(upbeat music) - TEDx Salt Lake City hosts its 13th annual event at the Capitol Theater, spotlighting climate solutions as part of TED Countdown.

Hanko Kiessner and Sara Jones join us today to share what is in store.

Thank you so much, Sara, Hanko, for being here.

- Thanks for having us.

- Just in case there's someone out there who is unfamiliar with TED and TED Talks, can you tell our audience what TED Talks are and what makes them special?

- Yeah, TED Talks are all about ideas.

So typically those ideas sit within technology, entertainment, design, sometimes they're social issues.

But it's really focusing an idea that can change everything.

So that's their tagline, "Ideas change everything."

And so we wanna really focus and hone in on an idea.

So our speakers aren't picked up because they're popular, or they're the latest fad, or anything like that.

We wanna get right to that kernel of idea that's going to open people's mind and create change.

- Okay, I love that.

And I've always been a fan of TED Talks.

And, Hanko, you get to speak, you are a speaker this year.

And what is your big idea?

- My big idea is about electrifying the economy and creating a zero-emission society, but most of all, coming up with a methodology that enables everyone to participate.

That is, I think, what's one of the most important things, specifically here in Utah, where we can all participate in creating a more sustainable environment.

- That is such a big issue here in Utah, and Salt Lake, especially with the Great Salt Lake and so much happening with the climate.

And the theme for this event is climate.

And so what else can you tell us about Salt Lake that makes it an important place to talk about climate?

- I think it's a very entrepreneurial and innovative economy here.

An innovative economy needs motivated people, happy people.

And we are right at the threshold of being an unsustainable desert versus vibrant forests, mountains with snow pack, clean air.

That is what we all need to live.

And that is why, even for business leaders, this is a very important topic to connect economy and sustainability.

- Oh, well, thank you so much for bringing TED to Salt Lake City, and your talk sounds amazing and your idea sounds amazing.

Thank you so much for sharing it with us today.

- Thank you.

- If you would like to learn more about this event, the TEDx Salt Lake City, there are still tickets available.

It's the Countdown event, it will happen on September 22nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Capitol Theater.

You can learn more and get your tickets at tedxsaltlakecity.com.

That is tedxsaltlakecity.com.

(upbeat music) I'm Laura Durham, and thank you for watching "Contact."

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