The Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated nature documentary 'How to Live on Earth' —which debuted in select UK theaters during London Climate Action Week last month— will roll out globally on YouTube later this year.

Narrated by actor Benedict Cumberbatch and directed by Planet Earth II collaborator Fredi Devas, How to Live on Earth steers away from familiar images of environmental destruction, choosing instead to focus on human adaptability.

Premiering as part of London Climate Action Week, the film highlights examples of nature-integrated urban design in Singapore and forest therapy initiatives in South Korea.

The film is an Open Planet Studios production, backed by the Villars Institute — a Swiss nonprofit foundation dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero and nature-positive economy — and Silvania, a natural capital investment platform launched by energy trading firm Mercuria with a 500 million dollar commitment to nature and biodiversity protection.

'The solutions exist'

Speaking about the project, executive producer Jonnie Hughes said the team spent over two years filming across the globe to highlight practical responses to the climate crisis.

"Through a series of revelatory stories of human resilience, we wanted audiences to discover that a future where humankind works with nature is not far away," Hughes said. "The truth is, we humans now know how to live on Earth — we just have to put things in place."

While the documentary strikes an optimistic tone, environmental policy experts frequently warn that scaling up nature-based solutions globally continues to face significant political and financial barriers.

The Open Planet Studios production features contributors including Mexican climate activist Xiye Bastida and biologist Dan O'Neill. Following its theatrical run, the film is scheduled for a global release on YouTube in September.