'The planet's on f***ing fire': Bill Nye rants about climate change, warns 'this is an actual crisis'
America's most beloved scientist has spoken his mind with fans about how serious the issue of climate change is. 63-year-old Bill Nye made a cameo on May 12's episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to explain to the audience the complicated world of carbon pricing as well as the importance of the Green New Deal that is being championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
PEOPLE reported that in the satirical sketch, Nye, who had been the host of PBS show Bill Nye the Science Guy for around five years in the 90s, ditched the classic experiments for what Oliver said were "lighthearted demonstrations". Nye took a less formal approach to let the increasing risks of global warming sink in.
Nye said while engulfing a globe in flames: "By the end of this century, if emissions keep rising, the average temperature on Earth could go up another four to eight degrees. What I’m saying is the planet’s on f—ing fire. There are a lot of things we could do to put it out — are any of them free? No, of course not. Nothing’s free, you idiots. Grow the f— up. You’re not children anymore. I didn’t mind explaining photosynthesis to you when you were 12. But you’re adults now, and this is an actual crisis, got it?"
Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal earlier in the year, which aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs, and be able to secure clean air and water for all citizens. During Nye's cameo, he also tried to explain "carbon pricing" in layman's terms so that everyone could understand.
Nye said: "When we release carbon, say, by burning coal or driving an SUV, all of us pay for that in the form of things like fires, floods and crop failures. Putting a fee on carbon creates incentives to emit less carbon, and, more importantly, it also incentivizes the development of low-carbon technology, which is huge, because that’s vital to reducing emissions globally."
He added: "And because for some reason, John, you’re a 42-year-old man who needs his attention sustained by tricks, here’s some f—ing Mentos and a bottle of Diet Coke. Happy now?" Nye then demonstrated the reaction between the Diet Coke and the mints.
This isn't the first time the country's most loved scientist has been so vocal about climate change. He has previously called out climate change skeptics in season 1 of his Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World, which featured celebrity guests including Karlie Kloss and Zach Braff.
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