Taipei: Taiwan’s first nature documentary encompassing both the Arctic and Antarctic regions premiered Thursday in Taipei, showcasing a global perspective captured over 15 years and across 115 locations worldwide.

According to Focus Taiwan, “Guardians of Our Planet,” produced and directed by television host Claire Meng-lan Shu, is a groundbreaking film from Taiwan that highlights environmental concerns from a Taiwanese point of view. The film’s distributor, Activator Co., Ltd., emphasized its advocacy for Earth and ecology. At the premiere, Shu remarked on humanity’s role in shaping the planet’s future, noting the interconnectedness of the Polar regions with human life and activities, especially in the context of climate change affecting island nations like Taiwan.

Shu reflected on her initial experiences in the Polar regions, describing a sense of insignificance amidst the vast ice fields. However, over 15 years of filming, she recognized the significant impact humans have on the environment, particularly in accelerating glacier melt. The documentary is a result of a decade and a half of dedication, with Shu and her team visiting the Polar regions ten times to document the environmental changes and the plight of its wildlife.

The film serves as Taiwan’s commitment to environmental stewardship, urging that understanding precedes care, and care leads to change. President Lai Ching-te, present at the event, praised the film for illustrating the rapid destruction of the Polar environments and commended Shu’s ambitious vision. He reiterated the government’s responsibility to combat climate change, highlighting the establishment of a climate change committee at the Presidential Office aimed at reducing Taiwan’s carbon emissions. As a global community member, Taiwan aspires to lead by example in addressing climate challenges.

“Guardians of Our Planet” is set to be released in theaters on May 23.