Documenting Environmental Leadership
Explore a collection of thought-provoking documentaries that dive into the complexities of global environmental governance, showcasing the challenges, achievements, and inspiring stories of leadership, resilience, and cooperation in addressing the world's most pressing environmental issues.
01
Small States Beyond Plastics
Small States Beyond Plastics captures the ambition and resilience of small nations as they "punch above their weight" in global environmental governance. Featuring insights from experts across public, private, and national delegations, the documentary highlights how these nations are leading the charge against plastic pollution by advocating for a treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics and fostering South-South cooperation. Directed by Kylee Hendrie at Northeastern University in Boston, 2024, the film tells a powerful story of unity, determination, and meaningful change in the face of one of today’s greatest environmental challenges.
02
The Untold Story of the World's Leading Environmental Institution: UNEP at Fifty
Directed and produced by Joseph Ageyo in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021, The Untold Story of UNEP delves into the origins and evolution of the United Nations Environment Programme and the global environmental governance system it helped shape. Based on the academic book published by MIT Press, this documentary highlights the lifetime work of Maria Ivanova, Director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. Featuring rare footage and interviews with the key figures who built UNEP, the film offers an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs that defined the organization’s history.
03
Quest for Leadership
Quest for Leadership explores the urgent challenge of global environmental change through the eyes of the leaders who created and led national and international institutions for environment and development. Produced and directed by Joseph Ageyo in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2010, the documentary highlights the critical need for a coherent and effective system of global environmental governance to ensure environmental protection and sustainability. It seeks to inspire the next generation of environmental activists who can shatter stereotypes, create a climate of cooperation, and devise an analytically sound and morally grounded agenda for action.
04
Quest for Symphony
The Quest for Symphony is a compelling 15-minute documentary that captures the evolution of global environmental governance—its past, present, and future—through the voices of key participants at the 25th United Nations Environment Programme’s Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2009. Produced by Maria Ivanova and Joe Ageyo, the documentary has been described as "a white paper on global environmental governance in images." It uniquely focuses on the challenges and achievements of the global environmental governance system while exploring actionable pathways for reform, offering an insightful and thought-provoking narrative.