Can the Earth’s past help us make sense of today’s climate crisis? This talk examines how geological records such as ancient ripples and mass extinctions can inform our understanding of modern climate change. While natural laws remain constant, the current rate and scale of human-driven warming are unprecedented. By contrasting scientific insights with climate denial narratives, the talk highlights the importance of context, evidence, and urgency in using the past to shape a livable and sustainable future. Charlotte is a PhD candidate at McGill University. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, and stayed for a master’s degree specializing in the oceanic sulfur cycle. Now, she researches sedimentary rock predating the dawn of animal life, aiming to improve our understanding of how microbially-constructed reefs altered ancient climate. She is passionate about teaching others about geology, because an understanding of Earth history and deep time directly lends itself to an appreciation for the natural world. As a result, she does science outreach on social media under the username @charbonate, through which she creates informative videos about the Earth's past, and advocates for the importance of geoscience education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx