Today, 22 April, marks Earth Day, one of the most significant environmental observances worldwide. The initiative began in 1970 in the United States, thanks to Senator Gaylord Nelson, and activist Denis Hayes, as a large-scale educational mobilisation of university students, involving around 20 million people at the time and marking the birth of the modern environmental movement.
More than fifty years on, Earth Day represents a global platform for raising awareness about climate change, biodiversity loss and the sustainable use of resources, engaging approximately one billion people in 193 countries. The 2026 edition carries particular significance: in a context of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, it demonstrates that environmental progress remains achievable through technological innovation, education, local initiatives and personal awareness. This year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet”, highlights the role of individual and collective action in driving the ecological transition.
Four documentaries to better understand the planet
To mark Earth Day 2026, the cultural platform ARTE, Europe’s leading cultural streaming service, is offering a selection of audiovisual content dedicated to today’s key environmental challenges. Among these, the documentary Siberia: The Melting Permafrost follows the work of geophysicist Sergey Zimov and his son Nikita, who are engaged in a project to restore Ice Age ecosystems. Permafrost contains around 1,600 billion tonnes of CO₂: its thawing could significantly accelerate climate change, amplifying effects already under way.
Alongside the analysis of critical issues, there is also an exploration of possible solutions. The episode Could We Live Without Agriculture? from the science series 42 – The Answer to Almost Everything addresses food production, highlighting how agriculture accounts for approximately 20–30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The debate therefore focuses on the potential of biotechnology to provide food for humanity without harming the planet.
A more practical perspective emerges in Roots – Sustainable Agriculture to the Rescue, in which journalist Pierre Girard documents innovative experiences aimed at reducing soil impact and preserving natural resources. Meanwhile, the documentary Will Algae Save the Planet? examines the potential of algae as both a food and environmental resource: these biomasses can absorb large quantities of CO₂ while requiring fewer resources than traditional crops.
The selection concludes with The Biosphere Experiment – Making Of, which recounts the experiment of two young experts, eco-designer Caroline and engineer Corentin, who lived independently in the desert for four months, using low-tech solutions such as solar ovens and water purification systems to demonstrate how simple technologies can contribute to resilience in extreme environments.
Cover image: photo by Masaaki Komori, Unsplash