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Meet the Next Five National Geographic Explorers Supported by the National Geographic Society’s Collaboration with The Climate Pledge
The collaboration supports five National Geographic Explorers and climate storytellers documenting the global climate crisis through the Society’s Global Storytellers Fund
The 2021 rains were disappointing in Ethiopia, which has been stuck in a devastating drought for several years. On hearing rumors of rain near the Somali border, these camel herders walked 12 days to search, unsuccessfully, for pasture there—then 12 days back to draw water for their animals from this well near their home. Civil war is a big reason that some 13 million Ethiopians—more than a tenth of the population—face serious food insecurity. But climate change is a contributing factor: Major droughts are striking East Africa more often.
The 2021 rains were disappointing in Ethiopia, which has been stuck in a devastating drought for several years. On hearing rumors of rain near the Somali border, these camel herders walked 12 days to search, unsuccessfully, for pasture there—then 12 days back to draw water for their animals from this well near their home. Civil war is a big reason that some 13 million Ethiopians—more than a tenth of the population—face serious food insecurity. But climate change is a contributing factor: Major droughts are striking East Africa more often.
Washington, D.C. — Today, the National Geographic Society and The Climate Pledge announced a new cohort of five National Geographic Explorers who will document the global climate crisis through funding provided by the Society’s Global Storytellers Fund. Together, the two organizations fund a global community of photographers, writers, filmmakers, cartographers and multimedia artists every year. The Climate Pledge is a commitment co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
The five Explorers to be supported through this collaboration include:
- Lynsey Addario, a U.S. photojournalist, who will use photography, video and archive to record experiences of climate migration.
- Pablo Albarenga, an Uruguayan visual storyteller, who will research Brazil’s food paradox through documentary photo stories about the country’s food production and its connection to climate change.
- Malin Fezehai, Eritrean and Swedish photographer, filmmaker, and visual reporter, who will examine human adaptations to sea level rise by documenting the experiences of people permanently living on water.
- Gab Mejia, a Filipino conservation photographer, environmental storyteller, and engineer, who will dig deeper into the interconnected complexities of the Philippine forests by illuminating the lives of environmental forest defenders.
- Davide Monteleone, an Italian visual artist and researcher, who will focus on the geopolitical, social and environmental implications of skyrocketing demand for critical minerals necessary to achieve renewable energy’s goals.
“These five National Geographic Explorers are driven by curiosity to know more about the world and to share their newly found knowledge with others,” said Kaitlin Yarnall, the Society’s Chief Storytelling Officer. “The National Geographic Society is proud to partner with The Climate Pledge for the second year in a row to spotlight the remarkable stories of these profound Explorers who are using the power of storytelling to inspire global audiences to learn and take action for climate issues.”
After funding five Explorers when the collaboration launched in 2022, the National Geographic Society is collaborating with The Climate Pledge to fund a total of 15 Explorers by 2024 to document the global climate crisis through authentic storytelling, illuminate the world’s most critical challenges, and identify long-lasting solutions that can protect the wonder of our world. The collaboration with The Climate Pledge will advance early-career and established storytellers with the funding, training, and exposure necessary to bring their stories about the global climate crisis to the forefront. This collaboration will also support up to 45 mentees as part of the Society’s Second Assistant Program, which empowers early-career women and storytellers of color by training them and placing them in the field alongside Explorers.
“We’re thrilled to work with the National Geographic Society on this important work. It’s critical that we continue to show people all around the world how communities are impacted, to underscore the urgency we all must have in fighting this global climate crisis,” said Sally Fouts, Global Lead for the Climate Pledge at Amazon. “The Climate Pledge is dedicated to inspiring change and driving real climate action. These five new Explorers will help break barriers and spread awareness, and I’m eager to see their projects come to fruition and how they can inspire others to get involved.”
Five other Explorers received funding last year from this collaboration — Ciril Jazbec, a Slovenian documentary photographer and filmmaker; Luján Agusti, an Argentinian visual storyteller; Miora Rajaonary, a Malagasy documentary photographer; Kiliii Yüyan, a Nanai/Hèzhé (East Asian Indigenous) and Chinese American photographer; and Asha Stuart, an African American documentary photographer and filmmaker. Their climate storytelling projects are ongoing and five additional Explorers will be chosen next year to receive grants.
ABOUT THE CLIMATE PLEDGE
In 2019, Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach the Paris Agreement 10 years early and be net-zero carbon by 2040. Now, nearly 400 organizations have signed The Climate Pledge, sending an important signal that there will be rapid growth in demand for products and services that help reduce carbon emissions. For more information, visit www.theclimatepledge.com.
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About The National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.
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