Many climate change documentaries are raw, informative, and sure to inspire greater environmental sustainability. Here, we’ll go over the best ones we’ve found!
At the Office Compost Program, we care about the environment and countering climate change - and we want to share what we’ve learned with you!
Learn more about the best climate change documentaries now. Let’s get started!
Top Climate Change Documentaries
Note - these documentaries are not listed in any particular order. We think they are all different and all have value to bring the viewer!
1. before the flood (2016)
Length: 96 Minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It Here
Before The Flood is a 2016 climate change documentary by National Geographic.
It features actor Leonardo DiCaprio travelling the world to witness and document climate change firsthand. He interviews a number of experts, scientists, and politicians along the way.
Peter Bradshaw, a Rotten Tomatoes reviewer, calls Before The Flood “a serious, substantial piece of work.” The documentary was generally well received, with 95% of Google users liking the film, and with a 77% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
2. our planet (2019)
Length: Series: eight 50-minute episodes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Find It On Netflix
If you absolutely love nature documentaries and care about environmental sustainability too, then Our Planet is the perfect documentary for you.
Our Planet is a Netflix docu-series, consisting of eight episodes, each focusing on different parts of our planet.
Although the series, at first, looks like a typical nature documentary, each episode places an emphasis on climate change and human impact on our world.
It is narrated by Sir David Attenborough and has excellent ratings. It is an Emmy-Award-Winning Film and has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. Chasing ice (2012)
Length: 75 minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It Here
The award-winning documentary Chasing Ice may have come out in 2012, but it is still a powerful and highly relevant documentary today.
This climate change documentary focuses on the diminishing glaciers in the Arctic and uses stunning visuals and time-lapse footage to show the extreme impact that warming global temperatures are having on our planet’s ice.
Chasing Ice has been praised for its amazing visuals and commitment to the gruelling process of capturing this footage.
4. an inconvenient truth (2006)
Length: 97 minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It on Amazon
For many of us, An Inconvenient Truth was the very first documentary they ever watched that spoke about climate change (or "global warming”).
The documentary features the former United States Vice President Al Gore, whose mission it was to educate the public on the dangers of global warming.
If you have never seen this documentary, it is considered one of the reasons for an increased awareness of climate change - so although it is now a bit older, it is still worth the watch.
5. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017)
Length: 99 minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It on Amazon
An Inconvenient Sequel is a great follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth. This documentary focuses on some of the predictions made in An Inconvenient Truth about climate change - and how they’ve come true.
It also shows some of the progress we have made towards a better future - but reminds us that much more needs to be done.
Once again, we follow Vice President Al Gore as he aims to educate others about the reality of climate change, and some of the ways we can help counter it.
Cowspiracy may have a silly-sounding title, but this documentary is far from a joke. Don’t let the title put you off from this documentary; it is a raw and sometimes unnerving documentary about the impact of agriculture on our environment.
Unlike other climate change documentaries, Cowspiracy focuses on one major player: animal agriculture.
Not only does it investigate the impact of animal agriculture on climate change, but also its impact on water use, deforestation, and other negative environmental outcomes.
7. Chasing Coral (2017)
Length: 93 minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It On Netflix
From the producers of Chasing Ice comes Chasing Coral - a documentary that looks at diminishing coral populations and how global climate change is impacting our world’s oceans.
This documentary was very well received and has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you are looking for a great follow-up to Chasing Ice, you should definitely give this documentary a go as well.
8. Years of living dangerously (2014 - 2016)
Length: Docu-series | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It On Nat Geo TV
Years of Living Dangerously is a docu-series by National Geographic. Currently, there are two seasons available.
The series was named “the most important television series ever,” is an Emmy-Award winner, and features dozens of celebrities and experts from around the world, all focusing on the impact of climate change.
You can watch the series on Nat Geo TV. The full first episode was also released on YouTube for free!
9. merchants of doubt (2014)
Length: 96 minutes | Average Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ | Find It On Amazon
Merchants of Doubt is a bit of a different climate change documentary. It focuses on how large corporations have done their best to place doubt in the minds of consumers about the impact (or even the existence) of climate change.
This documentary explores how this was done in the past, showing how ‘experts’ downplayed or outright denied the harmful health effects of cigarettes for years before it became public knowledge that they were harmful to human health.
The documentary was based on the book by the same name.
I’m Inspired - now What Can I Do?
Watching inspiring documentaries about climate change can make you want to take action - but it is sometimes hard to know what you can do about that feeling!
Here are some simple tips to help you get started living a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle from Good Energy:
Switch to renewable/reusable items - Buy a reusable water bottle, invest in some mesh produce bags, and choose reusable grocery bags. These simple tips will help drastically reduce the amount of plastic you use!
Consider your diet - As we learned above, the agricultural industry can be hard on the environment. Consider eating less meat and choosing local products when possible, even if it’s just one or two meals a week.
Compost - In many places in Ontario, residents can compost your food waste and the city will pick it up for you on a weekly basis. If this is not available in your area, consider creating a compost in your yard. Or, consider composting at work!
Better insulate your home - If your home is adequately insulated, you won’t need to run your AC or furnace as much, depending on the weather. That means you’ll save energy throughout the entire year! In Ontario, you may even qualify for a rebate or tax credit depending on your home renovation.
Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products: Many ‘regular’ cleaning products contain harmful chemicals, and are even considered household hazardous waste! Consider switching to eco-friendly or non-toxic products instead. You can even do this in the office!
You can also learn some great tips from the video below about switching to zero waste/low impact living on a budget!
It’s important to remember that ‘going zero waste’ or reducing your own foot print doesn’t happen overnight! However, integrating some of these tips and tricks into your own lifestyle is a great place to start.
Environmental Sustainability - At Home
and At The Office!
Did you know that on average, Canadians produce about 2.7 kg (5.9 lbs) of garbage each day? Another study showed that over half (58%) of all food produced in Canada is wasted!
Canadians don’t just waste food and create waste at home - they do it at work too. You can help reduce the amount of waste produced in your workplace by opting into the Office Compost Program.
We proudly offer our Office Compost Program to businesses across the Waterloo Region, helping you make a positive impact on the environment.
Create a greener workplace with our Office Compost Program - contact us today!
“WE ARE CURRENTLY USING THE COMPOST PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AS OUR COMPANY HAS GROWN AND OUR USAGE INCREASED. VERY FRIENDLY AND TERRIFIC SERVICE!”
— JULIE G., BIG ROAD