1 00:00:11,929 --> 00:00:14,769 [birds squawking] 2 00:00:27,986 --> 00:00:30,446 [man] Firstly, we've got to consider your health and safety. 3 00:00:30,531 --> 00:00:32,531 So syringes, if you find any of those, 4 00:00:32,616 --> 00:00:34,946 if you could just let us know and we'll come and pick them up 5 00:00:35,035 --> 00:00:37,405 and put them into an appropriate pot and dispose of them. 6 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,870 Um... Make sure that you've got Wellington boots on, 7 00:00:40,958 --> 00:00:43,248 because they've got the protection on the bottom of the boot 8 00:00:43,335 --> 00:00:45,045 to make sure that nails, et cetera, 9 00:00:45,128 --> 00:00:47,208 that you might encounter won't go through your foot. 10 00:00:47,756 --> 00:00:51,046 And if the rat urine is on an object which you touch... 11 00:00:51,134 --> 00:00:53,514 [Zac] That's right... rat urine. 12 00:00:53,595 --> 00:00:55,965 ...then you might become unwell. 13 00:00:58,892 --> 00:00:59,772 [Zac] Nope. 14 00:00:59,851 --> 00:01:03,311 Despite how this looks, this is not court-ordered community service. 15 00:01:05,857 --> 00:01:07,437 Darin and I are volunteering. 16 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:11,489 In fact, everyone here is a volunteer. 17 00:01:12,573 --> 00:01:14,123 You really just need a shovel. 18 00:01:15,367 --> 00:01:17,787 [Zac] Picking up one piece of trash at a time. 19 00:01:20,664 --> 00:01:22,874 Because... you have to start somewhere. 20 00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:26,130 [inhales deeply, exhales] 21 00:01:27,421 --> 00:01:28,381 We're in Europe. 22 00:01:29,047 --> 00:01:32,967 In a highly-populated area  that was once overcome by pollution. 23 00:01:33,552 --> 00:01:37,392 Our mission is to learn how the city overcame lethal levels of smog 24 00:01:37,848 --> 00:01:39,558 and deadly river waters. 25 00:01:39,641 --> 00:01:43,651 Exercise the political voice we have, to demand change. 26 00:01:43,729 --> 00:01:46,149 [Zac] And, while the war against pollution is never-ending, 27 00:01:46,231 --> 00:01:48,031 many battles have been won. 28 00:01:48,108 --> 00:01:49,028 [Zac] So cool! 29 00:01:49,109 --> 00:01:52,529 -We're gonna meet some top eco-innovators. -So, you've come to see my river? 30 00:01:52,613 --> 00:01:54,953 To see how change is an inside job. 31 00:01:55,032 --> 00:01:58,292 This is a way that you could eat, and that it could be delicious. 32 00:01:58,368 --> 00:02:00,368 And every little bit helps. 33 00:02:00,829 --> 00:02:03,249 From a small plant, to what you eat. 34 00:02:03,665 --> 00:02:06,785 And we're gonna be eating... really, really well. 35 00:02:06,877 --> 00:02:09,087 -That's by far my favorite bite. -Yeah, it's unbelievable. 36 00:02:09,171 --> 00:02:10,051 Holy cow. 37 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:11,590 [Zac] This is London. 38 00:02:11,673 --> 00:02:14,473 Bye, Mom! [laughing] 39 00:02:14,551 --> 00:02:16,221 [Zac] Let me start at the beginning. 40 00:02:16,803 --> 00:02:18,723 A few years ago, I met Darin. 41 00:02:18,805 --> 00:02:21,765 -I can't feel my feet or my hands. -I'm proud of you, bro. 42 00:02:22,225 --> 00:02:23,095 Yeah. 43 00:02:23,185 --> 00:02:25,805 [Zac] He's a guru of healthy living and superfoods. 44 00:02:25,896 --> 00:02:28,106 Yes, great. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. 45 00:02:28,190 --> 00:02:31,440 You could say he wrote the book on the subject. Literally. 46 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:34,320 [Darin] A healthy lifestyle, solid principles. 47 00:02:34,404 --> 00:02:37,744 Darin and I are traveling around the world to find some new perspectives 48 00:02:37,824 --> 00:02:39,664 on some very old problems. 49 00:02:39,743 --> 00:02:42,083 [Darin] That's Mother Earth, bro. 50 00:02:42,496 --> 00:02:45,746 Searching for healthy, sustainable living solutions for the planet... 51 00:02:45,832 --> 00:02:46,672 [Zac] Wow. 52 00:02:46,750 --> 00:02:48,130 ...and all who live on it. 53 00:02:48,210 --> 00:02:49,750 Woo-hoo! 54 00:02:49,836 --> 00:02:51,626 Ignore the crazy white guy. 55 00:02:51,713 --> 00:02:54,933 -[Zac] And hey, you gotta eat too, right? -[Darin] You don't have to eat it. 56 00:02:55,008 --> 00:02:57,798 -How does it move like that? -[woman] Oh, my God. 57 00:02:57,886 --> 00:03:00,636 [Zac] It's time to get... Down to Earth. 58 00:03:04,226 --> 00:03:05,186 Trippy. 59 00:03:11,525 --> 00:03:14,485 [Zac] Before we head to London, we're stopping in New York City, 60 00:03:14,569 --> 00:03:17,359 a section of America that is no stranger to fighting pollution. 61 00:03:17,447 --> 00:03:19,237 [horns honking] 62 00:03:19,324 --> 00:03:22,624 One simple solution to the big city problems of pollution 63 00:03:22,703 --> 00:03:25,503 and high energy costs is a green roof. 64 00:03:25,914 --> 00:03:30,214 And on this rooftop, the hotel has 450,000 residents 65 00:03:30,293 --> 00:03:32,843 living here, in these beehives. 66 00:03:33,714 --> 00:03:37,384 [man] There are more honey bees in New York City than there are people. 67 00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:41,177 [Zac] And the guy in charge of wrangling  these almost half-million flying, 68 00:03:41,263 --> 00:03:43,643 stinging insects onto the rooftop 69 00:03:43,724 --> 00:03:47,194 is fourth-generation beekeeper, Andrew Coté. 70 00:03:47,269 --> 00:03:50,689 This is gonna be, like, my first up-close experience with bees. 71 00:03:50,772 --> 00:03:54,612 [Andrew] You're used to being mobbed by thousands of attentive young women. 72 00:03:54,693 --> 00:03:58,993 [Zac] Ah! See, that's a beekeeper's joke. Because all the workers are female. 73 00:03:59,072 --> 00:04:01,662 It's like looking into a mirror of a younger me, to be honest. 74 00:04:01,742 --> 00:04:02,702 I felt the same way! 75 00:04:02,784 --> 00:04:05,084 -You did? -You have rugged good looks. [scoffs] 76 00:04:05,162 --> 00:04:06,712 We're three blocks from Central Park. 77 00:04:06,788 --> 00:04:09,118 These ladies will fly over there, 78 00:04:09,207 --> 00:04:12,287 they'll enjoy a thousand acres' smorgasbord, 79 00:04:12,377 --> 00:04:15,547 and bring that nectar back here and turn it into honey. 80 00:04:15,630 --> 00:04:17,670 And they chill here just for the night? 81 00:04:17,758 --> 00:04:20,928 They live here, they breed here, they live and die here. 82 00:04:21,011 --> 00:04:23,511 But during the day, they go around and they cruise the city. 83 00:04:23,597 --> 00:04:25,057 Oh, yeah. They go around, 84 00:04:25,140 --> 00:04:27,350 they fly for three miles in every direction, 85 00:04:27,434 --> 00:04:30,024 and they always return to their own hive. 86 00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:32,943 [Zac] Bees are an important part of our ecosystem. 87 00:04:33,023 --> 00:04:36,073 These bees pollinate the flowering plants and tree population, 88 00:04:36,151 --> 00:04:38,361 which, in turn, helps the environment. 89 00:04:38,445 --> 00:04:42,155 But the bottom line is: without bees, we can't survive. 90 00:04:42,949 --> 00:04:46,119 And the byproduct of this process is sweet. 91 00:04:47,496 --> 00:04:48,706 Very sweet. 92 00:04:53,251 --> 00:04:57,421 What do you think the biggest issues for bees are right now, 93 00:04:57,506 --> 00:04:59,126 in this modern-day world? 94 00:04:59,216 --> 00:05:01,336 Inappropriate pesticide usage. 95 00:05:01,426 --> 00:05:03,086 -Genetically modified crops. -Wow. 96 00:05:03,178 --> 00:05:06,968 The bees land on a genetically modified plant 97 00:05:07,516 --> 00:05:09,476 that has a systemic poison in it, 98 00:05:09,559 --> 00:05:11,519 meant to repel the insect. 