There’s so much to learn about the global natural environment, environmental pollution, climate change, and sustainability. I often gather information by watching documentaries and videos, as they have a compelling reality that’s difficult to convey through text alone. Through actual footage from the field and the authentic voices of those directly affected, we can truly feel the severity and complexity of climate change and how our lifestyle affects the planet.
With the widespread availability of streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube, we can now access the frontlines of environmental issues from around the world right from our living rooms.
While I want to continue sustainable behaviors, there are times when I lose motivation. During those moments, I watch these videos to regain my drive.
The videos I’m introducing today are carefully selected content, primarily documentaries, that broaden our perspective on environmental issues. Those videos are available via streaming services in Japan.
Documentaries on Hulu
1. Greta Thunberg: A Message to Change the World
This documentary follows Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish climate activist who has become universally famous for her climate actions. It carefully depicts how one girl’s “school strike” developed into a global climate movement.
Greta’s honest words and activism have influenced people across generations. The film also portrays her relationship with her family and how she faces her own identity as someone with Asperger’s syndrome, revealing Greta’s authentic human side.
Key Learning Points: The power of youth action, the impact of citizen movements on international climate policy, moments when personal conviction moves society
Watch it on Hulu
2. An Inconvenient Truth
While global warming is recognized as a problem, political measures remain insufficient. This documentary centers on lectures about climate change given by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. Released in 2006, this work is known as a landmark film that brought climate change issues to widespread public attention.
Using scientific data and graphs, it explains the mechanisms and severity of global warming in an accessible way. By weaving in Gore’s personal experiences, it shows how environmental activism carries both political and personal significance.
Key Learning Points: Scientific evidence of global warming, the complex relationship between politics and environmental issues, the importance of data-based environmental discourse
Watch it on Hulu
3. The Wine Calling
This heartwarming documentary depicts the daily lives and challenges of natural wine farmers in southern France. The farmers’ dedication to winemaking that maximizes natural forces without using chemical pesticides or fertilizers is impressive.
Environmentally conscious agriculture is far from an easy path. However, the farmers continue their work with conviction, feeling responsible for soil health, ecosystem protection, and future generations. Set against the beautiful French countryside, this work conveys the possibilities of sustainable agriculture.
Watching these hardworking farmers makes you want to support them by purchasing natural wines.
Key Learning Points: Practicing environmentally conscious agriculture, choosing sustainable lifestyles, balancing tradition and innovation
Watch it on Hulu
Notable Sustainability Works on Netflix
4. Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy
This documentary investigates the reality of modern consumerism and overproduction. It examines the truthfulness of major global brands’ “eco-friendly” promises and reveals the hidden mechanisms of overconsumption and greenwashing.
What’s actually happening behind the sleek advertising and constant product launches? Through whistleblower testimonies, expert interviews, and third-party investigations, the film explores the strategies corporations use—such as planned obsolescence and deceptive recycling practices—to keep consumers buying, while shifting the environmental and social costs elsewhere.
I felt that a sustainable future would be difficult without changing current business models.
Key Learning Points: The relationship between fast fashion and environmental destruction, human rights issues for workers, responsible consumer choices
5. Cowspiracy
This documentary thoroughly investigates the impact of livestock farming on the global environment. It reveals lesser-known statistical data, such as the fact that livestock farming accounts for a larger percentage of greenhouse gas emissions than transportation.
Starting with the question of why environmental protection groups don’t actively address livestock farming issues, the work delves deep into the political influence of the meat industry and the environmental impact of our dietary choices.
I realized that even slightly reducing meat consumption could have a significant positive impact on the global environment.
Key Learning Points: The relationship between livestock farming and greenhouse gases, transitioning to sustainable diets, the complexity of environmental protection movements
6. Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet
This documentary features world-renowned scientist Johan Rockström and natural historian David Attenborough discussing Earth’s “tipping points.” They warn that Earth’s system has nine boundaries, and crossing these boundaries could trigger irreversible changes.
Accompanied by beautiful Earth imagery, the film clearly explains how multiple environmental issues—climate change, biodiversity loss, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles—are interconnected. While scientific, the work also conveys a message of hope.
Key Learning Points: The complexity and balance of Earth’s systems, the interconnectedness of environmental issues, the importance of science-based environmental policy
7. Seaspiracy
This shocking documentary exposes the destruction of marine environments. Through reporting from around the world, it reveals the reality of ocean destruction by fishing industries, considered more serious than plastic pollution.
The film highlights issues behind the seafood on our tables: fish population decline due to overfishing, marine ecosystem collapse, and human rights problems related to fishing. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of marine protected areas and the possibility of sustainable fishing.
As a country relying hugely on fishing industry, Japan should especially consider marine environment protection.
Key Learning Points: Marine ecosystem crisis, challenges of sustainable fishing, how consumer choices affect marine environments
Free Documentaries on YouTube
8. The Truth Behind Fast Fashion – Are Fashion Retailers Honest with Their Customers?
This documentary, produced by German international broadcaster DW, investigates the reality of the fast fashion industry. It examines the truthfulness of major fashion brands’ “sustainable” initiatives and reveals the reality of greenwashing.
What’s actually happening at production sites behind the glamorous consumer marketing? Through third-party research results and expert interviews, the film pursues transparency issues in the fashion industry.
It reminded me that we need to keep an eye on greenwashing.
Key Learning Points: How to identify greenwashing, corporate transparency and accountability, choosing ethical fashion
9. Garbage Island: An Ocean Full of Plastic
This report actually visits the massive plastic waste accumulation “Garbage Island” floating in the Pacific Ocean. VICE reporters investigate the site with marine researchers, witnessing the severity of ocean plastic pollution firsthand.
The video vividly depicts the reality of plastic pollution: massive plastic fragments found inside seabirds, the impact of microplastics on the food chain. It also raises questions about recycling limitations and fundamental solutions.
I felt we need to change our consumer society that relies too heavily on plastic.
Key Learning Points: The reality of ocean plastic pollution, dangers of microplastics, the importance of waste reduction
10. How Farmers Are Protecting the Soil and Our Food Security
This documentary introduces soil protection and sustainable agriculture practices by farmers worldwide. With growing concerns about food security due to climate change and population growth, innovative agricultural technologies combined with traditional wisdom are gaining attention.
The film depicts farmers’ efforts to maintain soil health while improving productivity through various approaches: regenerative agriculture, precision agriculture, and agroforestry. It provides important perspectives for considering agriculture’s future and Earth’s sustainability.
Agriculture is a crucial element for both people and the global environment. I want to change politics so that regenerative agriculture increases.
Key Learning Points: The potential of regenerative agriculture, the importance of soil protection, building sustainable food systems
Conclusion
What can’t be conveyed through text alone can be deeply felt through video images. For example, hearing that “plastic waste pollutes the ocean” or “fast fashion places a huge burden on the environment” doesn’t always create a real sense of urgency of the problems. However, seeing the actual situation through image helps us truly understand the severity of these issues.
Watching such videos naturally creates a feeling that “we must do something” and provides an opportunity to reconsider our own lives. I hope you can take a time to watch them!
