Are you looking to educate yourself on the climate crisis but don’t want to read long articles that put you to sleep? Don’t worry, I got you covered. Here is a list of my five favorite climate crisis documentaries available for your viewing pleasure on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
Chasing Coral
Coral reefs have always intrigued me since I was little. As I grew up, it made me really sad knowing that they were depleting as a reaction to climate change. This documentary shows the full extent of how bad the coral reefs have been impacted as a result of our careless actions. It also shows how the depletion of coral reefs affects the surrounding biodiversity in the oceans.
A Plastic Ocean
Plastic going into our oceans has been a conversation we’ve been having for a long time. But somehow, seeing the visuals in this documentary and how much plastic there really is was honestly appalling. This was the documentary that has forced me to start thinking more consciously about my actions and relationship with plastic.
An Inconvenient Truth
This Oscar-winning documentary came out in 2006, and it is really sad that even with the awareness we have had for so many years now, nothing seems to have changed, for things have only gotten worse. Al Gore, the former vice president of the United States, wanted to start educating people about climate change and what the future holds for us if we don’t take action. 15 years later, this documentary is still relevant. He also came out with a sequel to the documentary in 2017 called “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” in efforts of influencing international climate policy.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
When thinking about documentaries about the environment, David Attenborough just might be the person everyone thinks of. This man has dedicated decades of his life to telling stories about our beautiful planet and more recently, telling vital stories about the destruction of our planet. Through this documentary, he highlights how rapidly the environment has changed just within his lifetime. He has another documentary called “Our Planet” on Netflix that is a must-watch too.
Living the Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future
While all the above documentaries are meant to make you think and want to fight for change, I did want to add in an option that was optimistic in nature. This documentary showcases people who were motivated to take matters into their own hands and pioneering for change within their communities. These stories make me happy because it gives me hope that there are people willing to work for change.
Streaming has evolved and grown massively over the past couple of years with millions of eyes on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It can and should be a tool to educate people on the climate crisis that needs our attention immediately. So, if you watch any of these, be sure to recommend them to your friends and family!