Top 10 environmental documentaries that will inspire you to cherish Mother Earth

The image of an orangutan fighting alone against a bulldozer (and humans) to protect its natural home in "Climate Change: The Facts (2019)" is deeply moving. As human society advances, the demand for modernization leads to environmental invasion, severely impacting the lives of wildlife.

The poignant image and actions of the orangutan stir empathy, conveying a powerful message about the need to protect natural habitats for wildlife.

This documentary explores the lives of marine creatures and the environmental issues threatening their survival. "Blue" carries an important message about the need for greater awareness in protecting marine ecosystems, urging people to reduce waste and avoid plastic and nylon pollution that harms ocean life.

It is estimated that over 150 million tons of plastic waste are currently drifting in the world's oceans. This not only threatens marine life but also has a severe impact on human life.

Many coastal areas across Vietnam are home to stunning coral reefs. However, these may soon face bleaching, alongside reefs around the world, due to global warming. The death of corals will have devastating effects on marine ecosystems, and indirectly impact human life as well.

Filmed over three years, Chasing Coral features more than 500 hours of underwater footage documenting the widespread devastation caused by coral bleaching. Coral reefs, which serve as habitats for numerous endangered marine species, are rapidly disappearing. Supported by volunteers from over 30 countries and more than 500 individuals worldwide, this documentary captures the global loss of coral reefs. The situation has reached a critical point, and Chasing Coral urges immediate action to save these vital ecosystems.

Although coral reefs are vital to marine ecosystems, they have rarely received significant attention from scientists or the general public. However, this is changing. With coral reefs disappearing at an alarming rate, scientists are racing against time to understand the causes and find solutions. If coral reefs are lost, humans will be left with empty, barren oceans.

Chasing Coral highlights the urgent need for coral conservation while also showcasing the stunning world of marine life that can only thrive if coral reefs remain healthy.

Another powerful documentary from the talented Leonardo DiCaprio, following his success with "Virunga". The film won the Best Documentary Award at the Hollywood Film Awards 2016. "Before The Flood" chronicles DiCaprio's journey alongside director Fisher Stevens as they travel the world, documenting the devastating impacts of climate change and proposing practical solutions to prevent further catastrophe.

Through personal stories and biblical references, Leonardo leads the audience into the reality of nature and the environment, ultimately conveying the message that "the Earth is facing a massive flood that could drown the paradise created by God."

Born to be Free is a 74-minute documentary that follows three environmental journalists and divers—Gaya, Tanya, and Julia—on their mission to fight for the freedom of dolphins being held in Russian aquariums. The film exposes the harsh reality behind dolphin performances in captivity, revealing the dark side of the international wildlife trade industry.

With Born to be Free, the production team hopes to replicate the success of the documentary Blackfish (in the U.S.) by raising awareness in Russia about the importance of marine life conservation and the rightful place of dolphins in the vast ocean.

If you believe that eating meat has no connection to environmental issues, the documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret will open your eyes.

Cowspiracy provides a closer look at how the animal agriculture industry has severely impacted the environment. On average, every kilogram of meat consumed leads to deforestation, ocean dead zones, and contamination of water sources—issues all closely tied to the food we eat.

The filmmakers behind Cowspiracy, Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, followed up with the 2017 documentary What the Health, which explores the health impacts of consuming animal products (available on Netflix).

Night on Earth (2020) utilizes groundbreaking technology to reveal the hidden world of nocturnal creatures, from hunting lions to flying bats. This nature series offers a unique insight into the behavior of animals after dark. Narrated by Samira Wiley of *The Handmaid's Tale*, Night on Earth explores diverse habitats, from the African savanna to the deserts of Peru, spanning six episodes to uncover the mysteries of the night.

This ambitious documentary series offers an awe-inspiring exploration of Earth's natural beauty and how climate change is affecting every living being. Comprising 8 episodes, *Our Planet* took 4 years and extensive travel across 50 countries to produce, with each episode under one hour. It showcases breathtaking animal behaviors, from aerial battles of eagles to creatures dwelling thousands of feet beneath the ocean's surface. This series emphasizes the urgent need to appreciate and protect nature.

With a powerful message about global warming, habitat destruction, and species extinction, *Our Planet* delivers a critical call to action: 'Save our planet before it's too late!'

Cosmetics, home goods, trendy gadgets, and recycling – have you ever thought about the dark side of these products? *Broken* reveals the harsh truths behind them, slapping consumers with a dose of reality. The series opens your eyes to the hidden costs, especially when it comes to items that are marketed as affordable yet high-quality.

If you want to understand the real story behind recycling, the final episode offers a stark truth, but it's advised to start from the beginning to make more mindful shopping decisions in the future.