Matthys Visser

Valentine
AP Environmental Science
12/1/16
Before The Flood Documentary Analysis
Leonardo DIcaprio, in the documentary Before The Flood, argues that climate change is
an exponentially growing issue and that steps must be taken as soon as possible to minimize its
damage on the world. Dicaprio discusses the causes of climate change, such as
overconsumption of fossil fuels, which emit harmful gases including carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrogen oxides, and F-gases, as well as the inevitable consequences of these malicious habits.
To show the consequences, Dicaprio travels to sites which climate change has affected the
most and speaks to experts about what is inevitable and what can be avoided if action is taken
immediately.
The documentary covers a variety of environmental sciences, taking ecology, biology,
chemistry, mineralogy, zoology, oceanology, and, of course, atmospheric science all into
account. Dicaprio talks with atmospheric scientists who investigate the state of the atmosphere
as well as trends in gas movement and heat dispersion. The methods which describe the
function and effect of greenhouse gases all pertain to chemistry. Investigation of the effects of
climate change over time utilizes zoology, oceanology, mineralogy, geology, and ecology by
investigating the species affected by it and historical changes in the atmosphere and
environment.
The documentary was biased toward the sane side of climate change, which is merely
not denying it. Dicaprio did talk about the devastating effects of climate change denial and the
hypocrisy of the scientists and politicians that keep it alive. Regardless, the belief that climate

change does not exist, does exist. It is common belief that these individuals hold the views they
do for personal interest. These assertions are not groundless, as a 2015 study identified 4,566
people with overlapping network ties to 164 organizations who are known for their efforts to
downplay the threats of climate change. Individuals in these positions receive hefty donations
from lobbying groups who have special interest in the fossil fuel industry among other industries
that are known to ultimately be causing the climate crisis.