99 00:05:11,603 --> 00:05:14,313 -[Darin] Yep. -[Andrew] They carry that back to the hive 100 00:05:14,397 --> 00:05:16,647 -and aggro... -[Darin] The habitat gets messed up. 101 00:05:16,733 --> 00:05:18,573 The habitat gets messed up. Yeah. 102 00:05:19,194 --> 00:05:20,994 [Zac] Speaking of messing with habitats, 103 00:05:21,446 --> 00:05:23,986 the smoker safely calms the bees by masking 104 00:05:24,074 --> 00:05:27,914 or blocking the alarm pheromone being released from any upset bees. 105 00:05:27,994 --> 00:05:30,254 But sometimes one or two... 106 00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:32,750 -[Darin grunts] -...get a little buzzed-off anyway. 107 00:05:32,833 --> 00:05:34,463 -[Zac laughing] -[Andrew] Whoa. 108 00:05:35,085 --> 00:05:36,125 [Andrew] Are they inside? 109 00:05:36,211 --> 00:05:37,251 -[Darin] No. -[Andrew] No? 110 00:05:37,712 --> 00:05:39,382 -[Darin] No, he just... -You're all right. 111 00:05:40,048 --> 00:05:41,008 [Zac laughing] 112 00:05:41,091 --> 00:05:42,301 -[Darin] Whoa! -Did it get you? 113 00:05:42,384 --> 00:05:43,844 Yeah, it got right on the chin. 114 00:05:43,927 --> 00:05:44,847 -[Zac] Nuh-uh. -Yeah. 115 00:05:44,928 --> 00:05:47,718 -[Darin] I can feel it. -[Andrew] It lets you know you're alive. 116 00:05:47,806 --> 00:05:48,676 [Darin] Oh, yeah. 117 00:05:49,724 --> 00:05:51,524 [Andrew] This is harvestable honey. 118 00:05:51,852 --> 00:05:54,152 We can taste this one right now if you want to. 119 00:05:54,229 --> 00:05:55,399 [Darin] Let's taste it. 120 00:06:02,028 --> 00:06:04,408 This is one of the weirder ways I've ever been fed, but... 121 00:06:05,282 --> 00:06:06,532 [Zac smacking lips] 122 00:06:08,577 --> 00:06:10,287 -That's damn good honey. -[Darin] Yeah. 123 00:06:15,834 --> 00:06:18,464 [Darin] Since these are not around mono-cropping 124 00:06:18,545 --> 00:06:20,545 and they're going to Central Park, 125 00:06:20,630 --> 00:06:25,140 do you think that these bees are technically happier and healthier 126 00:06:25,218 --> 00:06:29,348 than bees that are exposed to mono-cropping and pesticides? 127 00:06:29,431 --> 00:06:31,101 I will tell you, generally speaking, yes. 128 00:06:31,182 --> 00:06:33,852 I think that urban honey bees are much, much healthier 129 00:06:33,935 --> 00:06:36,975 -than bees that are on mono-crops. -Wow, that's interesting. 130 00:06:37,772 --> 00:06:40,322 And I don't even think it can be argued otherwise. 131 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,400 Well, how about, like, other environmental toxins, 132 00:06:43,486 --> 00:06:46,486 like heavy metals and pollutants in the air? 133 00:06:46,573 --> 00:06:48,913 Because you go, "Hey, you know, we're in New York." 134 00:06:49,451 --> 00:06:54,081 But what about pollution? Does that show up in the honey, or... 135 00:06:54,164 --> 00:06:56,464 [Andrew] No. A good study done in France compared 136 00:06:56,541 --> 00:06:59,251 honey from Paris versus honey from the countryside in France. 137 00:06:59,336 --> 00:07:03,046 And they found that the honey from Paris had fewer chemicals in it. 138 00:07:03,131 --> 00:07:05,181 And I believe that's because there's less spraying... 139 00:07:05,258 --> 00:07:06,378 -done in the cities. -Really? 140 00:07:06,468 --> 00:07:08,848 -Yeah. -[Zac] Everything's better in Europe. 141 00:07:08,929 --> 00:07:11,639 [Zac] It's good to know that pollution has little to no direct effect 142 00:07:11,723 --> 00:07:12,813 on the bees' honey. 143 00:07:14,142 --> 00:07:17,652 But pollution still has a massive effect on people. 144 00:07:23,026 --> 00:07:25,736 Our flight to London happens  first thing in the morning. 145 00:07:26,112 --> 00:07:29,492 So on our last night in New York, we decided to blow off a little steam. 146 00:07:29,574 --> 00:07:32,124 [both laughing] 147 00:07:32,202 --> 00:07:33,042 [Darin] Oh, yeah! 148 00:07:33,119 --> 00:07:36,159 -[man] Feeling it now. -[Zac] Let me get on the board here. 149 00:07:36,247 --> 00:07:37,287 [Darin laughing] 150 00:07:38,583 --> 00:07:40,003 -[glass breaks] -Oh! 151 00:07:40,418 --> 00:07:41,458 Parking lot. 152 00:07:42,045 --> 00:07:43,045 [chuckles] 153 00:07:45,256 --> 00:07:46,926 [Zac] OK. Now we're headed to London, 154 00:07:47,384 --> 00:07:51,764 a nearly 2,000-year-old city that has been struggling with pollution and air quality 155 00:07:51,846 --> 00:07:55,926 since the Industrial Revolution hit back in the 1700s. 156 00:07:56,601 --> 00:07:59,521 London is an amazing city with a long, rich history 157 00:07:59,604 --> 00:08:01,654 that you can feel in the art  and architecture. 158 00:08:04,275 --> 00:08:08,695 London's current population is estimated at about 8.8 million people. 159 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,030 With another 30 million visiting every year. 160 00:08:13,410 --> 00:08:16,080 More people translates to more pollution, 161 00:08:16,579 --> 00:08:18,619 no matter how green they try to be. 162 00:08:19,124 --> 00:08:23,884 And pollution can easily grow to toxic levels and become very deadly. 163 00:08:25,213 --> 00:08:28,263 We're beginning our journey  on the south bank of the River Thames, 164 00:08:28,341 --> 00:08:29,971 across from the House of Parliament. 165 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,300 This is the London Eye... 166 00:08:35,098 --> 00:08:37,598 which is essentially an enormous Ferris wheel 167 00:08:37,684 --> 00:08:39,274 that overlooks central London. 168 00:08:39,686 --> 00:08:43,436 We're meeting the Director of Cities  for the London School of Economics. 169 00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:46,567 His specialty is the politics and particulars 170 00:08:46,651 --> 00:08:48,901 of global urban change and urbanization. 171 00:08:48,987 --> 00:08:50,607 I'm running a research center on cities. 172 00:08:50,697 --> 00:08:52,987 It's hopefully  an appropriate introduction to London. 173 00:08:53,074 --> 00:08:55,294 Absolutely. Should we go for it? 174 00:08:59,247 --> 00:09:02,327 [man] This is generally considered the center of London. 175 00:09:02,834 --> 00:09:04,714 But this air, which you're seeing right now, 176 00:09:04,794 --> 00:09:06,344 it looks clear, it looks nice, 177 00:09:06,713 --> 00:09:08,673 is still toxic in many parts of the city. 178 00:09:09,215 --> 00:09:10,375 This is not clean air. 179 00:09:10,467 --> 00:09:16,007 About 10,000 Londoners die prematurely because of air pollution today in London. 180 00:09:16,097 --> 00:09:17,557 -[Darin] As a direct result? -Really? 181 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,100 As a direct result of the air pollution in this city. 182 00:09:21,186 --> 00:09:23,556 [Zac] The air is cleaner now than it was in the '50s, 183 00:09:24,064 --> 00:09:28,154 but deadly pollution doesn't always look like a thick, hazy, black fog. 184 00:09:28,568 --> 00:09:31,818 The issue at hand now is fine particulate matter, 185 00:09:31,905 --> 00:09:33,695 called PM 2.5. 186 00:09:34,032 --> 00:09:37,492 These fine particles are caused by fossil fuel-burning vehicles 187 00:09:37,577 --> 00:09:40,287 and are abundant in higher congested areas. 188 00:09:40,371 --> 00:09:44,381 PM 2.5s can travel deep into the respiratory tract, 189 00:09:44,459 --> 00:09:48,209 affecting breathing and leading to a host of medical problems. 190 00:09:48,296 --> 00:09:51,126 Short-term, it causes allergy-type symptoms, 191 00:09:51,216 --> 00:09:53,376 like itchy, burning eyes, nose, and throat. 192 00:09:53,885 --> 00:09:57,965 But, long-term, it can cause asthma,  heart disease, and even death. 193 00:09:59,015 --> 00:10:01,095 So what kind of steps are they taking? 