Environmental

Sierra Club & RYOT Launch Virtual Reality Experience on China’s Largest Carbon Polluters


As World Leaders Gather in Paris to Take Climate Action, Legendary Singer Cher Narrates the 360 Video Calling out the Dangers of Coal in China

WASHINGTON, D.C. –(ENEWSPF)–December 7, 2015.   Today, the Sierra Club and RYOT launched their second joint virtual reality video experience, viewable on the RYOT-VR mobile app, Facebook 360, and YouTube 360. The immersive experience, narrated by legendary singer/actress Cher, highlights the dirty, dangerous effects of coal pollution from power plants and the industries that buy their power China. The video focuses particular attention on a small group of 21 individuals who are responsible for more than 10% of China’s CO2 emissions. Just one day before the start of the Paris conference, Beijing was shrouded by smog again forcing the authorities to issue their highest smog warning so far this year, underscoring the need for China to act immediately.

“Spending one day in Beijing is now the equivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes” Cher says during the video. “Poisonous air causes the premature deaths of over 4,000 people each day and two birth defects a minute. … The Chinese people suffer in heartbreaking ways at the hands of these 21 polluters. The Chinese people are bound to lives in masks, beneath apocalyptic, smog-filled skies.”

The video aims to not only highlight the devastating effects of coal use on the climate and air of China and the world, but also to urge Chinese leaders to take meaningful action. As part of the launch, the video will be launched by RYOT in Paris during the ongoing COP21 negotiations.

“China now produces more CO2 emissions than the United States and Europe combined, which is why it is more important than ever that we turn our shared commitments into action in Paris” said Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director. “Together, the United States and China must leave coal and other dirty fuels behind and turn our commitments into even further climate and clean energy action, because no country is immune from climate change and no country can meet the challenge alone.”

“Virtual reality is the perfect way to tell this important story,” said Molly Swenson, C.O.O. of RYOT and an Executive Producer of the film. “It’s one thing to hear about the dramatic levels of air pollution, but being transported into a place where people live with it every day makes you understand the headlines. Virtual Reality can help make sure everyone is aware of how critical action on climate change is. If you woke up every day and had to breathe this air wouldn’t you want leaders in Paris this week to step-up and help you?”

The video is available to view by downloading the RYOT-VR iOS app from the App Store, or on YouTube 360 and Facebook 360:

WATCH THE VIDEO

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

About RYOT

RYOT is a media company based in Los Angeles, and is the leading Virtual Reality production studio for nonprofit storytelling. RYOT’s VR films have been viewed over half a million times and been covered in over 300 press publications including NPR, New York Times, re/code, Bloomberg TV and BBC.

Source: www.sierraclub.org


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