The fragile frontlines of a warming World: a visual journey with explorer Christian Clauwers
As the Arctic thaws and Pacific islands disappear beneath rising seas, what do we choose to remember—and what are we at risk of losing forever?
In this lecture, Belgian explorer and documentary photographer Christian Clauwers takes us to the frontlines of the climate crisis. From his work inside the Arctic World Archive—humanity’s digital time capsule buried beneath permafrost—to his encounters with the vanishing cultures of low-lying island nations, Clauwers shares a powerful, image-driven narrative of our fragile planet.
Blending science, storytelling, and lived experience, he explores how visual media can preserve what the water erases: memory, identity, and meaning. This is a rare chance to reflect on the intersecting crises of ecological collapse and cultural loss—and to ask what hope might still look like in the Anthropocene.
speaker
Christian Clauwers is a Belgian documentary photographer, explorer, and impact storyteller focused on the fragile relationship between humans and nature. For over a decade, he has captured the realities of climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising sea levels, using visual storytelling to connect science, policy, and industry.
With master’s degrees in Political Science and Global Management, Christian left a communications career to explore vulnerable ecosystems and collaborate on scientific expeditions across all five oceans. His work integrates marine science and indigenous knowledge, promoting global collaboration.
He has spoken on every continent—including Antarctica—and at major platforms such as the UN climate conferences, COP16 in Saudi Arabia, and European institutions. His seven books highlight environmental challenges, especially those facing island nations.
Christian’s photography has been exhibited worldwide, with access to places like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and CERN. He is a Fellow of The Explorers Club, EU Climate Pact Ambassador, and member of the UN Ocean Decade Network. His work is archived in the Arctic World Archive and supports outreach for Belgium’s research vessel RV BELGICA.