194 00:10:01,810 --> 00:10:03,520 [Phillip] The big priority was in transport, 195 00:10:03,603 --> 00:10:06,863 with one signature policy, which is called "congestion charging." 196 00:10:07,357 --> 00:10:10,857 More or less, the ring of tourist London around us, where we are, 197 00:10:10,944 --> 00:10:14,284 this is the cordon within which, if you drive with your private car, 198 00:10:14,364 --> 00:10:17,624 you have to pay, per day, 11-12 pounds to enter. 199 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:20,160 If you have a very badly polluting car, 200 00:10:20,245 --> 00:10:22,995 it can go up to 100 pounds to enter the inner-city area. 201 00:10:23,081 --> 00:10:23,921 [Darin] Oh, wow. 202 00:10:23,998 --> 00:10:26,748 So we had a reduction of car use, in this inner-city area, 203 00:10:26,835 --> 00:10:29,665 of 20%, 80,000 cars less. 204 00:10:30,088 --> 00:10:31,798 [Zac] So just as individuals, 205 00:10:31,881 --> 00:10:33,841 what are some things that can help... 206 00:10:33,925 --> 00:10:35,295 -[Dr. Phillip] Yeah. -...solve this, 207 00:10:35,385 --> 00:10:37,385 the collective issue of air pollution? 208 00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:39,720 The single most important thing is, I guess, 209 00:10:39,806 --> 00:10:44,186 is to exercise the political voice we have in elections 210 00:10:44,269 --> 00:10:45,559 to demand change. 211 00:10:45,645 --> 00:10:46,725 [Zac] Translation: 212 00:10:47,438 --> 00:10:49,518 vote, vote, vote! 213 00:10:51,693 --> 00:10:55,243 Well, thanks for... Thanks for showing us your office here. It's incredible. 214 00:10:55,321 --> 00:10:58,071 -Yeah, not really my office. -[all laughing] 215 00:11:01,369 --> 00:11:03,539 [Zac] We're off to the London School of Economics 216 00:11:03,621 --> 00:11:08,041 for a deeper dive into practical solutions being applied all over the city. 217 00:11:08,918 --> 00:11:13,258 And this is the Director of Sustainability for LSE: Jon Emmett. 218 00:11:13,339 --> 00:11:15,629 Apparently, you're building some eco-warriors. 219 00:11:16,092 --> 00:11:17,092 Yeah, that's right. 220 00:11:17,177 --> 00:11:19,887 So LSE's students come from all over the world, 221 00:11:19,971 --> 00:11:21,761 so one of the things we're doing here, really, 222 00:11:21,848 --> 00:11:24,678 is equipping the next generation of global citizens 223 00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:29,147 to think about how are they gonna address the challenges of our era. 224 00:11:29,230 --> 00:11:33,360 [Darin] So you can literally study sustainability and make it your major? 225 00:11:33,443 --> 00:11:37,243 That's right, you can come and study environmental law or policy. 226 00:11:37,322 --> 00:11:40,452 You can come and understand how to make cities greener. 227 00:11:40,533 --> 00:11:43,413 [Zac] If I could do it all over again, I would wanna come study with you. 228 00:11:43,494 --> 00:11:46,374 Well, come back. Come and do a Master's with us. You're welcome anytime. 229 00:11:46,456 --> 00:11:48,746 -I should do it. Put my time to use. -There you go. 230 00:11:48,833 --> 00:11:52,753 Got a bunch of green spaces, green walls, and we keep bees on the roof. Right here. 231 00:11:52,837 --> 00:11:54,587 -We love bees. For sure. -Well, let's go. 232 00:11:54,672 --> 00:11:56,632 He has a thing with bees,  I don't know what it is. 233 00:11:59,177 --> 00:12:00,717 [Zac] Notice the green trend? 234 00:12:01,179 --> 00:12:03,139 Just like the rooftop in New York, 235 00:12:03,223 --> 00:12:07,143 LSE has a green wall, which looks a lot better than concrete. 236 00:12:07,477 --> 00:12:10,017 -And... -[Darin] Oh, my God! 237 00:12:10,980 --> 00:12:12,520 [giggles] 238 00:12:14,025 --> 00:12:15,395 It's so good! 239 00:12:15,485 --> 00:12:16,985 [Zac laughing] 240 00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:18,400 [Darin] Wow! 241 00:12:18,488 --> 00:12:20,158 It's so lush! 242 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:23,700 [Jon] Yeah. It changes all year round, so you come back in six months' time, 243 00:12:23,785 --> 00:12:25,785 it'll be all different colors. Different plants. 244 00:12:27,664 --> 00:12:29,174 [Zac] What does a wall like this help? 245 00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:33,499 [Jon] In cities there's a lot of concrete. Absorbs a lot of heat from the sun, yeah? 246 00:12:33,586 --> 00:12:36,666 So, if you've got green roofs and green walls, 247 00:12:36,756 --> 00:12:38,796 -that can help provide a layer of-- -Alleviate that. 248 00:12:38,883 --> 00:12:41,263 -Yeah, exactly. -It's a layer of natural insulation. 249 00:12:41,344 --> 00:12:43,474 -Yeah, exactly. -It's also just gorgeous. 250 00:12:44,222 --> 00:12:47,812 So now that we've seen the green wall, I think we need to check out the bees. 251 00:12:47,892 --> 00:12:49,522 -You ready to put your bee suits on? -Yeah. 252 00:12:49,978 --> 00:12:51,438 [Zac] All right. More bees. 253 00:12:52,939 --> 00:12:54,189 Time for the suit again. 254 00:12:56,901 --> 00:12:58,191 [man] Let's check out our hive. 255 00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:00,070 These are our honey bees. 256 00:13:00,613 --> 00:13:04,783 [Darin] So what's your main reason of having bees at the university? 257 00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:07,827 We interact with students who are international, from across the globe, 258 00:13:08,246 --> 00:13:10,286 and they get to learn a bit about how important it is. 259 00:13:10,373 --> 00:13:13,083 'Cause, I mean, pollinators put about a third of our food on the plate. 260 00:13:13,167 --> 00:13:14,877 -[Darin] Exactly. -It's not just a hobby, 261 00:13:14,961 --> 00:13:17,131 it's actually a really essential thing for mankind. 262 00:13:17,213 --> 00:13:18,093 [Zac] So cool. 263 00:13:18,172 --> 00:13:22,222 So what do you want to do when you are done here, when you have your PhD? 264 00:13:22,302 --> 00:13:25,312 [Sroyon] I'm working on environmental evaluations, 265 00:13:25,388 --> 00:13:28,728 so how to put a monetary value on the environment. 266 00:13:28,808 --> 00:13:31,348 It's controversial because there's this whole question around, 267 00:13:31,436 --> 00:13:35,016 "Is that the best way to explain to people how important it is?" 268 00:13:37,442 --> 00:13:41,242 [Dan] We have planted these. These aren't just specific for honey bees. 269 00:13:41,321 --> 00:13:43,161 This would support most pollinators. 270 00:13:43,239 --> 00:13:44,869 I think that's something everyone can do, 271 00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:45,989 is to look at your garden 272 00:13:46,075 --> 00:13:49,535 and plant species that will support pollinators generally. 273 00:13:49,620 --> 00:13:52,750 I remember, years ago, driving up and down the motorways of the UK, 274 00:13:52,832 --> 00:13:54,382 and there would be a lot of pollinators. 275 00:13:54,459 --> 00:13:56,669 Now you drive up and down, there's nothing there. 276 00:13:56,753 --> 00:13:59,303 Because, basically, the pesticides have wiped them all out. 277 00:13:59,380 --> 00:14:02,550 So everything we can do to help support them is great. 278 00:14:05,762 --> 00:14:08,722 [Zac] Obviously, not everyone is gonna become a beekeeper. 279 00:14:09,432 --> 00:14:12,442 But almost anyone can get a plant or start a small garden 280 00:14:12,518 --> 00:14:13,938 to support their local bees. 281 00:14:14,270 --> 00:14:16,730 It's a simple solution to a real-world problem. 282 00:14:16,814 --> 00:14:18,324 And every little bit helps. 283 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:19,779 [Zac] It's so beautiful. 284 00:14:19,859 --> 00:14:23,489 [Zac] When everyone tries to do a little, a lot can change. 