PBS has announced its lineup of Earth-related programming for the month of April. The content will focus on climate change and some of the controversies and scandals surrounding it. Programming highlights include documentary Changing Planet and docu-series The Power of Big Oil.

Changing Planet, which will look at climate change in California, The Maldives, Cambodia, Kenya, Iceland and Brazil, premieres Wednesday, April 20 at 8 p.m.

Also: 'Human: The World Within' Premieres on PBS

Three part series The Power of Big Oil looks at the oil industry's effect on climate change. The program will dive deep into the research about climate change and the "many missed opportunities to mitigate the problem," PBS said in a release. The program will air Tuesdays starting April 19 at 10 p.m. and run through May 3. 

“As a trusted voice in the science and natural history space, PBS and its member stations have the unique ability to assist in deepening the dialogue about the future of our planet on air, across our digital platforms and in local communities,” said Bill Gardner, VP of multiplatform programming and head of development, PBS. “What happens in one part of the world is relevant to us all, and PBS is committed to airing programs that inform and empower audiences not just during Earth Month, but all year long.” 

Also: PBS Announces Earth Day Series with Greta Thunberg

All Earth-related programming can be viewed on PBS stations, PBS.org and the PBS Video App. The content can be viewed starting April 13 with American Arctic and will continue to be available through September 14 with The Pride. ■

Networks are geared up for Earth Day, with a range of programming touching on key environmental issues. The programs look into climate change, water, and how life is changing on Earth. 

Earth Day is April 22. 

CBS News has launched Eye on Earth: Our Planet in Peril. Ben Tracy, CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent; Mark Phillips, senior foreign correspondent; Debora Patta, foreign correspondent; and Jeff Berardelli, CBS News climate specialist, are heading up coverage. 

The initiative reflects the recently announced merger of CBS News and CBS Television Stations. Its emphasis on water “will give audiences both a high-altitude view on the challenges our oceans face like pollution and rising sea levels, as well as deep dives on topics like the water equity crisis in Jackson, Miss., and how both seaweed cultivation and offshore wind energy could change the game in the fight against climate change,” said CBS News. 

CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News and CBS Sunday Morning touch on climate change this week, as Face the Nation and 60 Minutes did last Sunday.

“Climate change affects everyone, especially future generations. It’s not only a worry for scientists and environmentalists but is something all of us as humans should be thinking about every day,” said Al Ortiz, CBS News’ vice president of standards and practices. “That perspective has shaped our ongoing reporting on climate change for years and is informing how we can capitalize on Earth Day as a moment to objectively report on these challenges. We hope to provide the audience with specific solutions and illuminate potential opportunities to help make our world better.”

CBS’s local reporting includes WCBS New York looking at the future of tap water in the market, KCBS Los Angeles examining drought issues in that region, and WBBM Chicago detailing breakdowns in the billing practices of the Chicago Department of Water Management. 

Premiering April 21, Hulu has the ABC News special It’s Not Too Late: Earth Day Special, hosted by chief meteorologist Ginger Zee. Zee and correspondents Matt Gutman, Gio Benitez and Maggie Rulli “take viewers on a global journey of discovery to showcase the planet’s rich biodiversity that’s at stake, the scientific link between extreme weather and climate change and the auto industry’s bold plans to become carbon neutral within the next 20 years,” summarizes ABC News. 

ABC News Live streams the special at 8 p.m. April 22. 

World News Tonight, anchored by David Muir, reports on climate change all week. 

NBC News is covering climate change all week as well. Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News, visited Houston after the rough winter storms ravaged the area. Al Roker sat with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan on Today, and ventured to Michigan for a look at General Motors’ all-electric vehicle assembly plant.  

On April 22, Chuck Todd, moderator of Meet the Press and political director at NBC News, spoke with environmental activist Erin Brockovich on Meet the Press Reports. That’s on NBC News NOW and streams on Peacock the following day. 

On MSNBC, NBC News correspondent Josh Lederman speaks with Ohio residents about President Biden’s plans to create green energy jobs for oil, gas and coal workers displaced by the transition from fossil fuels. 

Streaming network NBCLX offers five hours of live content pertaining to the environment April 22. At 4 p.m. that day, LX Live from the Bottom of the Ocean looks at the ocean floor off Florida. Tabitha Lipkin hosts. 

Also on April 22, Disney Plus offers docu-series Secrets of the Whales. James Cameron executive produces the four-part series and Sigourney Weaver narrates. The series “plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of five different whale species,” said Disney Plus. That includes orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals and sperm whales.

John Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate, will make a guest appearance on Nickelodeon's Earth Day special Nick News: Kids and the Impact of Climate Change.

The special, premiering on April 18 at 9 p.m., is the latest in a series of issue oriented programming since the channel revived Nick News last June.

Football star Rob Gronkowski, actresses Lily Collins and Skai Jackson, and social media star Lizy Koshy will also appear and encourage kids to protect the planet. 

Jamie Yuccas, a CBS News correspondent, will be the host. CBS and Nickelodeon are both part of ViacomCBS.

