Craig Reucassel returns to ABC in 2020 hosting two new documentaries funded by Screen Australia. The Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge will shine a spotlight on the nation’s growing climate change concerns, while Big Weather (and how to survive it) explores Australia’s unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.
Craig Reucassel, host of the two shows, said, “There’s a real thirst for knowledge about how Australia is being affected by changes to the climate and what we can do to prevent it. I’m so lucky to be able to dive deep into this sometimes frustrating topic and can’t wait to share the results.”
“We’re thrilled to have Craig at the helm of these two ground-breaking series. Entertaining, informative and challenging, both shows will kick-start discussions, change attitudes and encourage Australians to take action!” ABC Head of Factual and Entertainment and Acting Head of Programming Josie Mason-Campbell commented.

Reucassel said that Most Australians now accept that climate change is real, but very few of us know what we can do about it. The three-part series The Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge delves into the climate crisis to understand where our energy comes from, how transport and travel emissions affect our health and just what is the carbon footprint of the things we buy?
Mason-Campbell explained that Craig will showcase how we, as individuals, families, schools and businesses can help reduce our carbon footprint by making practical day-to-day changes. And far from taking the pressure off politicians and businesses, Craig will check in to see if they are doing all they can to make the changes we need.

Mason-Campbell said that the thought-provoking and entertaining three-part series Big Weather (and how to survive it) explores the devastating effects of Australia’s extreme weather and aims to empower communities, families and individuals to prepare, survive and recover from them. By following the weather cycle over the summer of 2019-20, the series will consider how Australia’s cataclysmic climate tears us apart… and brings us together. Mason-Campbell added that the sharing stories from communities, frontline disaster crews and experts who are dealing with the effects of our escalating climate emergency, Big Weather (and how to survive it) seeks to answer the big questions: How have extreme weather events shaped our nation’s story? Why are these events becoming less predictable and more intense? And what can we do to adapt, survive and thrive into the future?
“We are thrilled to support these original and timely Australian documentaries that I’m confident will not only contribute to the national conversation on the environment but will also encourage behavioural change.” Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary, Bernadine Lim commented

The Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge is a Lune Media production for the ABC. Major production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Executive Producer Jodi Boylan.
Big Weather (and how to survive it) is a DMA Creative production in association with Northern Pictures. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen Queensland.