GEOFF BENNETT: One of the global problems## being addressed at this week's U.N.# General Assembly is the climate crisis.

Multiple wars and other geopolitical tensions# have cast a particularly sobering shadow over## whether nations can meet meaningful# pledges they have made, but, tonight,## a more optimistic conversation# about what individuals can do.

Amna Nawaz recently spoke with marine biologist## Ayana Elizabeth Johnson about her# new book, "What If We Get It Right?"

AMNA NAWAZ: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, welcome# to the "News Hour."

Thanks for joining us.

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON, Author, "What If We Get# It Right?

: Visions of Climate Futures": Thanks## for .. AMNA NAWAZ: So the title itself of your book.. change.

It forces us to imagine success,# instead of failure.

Why frame it that way?

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: I don't know if it's# success so much as possibility, right?

What if## we get it right has a question mark at the end of# it.

And I feel like at the very least we should## not assume failure and acknowledge that getting# it as right as possible absolutely matters.

This is not apocalypse or paradise.

It's# really like, how close can we get to paradise?

AMNA NAWAZ: You start the book# with this question.

You say that## you're most often asked at parties# when people find out what you do.

I'm going to use the safe for TV# version here.

The question is,## basically, how screwed are we?

So what do# you tend to say when people ask you that?

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: Well,# we're pretty screwed unless we## all roll up our sleeves and do something, right?

I mean, the place where I learned to swim,# the waters off of Southern Florida reached## 100 degrees Fahrenheit last year.

Those# are literally hot tub temperatures.

Coral## reefs cannot survive that.

All species# on this planet are evolved to have a## pretty narrow range of temperature,# salinity, humidity comfort zones.

And so we're getting to just be out of the comfort## zone of current modern life# on Earth, including humans.

I mean, there are places where it is too# hot for normal human life now.

So we're## going to have to figure out how to adapt# to be more resilient to things.

And so## getting it right is not just about stopping# things from getting worse.

It's about,how## do we adapt to this world that is already# changed and is going to continue to change?

AMNA NAWAZ: There's a short passage from your## book I want to share here that# kind of captures you.. You write: "Humans have evolved# to not leap into a void.

That's## dangerous.

So we need something firm to aim# for, something with love and joy in it.

And## we need the gumption that emerges from# an effervescent sense of possibility."

So, Ayana, when you talk about getting# it right and those possibilities,## what are those possibilities?

What's# the something firm to aim for?

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: I# think it's really important## to understand that we basically# have all the solutions.. We already know how to make energy that's# clean and renewable.

We already know how## to green buildings and be more efficient with# our energy.

We know how to do public transit,## and high-speed rail would be amazing to have# in the U.S., wouldn't it?

And composting and## bike lanes and regenerative agriculture# and protecting and restoring ecosystems.

I just want people to understand that we have# the solutions we need.

It's implementation of## those solutions that's really not up# to the pace that we need.

There's a## lack of political will that's holding us# back.

There's some cultural change that## needs to happen in order to shift the# status quo.

But it really is possible.

There are so many possible futures that are# better than the trajectory we're currently on.

So,## yes, I mean, I love that word gumption.

And# possibility is the thing that I hold on to,## even though I'm not an optimist, per# se.

I'm a scientist and a realist.

I## know that there's a lot we could each be doing# to make sure we have the best possible future.

AMNA NAWAZ: Can I ask you more# about that lack of political## will?

Because that's often where# the finger-pointing goes, right?

There's political divisions that fuel that lack of## action.

There's enough people who# don't believe that climate change## is real or that human action could change the# directions right now.

How do you look at that?

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: Well, first# I find it, like, most jarring once you## learn that a lot of those politicians are just# pretending they don't believe it because it's## politically expedient.

They know that the# science is real.

It's just a game, right?

And to play that game with the future of# life on Earth is unforgivably reckless.## But I think the opportunity in there# is to -- we don't even really have to## talk about the climate crisis in# order to agree on the solutions.

So, for example, it is Iowa and Texas# that have the most wind energy in the## United States.

And that's not because# there's a bunch of hippies running## around.

It's because it makes economic# sense.

It's because they're good jobs.

And the same with the Inflation Reduction# Act.

It's mostly red states that are## benefiting from the surge in manufacturing,# for example, batteries for electric cars and## things like that.

I think that's what's# missing in a lot of this conversation.

AMNA NAWAZ: What about at the individual# level?

From all the conversations you## feature in your book, what do you take away# in terms of what's standing in the way of## people acting at an individual level to do what# they think they need to address climate change?

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: I think some people# think they're part of it doesn't matter.

I think some people don't know where to# start.

And to those people, I would say## it absolutely matters.

Our actions add up.# We're voting with our dollars and our time## and how we spread the word and use# whatever influence it is that we have.

More broadly, I have sketched out something that# I call a climate action Venn diagram.

And that's## three simple circles.

And the first one is,# what are you good at?

So what are your skills,## your resources, your networks?

What can# you specifically bring to the table?

The second one is, what is the work that# needs doing?

There are hundreds of climate## injustice solutions.

So pick one and# get moving.

And the third circle is,## what brings you joy or satisfaction, right?# What gets you out of bed in the morning?## And finding each of us, that sweet spot in# the center, that's what we should be doing.

AMNA NAWAZ: The book is called# "What If We Get It Right?

:## Visions of Climate Futures."

The# author is Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.

Thank you so much for joining# us.

Good to speak with you.

AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON: Thank you.