“Nick News: Kids and the Impact of Climate Change continues the important work of giving kids a platform to tell their stories, said Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson, VP of news programming, Nickelodeon and executive producer of Nick News. “As we approach another Earth Day, Nick News delves into incredibly timely topics, including the often not addressed issue of environmental racism, sustainability and the global impact of the Paris Climate Agreement, offering an engaging co-viewing opportunity that will serve as a conversation starter for families across the U.S.”

The program will explore environmental racism. introducing viewers to communities typically populated by minorities where industries create employment opportunities but often harm the environment and cause health issues for residents. 

Additional segments in the special include: a roundtable where kids educate their parents on environmental issues and the results of a climate quiz about environmental issues conducted on www.nickplay.com, presented by guest kid reporter Rory Hu.

PBS and BBC Studios have announced a new three part documentary with teen activist, Greta Thunberg as she continues to bring awareness to climate change. Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World (working title) will premiere on Thursday, April 22 at 8 p.m. ET.

The series will follow Thunberg as she sets off around the world to investigate the effects of accelerating climate change. She will visit Canada, Europe and the U.S. and talk to economists and experts.

“Through Greta’s exploration of science, we get a deeper understanding of the problems of climate change and the complexity of resolving them,” said Bill Gardner, VP, programming and development, PBS. “This is also a very personal, intimate and moving story about an incredibly brave person who has found herself in the global spotlight and navigates the challenges of unsought fame. PBS is proud to bring this powerful story to our viewers of all ages.” 

Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World (w.t.) is a BBC Studios Science Unit production in association with B-Reel Films. Rob Liddell and Helen Thomas are executive producers. Executive in charge for PBS is Bill Gardner. 

National Geographic today (April 22) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with a day-long lineup of programming, culminating with two primetime specials: Born Wild: The Next Generation and Jane Goodall: The Hope. Both specials will be simulcast on National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, as well as streamed on Disney+ and Hulu.

I spoke to National Geographic executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment Geoff Daniels about the network’s Earth Day programming as well as Nat Geo’s future programming and production plans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced a halt to the production of most TV programming. An edited version appears below.

How much of an effect has the COVID-19 pandemic had on National Geographic’s recognition of Earth Day’s 50th anniversary?

Obviously this is like no other anniversary or birthday in history. Frankly we’re blazing forward pretty much as planned. Earth Day is representative of everything that National Geographic has stood for with regard to the environment and conservation for over 130 years, as well as what Disney has done over the years to further conservation. This was really Disney/National Geographic’s first cross platform synergy event, and in spite of all the challenges we faced, we could still come together in a really massive and hopeful way. We both realize that it’s never been more important to celebrate the planet and think about the importance of a healthy and balanced environment for not only the animals but the interconnectedness that we all have, which frankly this pandemic has highlighted. To deliver messages of inspiration and hope and individual action makes a difference, and through the programming that we’re creating and airing all day long on Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo we hope we’re giving audiences something that is warm and cheerful.

How were you able to reconfigure Born Wild from a live special to what will air on Earth Day?

It’s no secret that Born Wild: The Next Generation was going to be a big, live event. It’s still being hosted by Robin Roberts, and ABC News’ top talent will be involved in the special [along with a special appearance by actor Chris Hemsworth], but we were going to have live feeds from Australia, Africa and California. It was really going to be an extensive live event. When we all saw the crisis coming we got out ahead of that, and frankly in abundance of caution we all recognized that we had to pivot from what we were hoping to do live and think about it differently, but equally impactful and entertaining. What we were able to do is move to feature and highlight more of our amazing explorers and researchers that are doing great work. The show revolves more specifically around our explorers, the animals and the incredible work that’s being done out in the field all over the world. We all feel that this special couldn’t be more relevant, timely and important given what is going on in the world to celebrate what an amazing planet we have and the incredible work people are doing on its behalf.

What other specials will Nat Geo feature as part of its Earth Day programming?

Jane Goodall: The Hope really picks up where the feature doc [Jane] leaves off. It follows Jane around the world with unique access to her life as she advocates for not only her chimps at [Africa's Gombe Stream National Park] but all animal life around the planet. It also celebrates the unique individuals that are carrying on her legacy for future generations to become more passionate participants in taking care of the planet [the special also includes an appearance from Prince Harry]. All of that combined is going to be a very powerful and culturally impactful set of programs for an audience that I think right now have all been sent to their rooms by a pandemic.

Speaking of the pandemic, how has your job been changed by the COVID-19 crisis with regard to developing programming for Nat Geo?

People talk about this as a slowdown in production -- and we don’t have a crystal ball to predict what’s going to happen down the road -- but what we do know is that our audiences around the world expect National Geographic to be able to deliver the kind of premium, inspired, outward-facing programming that we’ve been known for for generations. We still have a ton of programming that we were able to produce before we had to suspend field production that is continuing to move through post-production where people are editing remotely. We’re coming up with all sorts of innovative solutions for how we can operate in really safe and responsible ways. In the coming months you can continue to expect to see a pretty steady stream of shows like Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted and a number of other programs like the Earth Day specials that continue to inspire, entertain and inform viewers. We want to motivate our audiences to ride out this [pandemic] in the comfort of their own homes while experiencing the world through our lenses.