I recently had the opportunity to watch the National Geographic documentary Before the Flood, which features Leonardo DiCaprio on his journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace for the Climate. He travels to five continents, including the arctic, to witness climate change firsthand, goes on expeditions with scientists, and meets with global political leaders to view the dramatic changes happening worldwide.
Throughout his journey, DiCaprio visits some of the most striking and beautiful places, including the melting glaciers of the Arctic Circle where, according to climatologist Jason Box, more than 30 feet of solid ice has melted in just the past two decades. This extreme amount of melting has lead to an increase in sea level that has affected areas around the world, like vulnerable coastal lands from Miami Beach, Florida to the sinking Pacific Islands.
Not only does the documentary depict the rapid rise in sea level, but it also depicts the global addiction to fossil fuels and the extreme ways to obtain them. Because the cheapest way to bring people out of energy poverty is to burn coal, regional climate change is negatively affected. Burning coal releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that decrease air quality and increase temperature, which can affect ecosystems like the Arctic Circle.
DiCaprio visits several communities in which climate change has drastically affected individuals and ecosystems in a negative way. In India, he learns that 300 million people do not have power or light. In order to help provide light and power to these people, the cheapest solution is to burn coal. As a result, the carbon emissions affect their living conditions and air quality dramatically. DiCaprio also travels to the Tar Sands of Alberta, Canada and Beijing, China. Crude oil is produced in both of these regions at the cost of damaging ecosystems and emitting tons of greenhouse gases. Most notably, damages caused by production of oil can be seen in Beijing with the smoggy skies that cause the citizens to wear facemasks whenever they venture outside.
Oceans and rainforests act as sponges and absorb our carbon emissions, putting extra stress on the ecosystems. Next, DiCaprio ventures to the Bahamas and Indonesia where fragile coral reefs are dying and fires that are set to create palm oil plantations are releasing carbon gas into the atmosphere.
The journey concludes in Italy, where DiCaprio meets with Pope Francis at The Vatican. Pope Francis released his environmental encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be) in May of 2015, which addressed the global challenge of climate change. According to the Pope, humanity and the environment are one and climate change is undeniable. He urges us to accept modern science and to take care of the environment or, eventually, our common home will be depleted of resources.
Finally, the film discusses that there are powerful people in the world with certain interests that downplay the urgency of the climate crisis. In an effort to aid in the discussion of climate change with world leaders, DiCaprio also visits the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada, attends the Climate Summit in Paris, France, and speaks with President Obama in Washington, D.C. to discuss the United States’ future involvement in fighting climate change.
Remember how Miami is in danger of being washed away? Too bad the state’s governor believes climate change is a hoax. Before the Flood urges viewers to elect officials who support alternative forms of energy, such as solar and wind, and suggests actions that we can all take to prevent further climate disruption like utilizing efficient lighting and consuming less beef.
“We need everyone to demand bold action from their political leaders and to elect representatives who have their best interests at heart, not the interests of corporations to perpetuate a cycle of greed and destruction,” encouraged DiCaprio.
It’s time for the world to know the truth about the threat of climate change.
The documentary is free to watch on YouTube here.