Canary: A Climate Change Documentary that Awakens the Heart

09/18/23 • 34 min

Climate Correction™ - A Climate Change Podcast

In today’s episode, we meet with Danny O’Malley a producer on Chef’s Table, and Alex Rivest, an MIT-educated neuroscientist. Together they directed a riveting climate documentary disguised as an adventure epic that speaks to the heart versus the viewer’s mind. CANARY is the film featuring Lonnie Thompson's climate odyssey atop the Quelccaya Ice Cap.

Join us as we delve into the remarkable work and life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, a pioneering glaciologist whose research has been instrumental in shedding light on the impacts of climate change. Dr. Thompson has spent decades studying glaciers and ice caps around the world, but his work on the Quelccaya Ice Cap is particularly significant. Located high in the Peruvian Andes, Quelccaya is one of the world's largest tropical ice caps. It serves as a critical indicator of climate change due to its sensitivity to temperature variations. Dr. Thompson's research involves drilling ice cores to extract ancient air bubbles, allowing scientists to analyze the Earth's past climate conditions with unparalleled precision.

The documentary, "CANARY" takes us on a breathtaking journey to the top of the Quelccaya Ice Cap, where Lonnie, his team, and an entire film crew conduct and film the research. At an elevation of 18,000 feet, this desolate, icy expanse provides a stark visual representation of the profound changes our planet is undergoing. Through stunning visuals and interviews with the scientists, the film documents the dramatic retreat of Quelccaya's ice, which has accelerated in recent decades.

At the peak of Dr. Thompson's career, he received some devastating health news that threatened to halt his progress. The directors draw a parallel between Lonnie's struggles to accept his health condition, and the broader challenge that many of us face in accepting the reality of climate change caused by a warming atmosphere.

Through their dedication and storytelling, Dr. Thompson, Rivest, and O'Malley inspire us all to take action to protect our world for future generations.

Links:

Find showings here: https://canary.oscilloscope.net/

Join us at Climate Week NYC here: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/canary-documentary-film-screening

Guest Bios (provided by the guest):

Danny O’Malley

Danny O'Malley is a Grammy-nominated and James Beard-nominated film director, best known for his work on Netflix's Chef's Table, where he serves as co-executive producer and director. Danny has an extensive background in filming, collaborating with various bands across the U.S., including Tegan and Sara, The Rentals, The Decemberists, Kraftwerk, and more. Notably, his documentary ‘States’, part of Tegan and Sara's release ‘Get Along’ was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Long Form Music Video. Danny initially made his mark in documentary television as a story producer, and his work has been featured on major platforms such as Netflix, Fox Sports One, and NBC. On Chef's Table, Danny is a key driving force shaping the character-driven storytelling that defines the show’s signature style. Danny, and his directing partner Alex Rivest PhD, won the Alfred P. Sloan development grant in 2017, which led to the creation of his first feature ‘Canary.’

Alex Rivest

Alex Rivest is an MIT-trained PhD Neuroscientist. Having worked alongside Nobel Prize winner Dr. Susumu Tonegawa, Alex's research has been published in two of the most highly renowned scientific journals, Science and Nature Neuroscience. Alex grew up in an environment where curiosity and question-asking were highly valued, and he has dedicated his life to helping teach others about the wonders of the world. As an educator, he received the Angus MacDonald Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at MIT and founded the nonprofit Blue Kitabu, which built a sustainable primary school in central Ghana. As a science filmmaker, Alex’s videos have accumulated over 70 million views online, and have been featured everywhere, from billboards in Times Square to installations in science museums, and even in an opera production of “Das Rheingold.” CANARY is his directorial debut.

Through their dedication and storytelling, Dr. Thompson, Rivest, and O'Malley inspire us all to take action to protect our world for future generations.

Links:

Find showings here: https://canary.oscilloscope.net/

Join us at Climate Week NYC here: https://www.climateweeknyc.org/events/canary-documentary-film-screening

Guest Bios (provided by the guest):

Danny O’Malley

Alex Rivest

Previous Episode

Florida and Solar Power Generation with Earthjustice

What power does the law have to address the climate crisis? How has the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act impacted the advancement of climate solutions? Why is Florida not leading the United States on solar power generation?

