Aleah Gramling

Edwin Sabuhoro
RPTM 220
10/06/2020
Film Review and Integration

Summary of the Film

Before the Flood is a National Geographic film that explores some of the most

catastrophic changes that are occurring across the planet as a result of climate change.

Throughout the film, Leonardo DiCaprio, an award-winning actor, explores some of the human

activities that are causing climate change and the repercussions these activities are having on the

planet. He also explores some of the ways that communities across the world are taking action to

combat climate change through the use of cleaner resources like wind and solar energy and by

enacting environmental laws to prevent the use of certain chemicals and fossil fuels. The main

idea that is stressed throughout the film is that climate change is a global problem that we

created, and we need to take swift action to save our planet before climate change and other

issues become irreversible.

Theme 1

The first major theme that is expressed throughout the film is human-induced climate

change. According to Sachs, “climate change is the first and most important of the planetary

boundaries” (Sachs 185). Sachs goes on to explain that, “human-induced climate change is the

result of the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” (Sachs 185). Carbon dioxide

and other greenhouse gases allow incoming ultraviolet radiation from the sun to warm the

surface of the Earth; the Earth turns this heat into infrared radiation, which is then radiated back

out into space (Sachs 185). Unfortunately, these greenhouse gasses trap some of this outgoing

radiation, resulting in the warming of our planet (Sachs 185).

In the film, they show how this warming process is affecting icecaps and the oceans

around the world. When DiCaprio visits Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic, it is clear to see
Aleah Gramling
Edwin Sabuhoro
RPTM 220
10/06/2020
that the ice here is melting at an exponential rate. According to Jake Awa, the Artic guide, “the

ice in this area used to be solid with a dark blue color; now, the ice is thin and melts more

quickly” (Stevens, 2016). According to Enric Sala, a National Geographic explorer, “we will be

able to sail over the north pole by 2040” (Stevens, 2016). The melting of these icecaps has led to

sea-level rise, which is severely affecting many islands around the world. In the film, DiCaprio

visits Abaiang, Kiribati, an island in the Pacific Ocean. Here, sea-level rise has already caused

severe flooding on the island, and saltwater has gotten into their freshwater reserves (Stevens,

2016). Some residents have had to relocate to areas on the island that have not been affected by

flooding (Stevens, 2016).

Theme 2

Another theme addressed in the film is ocean acidification. The oceans absorb much of

the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is why they are becoming more acidic as the

levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere continue to increase (Sachs 186). According to Sachs,

“carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the ocean, producing carbonic acid” (Sachs 186).

This carbonic acid is what causes the oceans to become more acidic, and it is also what eats

away at structures made calcium carbonate, “a chemical compound that makes up much of the

structure and skeletons of organisms like shellfish and coral” (Sabuhoro, Planetary Boundaries

Module, 2020). According to the film, “fifty percent of all coral reefs have been lost in the last

thirty years” (Stevens, 2016). The loss of our coral reefs is a result of ocean acidification, and it

is destroying many people’s livelihoods around the world. For many fishermen, the fish that live

in these coral reefs is their source of income, and it provides food for their families (Stevens,

2016). Without the coral reefs, these families cannot make ends meet, forcing them to move

elsewhere to find work (Stevens, 2016).

Aleah Gramling
Edwin Sabuhoro
RPTM 220
10/06/2020
Theme 3

A third theme explored in this film is biodiversity. It is no secret that humanity has

disrupted the biodiversity on our planet (Sachs 191). We have already caused many species

around the world to become extinct. In the film, DiCaprio read off a list of some of the species

that have become extinct as a result of various human activities. Some of these species include

the Dodo, the Passenger Pigeon, the Tasmanian Tiger, and the Moa (Stevens, 2016). According

to Sachs, “when biodiversity is disrupted, ecosystem functions change markedly” (Sachs 191).

We have already disrupted the biodiversity on Earth in various ways such as, “pollution,

freshwater depletion, land-use change, human-induced climate change, and ocean acidification”

(Sachs 191). Humanity is also responsible for causing the sixth mass extinction on Earth (Sachs

191). While the first five mass extinctions were a result of natural causes like volcanoes and

meteorites, the sixth extinction is not natural (Sachs 191).

My Reaction to the Film

After watching this film, I am shocked, disturbed, and appalled. Although I have known

about climate change and the effects it is having on the planet for many years, I did not realize

just how catastrophic these issues had become. Watching this film and seeing some real

examples of how climate change is affecting certain places around the world has opened my

eyes, and it has made more of an impact in my life than reading about climate change in a book.

Climate change is real, and it is already affecting many of the planetary boundaries that humanity

depends on for its survival. We must act now if we are to prevent the effects of climate change

from becoming irreversible. I hope that in my lifetime, I will be able to see the United States

become a nation that is no longer dependent on fossil fuels and relies solely on cleaner resources

such as wind and solar energy. Unfortunately, with the lifestyle of the average American today, I
Aleah Gramling
Edwin Sabuhoro
RPTM 220
10/06/2020
doubt that we will ever be able to accomplish this goal. We are a nation that depends heavily on

fossil fuels for our heat, electricity, transportation, and power. It is going to be extremely

difficult to move away from fossil fuels entirely.

One of the ways that I believe climate change will manifest itself in RPTM is through the

number of tourists who participate in certain activities and the amount of revenue these activities

bring in. For example, I am considering a career in resorts, which would allow me to work in

places like the Bahamas. One of the popular tourist attractions in the Bahamas is snorkeling at

the coral reefs. If ocean acidification continues to rise, the coral reefs will continue to die,

resulting in fewer tourists participating in this activity and visiting the islands. This would also

cause the revenue generated from this activity to decrease, which could have a significant impact

on the community.

I can also see the effects of climate change influencing how I travel and how far I travel.

For example, the film talked about placing a carbon tax on specific activities that release large

amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, such as cars and other modes of transportation. A

carbon tax could affect how far I am willing to travel for the amount of money that I have to

spend on gas to get there. It could also affect the type of car I own. Instead of paying extra taxes

on gas, I might decide to own an electric vehicle that is powered by a rechargeable battery. These

cars are not only better for the environment, but they also cost less to operate than the average

gas-powered vehicle.
Aleah Gramling
Edwin Sabuhoro
RPTM 220
10/06/2020
Works Cited

Jeffrey D. Sachs. The Age of Sustainable Development. Columbia University Press, 2015.

EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=944998&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Stevens, Fisher, director. Before the Flood. National Geographic, 2016.