Green on TV Shows to make you go green
Knowledge is power, and when it comes to protecting the planet, the more we know about our impact and how we can reverse the effects, the better. From uncovering the ‘true cost’ of fashion to unearthing the planet’s best-kept sustainability practices with Zac Efron, each of these documentaries and TV shows about sustainability highlights an array of environmental and excess waste issues
Our Planet, Netflix Narrated by the legend that is David Attenborough, Our Planet explores the natural beauty of Earth with footage of rarely seen animals across forests, seas and deserts. The documentary looks at the impact of climate change on biodiversity across the world, from disappearing species, to the spread of diseases and shrinking habitats.
Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Net ix Actor Zac Efron is a huge cheerleader for sustainability and in this show he and his pal and wellness expert, Darin Olien, travel all over the world looking for “some new perspectives on some very old problems.”they talk to energy engineers, sustainability experts and doctors about how to look after the planet so it in turn, can look after us. Together they visit a geothermal plant; try to discover the secrets to a long life; explore the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and take ayahuasca in the Amazon, all while having a bit of craic along the way.
Before the Flood, Disney+
Another actor, this time Leonardo Dicaprio, uses his status and position as an environmental activist and U.N. Messenger of Peace to show viewers the rst-hand e ects of climate change. Dicaprio meets scientists who are uncovering the truth about the dramatic changes occurring because of climate change. The documentary shows the steps we can take as individuals and as a society to preserve life on the planet and nd alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
2040 – Join the Regeneration,
Youtube By the year 2040, the world will look very di erent, whether that is for better or for worse depends on how we look after it. In this programme, director Damon Gameau explores what it could look like if people adopted the best solutions to help preserve the planet from now on. Gameau was inspired to make the lm over worries about the type of Earth his then fouryear-old daughter would inherit.
Cook Clever, Waste Less with Prue & Rupy, Monday, Channel 4
Prue Leith and Dr Rupy Aujla team up for this new series, as they attempt to transform the cooking and shopping habits of four families, o ering inspiration for meal times and ways to tackle waste. In episode two this week, Prue and Rupy try to get a family away from frozen and takeaway meals that they admit leads to huge waste in their home.
What Planet Are You On? RTÉ Player
If you missed it last year, this might be the time to catch up on RTÉ’S environmental show with presenter Maia Dunphy. Four Irish families took on a big challenge; to change the way they lived and reduce their carbon footprint. The family that reduced its impact on the environment the most walked away with €5,000. It’s a good one if you’re looking for some ideas to implement in your own home.
George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces, All4
A bit like the tiny houses idea, this show aims to give people a bit of inspiration to go about transforming spaces into something with a life beyond what it was originally intended for, with no need to buy something, or dump yet more stu into land ll, just make or re-invent a space that will add something to your life instead. Architect George Clarke looks at the work of small builds where people turn tiny spaces into the most amazing places to work, live and play. He’s even inspired to make his own!
Seaspiracy, Net ix There was a lot of chat about this one recently. A Net ix original revealing the unsettling reality of commercial shing and the harm that humans are causing to marine wildlife. From the makers of Cowspiracy, Seaspiracy not only emphasises the devastating environmental e ects of the shing industry, but the disconcerting secrecy and conspiracy surrounding the trade.
The True Cost, Amazon Prime Video Slow fashion is a phrase bandied about these days, but there is much more to clothes than consumers often see on the surface. The True Cost looks at the environmental, social and psychological impacts of the clothing industry. With the advent of fast fashion and with clothes so cheap and easy to buy, interviews with environmentalists, factory owners and garment workers discuss the problems with production, such as low paid workers in developing countries making clothes in unsafe conditions and the river and soil pollution and pesticide contamination. Interviews with famous names in fashion such as Stella Mccartney, Livia Firth and Vandana Shiva provide alternatives for the future.
Tiny House Nation, Net ix
A lot of us think about downsizing, guring that having less ‘stu ’ in our lives can only be a good thing, but have you ever considered shrinking down your life to live in a space not much bigger than a caravan? The Tiny House movement started in the US but it’s now sweeping across Europe too, as people pare back all the usual stu of house living to only having what they really need, leading to a smaller footprint on the earth; smaller bills; less cleaning and leaving more time to actually live life. Those who have managed it successfully say it’s life a rming. Check it out on Net ix.