Youth petitioner Carl Smith shares how much warmer life is getting in Akiak, Alaska. The permafrost at the edge of his nearby river is thawing and erosion is to coming closer and closer to homes. His grandfather, Clifton Smith, says the river that once served as a road during the winter is now too thin and dangerous to ride.
TRANSCRIPT
THE MAIN EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AROUND HERE ARE LESS
SNOW, AND IT'S JUST ICY OUT ON
THE RIVER. AND DURING THE
SUMMER, IT SOMETIMES GETS SO HOT
THAT FISH START FLOATING IN THE
RIVER DEAD 'CAUSE THERE'S NO
OXYGEN IN THE RIVER.
[ENGINE CHUGGING]
CARL: THE PERMAFROST IS
DEFROSTING, AND IT'S NOT HARD
ENOUGH FOR THE WAVES TO HIT. AND
USUALLY WHEN THE WAVES HIT, IT
JUST BOUNCES OFF AND IT DOESN'T
ERODE. NOWADAYS, IT'S JUST TOO
SOFT AND IT'S JUST BREAKING DOWN
THE DIRT ON OUR LAND.
