environment

Television cannot be accused of ignoring the environment. Our destruction of the planet has long been a staple of serious TV documentaries. And in drama, zombies, pandemics and nuclear catastrophe offer stark visions of our future if humanity fails to mend its ways.

According to Richard Curtis, however, environmental programming doesn’t have to be “boring, didactic or terrifying”. The UK’s king of comedy reckoned it can also be “funny, interesting, educational and personal”.

The three-part series will see four meat-loving families as they share their homes with the animals that would normally end up on their plate.

Over three weeks, the families will learn about the animals they are living with and the impact of their meat-eating habits.

Cutting-edge studies will investigate animal behaviour and intelligence, as well as the farming practices used and the environmental impact of the meat industry.

Blue Planet II reached over 37m people in the UK alone. Following the final episode, over 60% of people surveyed commented that they wanted to make changes to their life to reduce the impact on the ocean.

The response, said Attenborough, has left him “absolutely astonished.”

“We hoped that Blue Planet II would open people’s eyes to the damage that we are doing to our oceans and the creatures that live in them.  I never imagined that there would be so many of you who would be inspired to want change.”

That’s why Costa Rica, with its life expectancy of 79.1 years and commitment to renewable energy, topped the 2016 list of the world’s happiest countries, having already won in 2009 and 2012.