285 00:14:27,367 --> 00:14:31,537 Now we're headed to an area near Stratford to see the tallest sculpture in the UK: 286 00:14:33,873 --> 00:14:35,503 the ArcelorMittal Orbit. 287 00:14:35,792 --> 00:14:38,502 [Darin] This place has a super-fast elevator, too. 288 00:14:38,586 --> 00:14:41,086 -Oh, dope. -Like a supersonic... 289 00:14:41,756 --> 00:14:43,876 [singing] ♪ Elevator... Supersonic ♪ 290 00:14:43,966 --> 00:14:45,966 [both laughing] 291 00:14:49,931 --> 00:14:53,391 [Zac] In 2012, the structure was commissioned for the Summer Olympics. 292 00:14:54,435 --> 00:14:57,555 In 2016, they repurposed the structure 293 00:14:57,647 --> 00:15:00,477 by adding a huge, wrapping tube slide around it. 294 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:02,490 Not just any tube slide, 295 00:15:02,568 --> 00:15:06,108 the tallest, longest tube slide in the world. 296 00:15:06,781 --> 00:15:07,821 And we're gonna ride it. 297 00:15:08,658 --> 00:15:09,488 I think. 298 00:15:09,867 --> 00:15:11,657 -[Zac] Kinda stoked. -[Darin] Yeah. 299 00:15:12,370 --> 00:15:14,710 Kind of a nice way to end the day. 300 00:15:15,665 --> 00:15:16,785 [Zac] Is that it? I see it. 301 00:15:16,874 --> 00:15:18,634 -[Darin] Yeah, it's that twisty thing. -Yeah. 302 00:15:20,336 --> 00:15:23,456 [Zac] Oh, man, look at the beginning. Oh, you'll get going. 303 00:15:23,548 --> 00:15:26,508 I bet this thing's freaky as [bleep], man. 304 00:15:26,592 --> 00:15:27,642 [Darin laughing] 305 00:15:27,718 --> 00:15:30,468 -[Zac] Oh, this is gonna be trippy, bro. -[Darin] Oh, my God. 306 00:15:31,097 --> 00:15:33,717 [Zac] It does feel a little touristy. But, after all, 307 00:15:33,808 --> 00:15:34,888 we're tourists. 308 00:15:34,976 --> 00:15:36,096 [Darin] You ready for this? 309 00:15:36,185 --> 00:15:38,895 [laughing] I'm not sure what to expect with this one. 310 00:15:40,231 --> 00:15:42,401 [Zac] Uh, we'll do two for the slide. 311 00:15:42,483 --> 00:15:44,153 -OK, tap your card, please. -[Zac] Sure. 312 00:15:44,235 --> 00:15:46,065 -[machine beeps] -Make your way around there. 313 00:15:46,863 --> 00:15:48,323 [Zac] I've been to London before, 314 00:15:48,406 --> 00:15:50,826 but I'm seeing the city in a whole new light now. 315 00:15:50,908 --> 00:15:53,408 The pollution problem is a never-ending fight. 316 00:15:53,870 --> 00:15:56,290 But London has made some incredible progress. 317 00:15:56,831 --> 00:15:59,711 It was great to meet some of the innovators in the academic world 318 00:15:59,792 --> 00:16:02,922 and see how they are inspiring the next generation to continue 319 00:16:03,004 --> 00:16:04,634 the charge against pollution. 320 00:16:05,214 --> 00:16:06,884 And now, I'm going to die. 321 00:16:06,966 --> 00:16:08,796 Just to make sure you're gonna be safe. 322 00:16:09,469 --> 00:16:11,719 -Oh. Oh. Oh. -Sorry, sir. 323 00:16:11,804 --> 00:16:13,104 [Zac] That was made for you. 324 00:16:15,099 --> 00:16:16,729 [Zac] If I don't make it through this... 325 00:16:17,518 --> 00:16:19,438 -it's been a pleasure. -Been a pleasure. 326 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,650 Thank you, it's been a good run so far. 327 00:16:22,190 --> 00:16:23,230 Let's go! 328 00:16:23,316 --> 00:16:24,356 We'll see you later. 329 00:16:24,442 --> 00:16:25,742 Woo-hoo! 330 00:16:25,818 --> 00:16:27,068 [laughing] 331 00:16:27,153 --> 00:16:30,363 [Darin whooping] 332 00:16:32,909 --> 00:16:35,039 I don't know what I want my last words to be. 333 00:16:36,537 --> 00:16:37,747 Bye, Mom. 334 00:16:37,830 --> 00:16:38,920 [chuckling] 335 00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:41,670 [chuckling] Oh, whoa. Whoa! 336 00:16:41,751 --> 00:16:42,881 [Zac chuckling] 337 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:44,090 Ha-ha! 338 00:16:44,629 --> 00:16:47,549 Whoa! [chuckling] 339 00:16:47,632 --> 00:16:48,842 [Darin chuckling] 340 00:16:48,925 --> 00:16:50,335 Oh, yeah! 341 00:16:50,426 --> 00:16:51,466 [chuckling] 342 00:16:51,552 --> 00:16:52,892 [Darin] Nice! 343 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:55,560 -It picks up there in the middle. -[Darin] How crazy is that? 344 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:56,930 -Yeah, the middle was good. -Yeah. 345 00:16:57,016 --> 00:16:58,476 It was like... [imitates slide noise] 346 00:16:58,559 --> 00:16:59,559 Pretty cool. 347 00:16:59,644 --> 00:17:01,354 All right, dope. How do I turn this off? 348 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,530 [Zac] We already know living walls and roofs have a host of benefits, 349 00:17:09,612 --> 00:17:11,952 including tremendously reducing energy bills. 350 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:16,620 But policies that are good for the climate can also make great business sense. 351 00:17:17,036 --> 00:17:18,656 This is Armando Raish. 352 00:17:18,746 --> 00:17:22,626 And his company, Treebox, specializes in custom green-space solutions 353 00:17:22,708 --> 00:17:25,798 for commercial and residential buildings all over the UK. 354 00:17:27,171 --> 00:17:30,301 [Darin] We hear you're constructing some green walls. 355 00:17:30,383 --> 00:17:33,843 Exactly, we're in the process of greening up a light well just behind you. 356 00:17:35,179 --> 00:17:37,429 It's the view outside of a basement gym. 357 00:17:37,515 --> 00:17:39,095 -Oh, that's brilliant. -And they thought, 358 00:17:39,183 --> 00:17:41,143 "Rather than looking at a dungeon or concrete wall, 359 00:17:41,227 --> 00:17:44,397 why not brighten it up with some life?" Do you do much gardening yourself, Zac? 360 00:17:45,565 --> 00:17:47,645 A ton. So much. I'm... 361 00:17:48,401 --> 00:17:49,691 a bit of an exp... None. 362 00:17:49,777 --> 00:17:51,897 -I've never... Never... -[Armando and Darin laughing] 363 00:17:51,988 --> 00:17:53,528 I'm great with succulents. 364 00:17:53,614 --> 00:17:54,954 -Yeah? -And, like, some cactus. 365 00:17:55,032 --> 00:17:57,832 -Don't need much attention. -I can keep those going. 366 00:17:57,910 --> 00:18:01,080 If you'd like to come look at the wall, why not follow me through the building? 367 00:18:02,832 --> 00:18:05,212 If you wanna step out, come and have a closer look. 368 00:18:05,293 --> 00:18:07,503 -You can see how the system works. -[Darin] Oh, man. 369 00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:10,417 It's essentially a series of troughs that clip all together, 370 00:18:10,506 --> 00:18:15,216 which allows you to literally stack these troughs up as high as you need to go. 371 00:18:15,303 --> 00:18:17,763 So we can get to the top of this wall quite easily. 372 00:18:17,847 --> 00:18:20,557 And we fill it up with a wonderful granular substrate, 373 00:18:21,225 --> 00:18:23,185 an engineered green roof derivative. 374 00:18:23,769 --> 00:18:26,359 -Oh, wow. -It has expanded clay and crushed brick. 375 00:18:26,981 --> 00:18:29,781 -[Darin] This is a recycled material. -It's a recycled material, yeah. 376 00:18:29,859 --> 00:18:32,149 And we've taken walls down after five years, 377 00:18:32,236 --> 00:18:34,986 and this still just breaks down and shakes off the roots of the plants. 378 00:18:35,072 --> 00:18:37,412 So it doesn't become compact. 379 00:18:37,491 --> 00:18:40,081 -Really? Wow. Fascinating. -[Armando] Yeah. It's quite good. 380 00:18:40,786 --> 00:18:42,156 [Zac] I'm kind of almost going, 381 00:18:42,246 --> 00:18:45,076 "How has this not been around for a lot longer?" 382 00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:45,996 It's genius. 383 00:18:46,083 --> 00:18:49,963 You're actually just gardening. It's soil and it's water. 384 00:18:50,046 --> 00:18:50,876 Exactly. 