Ice on Fire

Ice On Fire collates all of the climate science and makes it understandable. Earth is dying and dying quickly. If making this documentary makes people change their mind, then maybe it can help save the planet.

Unless you live under a rock you are aware of climate change. Whether you believe in the science of it or instead choose to put on your political blinders and profess it's not real, this film presents a multitude of answers and solutions for an innovative and positive way forward. The science of how atmospheric CO2 build up is affecting our planet is laid out with care such that a layman can understand but with enough specificity that it is not oversimplified. But it does not stop there. Countless solutions are presented by various scientists, researchers, and innovators around the globe explaining ways that we can not only stop our carbon footprint from rapid expansion but also how we can actually reverse that footprint. We have a limited amount of time to effectively implement these incredible ideas but it is not yet too late. The fact that these ideas have already passed proof of concept and continue to be scaled across the world should be enough reason to get behind them; that they open up tens of millions of new jobs, economic growth, and a path for our children and future generations to inhabit this Earth long after we're gone should leave no doubt that whatever your political leanings, it's time to act. PERIOD.

A well made, thought provoking, and scary compilation of what we know about the effect burning fossil fuels for energy has on our climate. Unfortunately for me, the film does not mention the elephant in the room. Until we take the difficult but necessary steps to reduce global population growth the remedies mentioned in this film all seem futile. When are we going to see a documentary about climate change that addresses this most important issue?

This is a pertinent and powerful documentary once again coming from DiCaprio. This documentary tries to find ways to stop or reverse the negative effects of climate change. The cinematography is brilliant; the narrative voice of DiCaprio confident and urgent without being haughty. And most importantly, it is based on facts and statistics from around the world.

At a time when climate science is being all-too-often renounced as a hoax, and widening economic inequality is continuing to jeopardize people's quality of life, Ice on Fire offers innovative solutions that address both preeminent issues simultaneously. By featuring cutting edge, solutions-oriented research that not only boasts significant and fast-acting carbon sequestration, but that also contains the capability of generating profit, scientists are instead envisioning a more pragmatic, bases loaded approach to sustainable solutions that even a more skeptical and conservative audience, whose primary concerns are job creation and profitability, can buy into. One of the unique ways this film bridges the accessibility gap found in many science-heavy documentaries is through it's highlighting of relatable innovators whose stories and efforts can be understood by anyone. Most notable are the tales of two farmers who are transforming their respective industries by bringing environmentally sustainable solutions to traditionally working class practices; Iatef Vita's urban farming amidst the concrete jungles of LA and Bren Smith's kelp and shellfish farming along the shores of the East Coast are two examples that could be affordably implemented and highly impactful in a myriad of ways from boosting local economies to improving community health. Ice on Fire as a whole paints a hopeful vision of collaborative solutions to our impending ecological crisis through Mehmedinovic's striking cinematography and Connors' incisive direction.