Table of Contents-

S.No. Contents Page No.

1. Introduction 3

2. Core Issues Addressed

 Global Warming
3-5
 Disinformation Regarding Climate Change
 Geopolitical Landscape
 Palm Oil Production

3. What is Next in order to Control the situation

 Tesla’s Gigafactory
5-6
 Carbon Tax
 Paris Agreement

4. Conclusion 6

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Introduction-

Before the Flood, a National Geographic documentary, follows Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a UN
Messenger of Peace, visiting five continents and the Arctic to observe climate change. He joins experts on
expeditions to find the truth about climate change, and he also speaks with various politicians regarding the
alarming situation prevailing all around the globe. He also uncovers a well-planned disinformation
campaign by powerful special groups aimed at persuading the public that the growing climate problem is
not as serious as it appears.

Before the Flood tries to depict the enormous changes occurring around the world as a result of climate
change, as well as the steps we can take as people and as a society to avoid life on our planet from being
disrupted. It has demonstrated how intertwined humanity's fate is, as well as the potential we all have as
individuals to shape a better future for our world.

Core Issues Addressed in the Documentary-

 Global Warming-
The documentary depicts how our consumption habits are destroying ecosystems, livelihoods, and
food sources for billions of living species throughout the world—both on land and in the sea—from
the fuel we put in our cars to the soaps we wash with. More CO2 is being pumped into the
atmosphere than ever before as a result of increased emissions and increased CO2 saturation in the
oceans. It discusses how even making or breaking of buildings to every small industrial process
emits CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing towards increased global warming.

In the Documentary DiCaprio met Jason Box, a professor at the Geological Survey of Denmark and
Greenland (GEUS). Box has spent several Arctic summers examining the ice sheet's stability, as
well as how smoke from forest fires and fossil fuel combustion has darkened the snow. Box goes on
to explain how the ice has now melted, Hundreds of cubic kilometres of ice accumulated on land
that has now gone into the sea after five years of melting. Box's concern over the long-term melting
trend is evident as they both watch at a torrent of water flowing down.

 Disinformation regarding Climate Change-

It has been discussed in here, how for years climate scientists and their theories were mocked and
often considered irrelevant. Even though global warming was been a matter of discussion since half
a decade but has only been looked upon since a few years. Imagine the world now if we had taken
climate change science seriously back then. Since then, our population has increased by five billion
people, with more on the way. It has grown more difficult to solve the situation.

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 On discussion with Prof Michael E Mann, DiCaprio learns that vested corporate interest of political
and business personalities had a major role in spreading of disinformation and suppression of the
scientists. Taking an example of Koch Industries in U.S.A., the documentary portrays how the
company’s benefits involved in fossil mining led them to shatter image of climate scientists, turning
global warming hypothetical in front of nation through various welfare associations.

 Geopolitical Landscape-
Climate change is the result of the combined effects of the industrialized nations' actions all over
the planet. Despite the fact that the United States and China are the largest emitters of greenhouse
gases, the outcomes and immediate consequences disproportionately harm the smallest emitters.
We observed the displacement of Pacific Islanders from Vanuatu and Kiribati in the documentary,
as their homes were actually carried away by increasing sea levels, and will vanish within the next
50 years if the current trend continues. We observed how a single bout of unseasonal rain in Indian
regions may wipe out an entire season's worth of crops. We witnessed an entire population in China
suffer from the impacts of polluted air since they are required to wear masks whenever they go
outside.

Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment argues with DiCaprio that, there
are still 300 million people in India who do not have access to electricity which amounts towards
around 30% household of India is yet to receive electricity, and use bio-fuel as their primary source
of heat for cooking. At the same time, they are one of the world's most coal-rich countries, and they
are looking for a cost-effective energy option for their people. On the other hand, despite being one
of the world's top per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, the United States is not leading the effort
to solve climate change. She also adds to the fact that the rich could withstand the first hit of
climate change, whereas the poor sections of the society would suffer. Quoting her, “We need
countries to believe that climate change is real and it is urgent. It’s not a figment of their
imagination.”

 Palm Oil and Beef Production-

Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, and it can be found in more than half of
all packaged goods in supermarkets, from soaps to soups due to its cheap value, that leads the
various multinational companies towards the cost cut mechanism in order to maximize their profits
being ignorant of its climatic effects. While palm oil is farmed all over the world, it is manufactured
and exported primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia, where it is typically produced in unsustainable
ways.

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 While palm oil is not harmful to the environment in and of itself, the technique of extraction is one
of the world's top causes of rainforest degradation. Burning is a typical strategy used by plantation
owners to clear vegetation in natural forests so that they can plant and benefit from palm oil
production. Traditionally, trees operate as a CO2 filter by absorbing carbon in their trunks, leaves,
and other parts of their bodies. By cutting down these trees, decades of carbon trapped by the
forests is released swiftly into the atmosphere, thus creating gigantic "carbon bombs."

Gidon Eshel, professor of Environmental Science and Physics at Bard College highlighted the fact
in front of Di Caprio that 47% of U.S. land is utilized for food production, of which 70% is used for
cattle feeding, leading to high deforestation in the country. He also pin-pointed the fact that beef
contribute 10-12% share of greenhouse gas of U.S.

What’s Next in order to control the situation-

 Tesla’s Gigafactory-
The documentary features Di Caprio’s meet with Elon Musk in Nevada at the "gigafactory," The
massive facility, which is expected to be fully operational by 2020, is aimed to produce 500,000
electric vehicles and 85 GWh of batteries/cells every year. Musk and Di Caprio discusses how this
can be a game changer and can be a key to manage climate changes.

 Carbon Tax-
Musk discussed the need for putting “price on carbon” to move towards a sustainable development.
The discussion on which was further taken up by Professor of economics at Harvard, Gregory
Mankiw, who has long advocated for a carbon tax. He discusses that the perception of carbon tax
has to be made clear in front of general public in order to make it implementable and acceptable,
ultimately in order to fulfil the motive behind the tax.

 Paris Agreement-
The Paris Agreement on climate change was meant to be crucial for managing the climate changes,
but due to the conventions of the same being only advisory and not forceable on nations has
eliminated major conventions that need to be imposed. Also, in the conversation with Barack
Obama, Di Caprio discusses the issue.

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 The architecture is created under the Paris Agreement. Obama adds, in comparison to what
scientists say we need to fix this problem; the Paris targets are insufficient. However, if we can use
the next 20 years to apply existing technologies to reduce carbon emissions, then gradually increase
the dials as new technologies come online and we set more and more ambitious targets each year,
we will not be able to completely reverse the warming that is now unavoidable, but we will be able
to slow it down before it becomes catastrophic.

Conclusion-
The documentary provides complete insight into the current situation and consequences of climate
change, with a probable picture into the haunting future if the situation is not controlled. It takes Di
Caprio, Messenger of Peace (U.N.) into expedition around every corner of the planet to document the
disastrous effects of climate change and raises doubts about humanity's ability to solve what is maybe the
most catastrophic situation humanity has ever faced and could face with larger impact in near future.
Everything we saw on this trip demonstrated how interlinked our world's climate is and how it is rapidly
approaching a critical point.

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