In his stunning photographs, Sebastian Copeland captures the beauty of wild landscapes sculpted by wind, ice and snow. Driven by a devotion to conservation, Copeland embarks on grueling expeditions, often testing his physical limits to document landscapes where no humans have walked before. Learn more about the inspiration behind his work and the challenges of polar exploration in this short documentary video.

In order to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide from power generation, world governments have invested billions of dollars in clean energy projects. Explore the energy technologies that may help humanity address climate change while satisfying a growing global demand for electricity in this full-length PBS NOVA documentary entitled “Power Surge.”

Sea ice forms in the polar regions as sea water freezes. Summer sea ice cover has declined by over half a million square miles due to the 1.5°F rise in the earth’s global average temperature over the last 100 years. The extent of Arctic sea ice is at its minimum level in September each year and has been recorded at historically low levels in recent years. This animated time series shows the annual Arctic sea ice minimum from 1979-2012, based on satellite observations. The minimum level of sea ice reached in 2012, the most recent year in the time series, was the lowest in the satellite record.

Gentoo penguins live on the Antarctic Peninsula and many sub-Antarctic islands. They are one of several species living in the Antarctic region, all of which are described in this article. In addition to Antarctica, penguins can be found in a variety of habitats throughout the Southern Hemisphere; find out where they live in this geographical map. Penguins are flightless birds, uniquely adapted to aquatic environments and polar conditions. How fast can they swim? How does their coloration protect them from predators? Why do penguins sneeze? These questions and more are answered in this article from Smithsonian.com. The effect of climate change on penguins varies by species. For some species, such as Emperor penguins, a reduction in Antarctic sea ice creates higher mortality risk for their chicks. For others, rising sea temperatures reduce populations of Antarctic krill, a major food source. Learn more about the vulnerability of penguin species to climate change in this PBS Nova article.    

Carbon dioxide is the primary contributor to climate change, and we continue to add it to the Earth’s atmosphere at a rapid pace. You can observe that pace by viewing this animated carbon clock and consider the current levels in the context of historical data.

Sebastian Copeland is a passionate advocate for sustainability and the conservation of pristine polar landscapes. Activism is the foundation of his life’s work and the driving force behind his photography. Learn more about Copeland’s urgent environmental message in this short video.

Sebastian Copeland’s work celebrates the majestic and fragile beauty of polar landscapes and wildlife. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center.  Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.