385 00:18:50,963 --> 00:18:53,423 So you could actually grow real food. 386 00:18:53,507 --> 00:18:56,887 Yeah. You could fill this out with tumbling tomatoes, strawberries, 387 00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:57,969 all sorts of plants. 388 00:18:58,054 --> 00:19:00,604 Even some radishes and small, sort of bulbous plants. 389 00:19:00,681 --> 00:19:03,231 [Zac] Where there's space, add some plants. 390 00:19:03,309 --> 00:19:05,059 It's a great concept, really. 391 00:19:05,144 --> 00:19:06,524 Pollution is a huge problem, 392 00:19:07,021 --> 00:19:09,821 but the solutions, like this, are easily doable. 393 00:19:10,191 --> 00:19:12,401 [Armando] Line those tabs up with the sides. 394 00:19:12,485 --> 00:19:13,775 Push them out over here. 395 00:19:15,738 --> 00:19:18,868 -Once they're in... -[Darin] The install is pretty easy, man. 396 00:19:18,949 --> 00:19:21,289 -Got a nice little rhythm. -[Darin] Yeah, man! 397 00:19:22,995 --> 00:19:24,535 [Darin] Let's put some plants in. 398 00:19:32,004 --> 00:19:33,764 [Zac] Yeah, those go well together. 399 00:19:35,716 --> 00:19:36,756 Alley-oop! 400 00:19:36,884 --> 00:19:38,224 [Darin] Sha! 401 00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:42,560 [Darin] Look at that! 402 00:19:43,057 --> 00:19:45,847 It was a concrete wall, now it's a green wall. 403 00:19:47,478 --> 00:19:50,398 [Zac] Man, we totally killed the green wall game. 404 00:19:51,649 --> 00:19:52,859 Darin loves this wall. 405 00:19:54,318 --> 00:19:55,738 And what's not to love? 406 00:19:56,237 --> 00:19:58,777 How quick did we just build a garden? 407 00:20:00,282 --> 00:20:01,782 I don't know. Thirty minutes? 408 00:20:02,576 --> 00:20:05,196 [Zac] Uh, maybe it didn't look as good as we thought. 409 00:20:05,663 --> 00:20:08,373 But thankfully, Armando did a little re-edit. 410 00:20:12,253 --> 00:20:14,173 [birds squawking] 411 00:20:16,966 --> 00:20:21,546 [Zac] The mighty River Thames flows 215 miles through the middle of England. 412 00:20:25,349 --> 00:20:29,399 And it's now one of the cleanest rivers through a major city in the entire world. 413 00:20:33,482 --> 00:20:36,822 And one group that helps maintain that level of cleanliness today 414 00:20:37,361 --> 00:20:38,821 is Thames 21. 415 00:20:39,321 --> 00:20:41,451 Thames 21 hosts river cleanups, 416 00:20:42,199 --> 00:20:45,909 where volunteers gear up to do battle with hundreds of pounds of garbage 417 00:20:45,995 --> 00:20:48,825 that have been carelessly littered across the river bank. 418 00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:52,168 [Darin] There's the river. 419 00:20:55,004 --> 00:20:56,014 -Zac. -Hi, I'm Chris. 420 00:20:56,088 --> 00:21:00,048 [Zac] And this is Chris Coode, head of education and training at Thames 21. 421 00:21:00,134 --> 00:21:02,304 -So, you've come to see my river? -Absolutely. 422 00:21:03,012 --> 00:21:04,262 [Chris] London is a port city. 423 00:21:04,346 --> 00:21:07,346 This is, kind of, the industrial, working side of the river. 424 00:21:07,433 --> 00:21:10,943 You can just look and see the amount of rubbish that's been trapped here... 425 00:21:12,104 --> 00:21:13,274 behind these barges. 426 00:21:13,856 --> 00:21:15,146 [Darin] What are these barges? 427 00:21:15,232 --> 00:21:16,692 [Chris] Yeah, so they're concrete. 428 00:21:16,776 --> 00:21:20,236 They were made for the Second World War. They were used in the D-Day landings. 429 00:21:20,321 --> 00:21:23,741 In 1953, there was severe flooding after storms, 430 00:21:23,824 --> 00:21:25,124 and flood defenses were damaged, 431 00:21:25,201 --> 00:21:27,951 and they were brought and sunk here to protect this area from flooding. 432 00:21:28,037 --> 00:21:29,407 They've been sat here ever since. 433 00:21:29,497 --> 00:21:31,077 And, while they're not pretty, 434 00:21:31,165 --> 00:21:33,495 they actually... These days, they're a really useful 435 00:21:33,584 --> 00:21:35,294 hard surface that birds roost. 436 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,550 [birds squawking] 437 00:21:39,632 --> 00:21:41,472 The new threats which are emerging, you know, 438 00:21:41,550 --> 00:21:45,850 we're seeing a plastic bottle is what, 450 years to break down? 439 00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:48,310 But it doesn't rot, it just becomes smaller. 440 00:21:48,390 --> 00:21:51,810 And the smaller those pieces become, the easier it is for them to move through 441 00:21:51,894 --> 00:21:53,694 the food chain and then come back to us. 442 00:21:53,771 --> 00:21:56,521 Yeah, I mean, you can see plastic everywhere. Right? 443 00:21:56,607 --> 00:21:58,027 [Chris] And often it's single-use. 444 00:21:58,526 --> 00:22:00,486 -[Chris] You use it once, throw it away. -Right. 445 00:22:00,569 --> 00:22:02,779 Can't walk by it. I gotta pick it up. 446 00:22:03,113 --> 00:22:05,493 And look at... How long has it been there? It's breaking down. 447 00:22:05,574 --> 00:22:07,334 That's already starting to break into pieces. 448 00:22:07,409 --> 00:22:09,079 -That's getting in the fish. -Yeah. 449 00:22:09,161 --> 00:22:13,001 And it will go into the water, and from there into the North Sea and, 450 00:22:13,082 --> 00:22:14,422 I mean, can spread beyond. 451 00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:16,340 Is there anything we can do to help out? 452 00:22:16,418 --> 00:22:19,208 I mean, I would love to put you to work, if you're willing. 453 00:22:19,296 --> 00:22:21,216 -That's why we're here. -Are you kidding? Come on. 454 00:22:21,298 --> 00:22:23,548 We have other volunteers, we'll put some wellies on you, 455 00:22:23,634 --> 00:22:25,764 some Wellington boots on you, 456 00:22:25,845 --> 00:22:27,925 uh, and we need to get rid of some of this rubbish. 457 00:22:28,013 --> 00:22:30,143 -Let's do it. -That's a straightforward, easy, 458 00:22:30,224 --> 00:22:32,314 and incredibly powerful, useful thing we can do. 459 00:22:32,393 --> 00:22:34,353 -All right, sign me up. -Yeah. Let's do it. 460 00:22:34,436 --> 00:22:36,806 -Brilliant, gents. Thanks very much. -Let's get those wellies. 461 00:22:36,897 --> 00:22:38,227 [all laughing] 462 00:22:38,315 --> 00:22:39,185 [Zac] Wellies. 463 00:22:40,025 --> 00:22:42,025 [birds squawking] 464 00:22:44,822 --> 00:22:48,532 [Zac] Over an average year, approximately 7,000 volunteers 465 00:22:48,617 --> 00:22:53,407 collectively remove a little over 220 tons of garbage from the river. 466 00:22:53,956 --> 00:22:57,376 Before we can get started, each clean-up starts with a safety meeting. 467 00:22:57,459 --> 00:22:59,919 [man] Firstly, we've got to consider your health and safety. 468 00:23:00,004 --> 00:23:01,964 So make sure that you've got Wellington boots on, 469 00:23:02,047 --> 00:23:04,337 because they've got the protection on the bottom of the boot 470 00:23:04,425 --> 00:23:07,085 to make sure that nails, et cetera, that you might encounter 471 00:23:07,177 --> 00:23:08,297 won't go through your foot. 472 00:23:08,762 --> 00:23:12,392 Oh, the other thing, if the rat urine is on an object which you touch, 473 00:23:13,058 --> 00:23:15,058 then you might become unwell. 474 00:23:15,144 --> 00:23:17,654 [Chris] So don't stick your fingers in your eyes, 475 00:23:17,730 --> 00:23:19,730 in your mouth, in your ears, 476 00:23:19,815 --> 00:23:22,435 or in someone else's mouth, or in someone else's... 477 00:23:22,526 --> 00:23:25,446 Wear your gloves, and when we're done, we've got hand-washing stuff. 478 00:23:25,529 --> 00:23:26,529 Just wash your hands. 479 00:23:26,614 --> 00:23:29,074 Try and just have a pick, and off we go. 480 00:23:29,617 --> 00:23:32,827 Surely you must've done some weirder stuff than picking rubbish in the Thames? 