5 climate, nature and environment

documentaries you must see in 2020

Copyright  -
By Rachel Graham  •  Updated: 30/01/2020

Streaming culture has given rise to a new generation of documentary lovers. Better
informed than ever with more films available than ever before, it can be difficult
navigating the sea of choice.

But with climate change chief among concerns for the Netflix generation, it can be
difficult choosing which eco-themed documentaries to watch without coming down with
a case of eco-anxiety. 

Here we list some of the best picks to get a rounded view on the problems of today as
well as potential solutions.

1. RiverBlue
Released: 2017

Director: David McIlvride and Roger Williams

Canadian conservationist, professor and paddler Mark Angelo heads out on a three-
year river journey around the world to document the damage caused to the world’s
water supplies by the fashion industry. In this feature length documentary, he
investigates the so-called hydrocide, in which toxic chemicals are dumped into rivers
and seas as a result of humanity’s quest for fast fashion and killing off water habitats.

Watch the full film on YouTube.

2. Artifishal
Released: 2019
Director: Josh Murphy

Be warned. This trailer contains fairly graphic images of the fish processing
industry from the beginning. If you'd rather skip that part, start the trailer from 16
seconds in.

A pescatarian diet is often presented as better for the environment than a meat-heavy
one. But that doesn’t take into consideration the impact of the global fisheries industry,
found the makers of Artifishal. They investigate the impacts of over fishing and how our
taste for seafood is devastating wildlife below the surface everywhere from the Pacific
Sound to the fjords or Norway. As they say, ‘the road to extinction is paved with good
intentions’.

Watch it on YouTube.

3. Ice on Fire
Released: 2019

Director: Leila Conners

Leonardo DiCaprio voices this film considering potential for mass extinction as a result
of Arctic methane gases seeping into the air as the icecaps melt. It’s a beginners’ guide
to the scale of the potential catastrophe, setting out on the hunt for technologies that
might reverse the the damage caused by CO2 leaking into the atmosphere.

Watch it on HBO.

4. Climate Refugees
Released: 2010

Director:  Michael P. Nash

Considering that climate change is unlikely to affect all countries equally, this feature
asks who will be hit hardest? And when that time comes, what will the ramifications be?
From droughts and famine to rioting and issues of national security, Climate Refugees
lays out how overpopulation and climate change could meet to spell disaster.

Watch on Amazon Prime.

5. Before The Flood

Released: 2016
Director: Fisher Stevens

DiCaprio was also a key driver of this film, alongside other Hollywood bigwigs including
Martin Scorsese. Before The Flood follows the actor around the world to document
those impacts of global warming already visible, while challenging climate change
deniers in the US political establishment.

It's available on iTunes.