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If there was a way to harness the burning outrage that will inevitably arise from the new Channel 4 documentary on disruptive climate activism, we could power the world with renewable green energy. In Chris Packham: Is it Time to Break the Law?, the renowned broadcaster and conservationist delves into the question of whether illegal acts of civil disobedience can be justified in the face of the worsening environmental crisis. With last year marking a record high for global CO₂ emissions and the UK government granting 100 oil and gas licenses in the North Sea just this summer, eco-conscious campaigners like Packham are realizing that traditional political avenues may not be enough to bring about significant change.
Packham’s unwavering empathy and support for divisive protest groups like Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, whom he marches alongside in road-closing protests and targeted acts of vandalism, may provoke a backlash. However, this documentary is not intended solely as a recruitment drive for these movements. In a conversation that subtly challenges the notion that environmentalism is exclusive to the political left, Lord John Deben, former chair of the Climate Change Committee and Conservative member, argues that disruptive protests actually undermine the cause and provoke the public. Swedish activist Andreas Malm, author of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which was recently adapted into a film, advocates for direct and destructive action against the oil industry.
The interviews with Malm, as well as Greta Thunberg and XR co-founder Roger Hallam, avoid sensationalism and delve into probing questions. Packham gives the critics of environmental action an opportunity to respond, although his meeting with “climate lukewarmer” Lord Peter Lilley eventually reduces him to tears.
Packham is clearly consumed by the question of what he and society as a whole should do to protect the planet. However, there is also a performative and sentimental element to his ethical conflict. At one point, viewers witness him tearing his hair and rubbing his temples as he grapples with the titular debate.
Given the limited time of this one-hour film, it cannot provide a definitive conclusion. Nevertheless, it is sure to ignite conversations and contemplation among those who watch it, and undoubtedly provoke strong opinions from those who steadfastly refuse to engage.
★★★☆☆
On Channel 4 on September 20 at 9pm
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