Hi there, it's Minami.

Environmental issues and climate change are often talked about these days.

You want to learn more about the news and world trends so that you can understand them better, but you are not sure where to start. I highly recommend starting with films!

While it is entertaining, the information is easily absorbed as you learn along with the images.

This article is about such films that make you think about the environment, food, climate change and resources!

Climate change films

Climate Warriors

Country of production: Germany
Directed by Carl-A. Fechner
Year of production: 2018
Synopsis
This documentary film focuses on people fighting against climate change. It features climate activists and experts from around the world and explores, through their activities and opinions, what action needs to be taken to protect the future of our planet. The film focuses on Germany's energy transition (Energiewende), the importance of renewable energy and concrete actions to combat climate change.

Recommendations
The appeal is that the content is relatively up-to-date and you can hear directly from many activists working on contemporary climate issues. Unfortunately, however, there are currently limited ways to watch it on major distribution services such as Amazon Prime. Checking the website of United People, the distributor in Japan, may help you find the right time to watch the film.

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An Inconvenient Truth

Country of production: USA
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
Year of production: 2006

Synopsis

This documentary film is based on a presentation given by former US Vice-President Al Gore (Al Gore) on the reality of climate change. The film details the dangers of global warming, its causes and solutions to it, using scientific data.

Recommendations

This film is a must-see for anyone interested in the issue of climate change. It will convey Al Gore's passion and at the same time bring the seriousness of the issue closer to home; when it was released in 2006, it shocked many people and triggered greater awareness of climate change.

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An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

Country of production: USA
Directed by Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
Year of production: 2017

Synopsis
In this sequel to An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore once again travels around the world to follow the new realities of climate change and the progress being made and problems being faced. In a world where almost a decade has passed since the last film, the film depicts environmental problems that are becoming more serious and the efforts being made to combat them.

Recommendations
This film is an extension of the previous film and reaffirms how serious the issue of climate change has become. In addition, Gore's unwavering determination and the people who support him give us hope for the future. The film is an opportunity to renew awareness of climate change.

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The Island President

Country of production: USA
Directed by Jon Shenk
Year of production: 2011

Synopsis
Documentary about the life of former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed (Mohamed Nasheed) and his work on climate change issues. Nasheed addresses the international community on the urgency of climate change, as the Maldives is in danger of disappearing due to rising sea levels.

Recommendations

The film is very helpful in understanding how climate change specifically affects people's lives. In particular, it shows how seriously President Nasheed took the issue and how his efforts were received by the world. The President's courage and leadership send a strong message to combat climate change.

I was so moved (or rather, so shocked) by this Maldives story that I have written a separate article about it, so if you want to learn a little about the Maldives situation first, you can check byClicking herefor more information.

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Severn, The Voice of Our Children / Severn, la voix de nos enfants

Country of production: France, Canada, Japan.
Directed by Jean-Paul Jaud.
Year of production: 2010

Synopsis
Documentary about the current activities of Severn Suzuki, a 12-year-old girl who gave a legendary speech at an environmental summit, and the people in Japan and France who continue to protect food in order to safeguard the future of children. Directed by Jean-Paul Joux (The Future of Food), Severn Suzuki touched the hearts of people around the world with her speech at the Environmental Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. She called on the entire planet to take responsibility for what they say and to take action to protect the lives of future generations of children. Director Joe spoke about the life in harmony with nature on the island of Haida Gwaii, Canada, where Severn now lives; the spirit of the Furuno farmers who grow organic rice using the duck farming method in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan; Ikeda Village in Fukui Prefecture, where 161 farm women grow pesticide-free food for the local children; and the The film also covers organic school lunches in the French village of Valjac, which was the subject of ‘Future Dining Table’, and what has happened to the village since, as well as the problems faced by Corsica, a famous wine-growing region. The film follows people who are looking at the future of the Earth with the same gaze as Severn.

Recommendations
Learning about Severn Suzuki's activities and her point of view can help us to think deeply about what we should leave behind for future generations. It is particularly interesting to learn about sustainability in agriculture and food culture in France and Japan through specific examples. Through the images, the local efforts depicted along with the beautiful nature strongly resonate with the audience.

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I Am Greta

Country of production: Sweden
Directed by Nathan Grossman
Year of production: 2020

Synopsis
Documentary following the work of young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg (Greta Thunberg). It charts her journey from the moment she started her school strike to becoming an icon in the international climate change movement. It focuses in particular on the pressures she faced and the reactions of those around her.

Recommendations
This film about Greta Tunberg's challenge and its impact raises awareness of the issue of climate change and her strong beliefs. Her loneliness and the smile she shows as her movement expands and she finds friends are particularly striking. However, for those who have been following her work in the news, there may be little new to discover, but seeing her story as a sequence of events reaffirms the significance of her work and its impact. This is an important documentary for understanding how determined she is to tackle environmental issues and how her work is affecting young people around the world. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

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Our food/food

The World According to Monsanto / Le Monde selon Monsanto

Country of production: France
Directed by Marie-Monique Robin
Year of production: 2008

Synopsis
This documentary follows the impact of the US multinational corporation Monsanto on agriculture worldwide with its genetically modified crops and pesticides. Through numerous documents and interviews, director Marie-Monique Robin delves into Monsanto's past and present activities. In particular, she raises the alarm about the spread of GM crops and their impact on farmers and consumers.

Recommendations
This film is an important look behind the scenes at how the food we eat every day is produced. It will encourage you to think deeply about the debate on GMOs and the impact they have on the environment and health. It will also make you think about your responsibilities and choices as a consumer, as you learn about the impact Monsanto has had on agriculture around the world.

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Black Gold

Country of production: United Kingdom
Directed by Nick Francis, Marc Francis
Year of production: 2006

Synopsis
This documentary portrays Ethiopian coffee farmers and the harsh realities they face. Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, but behind it many farmers suffer from poverty. The film follows Ethiopian coffee farmers in their fight for fair trade and sheds light on unfair trade in international markets and human rights issues.

Recommendations
The Truth About Good Coffee provides an insight into the harsh realities behind how the coffee we drink every day is produced. In particular, it provides an opportunity to think about the importance of fair trade and the impact of our choices as consumers on farmers. The film will make you think about the coffee you normally enjoy without thinking about it in a new light.

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How to find films related to the environment and climate change

The easiest way to do this is to subscribe to a streaming service such as Amazon Prime or Netflix and find films that interest you. These platforms offer a wide selection of documentaries related to the environment and climate change, which you can easily watch at home. Furthermore, you may also be able to find environment-related films in university libraries. You may also enjoy films from an academic perspective, as they are often used in faculties and lectures related to environmental studies and sustainability.

We have summarised (or will summarise!) documentaries and films on water resources/agriculture in more detail in a separate article. Please take a look at that as well.Clicking hereto find out more about the film!

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Conclusion

How was it? There are some films introduced here that I have not yet seen myself, and I hope to make time to watch them in the future. If you are interested in any of these films, please check them out. It may give you a deeper understanding of the environment, climate change and food issues, and help you think about what we can do in our daily lives. We will continue to share newly watched films and documentaries with you in the future, so please stay tuned.

If you are in Japan and would like to try agriculture, you can experience agriculture for a short period of time.Volubeitis recommended! It's one of the top experiences I've personally had the pleasure of doing, so if you're interested, I'd love to hear from you!Clicking hereSee also related articles

We couldn't find any Japanese films this time, but if you have any recommendations, we would be very happy to hear about them via our contact form or various social networking sites!

Well, I will see you next time!