Philosopher William MacAskill coined the term "longtermism" to convey the idea that humans have a moral responsibility to protect the future of humanity, prevent it from going extinct and create a better future for many generations to come. He outlines this concept in his new book, What We Owe the Future. Matt Crockett hide caption
A formerly sunken boat sits high and dry along the shoreline of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, on May 10, near Boulder City, Nev. John Locher/AP hide caption
Elephants at a water pan in Hwange National Park in north western Zimbabwe. The sanctuary has a capacity for 15,000 elephants, but it currently hosts more than 45,000 according to ZimParks, the country's wildlife management authority. Tendai Marima for NPR hide caption
Blacktail Deer Creek in Yellowstone National Park, seen here in a 2019 photo from the ecological study known as NEON, is one site where researchers have bubbled sulfur hexafluoride into the water. NEON hide caption
Levi Draheim has spent half his life involved in climate change litigation aimed at holding federal and state leaders accountable on fossil fuels. Robin Loznak/Our Children's Trust hide caption
People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave in Hoboken, N.J., on July 21, 2022. Andres Kudacki/AP hide caption
Grape vines at Korbel vineyards are submerged under floodwater Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, near Guerneville, Calif. The Central Valley produces $17 billion worth of crops every year. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Ben Margot/AP hide caption
A view of a dry lake bed near the village of Conoplja, 150 kilometers north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Darko Vojinovic/AP hide caption
While the U.S. military has used burn pits in other conflicts, one expert says they were exceptionally large in Iraq and Afghanistan. Scott Nelson/Getty Images hide caption
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 7: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gives the thumbs up as he leaves the Senate Chamber after passage of the Inflation Reduction Act at the U.S. Capitol August 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption
The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for residential solar and battery storage systems, along with other measures aimed at encouraging individuals to cut their carbon emissions. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption
Temperatures in Longyearbyen, Norway above the Arctic Circle hit a new record above 70 degrees Fahrenheit in July 2020. The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the planet as a whole since 1979, a new study finds. Sean Gallup/Getty Images hide caption
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., leaves a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, where he spoke to reporters about the Inflation Reduction Act. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
A person picks through trash for reusable items as a fire rages at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, April 27, 2022. Manish Swarup/AP hide caption
Steve Holett surveys the aftermath of the Elmo 2 Fire at his property, where he had spent the last 18 months building a home. Lisa Holett hide caption
Adventurer Bear Grylls is the host of National Geographic's Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge. National Geographic/Ben Simms hide caption
Since May, authorities have now uncovered four sets of human remains at Lake Mead, as the country's largest reservoir deals with extremely low water levels. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Zoos across the country are taking several steps to help animals beat the heat this summer. Eric Gay/AP hide caption
Vehicles after a flood in July 2022 in Jackson, Ky. Deadly floods in the region were caused by very heavy rain. Michael Swensen/Getty Images hide caption
Seaweed covers the Atlantic shore in Frigate Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis, on Wednesday. A record amount of seaweed is smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto Rico to Barbados. Ricardo Mazalan/AP hide caption
New Zealand Climate Change Minister James Shaw poses for a photo at Owhiro Bay beach in Wellington, New Zealand, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Mark Mitchell/AP hide caption
High tide flooding in downtown Annapolis, Md., in 2021. The number of days with high tide flooding is accelerating on the East and Gulf coasts. Brian Witte/AP hide caption
