Credit: TimeLife
If there's one man who can claim a 'seen it all' understanding of our beautiful blue planet, it would be Sir David Attenborough. The king of documentaries has often been concerned with protection of the environment in his work, but his two-part documentary Climate Change, focusses solely on the impact humans are having on Earth and the future of the planet.
Of course, Attenborough brings his wonderful camera crew along for the ride and although the two-hour DVD is more of a call to action than his previous works, he maintains the same high standard of stunning footage.
The first part of the DVD - 'Are we changing planet Earth?' - explores recent natural disasters and looks into how they are linked and whether human activity has played any role in them. Climate Change takes viewers on a journey around the planet, analysing Hurricane Katrina, melting glaciers, starving polar bears, floods and bushfires. The journey is beautiful but the message is alarming - however Attenborough pulls it off without preaching.
This analysis of current problems is followed by a glimpse into the future and a look at what can be done to prevent further damage to the planet. The documentary is wonderfully directed by Nicolas Brown and the call to action following the evidence presented in the first half of the documentary creates a compelling argument. "Man has an unprecedented control over the world and everything in it - what happens next is very largely up to him," says Attenborough.
As with all of Attenborough's work, this is no surface view of an issue. All of the evidence for climate change is thoroughly examined and the viewer is taken to polar ice caps, to the top of rainforests, into glaciers and all around the world in a bid to better understand the highly complex phenomenon of climate change. Attenborough doesn't jump to any conclusions and questions whether changes to the planet's climate could be a result of natural variation. The conclusion is bleak: "Our planet is being transformed, not by natural events, but by the actions of one species - mankind."
Attenborough has dedicated his career, and indeed his life, to documenting species in all of their magnificent glory - and now he is working to protect these species and humanity from the impacts of climate change. Climate Change is compelling viewing for any Attenborough fans, animal lovers, global warming sceptics - and, well, anyone who has a passing interest in the world around them. The documentary will leave you feeling enlightened, more knowledgeable and in awe of nature - but also a little scared of our future on the planet.
