World View of Global Warming -- a ten year perspective and accomplishments
World View of Global Warming, which began ten years ago this month in Antarctica, is the only dedicated climate change science and response documentation project independently undertaken by a photojournalist. It is funded by donations, grants, image and book sales and assignments; donations and grants are accepted as tax-deductible contributions through Blue Earth Alliance [blueearth.org] which passes through 96 percent of all funds.
This website - established in 2002, is the archive of the project in a totally non-commercial information format. Many months it has 18-25,000 unique visits, is frequently listed near the top of Google searches for "global warming" subjects, and is a leader in K-16 education as well as linkage by NGOs and public websites serving adults.
Image library - contains tens of thousands of color photographs and digital files of climate science, effects and solutions, made under the direction of scientists and experts, or responding to their work. Combined with my large urban, ecosystem and symbolic photography, it is an important resource. Throughout the project, images showing climate change have been made available at low or no cost to teachers, students, small NGOs and community organizations around the world, expanding the reach of this crucial information beyond the commercial publishing world.
Books - include Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World (University of California Press, 2007, updated 2009) and How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (co-author Lynne Cherry; Dawn Publications 2008). For info, reviews and the many accolades, see www.earthunderfire.com; www.howweknowclimatechange.com.
My photographs have also played a major role in recent books by Sterling Publications, Time Home Entertainment and W.W. Norton. In 2007-8 Earth Under Fire was presented to more than 550 leaders, including 200 key Members of Congress, thanks to generous donors and in-kind by NRDC.
Film project - is inspired by the How We Know book and produced by Lynne Cherry, bringing the climate actions and projects of middle school youth to a national audience. "Young Voices on Climate Change" maintains its own fundraising with website at www.youngvoicesonclimatechange.com.
Current activities of World View of Global Warming, for which funds are sought and allocated:
Provide proactive support for education and information about climate change and its solutions: speaker slides, exhibits, briefings, presentations (www.braaschphotography.com/pages/shows.html)
Response to document climate events and emergencies.
Rephotography of the locations pictured in the book and other places from my project, which have changed in the ten years or less since I first photographed them.
Photography of new science, solutions and infrastructure changes, because we must be able to visualize the future.
A continuous re-edit and renewal of Worldviewofglobalwarming.org. A successful public service at low cost, but needs updating. A huge educational opportunity. Purchase copies of updated Earth Under Fire paperback for continued presentation to leaders.
I am an environmental photographer who for 25 years has reported on natural history in many parts of the world. In the course of many of these assignments, scientists mentioned changes occurring over long time spans that might be due to global warming. Very few of these changes were being photographed
"There is compelling evidence from all over the
world that our planet's weather and climate patterns are changing rapidly,"
began my initial proposal in Fall 1998. "Droughts, receding glaciers
and ice caps, extreme storms, rises in ocean temperatures and sea levels,
shifts in distribution of organisms and diseases - scientists tracking
these events overwhelmingly believe that global climate change is a fact.
Many think human activities are a significant contributing cause. But
this is not the message getting to the general public, nor is our political,
industrial and environmental superstructure dealing well with the reality.
"This project began in noticing that the details
of scientific evidence for global warming, and the publicity and policy
actions reported about it, were incongruent. This is a generally misunderstood
and muted issue. It is a serious challenge to journalists, photographers,
and public interest publications. Helping to correct this, to illustrate
the changes and research and publicize our stake in and possible responsibility
for global warming, are the goals of this project.
"Gary Braasch will photograph areas on all continents
that illustrate documented results of climate change. He is also seeking
to repeat historic photographs to show the changes. He will work with
environmental groups, scientists and editors to educate the public, urging
government and corporate sectors to more directly address the reality
of climate change."
In December 1998, this proposal received backing secured from Blue Earth Alliance, and initial funding was secured from the Wiancko Family Fund. Early in 1999 I sought advice from Dr. Ray Bradley of University of Massachusetts (a co-author of the 1000 year temperature chart) and arctic climate change expert Dr. Bruce Peterson of the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole MA. I began seeking private grants and magazine assignments and other scientific contacts (see Advisors and References).
By the end of 1999, I had crossed both the Antarctic and Arctic Circles accompanying field researchers. The first photography specifically for this project took place on a Discover Magazine assignment to a National Science Foundation geologic research cruise to Antarctic Peninsula ice sheets and glaciers.
Through hundreds of scientific contacts generously given by many advisors, I have endeavored to focus on shrinking glaciers around the world, coral bleaching, insect and animal range changes, rising sea level, and other effects. As often as possible my photographs actually show changes (or comparisons with old photographs), and all focus on locations where scientists are studying change.
In 2004 and 2005 I completed the first stage of photography thanks to renewed grants from the Wiancko Family Trust and a book advance from University of California Press. This book was published in October 2007 under the title Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World. It features not only reports from scientists on our changing world, but also an extended chapter on what is being done now to keep global warming under control. See the Actions page for more information on this. To view the book, please visit EarthUnderFire.com.
World View of Global Warming will continue with return trips to document changes in landscapes over these 8 years, and increasing focus on the techniques and initiatives being used all over the world to cut fossil fuel emissions and usher in a new age of energy use and efficiencies. I am very dependent on continued private, institutional and publication funding for this ongoing documentation. I thank all my donors, advisors and supporters, including website designer and manager Ancil Nance.
In the short time since I started this project, science has continued to build the evidence for ongoing rapid climate change, as shown by the 2001 and 2007 reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Brief reports on some of this new evidence may be found on the About Global Warming page
Read article by Gary Braasch
about his journey to Antarctica, from E Magazine.
See also Advisors and References.
Photographs from the World View of Global Warming are available for license to publications needing science photography, environmental groups and agencies, and other uses. Stock photography and assignments available.
Please contact requestinformation@worldviewofglobalwarming.org or Gary Braasch Photography (503) 699-6666.
Use of photographs in any manner, in part or whole, without permission is prohibited by US copyright law. These photographs are registered with the US Copyright Office and are not in the Public Domain.
