What the Ocean Reveals About Us
‘The Climate and Us’ film series explores solutions to some of the most pressing climate and health challenges. ‘What the Ocean Reveals About Us’ is a six-minute film produced for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation addressing one of the most important issues of our time, the health of the ocean. The film highlights humanity’s dependence on and deep connection to the ocean, and why healing the ocean is so important.
Filmed in Lisbon and London, the episode features personal stories and expertise from the Foundation’s partners Wave by Wave, a charity that promotes therapeutic interventions , and marine conservationists at the Zoological Society of London. The film shows that by protecting the ocean, we protect ourselves as well as the climate.
Communications experts from the Foundation’s sustainability work also helped the design of the film. The episode deploys proven ways of presenting climate messaging – such as focusing on solutions, examples of positive action and messages of hope; and using personal stories and health metaphors to help audiences better connect with ocean science.
The Climate and Us series takes audiences on a cinematic journey across the world, highlighting the critical link between our changing climate and its profound effects on our wellbeing. Through 31 compelling stories spanning six continents, the series explores the realities faced by people worldwide – from the wildfires destroying homes in California, to the air pollution smothering residents in Jakarta to the strain on people’s access to clean water in South Africa. As well as focusing on communities affected by climate-related disasters and emerging health crises, it also highlights the incredible resilience of people impacted – and the wide-ranging solutions we employ to shield our everyday lives.
Technical Info
The Foundation would like to thank the production team and all the partners and contributors who made the ‘What the ocean reveals about us’ film possible. Special thanks to Ema Shaw Evangelista, Catarina, Luísa and the Wave by Wave team; Heather Koldewey; Kevin, the ZSL team and volunteers; Nicky Hawkins and Heard; and Communications Inc.