Action Planet: Meeting The Climate Challenge
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Solution-focused climate change docu inspires, empowers.
Rate TV show
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Action Planet: Meeting The Climate Challenge
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
ACTION PLANET: MEETING THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE is a documentary that focuses on the importance of taking action against climate change. Hosted by Now This correspondent Zinhle Essamuah, it features interviews with key members of the Biden Administration, including Vice-President Kamala Harris and newly appointed White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, scientists, and business leaders discussing the planet's ongoing climate crisis and environmental justice. Conversations with individuals across America also reveal how climate change is affecting their day-to-day lives. High-profile activists, including Greta Thunberg, Jane Fonda, Adrien Grenier, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, discuss their work in accompanying 8-12 minute episodes. Throughout it all, they hope to inspire people around the world to take action in order to ensure a healthier planet for future generations.
Is It Any Good?
This energizing series seeks to inspire and encourage viewers to step up and make a difference against climate change. But in addition to the calls for action, one of the most powerful messages it offers is about the disproportionate ways that climate change is impacting different communities, thanks to on-going socioeconomic disparities resulting from racism and classism. Meanwhile, it also underscores how resource scarcities, such as the lack of water, are both health and national security issues.
If some of this feels political, that's because some of it is. Action Planet highlights the efforts of the Biden Administration to address climate change. But it also showcases how individuals can make a big difference in the fight to protect the planet, which is everyone's problem. The information about the negative effects of climate change can be overwhelming, but the messages it offers about our ability to do something about it are empowering.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different ways that individuals can help with the fight against climate change. What are some of small things we can do that may potentially lead to bigger solutions? In what ways can media help with these efforts?
Action Planet: Meeting The Climate Challenge talks about environmental injustices, including how climate change disproportionately affects underserved communities. What is the connection between poverty, race, and climate? What other political, social, and economic issues have to be addressed if real progress is to be made?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 22, 2021
- Cast: Zinhle Essamuah , Kamala Harris , Gina McCarthy
- Network: Discovery+
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Activism , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: May 17, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Environmental TV Shows
Movies That Teach Kids About Climate Change
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate