YouTube Originals unveiled today the full schedule and first looks at its October sustainability slate that launches on Saturday, October 23 with “Dear Earth,” a global celebration of the planet that brings together a wide-range of global leaders, celebrities, musicians, and creators ready to educate, inspire and motivate audiences to create a better and more sustainable planet.
The upcoming YouTube Originals programming slate aims to address sustainability challenges the world faces and offer solutions that can be adopted to inspire change. The week of sustainability premieres includes:
Saturday, October 23
“Dear Earth” – Watch the trailer HERE – Set a Reminder HERE
In the lead up to the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP 26), and following the format of last year’s impactful “Dear Class of 2020,” “Dear Earth” is a 100 minute special event that inspires viewers to join the sustainability movement. Featuring an opening address from Kermit the Frog, keynote addresses from leaders like President Barack Obama, a keynote address and performance by K-POP supergroup BLACKPINK, dramatic feats by pro cyclist Danny MacAskill and skier JT Holmes that bring to life the realities of climate change, as well as creators like Dream, ZHC and Odd1sOut sharing practical ways to get involved and make a difference, and much more. Climate Change affects us all… even SpongeBob SquarePants who also joins “Dear Earth” to give a special performance.
“Climate Games”
“Climate Games” follows YouTube creators and elite athletes over two special episodes as they undertake spectacular challenges designed to deliver a key climate message. Skier JT Holmes and creator Physics Girl team up to measure how quickly the ice is melting on the snowy mountains of British Columbia, and pro cyclist Danny MacAskill is given free reign at a renewable energy factory where he attempts a series of tricks designed to demonstrate the percentage of the world’s energy that currently comes from renewable sources.
Monday, October 25
“Seat at the Table” – Watch the trailer HERE
“Seat at the Table” is an 11-part series that follows YouTube creator and climate activist Jack Harries on a 100-day trip across the UK to uncover the often overlooked voices of the young people whose lives are being most affected by the climate crisis, both in the UK and elsewhere around the world. The testimonies of the young people Jack speaks to will form the basis of an impactful film which Jack will present to world leaders at COP26 in Glasgow. The series also features appearances from key voices on the subject including Sir David Attenborough, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE & Simon Amstell, alongside YouTube creators Jamal Edwards & Rachel Ama.
Tuesday, October 26
“Shut It Off ASAP” – Watch the trailer HERE
AsapSCIENCE-Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown-are two city boys leaving the comfort of their YouTube channel and heading to the countryside. “Shut It Off ASAP” takes Mitch and Greg to a remote farm in Canada where they try their hand at turning off access to their basic needs in order to find sustainable alternatives. Over six episodes, they’ll turn off access to necessities like Food, Power, Water, Cooling, and some guilty pleasures while incorporating alternatives ASAP. They’ll use hard science to go green with everything from regenerative farming to a hot tub powered by garbage. FarmTubers, First Nations guides, and experts will join them to help execute a vision of living completely off the grid and deliver takeaways that can be replicated back at home.
Wednesday, October 27
“Brave Mission: Rewild the Planet” – Watch the trailer HERE
From YouTube’s Brave Wilderness and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Madica Productions in partnership with Re:wild, “Brave Mission: Rewild the Planet” is an edge-of-your seat global expedition led by Mark Vins of Brave Wilderness; featuring hands-on experiences with the planet’s most breathtaking endangered species and the local guardians who sacrifice everything in the battle to save them and the ecosystems they call home. Vins heads to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and meets with the legendary Emanuel de Merode and trackers–women and men who put their lives on the line to protect the country’s mountain gorillas–for a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the world’s largest primates. Vins explores how the environmental impact of an illegal coal trade is threatening both human and gorilla ways of life and how a new sustainable energy solution may be the answer to saving them all.
Thursday, October 28
“SiGNALS” – Watch the trailer HERE
“SiGNALS” is the abridged story of our relationship with plastic – from the origins and lifecycle of a plastic bottle to the myths of recycling. A live-action and animation mash-up, told through a series of chapters, “SiGNALS” is a call to action for the internet age. Produced by artists and activists from around the world (Japan, Hawaii and the United States, South Africa, Indonesia, Netherlands, Germany, and more), each chapter also takes on a different format – from stop-motion animation to photorealistic CG to live-action comedy. “SiGNALS” stars Bretman Rock as the voice of a plastic bottle and is created by Mackenzie Sheppard (Cannes Young Director Award winner) and Kaz Firpo (Eternals), who co-produced with Airi Yamawaki.
Saturday, October 30
“YouTube Originals Presents: TED Countdown”
In partnership with TED Countdown, a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, YouTube Originals presents TED’s latest free, virtual global livestream event on October 30. In the leadup to COP26, viewers can tune in to the livestream on TED’s YouTube channel and catch the biggest highlights from their recent summit featuring speakers addressing a realistic pathway to a net zero future.
YouTube’s investment in sustainability programming is just one part of Google’s ongoing commitments to climate action – from products to operations – sustainability is a part of everything Google does. YouTube Originals sustainability slate will also support our nonprofit partners Count Us In (through Leaders’ Quest Foundation USA), who’s ambitious goal is to inspire 1 billion citizens to significantly reduce their carbon pollution and challenge leaders to deliver bold, global change, as well as Re:wild, an organization that works to protect and restore the diversity of life on Earth through innovative collaborations. The sustainability slate will have the Donate Now button feature enabled (where available) to raise funds for these organizations and help fight against climate change.
Susanne Daniels is Global Head of Original Content for YouTube. Nadine Zylstra is Head of Family, Learning and Impact for YouTube Originals and Luke Hyams is Head of YouTube Originals, EMEA.
About YouTube Originals
YouTube Originals are award-winning series, specials and livestream events for YouTube’s two billion active monthly users that entertain, inspire, connect, and educate audiences through authentic storytelling from YouTube creators, music artists and celebrities. By tapping into the platform’s growing global community, fan engagement product capabilities, and innovative content, YouTube Originals amplify the most popular and unique aspects of YouTube. Fans can experience YouTube Originals content for free through the standard YouTube platform (ad-supported), or through a paid subscription to YouTube Premium, which adds ad-free, bonus/exclusive content, and early binge access to select programming. YouTube Originals are available in over 100 countries worldwide. Keep up with the latest YouTube news by visiting the global platform’s official blog.