481 00:23:32,912 --> 00:23:34,582 Oh, for sure. No, not in the Thames. 482 00:23:34,663 --> 00:23:36,793 Well, there you go. No, not in the Thames, yeah. 483 00:23:37,249 --> 00:23:38,499 -I'm Zac! -[girl shrieking] Hi! 484 00:23:38,584 --> 00:23:40,294 -What's your name? Hi. -Hannah. 485 00:23:40,377 --> 00:23:42,667 They're the only people here who do know who you are. 486 00:23:42,755 --> 00:23:43,585 Oh, OK. 487 00:23:43,672 --> 00:23:45,842 [Zac] If they've got time to volunteer for this job... 488 00:23:45,925 --> 00:23:48,085 [chuckles] ...yeah, I think I've got time for a selfie. 489 00:23:48,177 --> 00:23:49,007 All right. 490 00:23:51,388 --> 00:23:54,098 ♪ I'm on the battlefield Like a Bonaparte ♪ 491 00:23:54,725 --> 00:23:57,265 ♪ And all this fool's gold Has got me torn apart ♪ 492 00:23:57,353 --> 00:24:00,063 ♪ I hear the shouting From the voices of a generation ♪ 493 00:24:00,147 --> 00:24:02,977 [Chris] This is my least favorite piece of rubbish in the whole world. 494 00:24:03,067 --> 00:24:05,027 -[Zac] Straws. -No, it's not a straw. 495 00:24:05,110 --> 00:24:07,240 -[Zac] Drink mixer? -No, it's a cotton bud stick. 496 00:24:07,613 --> 00:24:09,073 Oh, no way. 497 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:11,490 [Darin] Oh, my God. 498 00:24:12,076 --> 00:24:14,446 Even... 'cause it will float, and it's so narrow, 499 00:24:14,536 --> 00:24:17,036 it can go through a sewage treatment works and out the other side. 500 00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:20,382 So if you... Once you find one, you will find... 501 00:24:21,377 --> 00:24:23,167 -[Zac] Endless amounts. -...millions of them. 502 00:24:23,253 --> 00:24:25,053 -[Darin] Oh, my God. -[Chris] I hate them. 503 00:24:25,839 --> 00:24:28,719 -[Darin] How about this bloody thing? -Trouble is, that's the full wheel. 504 00:24:28,801 --> 00:24:29,801 It's not just the tire. 505 00:24:31,345 --> 00:24:34,095 [Zac] There you go, Darin. Get that outta here. 506 00:24:35,391 --> 00:24:39,061 ♪ I see miles and miles of kingdom ♪ 507 00:24:39,395 --> 00:24:42,055 ♪ There's no castle, there's no queen ♪ 508 00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:46,687 ♪ Just a soldier on an open floor ♪ 509 00:24:47,695 --> 00:24:51,655 ♪ I see all the lonely people ♪ 510 00:24:51,740 --> 00:24:54,910 [inhales deeply, exhales] 511 00:24:54,994 --> 00:24:58,374 ♪ There's a picture of a perfect world ♪ 512 00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:01,584 [Chris] So, gents, time for you to head up? 513 00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:03,537 -Well... -There's so much more. 514 00:25:03,627 --> 00:25:04,547 I know. 515 00:25:04,628 --> 00:25:05,958 [Zac] It's overwhelming. 516 00:25:06,547 --> 00:25:08,917 It seems like an endless sea of garbage. 517 00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:12,219 [Chris] We don't solve the problem doing this, 518 00:25:12,302 --> 00:25:14,352 but we make a dent in the problem. 519 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,150 -[Zac] It's kind of impossible to stop. -[Chris laughs] It is. 520 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,650 [Zac] It's crazy to think that Earth really has no natural enemies, 521 00:25:26,734 --> 00:25:27,744 other than people. 522 00:25:28,444 --> 00:25:31,614 But people problems call for people solutions. 523 00:25:32,156 --> 00:25:35,656 Like using cotton swabs with paper stems instead of plastic. 524 00:25:37,911 --> 00:25:41,211 [Chris] The ultimate tragedy is, you know, even if we get rid of our rubbish, 525 00:25:41,290 --> 00:25:43,710 still one of the main solutions we have for dealing with it 526 00:25:43,792 --> 00:25:45,042 is dig a big hole in the ground, 527 00:25:45,419 --> 00:25:47,629 fill it full of rubbish, and then cover it up again. 528 00:25:47,963 --> 00:25:51,633 [Zac] While our goal should be "reduce, reuse, and recycle," 529 00:25:51,717 --> 00:25:55,257 in 2014 only 9.5% of plastic 530 00:25:55,345 --> 00:25:58,635 used in the United States was actually recycled. 531 00:25:58,724 --> 00:26:03,024 So it seems like reducing through the reuse of things 532 00:26:03,103 --> 00:26:08,283 like straws, bags, and bottles is really the most effective solution. 533 00:26:08,358 --> 00:26:12,148 Next time you're in joyful central London, looking at those views of Big Ben, 534 00:26:12,237 --> 00:26:13,907 remember it's all flowing downstream. 535 00:26:14,490 --> 00:26:17,280 [Zac] If we all made that one small adjustment today, 536 00:26:17,367 --> 00:26:20,747 imagine how healthy our environment could be in a decade. 537 00:26:22,539 --> 00:26:25,249 -[Darin] See you later. -[Zac] See you guys. Good job, thank you! 538 00:26:26,085 --> 00:26:28,375 [Darin] Well, that was good, you know? 539 00:26:28,462 --> 00:26:30,092 Kind of overwhelming, you know? 540 00:26:30,589 --> 00:26:33,839 [Zac] It's just shocking how much gets through... 541 00:26:35,052 --> 00:26:38,392 the system. Like, where... Is that littering? Is it... 542 00:26:38,472 --> 00:26:40,682 It seems like a lot of it  was flushing down the toilet. 543 00:26:40,766 --> 00:26:45,976 [Darin] Yeah. And the single-use stuff is really... The one-use water bottle, 544 00:26:46,063 --> 00:26:48,273 -and the straws, and... -Yeah. 545 00:26:48,357 --> 00:26:52,187 [Zac] When you actually take any form of action to go in 546 00:26:52,277 --> 00:26:54,907 and deliberately try and make a difference, you see it, it's... 547 00:26:54,988 --> 00:26:56,158 I mean, that was tedious. 548 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,830 You could just stand and not move and you could not clean up 549 00:26:59,910 --> 00:27:03,000 -a single square foot around you. -Right. 550 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:04,330 There's too much trash. 551 00:27:04,414 --> 00:27:06,674 And the smaller the piece, the more dangerous. 552 00:27:12,673 --> 00:27:16,763 [Zac] Back at our hotel, Darin found an awesome example of another trend: 553 00:27:17,302 --> 00:27:18,552 eco-tourism. 554 00:27:18,637 --> 00:27:23,017 I can't think of a better way to cruise around London 555 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:25,230 than on an actual bamboo bike. 556 00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:28,730 [woman] Yeah. Six of our team members went out and they spent 557 00:27:28,814 --> 00:27:30,694 three days in a workshop making them. 558 00:27:30,774 --> 00:27:33,944 All of the bikes have our staff members' names on them 559 00:27:34,027 --> 00:27:35,857 to add that little personal touch. 560 00:27:38,490 --> 00:27:40,490 -Could I give it a go? -Be my guest. Yeah. 561 00:27:40,576 --> 00:27:43,076 [Darin] Awesome! Bamboo action, come on! 562 00:27:45,581 --> 00:27:49,631 [Zac] Since fossil fuel-burning vehicles are a major part of the pollution problem, 563 00:27:49,710 --> 00:27:53,460 bikes and other clean transportation are definitely a step, 564 00:27:53,547 --> 00:27:55,127 or a pedal, in the right direction. 565 00:27:55,883 --> 00:27:58,843 Heads up! You should still be very careful when riding bikes 566 00:27:58,927 --> 00:28:00,467 in a busy city like London. 567 00:28:01,263 --> 00:28:03,433 Watch out, Darin. [laughing] 568 00:28:05,851 --> 00:28:08,021 I don't usually get up as early as Darin. 569 00:28:08,103 --> 00:28:10,983 Maybe there is something to his superfood diet, after all. 570 00:28:11,064 --> 00:28:13,864 I'm taking a moment to meet with a local food blogger. 571 00:28:13,942 --> 00:28:16,152 -Ella. Nice to meet you. -Very nice to meet you, I'm Zac. 572 00:28:16,236 --> 00:28:18,526 [Zac] Ella Mills, whose decision to turn vegan 573 00:28:18,614 --> 00:28:20,324 was really a matter of life or death. 