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The material that could change the world... for a third time

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TEDEd Animation

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Today roads, sidewalks, bridges, and skyscrapers are made of a material called concrete (aka cement). There’s three tons of it for every person on Earth. It’s also played a surprisingly large role in rising global temperatures over the last century. What exactly makes concrete problematic, and what can we do to fix it? Explore how scientists are working to create a more sustainable concrete.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Building a sustainable future will require a multi-faceted approach. Read the book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, by Bill Gates to dive into a detailed plan to bring global greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero.

While there are big changes governments and businesses will need to make, there are meaningful and effective changes individuals can make in their daily lives as well. Use this carbon footprint calculator created by the Global Footprint Network to measure your carbon footprint. But what’s next? Many people struggle to identify how they can offset their carbon footprint or what action they can take. Project Drawdown’s ecochallenge has you covered. It outlines a series of one-time or daily actions you can take individually, with a group of friends, or coworkers to make a difference in your community.

Our changing climate involves many complex and interconnected issues, and one of the best ways to understand them is to have more conversations about them. The World Climate Simulation allows you to do just that by role playing and simulating UN climate negotiations. Finally, watch this TED animation to learn what is net-zero and why it is our shared goal to build a better future.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Lisa LaBracio
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Wing Luo
  • Illustrator Luísa Holanda
  • Animator Murilo Jardim
  • Art Director Luísa Holanda
  • Music André Aires
  • Sound Designer André Aires
  • Hype Producer Taíla Soliman
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Hype Executive Producer Gabriel Garcia
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor George Zaidan
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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