What a luxury it is to “believe” in climate change. As we see in director Anne de Carbuccia’s social issue documentary Earth Protectors, this global crisis shouldn’t be viewed as a choice to accept, but rather a genuine threat that can’t be stopped unless we first acknowledge its existence. Using art as a vessel to show both the beauty and havoc that exists in our current climate, Earth Protectors is a call to action that begs us to pay attention to the very real cries of the planet.

Filmmaker, artist, and activist Anne de Carbuccia travels the world to capture the effects of man-made devastation on our natural habitats. She creates what she calls “time shrines” by photographing various props, like a skull and an hourglass, resting in various environments. The photographs are harrowing and bold, serving as a reminder of what we have to lose if we don’t immediately attempt to put an end to climate change. While it’s interesting to see the artistic process of creating these installations, the documentary’s bigger focus is geared toward the local people and communities she meets along the way. As we follow Anne through different countries, terrains, and biospheres, we’re introduced to people whose livelihoods depend on protecting the planet, and get a firsthand account of their heroic efforts and commitment to saving our natural resources.

Beautiful drone shots and wall-to-wall music aid in portraying the film’s gigantic scope. From the top of the Himalayas to diving at the ocean’s depth, the visuals that come out of Earth Protectors are breathtaking. Equally as stunning for starkly different reasons are the miles of deforestation and tons of trash that Anne and the various film subjects comment on. “Are we going to be remembered for trash?” is one heartbreaking sentiment expressed after confirming that 8-10 million tons of garbage enter the ocean every year. Although the statistics are bleak in many circumstances, interviews with various subjects, whom Anne calls the “Earth Protectors,” inspire tangible action steps that offer optimism instead of pure existential dread.

Staying true to the ethos of the film, the carbon footprint of Earth Protectors was reduced by using a skeleton crew that included only vital roles required for filming. To further combat their environmental impact, the filmmakers also pledged to complete a reforestation project. Inspiring in both their execution and proactiveness, the team behind Earth Protectors has set a glowing precedent for future filmmakers to consider.

While the subject matter is not new as far as documentary filmmaking goes, Earth Protectors is a compelling and urgent call to action that deserves as big of an audience as possible. If you liked Nat Geo’s The Territory, this film is for you.