Robinson ’04 Presents Climate Change Film

Climate change activist and filmmaker Sophie Robinson ’04 spoke at assembly last Tuesday about her documentary, The Age of Consequences, which explored the effects of climate change on heightened resource scarcity, conflict and migration  through the lens of US national security and global stability. The film will be released in theaters this January, but Robinson allowed Exeter to view a screening of the movie during the evening following the assembly. The film will also screen at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this winter. Many attended the screening, including The League of Conservation Voters, an organization that assists political candidates who support a pro-environment agenda.

Originally, Robinson reached out to Religion Instructor Kathy Brownback, her former advisor and varsity soccer coach at Exeter, and asked to screen The Age of Consequences on campus. Brownback welcomed the request, and the Assembly Committee selected Robinson to hold one of the sustainability themed assemblies for the year.

During her assembly, Robinson described her work as a grassroots organizer with 350.org, a nonprofit dedicated to building a volunteer based global climate movement as well as her transition into filmmaking. While working as an organizer, Robinson began to watch environmental documentaries herself. Stirred by the inspirational power of these films, Robinson left 350.org to create her own documentary.

“It seemed like students were excited about a new angle to climate change and thinking about it from a different perspective…students wanted know what they could do to affect climate change.”

Hoping to construct a film with a unique angle on climate change, she collaborated with the production company PF Pictures. In order to breach the partisan divide within climate change conversations, Robinson and her team envisioned a film that would appeal to people normally not proactive against climate change. Working backwards from this more conservative demographic, Robinson’s team decided to look at the issue through the eyes of the US military. To their surprise, they discovered that members of the military were more than willing to talk to them about climate change, as they themselves saw the deep implications of the symptoms of climate change—drought, food shortages, floods and extreme weather—as “accelerants of instability” and “catalysts for conflict.”

Brownback described Robinson as a “wonderful student” while at Exeter. “Her hat tricks on the soccer field were legendary, and her environmental interests soared when she went off to the Mountain School upper year,” Brownback said. Robinson said that while at the Mountain School, she decided she wanted to return to Exeter, teach environmental science and coach the girls’ soccer team.

Robinson aimed to inspire social change with The Age of Consequences and to show “young folks the implications and severity of climate change.” She stressed the importance of “a deep understanding of climate change,” especially as the younger generation ages.

After attending Exeter, Robinson attended Williams College and earned degrees in psychology and sustainability. She is currently working to earn a master’s degree in sustainability and environmental management from Harvard University.

Robinson was impressed by the interest and engagement of Exonians. “The questions were really thoughtful,” she said. “It seemed like students were excited about a new angle to climate change and thinking about it from a different perspective…students wanted know what they could do to affect climate change.”

Brownback commended Robinson’s delivery of her assembly, saying, “She did a great job answering student questions during assembly and in the evening as well.” Other members of the community also praised Robinson’s presentation skills and her new perspective on climate change.

Sustainability Director and English instructor Jason BreMiller lauded how she blended “a deep knowledge of subject matter with an infectious energy and charisma.” He also found the chance for current students to see recent alumni doing powerful work in the field of environmentalism and sustainability powerful, explaining that the communication of her work can inspire and serve as a model for environmentally passionate students who “can more easily envision themselves doing something amazing in the field.”

As BreMiller hoped, lower Daniel Kang found the assembly motivating. “The assembly kicked off a series of really important discussions about our roles as high schoolers,” he said.

Many students found the ideas Robinson conveyed enlightening. Lower Andrew Liquigan described the film as “revolutionary,” saying, “I hadn’t considered the security ramifications that could come with a decline in available resources before.”

Lower Grace Gray, who participates in many environmental clubs on campus, said that prior to Robinson’s talk and film, she “hadn’t heard much about climate change’s relation with our national security.” Cohead of Environmental Action Committee upper Jolina Dimen echoed Gray’s sentiment, saying, “I hadn’t realized how much climate change affected current conflicts before.” Gray continued, saying that it was an “amazing experience” to see the “excitement of Sophie’s presentation spreading through the room.”

BreMiller noted the intensity of the film. “It was basically 70 minutes of getting kicked in the stomach,” he said. “It was heavy, but this is heavy subject matter.”

He went on, explaining that, as an educator, seeing alums like Robinson do important work to help prolong the health of humans and the planet helps him “experience meaning in my work.”

Upper Auden Barbour also found the movie inspiring, and praised its unique angle. “[The movie was] especially awesome because of its targeted audience,” she said. “If anything is going to change, more people need to care, and this movie is a perfect example of how we can get people to care.”