574 00:28:20,407 --> 00:28:21,697 It smells amazing. 575 00:28:21,783 --> 00:28:24,753 [Zac] You could say she was polluting her body with bad food. 576 00:28:24,828 --> 00:28:27,328 And, after the success of her new way of life, 577 00:28:27,414 --> 00:28:30,174 she's decided to share her recipes with the rest of the world, 578 00:28:30,250 --> 00:28:33,590 in the form of her own restaurant and super successful blog. 579 00:28:33,670 --> 00:28:36,130 -Appreciate it. Thank you. -See you later. Thank you. 580 00:28:40,260 --> 00:28:43,350 [Zac] You've been doing this since 2012. You already have a cookbook out. 581 00:28:43,430 --> 00:28:46,770 [Ella] Yes. I got very sick in 2011 582 00:28:46,850 --> 00:28:49,140 with something that stopped my autonomic nervous system 583 00:28:49,228 --> 00:28:50,268 from functioning properly. 584 00:28:50,354 --> 00:28:52,484 It's called postural tachycardia syndrome. 585 00:28:52,564 --> 00:28:55,194 [Zac] And that's how you started really cooking this way... 586 00:28:55,275 --> 00:28:58,105 Exactly. So I was so uninterested in this kind of food. 587 00:28:58,195 --> 00:29:01,615 Like, candy, ice cream was, like, my best, my main food groups. 588 00:29:01,698 --> 00:29:05,288 Um, but I couldn't regulate my heart rate properly, my digestion. 589 00:29:05,369 --> 00:29:07,409 I had loads of problems with chronic fatigue, 590 00:29:07,496 --> 00:29:09,746 and I spent four months in and out of hospital, 591 00:29:09,831 --> 00:29:11,961 and then basically most of the next year in bed. 592 00:29:12,042 --> 00:29:15,342 I was 20, and I was taking steroids and being told about beta blockers, 593 00:29:15,420 --> 00:29:17,670 -and just not where you expect to be... -Wow. 594 00:29:17,756 --> 00:29:19,586 -...at that point in your life. -Oh, my gosh. 595 00:29:19,675 --> 00:29:22,925 And, so, I took all the meds and they just didn't really work. 596 00:29:23,637 --> 00:29:26,927 When you started eating plant-based,  where was the inception of the idea? 597 00:29:27,015 --> 00:29:28,635 Yeah, so I'd never considered it. 598 00:29:28,725 --> 00:29:31,595 So I took all the meds, kind of, as normal, for about a year or so. 599 00:29:31,687 --> 00:29:34,187 But I still was basically unable to do much. 600 00:29:34,273 --> 00:29:37,233 And then I hit a rock bottom, especially with my mental health. 601 00:29:37,693 --> 00:29:40,203 And I'd never kind of looked at diet at that point. 602 00:29:40,279 --> 00:29:43,699 And that's why I started writing the blog, which was called Deliciously Ella. 603 00:29:43,782 --> 00:29:46,952 And then that turned into cooking classes, an app, cookbooks, and then 604 00:29:47,035 --> 00:29:50,785 my brain fog was a little bit better, my fatigue was a little bit better, 605 00:29:50,872 --> 00:29:52,792 my digestion was a little bit better, 606 00:29:52,874 --> 00:29:55,794 and then after two years, I came off all my meds. 607 00:29:56,169 --> 00:29:58,629 And I've been off them ever since, and I've been able-- 608 00:29:58,714 --> 00:30:00,724 Was that something they said you'd be on forever? 609 00:30:00,799 --> 00:30:02,879 -Was that sort of-- -That was the assumption, yeah. 610 00:30:03,719 --> 00:30:06,469 I do believe that the world needs more plant-based food, 611 00:30:06,555 --> 00:30:10,055 and the only way it's gonna happen is by making it 612 00:30:10,434 --> 00:30:12,104 more mainstream, more appealing. 613 00:30:12,185 --> 00:30:14,265 -That's what prevented me from starting. -Totally. 614 00:30:14,354 --> 00:30:17,734 Like, honestly, it was just that the food didn't seem good to me. 615 00:30:17,816 --> 00:30:21,396 [Ella] No. There's just been this kind of explosion in plant-based cooking, 616 00:30:21,486 --> 00:30:24,356 vegan food, and people are just becoming, like, 617 00:30:24,448 --> 00:30:28,038 very much accustomed to the fact that this is a way that you could eat, 618 00:30:28,118 --> 00:30:29,908 and that it could be delicious. 619 00:30:30,329 --> 00:30:33,789 [Zac] Ella has made a reputation for flavorful plant-based dishes 620 00:30:34,333 --> 00:30:37,843 that can change the way we look at eating and how we fuel our bodies. 621 00:30:38,337 --> 00:30:41,627 She's offered me a private cooking lesson in her own test kitchen. 622 00:30:42,174 --> 00:30:45,054 And she promises the dish we're gonna make is easy to cook 623 00:30:45,135 --> 00:30:47,045 and packs a lot of flavor. 624 00:30:47,596 --> 00:30:50,346 [Zac] So thanks for having me into your lovely kitchen. 625 00:30:50,682 --> 00:30:52,022 So what are you gonna make? 626 00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:53,390 [Ella] It's a veg curry. 627 00:30:53,477 --> 00:30:55,557 For me, with friends, family, 628 00:30:55,645 --> 00:30:57,895 this is loads and loads of flavor. 629 00:30:57,981 --> 00:30:59,481 It's super, super easy. 630 00:30:59,566 --> 00:31:02,066 And also, it's just a nice way of introducing 631 00:31:02,152 --> 00:31:04,532 a lot of different, colorful veg into your life. 632 00:31:04,613 --> 00:31:08,123 And so we roast butternut squash and sweet potato. 633 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:09,990 So we're gonna put that all in here. 634 00:31:10,077 --> 00:31:13,247 [Zac] First time vegan eating is easier to do with familiar flavors. 635 00:31:13,330 --> 00:31:16,750 I love to eat plant-based, and I prefer Indian and Thai curries. 636 00:31:16,833 --> 00:31:18,133 Just like the one she's made. 637 00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:21,840 Adding cinnamon, curry powder, turmeric, and chili. 638 00:31:21,922 --> 00:31:23,672 Then we'll add a bit of coconut oil as well, 639 00:31:23,757 --> 00:31:26,837 just 'cause it brings out the sweetness, again, of the sweet potato and cinnamon. 640 00:31:26,927 --> 00:31:28,257 This just goes in the oven, 641 00:31:28,345 --> 00:31:30,635 so we roast it before we put it into the curry, 642 00:31:30,722 --> 00:31:33,022 just so that it soaks up all the spices 643 00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:35,730 and also just obviously takes the edge off, as well. 644 00:31:36,061 --> 00:31:39,481 -This curry really busts down any myth... -[Ella] Right. 645 00:31:39,564 --> 00:31:42,864 ...that a plant-based diet can't have flavor, can't have-- 646 00:31:42,943 --> 00:31:43,783 Exactly. 647 00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:45,490 Is that something you are thinking about... 648 00:31:45,570 --> 00:31:46,780 -100% -...with your recipes? 649 00:31:46,863 --> 00:31:49,743 And I think there's also a preconception that it's really time-consuming 650 00:31:49,825 --> 00:31:50,945 and really difficult, 651 00:31:51,034 --> 00:31:53,504 whereas these are all, kind of, very easy ingredients. 652 00:31:53,578 --> 00:31:54,828 You can get them anywhere. 653 00:31:54,913 --> 00:31:57,293 And also, you can batch cook it, you can freeze it. 654 00:31:57,374 --> 00:32:00,794 Like, it's just a recipe that I feel like we can all make. 655 00:32:00,877 --> 00:32:04,337 OK, so while that starts to cook, we make the base. 656 00:32:04,423 --> 00:32:07,223 So we have red onion, garlic, green pepper. 657 00:32:08,135 --> 00:32:12,005 We add a little bit of oil, cumin seeds, and mustard seeds, and salt. 658 00:32:12,722 --> 00:32:15,022 OK, I'm gonna add maple and coconut milk. 659 00:32:17,894 --> 00:32:20,734 [Zac] Yeah. Honestly, you should try making this at home. 660 00:32:20,814 --> 00:32:22,194 Just so you can smell it. 661 00:32:22,941 --> 00:32:25,321 [Ella] OK, so here is our final dish. 662 00:32:37,122 --> 00:32:38,172 It's delicious. 