED TO A POWER LINE IN NEW MEXICO ALONE WILL PROVIDE AS MUCH POWER AS THE HOOVER DAM.

ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW THE UNITED STATES IS IN THE GAME OF BUILDING MASSIVE MILLION HOMES WORTH OF SOLAR AND WIND FARMS.

WE HAVE GOT OVER 100 CLEAN ENERGY FACTORIES ANNOUNCED SINCE THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE ACT , AND COUNTING.

EXPANDING.

ON THE PUBLIC-SECTOR SIDE WE HAVE THE DEMAND AS WELL.

THE FOREST SERVICE HAS AN AGING AND RETIRING WORKFORCE.

WE NEED TO FILL FOLKS INTO THOSE JOBS.

WHETHER IT IS NATURE-BASED OR CLEAN SOLUTIONS, WE KNOW THERE IS A MASSIVE DEMAND.

THIS IS US RESPONDING BY BUILDING AN AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS TO HELP MEET THE DEMAND.

>> THE ORIGINAL BILL REQUIRED $30,000, EIGHT $30 MILLION, IS IT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DENT?

IS IT ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE MARKET?

>> THE INVESTMENT PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS A GOOD IDEA THEN AND NOW.

WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS COMMITTED TO DOING IS TAKING STEPS THAT HE CAN WITH EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

NOT WAITING ON CONGRESS TO ACT, NOT ALLOWING US TO BE STALLED OUT IN THIS DECISIVE ACTIVE DECADE.

SHOULD WE BE GROWING IT?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE BEST WAY IS TO GET MOVING NOW AND THAT FIRST RECRUITMENT CLASS WILL HELP PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD.

SHOW PEOPLE HOW GOOD OF A VALUE PROPOSITION THIS IS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STATES, PHILANTHROPY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

AND HOPEFULLY WITH CONGRESS AS WELL.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE OTHER DIRECTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A LEGAL BATTLE WITH A GROUP OF AMERICAN SUING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER CONTINUED USE OF FOSSIL FUELS, NOW THE DEPARTMENT IS FIGHTING TO KEEP THE CASE FROM GOING TO TRIAL.

DO YOU KNOW WHY THE ADMINISTRATION IS SO COMMITTED TO FIGHTING THE CASE OR KEEPING IT FROM GOING TO TRIAL?

>> MICHEL I CANNOT COMMENT ON THE NEGATION.

THE DOJ INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPS LITIGATION STRATEGY AND ADVANCES IT.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT CALLING FOR MOBILIZATION, ORGANIZING AND GREATER POLITICAL SUPPORT BEHIND BOLD AND EXPANSIVE CLIMATE ACTION.

THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO PASS THE LARGEST CLIMATE BILL NOT JUST AN AMERICAN HISTORY BUT IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

THAT IS WHY HE CONTINUES TO USE HIS AUTHORITY TO ACCELERATE CLIMATE ACTION AND HAS BEEN DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS WORKING WITH AND THROUGH A BROAD COALITION, URBAN AND RURAL, YOUNG AND OLD, ORGANIZERS OF EVERY STRIPE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO BUILD THE POLITICAL CASE TO GO FASTER AND FASTER.

WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THE LARGEST CLIMATE BILL ALREADY.

AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF ROLES FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS TO PLAY THROUGH VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND VARIOUS --TO MAKE THE CASE FOR HOW WE GO FASTER.

>> OKAY FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, THE ADMIN ANNOUNCED A DIRECTIVE FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES TO CONSIDER THE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THEIR BUDGETS.

IT IS A POLICY KNOWN AS THE SOCIAL COST OF GREENHOUSE GASES.

THIS IS SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE PUSHED FOR FOR YEARS BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED PART OF AN OFFER GOVERNMENT APPROACH.

THIS IS IMPORTANT AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT AND CALCULATE WHAT THE EFFECTS OF ANYTHING THEY DO IS TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS KIND OF AN EXISTENTIALIST THREAT.

ON ONE HAND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE FIELD THAT HAVE CALLED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN A LONG TIME.

ON THE OTHER HAND THERE IS STILL TREMENDOUS POLITICAL OPPOSITION.

I MEAN THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA, SAYING THAT THE CARBON METRICS ARE UNPROVEN FIGURES THAT THE ADMIN IS GOING TO USE TO JUSTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES THAT DRIVE UP COSTS FOR FAMILIES, HAMSTRING EMPLOYEES AND DELAY JOB CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE FROM EVER MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE UNDER STRESS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NOT A SECRET, NOT NECESSARILY ANYBODY'S FAULT.

