Documentaries are a fantastic way to educate yourself on various topics. And with all the concerns of climate change recently we have an amazing list to get you up to speed. We have found a wide range of videos on different platforms, like free documentaries on YouTube, TV VODs and Amazon Prime. If you have Amazon Prime you can watch them for free on Prime video; otherwise you can get a free 30 day trial of prime video to watch these great documentaries and more.
10. Fossil Free
A great short documentary about divesting in fossil fuel related companies as a way to combat climate change. Covering 3 stories over different groups championing for their pension funds and governments to divest from fossil fuel investments. Its a fantastic insight into how much money is in fossil fuel investments and how much power investors and the financial markets can have.
9. Cowspiracy
Cowspiracy is a documentary directed by Kip Andersen, bringing focus to the impact of eating meat on the environment. Kip uncovers the exorbitant food and water costs required to farm cows; as well as the huge amount of emissions they produce in the form of methane. The film eventually suggest veganism is a solution to this problem. But not everyone need to go so extreme. Even a modest reduction in beef consumption can make a huge impact. It is likely even better for your health as a bonus. You can catch Cowspiracy on Netflix if you have a subscription
8. An Inconvenient Truth
Al Gore’s famous documentary, one of the original, inspiring documentaries about climate change. I follows Gore giving his climate change presentation with his terrifying graphs predicting the future. Even though its over 10 years old, Gore’s presentation is impactful and knowledgeable. It is great to watch this film then its sequel in succession to see Gore’s impact of the climate change issue over the period between the two films.
7. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
The sequel to Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth is also strong and impactful. 10 years on from the original film, it shows Gore’s journey spreading his presentation to the world. As well as teaching many others how to spread the message with his training session. Luckily for Prime members this one is available for free here, and if you aren’t you can sign up for a 30 day free trial here.
6. The Rise of Vertical Farming
A fascinating story about the recent movement towards indoor vertical farming. This free documentary covers the transition of traditional farming to urban vertical farms and the benefits it can provide for the environment and society. The main benefits are fresher, more nutritional foods that are grown near the people. This also has large benefits in remove the freight costs and emissions related with getting food to people in urban areas from traditional farms. The indoor growing techniques themselves are also environmentally friendly and allow foods to be grown all year round. Another side benefit is a lot of the farms are set up using adaptive reuse; reusing old, derelict structures instead of building brand new buildings, greatly reducing destructive emissions.
5. Bogota: Building a Sustainable City
Another free documentary available on YouTube, even though it is a bit of an old one. It covers the introduction of a Bus Rapid Transit system among other policies to the Colombian capital Bogota. Narrated by Brad Pitt, the documentary covers the amount of societal improvements coming from reducing cars and improving public transport for their people. Although in more recent times the BRT system has come under fire for still using a diesel bus fleet, switching to a hybrid/electric bus fleet would rectify these issues. It still doesn’t take away from the great improvements the introduction of this system provided to the city. It is not strictly related to climate change, but if we are to beat global warming, designing sustainable and livable cities is of utmost importance.
4. Climate Change: The Facts
David Attenborough narrates an incredible documentary discussing the situation and the consequences of our actions as humans. Destruction of the environment, endangerment and extinction of species will all continue if we don’t make changes soon. Attenborough stresses there is still time to turn things around. But we all need to work together to save our planet. Reduce our personal footprints as well as getting corporations to heavily reduce theirs. Alongside that we need to replant the forests that are disappearing and support other measures that sequester emissions form the air. Like seaweed farms. This is great documentary to get up to speed on the current state of climate change and how we can save our planet together.
3. Fools and Dreamers
A short, free documentary found on YouTube; produced by Happen Films. It follows a man in New Zealand and his journey in regenerating forest that was previously used for farming. It is a great example of how we can all make a difference if we work towards it. The film also shows how Mother Nature can do all the hard work, we just need to let her have chance instead of being disruptive. Happen Films also a have a large catalogue of more short documentaries about environmental sustainability which we featured on our list of YouTubers discussing the environment and climate change.
2. Before the Flood
This documentary follows the story of Leonardo DiCaprio exploring the effects of climate change prior to his address on climate change to the UN as a messenger of peace. Leonardo visits all corners of the Earth discover what effects climate change is happening. From the ice melting in Greenland to palm oil deforestation the changes are devastating. It even features how global warming caused the filming of his film The Revenant to be disrupted due to lack of snow. The main solution in focus is carbon pricing/tax. The film argues for countries to be taxing carbon emissions to change the behavior that is ruining our beautiful earth. It is a well put together documentary and Leonardo makes the issue visible to many more people which is fantastic. Check out their website for some ways you can help fight climate change.
1. 2040
2040 is a environmental documentary by Damon Gameau, who also produced the documentary –That Sugar Film. It is film as a message to his daughter who will be 21 in 2040; and what the world will look like then if climate change is left unsolved. Gameau investigates 5 major areas of climate change and the solutions that already exist. He champions for these solutions to be realized and implemented ASAP to prevent the current dystopian future of 2040 from eventuating. It is a fascinating film and it is great that it actually focuses on solutions that exist and could be used to stop and reverse climate change. The film is showing in cinemas, on DVD and some streaming platforms. Their website has an awesome list of ways you can help their cause.
Hopefully you enjoyed and can learn from these documentaries. Please let us know in the comments below if you think we missed any great documentaries. We would love to hear it.
Alche is a passionate writer about many topics and wants to share knowledge in a simple way so all readers can enjoy and learn.