Our frozen planet is changing. In this final episode, we meet the scientists and people dedicating their lives to understanding what these changes mean, not just for the animals and people who live there, but for the world as a whole.
Our journey begins in the Arctic, where every summer huge quantities of ice calve from the edges of Greenland’s melting glaciers. On top of the ice cap itself, glaciologist Alun Hubbard descends into a moulin to try to understand the mechanisms that are driving this historic loss of ice.
Elsewhere in the Arctic, it’s not just land ice that is disappearing. In the Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada, biologists are trying to find out how the loss of sea ice will impact the lives of baby harps. In Arctic Russia, with the loss of summer sea ice, more and more polar bears are arriving on the island of Wrangel. Here, a local ranger and scientists are braving the hungry bears to assess their future survival.
Loss of sea ice impacts not just wildlife but people too. In the remote community of Qaanaaq, Greenland, local Inuit hunters are finding the ice too dangerous to travel and hunt on, risking their traditional way of life. And these changes happening in the Arctic have the potential to affect people far beyond. On Alaska’s open tundra, bubbling lakes hint at the gases being released from the previously frozen soil, including the potent greenhouse gas methane.
There is one place where the full scale of a melting Arctic can be best witnessed - from space. Based in the International Space Station, astronaut Jessica Meir looks down at forest fires across Europe and reflects how our changing weather patterns are interconnected.
Rapid ice loss is also happening across the high mountains of the planet’s continents. Glaciologist Hamish Pritchard uses a sophisticated helicopter-strung radar system to try to quantify how much ice is left in the previously uncharted glaciers of the Himalayas. It’s important as, downstream, some 1.2 billion people rely on glacial meltwater as their primary source of fresh water.
Finally, in Antarctica, we meet Bill Fraser, who has dedicated 45 years of his life to studying the Adelie penguin. Over this period, he has witnessed changes in weather conditions and the extinction of entire colonies. These ‘canaries in the coal mine’ are a sign that all is not well, even in the remotest place on earth. And changes here have the potential to affect all of us, so an international group of scientists is on an urgent mission to assess the stability of a huge body of ice known as the Thwaites ice shelf. If this plug of ice melts and slips into the ocean, it will raise global sea levels, impacting coastal communities across the planet.
The unprecedented changes our scientists are witnessing may be profound, but there is hope that, through a combination of technology and willpower, there is still time to save what remains of our frozen planet.

As summer spreads across our planet, honey bees toil, snow geese breed, tadpoles awaken and lions stalk wildebeest in search of lush grass.
Our planet is solar-powered. But due to the Earth's tilt, it doesn't strike its surface evenly. This solar energy arrives in varying amounts at different times of the year. The huge increase that comes with summer also triggers countless migrations.

Some animals give their young the best start in life by making truly astonishing journeys. And it's not only where they go that's important but when. Left to fend for themselves until they find their footing, baby sea turtles, elephant seal pups, pumas and crabs bravely trek towards adolescence.

For many animals, the instinct to move is overwhelming, despite the dangers. But for every trip that ends in tragedy, countless millions reach their destination. Allowing them to reap the rewards of better conditions and fresh opportunities. However, we have now changed the planet. Cutting off ancestral routes and impacting even the most remote corners of the globe. But there is hope. We know more about these journeys than ever before. And with our help, many animals are now overcoming the challenges of our modern world. For a healthy and connected planet, we must preserve the freedom to move.

David Attenborough explores the continent of Europe - a crowded continent transformed by mankind, capturing the challenges and triumphs of its wildlife. The documentary showcases remarkable scenes, from pelicans engaging in coordinated fishing tactics to the resilient Iberian lynx fighting for survival. Amidst Europe's evolving environment shaped by human impact, it emphasizes the importance of protecting wilderness to ensure the future of the continent's precious wildlife.
We will watch surprising encounters with elusive predators like wolves and lynxes living remarkably close to human communities. The documentary offers a unique glimpse into the intricacies of Europe's ecosystems and the delicate balance between its inhabitants and the changing world around them.

Follow the true stories of five of the world's most celebrated yet endangered animals: chimpanzees, penguins, lions, painted wolves, and tigers. These five extraordinary animals are each engaged in a heroic struggle against rivals and the forces of nature, fighting not only for their own survival but also for the future of their dynasties. Narrated by David Attenborough.
In the first episode, we will explore the lives of a group of chimpanzees led by a male named David in Senegal, West Africa. He has already been alpha for three years - a time when leaders in this region are usually overthrown.