Before the FloodThe devastating effects of industrialization and human carelessness have resulted in the global problem of change climate. As humanity strives to advance and progress, economic gain is routinely prioritized over environmental management, resulting in devastating effects on the health of our planet. Before the Flood is a documentary released as part of National Geographic's effort to bring climate change to the forefront of media coverage. The film follows Leonardo DiCaprio (a United Nations messenger of peace) on a two-year journey as he travels the world and explores the expansive effects of global warming; from the bustling cities of China to the melting ice caps of the Arctic. DiCaprio initiates conversations with scientists, activists and public figures in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of the reality of the state of our planet. By identifying specific environmental incidents and explaining humanity's role in producing them, DiCaprio is able to address climate change as an urgent issue and bring to light the very human actions that have catalyzed the state of the world today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Although climate change is a large and complicated problem, its foundation is built on years of prioritizing economic gain before environmental preservation. From transportation fuel to food production, the price of the modern industrialized lifestyle is paid at the expense of the planet that exists to sustain us. The constant consumption of fossil fuels has led to such an increase in greenhouse gases that global temperatures have doubled in the last 20 years, melting 75% of the Arctic's ice in just half a century. Experts predict an ice-free Arctic as early as 2020. The film's cinematic journey begins in Greenland, where aerial shots reveal choppy water and decreasing ice levels. DiCaprio consulted with Jason Box, a geology professor in Greenland, who said that over the past five years more than thirty feet of glacial ice has melted due to the globe's rising temperature. If this pace continues, Greenland could disappear completely within another five years. And while rising sea levels in the arid Arctic bring with them myriad complications and problems, the growing population means other countries are struggling to accommodate the huge amount of people. DiCaprio continues his narrative by traveling to Beijing and finally India to discuss the relationship between population and pollution. levels. Air pollution hangs like a dark fog over Beijing and many of China's bustling cities, due to the enormous amounts of coal burned to fuel the consumerist lifestyle of an ever-growing population. And while renewable energy sources such as solar or hydroelectric have been perfected, societies still fail to prioritize the planet over economic interests. Due to the costs associated with implementing these new energy production systems, coal and fossil fuels still remain at the core of our current energy storage. At the helm of this dangerous attitude are the United States and other first world countries. Sunita Narain, director of the Center for Science and the Environment, placed the role of the United States in a global perspective: “The electricity consumed by an American home.