YOU COULD ARGUE THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH LIKE TERRIBLE INFLATION, PEOPLE'S BUDGET, EVEN FOOD PRICES.

THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> LET'S TALK PRIORITIES.

WE ARE THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS HOSTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE A SUMMIT WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ABOUT HOW TO BOOST RESILIENCE AND RESPOND TO CRISES AS THEY SHOW UP IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ON THE OTHER END OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE THEY ARE MESSING AROUND AND TRYING TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT AND WILL HAMSTRING OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, FEMA, FROM HELPING WITH RECOVERY AT 2000 PROJECTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO HELP REBUILD AFTER DISASTER.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOWED UP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE GOT HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR WHO ARE TRYING TO PREVENT FEMA FROM DOING ITS JOB.

LET'S TALK CONSUMER COSTS, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET DOLLARS INTO HANDS OF FAMILIES TO HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR ENERGY COSTS.

WE HAVE SOME GOVERNORS DENYING REBATE DOLLARS THAT WOULD HELP FOLKS LIKE FIXED INCOME SENIORS RETROFIT AND REDUCE ENERGY COSTS.

WE HAVE SEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED USA UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S LEADERSHIP.

WE HAVE GOT FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CALLING FOR REPEALS OF TAX CREDITS THAT ARE CREATING MANUFACTURING JOBS IN THEIR BACKYARDS.

I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES ARE CLEAR, LINED UP WITH THOSE WITH FRONT OF MINE, ANXIETY ABOUT CLIMATE, ABOUT WHETHER THE USA WILL COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL CLEAN ENERGY RACE.

THE PRESIDENT IS FOCUSED ON DELIVERING RESULTS.

>> IT MAY BE TOP OF MIND BUT THE ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION INITIATIVES DO NOT SEEM TO BE UNDERSTOOD TO BE TOP OF MIND.

DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THEY ARE TOP OF MIND WITH VOTERS.

THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT OVER A YEAR AGO.

IT IS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER.

ACCORDING TO A POLL RELEASED LITTLE OR NONE.

57% DISAPPROVE OF HIS HANDLING OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

HOW YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

>> I THINK FOLKS ARE LOOKING FOR US TO GO FASTER AND FASTER COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNTRY.

I THINK POLES ARE AN IMPERFECT INSTRUMENT MEASURING EIGHT POINT IN TIME WHERE THE REALITY IS AS I SEE IT PLACES LIKE WEST VIRGINIA, WHERE THERE WAS A STEEL PLANT SHUTTERED AND NOW IT IS TURNED BACK ON MAKING BATTERIES.

THERE WAS A SOFA CAPITAL OF THE WORLD MANUFACTURING IN GEORGIA, THOSE JOBS WIN NOW THEY MANUFACTURE SOLAR.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS POWERPLANTS THAT WIN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES BEING REPOWERED WITH CLEAN ENERGY.

WE ARE REVITALIZING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP ACROSS THE FACILITIES TODAY, WE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT POSITIVE IMPACT IS I THINK MORE AND MORE AMERICANS CAN TAPPAN TO CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND HOW MASSIVELY THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE REDUCTION ACT, EVERY LINE ITEM IS OFF THE CHARTS POPULAR WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

DOLLARS TO HELP RETROFIT, BIDEN TAX CREDITS TO HELP CLEAN APPLIANCES CHEAPER.

IS ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR PROVISIONS.

I UNDERSTAND IN WASHINGTON PEOPLE LIKE TO FLING MUD AND TRY TO MAKE ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION LOOK FUNNY OR THE OTHER.

BUT THE REALITY IS THEY ARE MASSIVELY POPULAR PROVISIONS THAT MAKE A MESS OF DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE WILL KEEP AT DELIVERING RESULTS ON THIS WORK.

>> IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THE WHOLE IS FAILING TO MEET THE PARIS CLIMATE GOALS BY 2030.

IN FACT WE SEE IN THE UK BE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER HAS PUBLICLY STATED AS A MATTER OF POLICY HE WANTS TO SLOW DOWN HIS GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENTS THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN MADE.

IS IT STILL POSSIBLE WE COULD PREVENT 1.5 DEGREES OF WARMING TO BLUNT THE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> ANYONE THAT TELLS YOU HITTING 1 1/2 DEGREES WILL BE A LAYUP OR AN EASY EXERCISE, IS BLOWING SMOKE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND UNPRECEDENTED THING.

WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON TOGETHER.

BY THE WAY IN THIS DECISIVE DECADE FOR CLIMATE ACTION THAT IS HOW THE IPCC VIEWS THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND 2030.

