Synopsis
2040 is a hybrid feature documentary that looks to the future, but is vitally important NOW! Drawing on the best minds from around the world to focus on climate, economics, technology, civil society, agriculture and sustainability, 2040 maps out a pathway for change that can lead us to a more ecologically sustainable and equitable future.
Motivated by his 4-year-old daughter and concern for the planet she will inherit, Damon Gameau embarks on a global journey to meet the innovators and change makers pioneering the best solutions already available to us today to improve the health of our planet and societies. Inspired by these discoveries and guided by the many children he consults with along the way, Damon interweaves dramatic sequences and high-end visual effects to conjure a positive portrait of what ‘could be’ instead of the current dystopian future we are so often presented.
Aimed at a broad audience that includes children and their parents, serious information is delivered with irreverence and humour. Experts are shrunk into scenes to emphasise a point, animation makes the invisible visible and visual effects show how scaling these solutions by 2040 will positively impact our lives and our planet.This rich visual approach combined with the structure of an intimate letter to a daughter from her father allows for lightness and cheekiness, ensuring the film is both entertaining and educational, with the end goal being to inspire action and change.
Many academics believe that people become inactive or paralysed on this topic because it all just feels too overwhelming and alarming. 2040 is an aspirational film full of hope about the possibility to make changes that will shift the course for humanity and the planet.
Meet the Experts
Paul Hawken
Environmentalist, entrepreneur, author and activist, Paul Hawken
Kate Raworth
Climate Economist and Co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Neel Tamhane
Decentralised energy access specialist, solar strategy lead at SPACE10
Tony Seba
World-renowned thought leader, author, speaker, educator and entrepreneur
Dr Brian Von Herzen
Executive Director of The Climate Foundation
Professor Genevieve Bell
Cultural anthropologist, technologist and futurist
Colin Seis
Innovative Regen Ag farmer
Eric Toensmeier
Award-winning, 'Drawdown' contributor, lecturer at Yale University.
Amanda Cahill
CEO of The Next Economy and trained in Anthropology.
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Author and filmmaker
The Film Team
Damon Gameau
Writer / Director
Nick Batzias
Producer
Anna Kaplan
Producer / Impact Producer
Virginia Whitwell
Producer
Ian Darling
Executive Producer
Malinda Wink
Executive Producer
Mark Monroe
Executive Producer
Paul Wiegard
Executive Producer
William Gammon
Executive Producer
Justin Baird
Executive Producer
Hugh Miller
Director of Photography
Jane Usher
Editor
Luke Bubb
Production Designer
Roslyn Lawrence
Researcher & Field Producer
The Impact Team
Kim Ingles
Associate Impact Producer
Jenna Dawkins
Editor
Anna Charalambous
Impact Coordinator
Dr Alison Millful
Partnerships & Communications Consultant
Donors
The 2040 impact campaign is powered by philanthropic donations and in-kind support from these generous foundations, families and individuals.
The Caledonia Foundation, Will & Jane Vicars, Mark & Louise Nelson, The Intrepid Foundation, Nine Links Foundation, Gretel Packer, Paradice Family Foundation, Wilson Foundation, William Manos, The Vine Foundation, Joan Darling, John Sevior & Rebecca Gorman, Berry Liberman & Danny Almagor, Ian & Min Darling, The Yulgilbar Foundation, Thyne Reid Foundation, Lewin Foundation, W & A Johnson Family Foundation, Andyinc Foundation, Anonymous, Debbie Dadon AM & Family, MaiTri Foundation, Ricci Swart, Burrabaroo Foundation, Simeon Rae, Tobias Partners, Georgina Byron, The Snow Foundation, Graeme Wood Foundation, Ainsworth Herschell Family, Graf family, Chasam Foundation, Future Super, Annabel Montgomery, The Humphries Family Fund, James R. Kirby, Christopher Ride, Matthew Warnken, Sue Jacobs, Penelope & Ian Ward-Ambler, Mim & Michael Bartlett, Kate Hayward, Kay/Swaney Family, John & Anna Hyles, Phillip Cornwell, Seri Renkin, Anne Jaumees, Dr Carolyn Currie, Ben McNeill & Richard Todd.
Carbon Management
To assess and mitigate our carbon footprint, we tracked our emissions and offset them with triple gold certified carbon credits. We also went a step further by planting a small native forest that could sequester up to 90 tonnes of carbon by 2040. We believe effectively tackling climate change requires systemic changes, but in the interim, carbon offsetting can help fund renewable energy and conservation projects that reduce future dependence on fossil fuels and sequester carbon into the soil.