Clarkson's Institute for a Sustainable Environment and NYWEA Chapter screened the movie Before the Flood in January 2017. This film educated both the actor, Leonardo Dicaprio, and the audience regarding the science, politics, and impacts (social, environmental, economical) of climate change. The film created a relatively grim mood; however, at the end of the movie, the audience was brought to an action that they can take: pushing a carbon tax. Afterwards, movie attendees (Potsdam community and Clarkson community members) engaged in discussion and had the opportunity to sign a petition for a carbon tax.

The film humbly informed viewers of all expertise levels. Furthermore, it linked direct numbers to impacts. For example, in order to improve infrastructure in Florida to withstand sea level rises, the state is undergoing a 400 million dollar project to build up streets. This project will only be useful for the next 40 to 50 years. Ironically, politicians in Florida have banned people from using the word 'climate change.' Before the Flood reminds the audience that the ocean doesn't care whether you are a Republican or Democrat: it's going to rise either way (Stevens 2016).

The film did a great job bringing facts to the audience's attention while reminding them that this is science; it is happening. Climate change is like a snowball rolling down a hill. It is building up speed, and it doesn't care who it hits. All we can do is mitigate the degree to which we push the snowball down the hill and find ways to create communities that are more resilient to its impacts. It seems like the majority of debate regarding climate change is in the United States, we need to wake up and smell the science, for we are now moving to four degrees Celsius warming by the end of the century. This is much greater than the value of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming that we agreed to in the UN Climate Treaty in Paris 2015.

By Sonja Gagen

Reference
Stevens, F. (2016). Before the Flood. National Geographic.