12 sustainability documentaries every student should watch
Do you want to learn more about sustainability or raise awareness to create a sustainable university? Then watch or screen a sustainability documentary! Here are 12 documentaries that ask critical questions, explore sustainability issues and inspire you to act.
1. Chasing Coral
2. Tomorrow
This is one of the most uplifting sustainability documentaries. The filmmakers travelled around the world to meet local communities and people that are working on creative solutions to environmental and social challenges. You will learn about innovative ideas to rethink agriculture, energy, economy, education and governance. https://www.tomorrow-documentary.com/ (118min)
3. The 4th Revolution: Energy autonomy
Enough end of the world scenarios. This documentary portrays the vision of a world powered by 100% renewable energy. It shows how this energy transition would decentralize power and distribute capital more equitably. http://4th-revolution.com (In German with English subtitles; 83min)
4. Before the flood
This National Geographic Documentary features Leonardo DiCaprio’s journey to five continents and the Arctic. You witness climate change firsthand and meet people who are taking action against it. This is a good sustainability documentary to refresh the basics about global warming. www.beforetheflood.com (96min)
5. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret
This sustainability documentary uncovers how the dairy industry is one of the most destructive industry facing the planet today. You will also learn why the world’s leading environmental organisations are too afraid to talk about it. A great film which shows that addressing global challenges is not only about shifting energy generation, but also the way we consume food. Time to go vegan? www.cowspiracy.com (85min)
6. The Ivory Game
Every 15 minutes, one elephant disappears. This sustainability documentary exposes the dark world of ivory trafficking from the planes of Africa to the streets of China and portrays courageous people resisting it. A touching movie about wildlife loss and inspiring individuals who put their lives on the line to stop it. https://theivorygame.com (112min)
7. More than honey
This sustainability documentary charts the increasing decline of bee colonies and examines the possible reasons for it. A disturbing movie about what happens when species go extinct which are central to our agricultural industry. http://morethanhoneyfilm.com (In German with English subtitles; 95min)
8. Minimalism
This sustainability documentary critically explores consumerism and introduces minimalism as a counter-ideology. The documentary portrays people from all walks of life – families, entrepreneurs, architects, artists, etc. – who strive to live a more meaningful life with less stuff. Time to clean up your closet! https://minimalismfilm.com (79min)
9. Blood in the mobile
Almost everybody has a cellphone. But where do the minerals come from to produce those? This sustainability documentary follows the supply chain of mobiles, showing how conflict minerals from Congo (can) end up in your cellphone. (More on Wikipedia; 83min)
10. Manufactured Landscapes
This sustainability documentary shows the photographs and videos of an artist portraying landscapes that have been altered by large-scale human activity. These beautiful and disturbing images illustrate the degree to which human activity is altering the natural landscape. (More on Wikipedia; 90min)
11. No impact man
An environmentalist, who could no long avoid pointing the finger at himself, vowed to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. This sustainability documentary follows his quest. http://colinbeavan.com/movie (93min)
12. Planetary
This sustainability documentary goes way beyond the usual technological fixes to address global challenges. It asks you to rethink your assumptions about who we really are as a species. You learn to reconsider our relationship with yourself, other humans and the world around you. A poetic and provocative film that provides a new narrative of what it means to be human. http://weareplanetary.com (85min)
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