“It felt to me like the most important film I might ever make.”
A Conversation with Director Jonathan Clay
Award-winning environmental and wildlife filmmaker Jonathan Clay is renowned for his captivating storytelling and visually stunning documentaries, which include Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet, featuring Johan Rockström. With a passion for conservation, Jonathan has dedicated his career to capturing the beauty of our natural world and to helping us understand what’s at stake as we face an unprecedented decline in biodiversity and habitats across the globe.
Here he speaks to Rebecca Rhodes of ReAgency Media about his experiences of working with Johan Rockström, the impact of Planetary Boundaries science, and the importance of reframing our relationship with nature.
You directed the acclaimed documentary ‘Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet’, featuring Johan’s work on Planetary Boundaries. What was it like working with Johan on the film?
Working with Johan was a special experience. Our first meeting involved a full-day interview session and it was amazing to get that time with him, to absorb what he found important where he wanted to take the story. He’s so extraordinary: never flustered, takes everything in his stride, is very patient and eloquent and loves to give you the whole picture. I used that interview as my master script to build the structure of the film. We started working on the film and knew we wanted to get it out ahead of COP 26, which was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but eventually took place in 2021 because of the pandemic. Covid-19 was a major disruption so we had to be flexible and I ended up meeting him in Sweden. We filmed with him at a location he’s been visiting since he was a child. He told us some wonderful stories about times he and his brother had fishing there. He was so welcoming. Overall the whole filming process was so enjoyable and worked really well.
How do you think Johan feels about being a film star?
He’s a scientist and that comes with a sense of responsibility in terms of how he’s perceived. There was a moment in the film when he says “I don’t get depressed; I get angry”. You see the intensity of emotion when he starts talking about just how serious the situation we are in is, and I think he feels a responsibility to convey that. But he also wants to convey the message that there is still time; it’s not too late. There are things we can do. I think that kind of positive framing is something he’s very good at.
How did you come to learn about Planetary Boundaries science?
I’ve followed environmental stories my whole life. There was definitely a tendency in the past to look at the individual components of Earth sciences, such as water, land, climate change, air pollution, etc., separately. I became aware of tipping point science and found that really interesting. Being presented with the Planetary Boundaries science and the nine Planetary Boundaries, I found that concept very engaging. When I had the chance to meet Johan and discuss the concept with him; it really landed with me in a big way.
How important do you think the Planetary Boundaries concept is?
Getting to grips with the Planetary Boundaries concept for the film, I really sensed its importance. It wasn’t long before it felt to me like the most important film I might ever make. It felt so crucial to get the story told and to get it in front of key decision makers. One area of Johan’s work that I found most interesting was the idea that throughout all of history, human civilization has only existed on Earth when the temperature has varied by plus or minus one degree celsius. It really makes you think: that’s why climate change matters. A whole of human civilization within one degree, and we’re outside of that now… We’re in trouble.
What do you think is the relationship between science and communication?
At the time that Breaking Boundaries was being made, there was growing interest in the public and the media about the authenticity of science. We were very aware that we needed to be totally honest and truthful about what the science was telling us and also felt this was not the time for scientists to be hiding behind caveats. What we tried to do in the film was make the point that it’s about probabilities: how much risk are you willing to take? How much further beyond the boundary are you willing to cross, with the ground cracking beneath your feet, not knowing when it’s actually going to give way? A lot of the graphics were there to make that point. Science is not necessarily definitive; everything’s about probabilities and levels of uncertainty.
You’ve worked in nature filmmaking all over the world and your passion for nature really shines through in your work. What do you see as the importance of nature in our lives?
We are nature. We live in a culture which is so detached from that reality, we’re living under an illusion of being separate from nature but it is the essence of everything. When you see nature as us, and us as nature, it makes nonsense of any attempt to put a price on it or think about nature serving us; that is just such a corrupted way of thinking.
Does Johan Rockström have any particular qualities which have led to his development of the Planetary Boundary framework?
He’s an unconventional scientist in that most scientists these days are really specialists in their field; they focus on one subject and that’s where their work is. That, in turn, leads to academic silos, which lend themselves to more and more narrow thinking. But Johan is one of those people who is able to really step back and see the bigger picture. He’s been able to absorb the work of different scientists from different disciplines and different regions of the world and synthesize it into a framework that works. Also, he is such a generous collaborator; his openness to working with such a broad range of scientists and to humbly hold space for others to work is really special.
Why do you think that Johan deserves to win the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, 2024?
Johan’s science and insight bring clarity to the people who are tasked with making some of the biggest decisions we have on earth. The Planetary Boundaries science led by Johan is one of the best examples of a simple concept which holds so much power. It tells decision-makers what’s important and why, but also what needs to be done to move in the right direction.
Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet is available to watch on Netflix.
Read more about Jonathan Clay’s work here.