663 00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:40,920 -It's unbelievable. -It's got a lot of flavor, right? 664 00:32:41,001 --> 00:32:42,341 A ton of flavor. 665 00:32:43,962 --> 00:32:47,972 I can see how you have such a following, 'cause this would immediately convert me, 666 00:32:48,049 --> 00:32:50,299 like, to wanting plant food. 667 00:32:50,385 --> 00:32:52,135 Totally. And you don't feel it's weird, right? 668 00:32:52,220 --> 00:32:53,050 Nuh-uh. 669 00:32:53,138 --> 00:32:55,808 [Zac] I don't miss a single thing in this meal. 670 00:32:55,891 --> 00:32:57,101 [Zac] So, later today, 671 00:32:57,726 --> 00:32:58,846 -my friend Darin... -Yep. 672 00:32:58,935 --> 00:33:00,765 -...we're going to eat with Simon Rogan... -Yep. 673 00:33:00,854 --> 00:33:03,024 ...tonight. We have, like, something at a chef's table. 674 00:33:03,106 --> 00:33:04,726 -Amazing. -Would you like to come along? 675 00:33:04,816 --> 00:33:07,146 -Yes, I would love to. -Yes, let's do it. 676 00:33:13,241 --> 00:33:15,331 [Zac] Two Michelin star chef Simon Rogan 677 00:33:15,410 --> 00:33:18,620 owns a variety of restaurants throughout the UK and Hong Kong. 678 00:33:18,705 --> 00:33:23,165 But one of his most exclusive locations, Aulis, has our attention today. 679 00:33:23,251 --> 00:33:25,341 This is his development kitchen. 680 00:33:25,420 --> 00:33:29,300 So this is where he stretches his creativity and invents new dishes. 681 00:33:29,758 --> 00:33:32,008 And he uses a farm-to-table approach. 682 00:33:32,093 --> 00:33:35,313 But it's not just any farm, it's his own farm. 683 00:33:36,264 --> 00:33:39,314 While the restaurant isn't 100% vegetarian, 684 00:33:39,392 --> 00:33:43,312 the idea is that the vegetables shine as the featured ingredients in his meals. 685 00:33:43,396 --> 00:33:45,686 And the animal products play more of a supporting role. 686 00:33:46,942 --> 00:33:48,742 The result is a much healthier, 687 00:33:48,818 --> 00:33:51,778 much more delicious vegetable-forward meal. 688 00:33:52,197 --> 00:33:53,197 -[Simon] Hello. -Hi! 689 00:33:53,281 --> 00:33:54,821 -[Zac] Hey, welcome! -Hello. 690 00:33:56,326 --> 00:33:58,996 -Are you Ella? Hi. Pleasure! -Yeah, nice to meet you. 691 00:33:59,454 --> 00:34:00,334 [Zac] But today, 692 00:34:00,413 --> 00:34:03,293 he's preparing an all plant-based dining experience, just for us. 693 00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:06,745 -Ella, welcome. Simon. How are you doing? -Very nice to meet you, Simon. I'm Ella. 694 00:34:06,836 --> 00:34:09,336 -Well, welcome to Aulis. -[Ella] Thank you. 695 00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:12,879 [Simon] We've got a millet and cauliflower croquet. 696 00:34:12,968 --> 00:34:16,138 And on top of the croquet you've got some black garlic emulsion. 697 00:34:16,763 --> 00:34:18,063 Look at that little... 698 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,390 -[Ella] That's amazing! -[Darin chuckles] 699 00:34:25,313 --> 00:34:26,983 [Darin] Wow, look at that. 700 00:34:27,899 --> 00:34:31,439 So superfoods, Darin, is your, kind of, specialty, right? 701 00:34:31,528 --> 00:34:32,358 Yeah. 702 00:34:32,779 --> 00:34:35,619 From a consumer's perspective, definitely, I find, like, it's... 703 00:34:35,699 --> 00:34:38,989 challenging when you're looking at a whole shelf of things, everything's "super"... 704 00:34:39,077 --> 00:34:40,247 What does it mean? 705 00:34:40,620 --> 00:34:41,790 It's really about... 706 00:34:42,998 --> 00:34:44,368 per bite, let's call it, 707 00:34:44,833 --> 00:34:50,093 having more micro-nutrients in them than, say, eating a doughnut would have. 708 00:34:50,171 --> 00:34:51,381 -[Ella] OK. -Right? 709 00:34:51,464 --> 00:34:56,264 Like, for example, this is all food that has been growing on their farm. 710 00:34:56,636 --> 00:34:59,886 You could technically say everything we're eating right now is superfoods. 711 00:34:59,973 --> 00:35:02,233 [Zac] Simon bases his menu on seasonality. 712 00:35:02,601 --> 00:35:05,061 It's not about forcing ingredients, but rather 713 00:35:05,145 --> 00:35:07,225 serving what's growing at the time. 714 00:35:07,689 --> 00:35:10,569 The concept is to let nature dictate what's for dinner. 715 00:35:11,192 --> 00:35:13,192 [Simon] Next, we've got a mushroom wafer this time. 716 00:35:13,278 --> 00:35:15,488 -[Ella] Mushrooms are my favorite food. -Oh, there we go. 717 00:35:15,572 --> 00:35:17,162 -[Zac] Mine too! -[Ella] Love them. 718 00:35:17,741 --> 00:35:21,121 So, we have a barn up in Cumbria, where we buy the spores 719 00:35:21,202 --> 00:35:24,412 and we actually grow them in a dark place in the barn. 720 00:35:29,294 --> 00:35:30,344 Oh, my God. 721 00:35:30,420 --> 00:35:32,130 -I think that's my favorite so far. -Come on! 722 00:35:32,213 --> 00:35:33,723 That's by far my favorite bite. 723 00:35:33,798 --> 00:35:35,628 -That is unbelievable. -Holy cow! 724 00:35:36,092 --> 00:35:36,972 Wow. 725 00:35:38,678 --> 00:35:39,798 [Darin] That little... 726 00:35:40,889 --> 00:35:41,809 cheesy... 727 00:35:41,890 --> 00:35:43,020 [Ella] Mmm. 728 00:35:43,099 --> 00:35:45,229 [Darin] ...flavor on top of the mushrooms. 729 00:35:45,769 --> 00:35:46,729 Whoa. 730 00:35:48,521 --> 00:35:50,731 And the creaminess with the crunch there is like... 731 00:35:50,815 --> 00:35:52,605 -[Darin] Oh, my God. -Oh, my God. 732 00:35:52,692 --> 00:35:55,282 And it still changes. I love the more you chew it, 733 00:35:55,362 --> 00:35:57,532 -how it kind of evolves into one. -[Ella] Amazing. 734 00:35:57,614 --> 00:35:58,534 [Darin] Wow. 735 00:35:59,115 --> 00:36:00,655 -Beautiful, man. -Incredible. 736 00:36:00,742 --> 00:36:02,832 -[Zac] Thank you, chef. -Hope you enjoyed it. 737 00:36:02,911 --> 00:36:05,621 -Thank you, chef. -Thank you guys too. Unbelievable. 738 00:36:07,874 --> 00:36:09,884 [birds squawking] 739 00:36:10,585 --> 00:36:11,705 [Zac] Look, I get it. 740 00:36:12,212 --> 00:36:14,552 People are usually resistant to change. 741 00:36:14,631 --> 00:36:17,221 That's why change is best in small steps. 742 00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:18,590 Little increments. 743 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:21,349 Switch to a reusable mug. 744 00:36:22,138 --> 00:36:23,678 Carpool one day a week. 745 00:36:24,182 --> 00:36:25,602 Ride a bike when you can. 746 00:36:27,310 --> 00:36:28,690 Plant a few seeds. 747 00:36:28,770 --> 00:36:30,270 -Alley-oop! -[Darin] Sha! 748 00:36:30,730 --> 00:36:32,230 And work your way up to a garden. 749 00:36:32,315 --> 00:36:35,855 -How quick did we just build a garden? -I don't know. Thirty minutes? 750 00:36:35,944 --> 00:36:38,324 Eat one extra serving of vegetables a day. 751 00:36:38,405 --> 00:36:40,775 -That's by far my favorite bite. -Yeah, it's unbelievable. 752 00:36:40,865 --> 00:36:41,865 Holy cow. 753 00:36:41,950 --> 00:36:43,580 [Zac] And know where they came from. 754 00:36:44,244 --> 00:36:46,044 Just like picking up garbage, 755 00:36:46,830 --> 00:36:49,420 change can happen one piece at a time. 756 00:36:49,499 --> 00:36:50,829 [bees buzzing] 757 00:36:50,917 --> 00:36:53,747 [Zac] And before you know it, you look over your shoulder 758 00:36:54,504 --> 00:36:57,014 and realize you've done a lot. 759 00:36:57,382 --> 00:36:59,882 The hardest thing about change is taking that first step. 760 00:36:59,968 --> 00:37:02,968 -[Darin] Oh, my God. -[Zac laughing] 761 00:37:03,054 --> 00:37:04,604 [Zac] But after you get started... 762 00:37:04,681 --> 00:37:05,521 Bye, Mom! 763 00:37:05,598 --> 00:37:07,428 ...it really is all downhill from there. 764 00:37:07,517 --> 00:37:08,597 [chuckling] 765 00:37:08,685 --> 00:37:10,975 ♪ I've never felt like this before ♪