WE CANNOT BE SLOWING DOWN.

AS A COUNTRY AND THE USA, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TO HAVE APPROACH THAT IS PAIRED WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP HERE AT HOME.

WHEN THE USA SHOWS UP TO THE GLOBAL STAGE TODAY WE HAVE NOT ASSIGNED OURSELVES BACK INTO THE PARIS AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE COME BACK TO THE TABLE AS A LEADER THAT IS HELPING NOT ONLY DRIVE DOWN THE COST OF CLEAN ENERGY HERE AT HOME BUT THE COST OF CLEAN ENERGY AROUND THE WORLD.

THAT GIVES US A GREAT DEAL OF LEVERAGE TO PUSH FOR GREATER ACTION.

TAKE METHANE FOR EXAMPLE, A SUPER POLLUTING GREENHOUSE GAS, 80 TIMES WORSE THAN CO2.

THE U.S. SET AGGRESSIVE STANDARDS FOR ITSELF ON METHANE.

THAT IS WHY I THINK THE PRESIDENT WAS ABLE TO GET OVER 100 COUNTRIES TO JOIN HIS GLOBAL METHANE PLEDGE.

SO THEN THE WORLD CAN MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

SO I AM A PERPETUAL AND CONGENITAL OPTIMIST.

THAT IS HOW I AM ABLE TO WORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

I BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT THIS CHAPTER OF HISTORY WILL NOT BE TOLD AS A CHAPTER, AS A STORY OF GLOOM AND DOOM.

IT WILL BE A CHAPTER WRITTEN AS A STORY OF HOPE AND POSSIBILITIES WHEN WE SEE WE SEIZE THE MOMENT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, WE DROVE SOLUTIONS FORWARD.

THAT IS POSSIBLE AND WITHIN OUR REACH.

JUST YESTERDAY --SAID IT IS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE TECHNOLOGIES, PATHWAYS, TOOLS, WE JUST NEED TO DO THE WORK.

>> THE SURVEY SHOWED A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL DESPAIR ABOUT CLIMATE.

YOU HEAR YOUNG PEOPLE SAY IN SURVEYS THAT IF YOU ASKED THEM, WHAT HE WANTED DO WHEN YOU BECOME AN ADULT?

DO YOU WANT A FAMILY?

SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WILL SAY SURE IF THE WORLD IS NOT UNDERWATER BY THE TIME I GET TO THAT POINT.

OR SURE, IF WE ARE NOT OUT OF WATER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I AM GUESSING YOU HAVE HEARD THIS.

I AM CURIOUS, IF THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT FEEL THAT WAY LISTENING TO OUR CONVERSATION, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> IT IS EASY NOW WHETHER YOU SIGN IN ONLINE OR TUNE INTO THE TELEVISION, TO FEEL THAT SENSE OF DESPAIR AND DOOM.

YOU SEE THE SKY TURN ORANGE, YOU BREATHE IN FOLK SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.

IT IS REALLY EASY TO GET RESIGNED TO A REALITY THAT NECESSARILY WILL KEEP GETTING WORSE.

YOUNG PEOPLE I THINK HAVE SHOWN A DIFFERENT PATH, JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE DECIDED TO ORGANIZE, MARCH, TO STRIKE ON FRIDAYS AND OTHER DAYS.

CAME OUT IN RECORD NUMBERS AND HANDED THIS PRESIDENT NOT ONLY A SHOT TO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING BUT A MANDATE TO DELIVER.

THANKS TO THEIR VOICE THE USA WENT FROM BEING ON A TRAJECTORY, TO BEING ON THE SIDELINES OF CLIMATE, TO HAVING EXITED THE PARIS AGREEMENT, TO BEING IN THE GAME OF DENIAL AND SKEPTICISM, TO HAVE PASS THE LARGEST CLIMATE BILL IN HISTORY OF ANY COUNTRY, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

MY MESSAGE EVERYWHERE I GO IS YOU ARE POWERFUL BEYOND HOW MUCH YOU REALIZE.

YOU ALREADY MOVE THE NEEDLE, HELPED US UNLEASH INCREDIBLE ECONOMIC DISPARITY, HELPED DELIVER INJUSTICE TO PLACES THAT FELT IT WOULD NEVER COME.

THE WORK IS NOT DONE.

BUT, BOY, THIS WILL NOT BE A STORY THAT IS TOLD IN GLOOM AND DESPAIR BUT A STORY TOLD IN HOPE AND POSSIBILITIES BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE OF ALREADY DONE.

>> ALI ZAIDI, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US.