State of the Planet

Everywhere you turn there is confusion about the current state of our planet, with talk of rainforest destruction, global warming, extinction of species, rising sea levels and drought. To coincide with the new millennium, David Attenborough brings his matter-of-fact clarity to the subject, investigating the latest scientific research to explain the situation in simple terms for the first time.

Over the course of three programmes, his quest takes him on a truly global trail, from Kenya to Ecuador, from the Philippines and the Maldives to Easter Island, and from South Africa to California. In episode one, he asks whether our planet really is facing an extinction crisis; given that so much life still remains undiscovered – does it matter if some of it is lost? In episode two, he examines why this crisis has come about and what has caused it. The final episode looks at how our actions over the next 100 years will ultimately determine the future of life on Earth.

• Episode 1: Is There a Crisis?
• Episode 2: Why is There a Crisis?
• Episode 3: The Future of Life