What Is Before the Flood About?
Before the Flood is a 2016 documentary film starring and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, who serves as United Nations Messenger of Peace on climate change. The film follows DiCaprio as he travels to locations such as the Arctic, Indonesia, and India to document the effects of global warming and fossil fuel dependence. It features interviews with scientists, policymakers, and activists, including Barack Obama and Pope Francis, and was directed by Fisher Stevens. The documentary was produced by National Geographic and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its wide release and streaming debut on the National Geographic Channel and later on Disney+. The film's central thesis is that climate change poses an immediate threat to global economies, ecosystems, and food systems, and that urgent policy and market shifts are required to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels National Geographic.
Before the Flood examines the role of the fossil fuel industry in delaying climate action, highlighting the influence of lobbying and misinformation campaigns. The documentary also showcases renewable energy solutions, including solar and wind projects in India and China, and discusses the economic risks of stranded fossil fuel assets. It was one of the most-watched documentaries on the National Geographic platform, drawing millions of viewers and generating significant social media engagement. The film's release coincided with the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016, reinforcing its message about the need for global cooperation on emissions reduction Forbes.
Before the Flood's Impact on Climate Finance and Markets
The documentary contributed to a measurable increase in public awareness of climate risk, which has since become a core factor in financial decision-making. Institutional investors and asset managers began integrating climate scenarios into risk models, a trend accelerated by the Paris Agreement and subsequent regulatory frameworks. The concept of stranded assets, which Before the Flood highlighted, has since been cited in reports by the International Energy Agency and the Financial Stability Board, influencing trillions of dollars in capital allocation decisions IEA.
In the years following the documentary, companies faced growing pressure from shareholders and regulators to disclose climate-related financial risks. The SEC adopted climate disclosure rules in 2024 requiring public companies to report Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and certain climate governance practices, a regulatory shift that aligns with the documentary's call for transparency. BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street have since integrated climate metrics into their stewardship policies, reflecting the broader market transformation that Before the Flood helped catalyze SEC.
Key Takeaways and Lasting Relevance
Before the Flood remains a reference point for discussions on the intersection of climate science, policy, and finance. Its core message—that the transition to a low-carbon economy is both necessary and economically viable—has been validated by subsequent data on renewable energy cost declines and electric vehicle adoption. The documentary's emphasis on individual and collective action continues to resonate with investors, policymakers, and consumers seeking to understand systemic climate risks.
The film's legacy is also evident in the growing number of climate-focused financial products, including green bonds, transition funds, and sustainability-linked loans, which now represent a significant share of global capital markets. Before the Flood's factual, evidence-based approach set a standard for environmental documentaries and influenced a generation of financial professionals who now treat climate data as a material input for valuation and portfolio construction.