To answer these questions and more, we have Earthjustice on today’s episode of the Climate Correction Podcast.

We are joined by Jill Tauber, Vice President of Litigation for Climate & Energy at Earthjustice, and Tania Galloni, Managing Attorney of Earthjustice's Florida regional office.

Jill leads the largest bench of climate and Energy litigators in the country working to achieve a swift and equitable shift from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy, and to curb the devastating effects of climate change.

Tania is here from Earthjustice’s Florida team to tell us about the roadblocks that stand in the way of Florida dominating and profiting from energy production by solar.

Earthjustice, the premier nonprofit public interest environmental law organization, leverages legal expertise to advance climate justice.

The interview delves into the current climate landscape in Florida, emphasizing the state's significance due to its unique climate impacts and opportunities.

Earthjustice further discusses how they use the law to maximize gains in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), ensuring a clean energy transition benefits all while preventing harm to impacted communities.

The interview concludes with Earthjustice's pledge to hold the Biden administration accountable to its climate justice commitments.

Listeners are encouraged to take action and support Earthjustice's crucial work by reaching out to decision-makers and holding them accountable.

A link is provided below where you can learn more and support Earthjustice.

Action Center - Earthjustice

Next Episode

Navigating the Storm: Florida's Climate Challenge

In this episode of Climate Correction Podcast, Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli sheds light on the pressing issues surrounding climate change, with a specific focus on Florida. With his extensive background in meteorology, Jeff explores the intricate connections between human emissions, climate anomalies, and the growing risks Florida faces due to climate change.

Jeff begins by emphasizing the profound role human activity plays in the changing climate. He puts a spotlight on how carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and deforestation are escalating the greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. These emissions have far-reaching consequences, including rising global temperatures and increased weather extremes.

He shares the shocking truth that we have just surpassed the 2023 temperature limit of 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial eras. This summer was the hottest on record due to an El Niño effect, which he describes extensively.

The discussion delves into the unsettling reality that climate and weather anomalies are becoming the new normal. Jeff illustrates how once-rare events, like rapidly intensifying hurricanes, record-breaking heatwaves, and rising sea levels are now more frequent and severe due to human-induced climate change. He stresses that these anomalies are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern that demands our immediate attention.

The state of Florida is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We learn that the Sunshine State is experiencing a rise in coastal flooding, stronger hurricanes, and blistering temperatures. Jeff paints a vivid picture of the increasing risks faced by Florida's residents, ecosystems, and economy, accentuating the urgent need for action.

Throughout the conversation, Jeff highlights that addressing climate change is not merely an environmental concern but a matter of economic and societal stability. He discusses strategies to mitigate these risks, including transitioning to clean energy sources, bolstering infrastructure resilience, and implementing sustainable land-use practices.

In conclusion, this episode of the Climate Correction Podcast with Jeff Berardelli illuminates the inextricable link between human emissions, climate anomalies, and the dire consequences facing Florida. It calls upon individuals, communities, and policymakers to take proactive steps to combat climate change and protect vulnerable regions like Florida from its rapidly escalating impacts.

Guest Bio

With over two decades of experience forecasting Florida’s severe weather, Jeff Berardelli is WFLA News Channel 8’s Chief Meteorologist, Climate Specialist, and leader of the Max Defender 8 Weather Team.

He has also served as CBS News Meteorologist and Climate Specialist, delivering weather for the network’s CBS Mornings show. Jeff has worked as a climate correspondent traveling the country reporting on environmental stories and providing scientific analysis for various platforms.

Prior to that, he served as a lead meteorologist at WPEC in West Palm Beach, a weekend meteorologist at WFOR in Miami, and a weekend meteorologist at WCBS in New York City.

Berardelli has been obsessed with the weather all the way since the age of 3. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences from Cornell University in the 1990s. Recently, after witnessing the recent spike in extreme weather, he went back to school to study Climate, earning a master’s degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University. He feels that as the climate continues to change, understanding and communicating the impact of extreme weather and society is an integral part of being a TV meteorologist today.