Curious about climate action? Expand your education with these resources

It can feel challenging, tedious, and draining to maintain up to date about the state of our planet, especially when most news articles are simultaneously difficult to digest and report predominantly negative news. It can also feel challenging to ensure that you seek out a diverse and reliable array of perspectives on these issues. With these blog posts, we intend to help provide a straightforward presentation of different media types and sources reporting on the climate to help our readers educate themselves through any preferred medium. 

Stay tuned for our blog series recommending up-and-coming environmental and climate-related news sources. Here are a few to get you started!

Documentaries & TV series: 

Generation Green New Deal, 2020

  • Film available on Vimeo- a documentary film about the youth-led climate activist organization Sunrise Movement

  • Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts- tells the story of this movement, those involved, and their campaigns and plans

Meltdown, 2021

  • Film available on Amazon and RedBox- follows photographer Lynn Davis and Director of Yale’s Climate Change Communication Project Tony Leiserowitz in Ilulissat, Greenland, discussing the crossover of art and science in understanding climate change

Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet2021

  • Film available on Netflix- follows Professor Johan Rockström from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, describing the impending collapse of our planet’s biodiversity due to human activity

Podcasts:

TILClimate 

  • Available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

  • MIT podcast, with short episodes about 15 minutes long, unpacks the science, technology, and policies behind climate change

For What It’s Earth:

  • Available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

  • Hosts Emma Brisdion and Lloyd Hopkinds (frequently featuring expert guests) discuss complex climate issues in a digestible, easy-going way, episodes around 50 minutes long

How to Save a Planet:

  • Hosts Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and journalist Alex Blumberg present inspiring stories related to people working to alleviate the state of the climate, episodes around 30 minutes long

Books:

A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds by Scott Weidensaul, 2021

  • Explores the science behind global bird migration and the importance of preserving global migration routes in the face of climate change

The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet by Leah Thomas, 2022

  • Discusses the link between environmentalism, racism, privilege, and class and proves how saving the planet requires uplifting previously marginalized voices

The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late by Seth Godin will release on June 21, 2022

  • Combines the perspectives of hundreds of writers, researchers, thinkers, and illustrators to present a succinct interpretation of the current state of the climate and the actions necessary to save it 

For children:

A Kid's Guide to Saving the Planet: It's Not Hopeless and We're Not Helpless by Paul Douglas, 2022

  • Book: presents the complex issues of climate change in a simple, straightforward manner with a hopeful undertone of actions and solutions we can take 

A Beautiful Planet, 2016

  • Movie: short film showing the Earth from the perspective of astronauts on the International Space Station with inclusions of climate impact and sustainable actions to take scattered throughout

Operation Earth: How to Be Cool To a Planet That's Hot-

  • Podcast: hosts Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas unpack difficult scientific issues with fun sound effects and time travel narratives intended for kids

Looking ahead in this blog series, we will collect the recommended sources of media from environmental advocates and members of EMA’s Board and post their recommendations to ensure we are collecting and presenting a true diversity of sources. Also, check out our EMA Talks series, where we pair our Board Members with climate experts, scientists, doctors, and more to discuss green solutions. 

 

Written by Alik Shehadeh, EMA intern and blog contributor, pursuing bachelor's degree at UCLA

EMA Online