'An Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change': Release date, plot, cast and all you need to know about Rainn Wilson's docuseries

The docuseries features Rainn Wilson traveling to Greenland and Iceland to learn more about climate change and how to reduce carbon emissions
(SoulPancake)
(SoulPancake)

In about ten years, we might run out of time to prevent the catastrophe that is climate change -- but it's not a certainty. What is happening with global warming is something scientists are learning real-time -- it is because of this that the science behind the phenomenon isn't enough to convince most people in power that we need to make big changes if we need to save our planet.

The science is also a bit difficult. While the basics are that the more we use fossil fuels, the more carbon dioxide we pump into the air (and that atmospheric carbon dioxide traps heat), but beyond that, even the biggest climate change aficionados are confused. Terms like carbon budget and carbon price may seem out of your grasp, but in reality, these policy terms are merely instruments to guide what we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A new six-part docuseries, 'An Idiot's Guide to Climate Change' features actor Rainn Wilson as he travels overseas to Greenland and Iceland, speaking directly with leading scientists and top activists including Greta Thunberg. The eye-opening trip to the “Ground Zero for climate change” includes stops at global conferences and marches, an Icelandic Toyota factory to learn about their efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as a visit to Greenland’s Ice Sheet to witness the real-time melting and destruction of glaciers and ice caps. 

Release date

The first episode of 'An Idiot's Guide to Climate Change' will be available to watch on SoulPancake's YouTube channel on July 28 at 9 am PT. There will be six episodes in total, with each episode premiering every Tuesday.

Plot

'An Idiot's Guide to Climate Change' follows Wilson as he embarks on a life-changing journey from an every-day, well-intentioned, but uninformed, liberal to strident climate activist. Combining his wry, self-deprecating humor with genuine interest, the series brings viewers along the journey to learn what we need to do to protect our planet.

After hearing about the effects of climate change in Greenland and Iceland, Wilson takes it upon himself to travel overseas to learn more about the impact firsthand. What follows is an eye-opening journey that includes stops at global conferences and marches, an Icelandic Toyota factory to learn about their efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as a visit to Greenland’s Ice Sheet to witness the real-time melting and destruction of glaciers and ice caps. 

“Before our current devastating pandemic, I took a trip to Greenland with some climate scientists to explore that other devastating future pandemic – climate change,” Wilson said. “I knew nothing about climate science and global warming, and I’d never seen a glacier before. The amazing, fun, and terrifying journey seen in ‘An Idiots Guide to Climate Change’ really opened my eyes. It was my idiotic way of exploring this extremely non-idiotic issue.”

Cast

Throughout the series, Rainn Wilson speaks directly with leading scientists and top activists including Greta Thunberg, astronomer and climate activist Sævar Helgi Bragason, arctic scientist Dr. David Hik, Lancaster University Professor of Sustainability Dr. Gail Whiteman, atmospheric scientist Dr. Jennifer Francis, and Future Coalition Executive Director Katie Eder.

Director

'An Idiot's Guide to Climate Change' was written, directed, and executive produced by Christel Cornilsen who previously worked on 'Speaking Grief' and 'Her American Dream'.

Trailer



 

If you like this, you'll love:

'2040'

'This Changes Everything'

'An Inconvenient Truth'

'Chasing Ice'

'Merchants of Doubt'

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

ABC’s new ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ spinoff puts one familiar Shondaland face in charge of a West Texas medical center as the series begins assembling its cast.
2026-11-11T20:25:11.000Z
Netflix's 'The Empress' explores the romance, royal politics and personal struggles surrounding Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I.
2026-11-11T19:18:12.000Z
Netflix's 'The Body' ends Season 1 with a disturbing, ambiguous finale, blending psychological tension and religious imagery.
2026-11-11T16:50:56.000Z
A van explosion leaves Paladin’s fate uncertain in as the finale reveals what happened to Todd Stashwick’s mercenary and what comes next.
2026-11-11T14:47:46.000Z
The recently released ‘VisionQuest’ finale featured a series of unexpected events.
2026-11-11T09:50:35.000Z
'Lanterns' future may be derailed amid personnel changes at DC Studios
2026-11-11T09:16:29.000Z
Kinley Andreen joins her mother, Katrina Law, in ‘NCIS’ Season 24 as Chloe, a young girl whose knowledge of Mandarin helps the team crack a dangerous case
2026-11-11T08:04:53.000Z
In the penultimate episode, the Client was shown to have the same human form as Ultron
2026-11-11T08:01:26.000Z
‘VisionQuest’ finale offers a major update on Scarlet Witch's fate as Doctor Doom finds her alive beneath the rubble of Mount Wundagore.
2026-11-11T04:49:03.000Z
The showrunner shared more about the reunion and how it was pitched to Mark Harmon.
2026-11-11T04:04:33.000Z