It is disconcerting that, since the last installment of Planet Earth six years ago, the third series has taken on a more somber tone. As always, these documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough continue to celebrate the marvels of the natural world. The footage, collected over a span of five years across 43 countries, is both astonishing and awe-inspiring. The inaugural episode, dedicated to coastlines, traverses a wide range of locations from Kent to Australia, through South Africa, Canada, Indonesia, and beyond. The sheer scale and magnitude of this undertaking are truly remarkable.
The oceans have experienced their highest recorded temperatures ever, a concerning consequence of climate change with far-reaching implications for our planet's health. According to the EU's climate change service Copernicus, the average daily global sea surface temperature surpassed the previous 2016 record this week, reaching 20.96°C (69.73°F), well above the average for this time of year.