[1] Set in a post-apocalyptic future, in which global warming has drowned vast swathes of the planet and left its remains in chaos, four children, two possessing psychic powers, are hunted by an oppressive government.

[1] Their parents, Amy and Richard, are arrested and imprisoned by The Commission following the discovery of their work teaching science at the island's school in the hopes of raising a new generation of physicists, and involvement in Greenwatch, an underground environmental pressure collective composed of the remaining ecologic scientists across the world, communicating through intermittently available satellite links.

[1] Greg and Karen team up and attempt to continue their efforts alongside Mai-Li Cheung and Ash Karnak, two particularly able 'sender' children with whom their parents had been teaching, and Goodman, an old Greenwatch campaigner and family friend acting as their guardian.

[1] Kurt Glemser, a malevolent 'sender' agent working for The Commission, pursues the children as they investigate and try to solve issues caused by the disaster; helping and protecting the lives of those who have been endangered by the chaos of the new climate perils that have developed.

[10] Similar to Eye of the Storm, it was devised by producer Peter Tabern as an environmentally-conscious children's drama series;[9] however, Life Force would portray the aftermath of an ecological disaster with a science fiction slant and episodic format, instead of more fantasy-led elements making the issue an overarching threat throughout the former serial.

[11] The area was chosen for its derelict atmosphere and factory, with numerous Grade II-listed stone mills surrounding it; a search was initially made in London, but according to Tabern, none of the locations could convey the intended on-screen geography.

[9] From the programme's official website and BFI entries:[19] The first four airings of Life Force in its original Monday afternoon CITV timeslot were said to receive numerous viewer complaints and calls for it to be removed,[17] with concerns over what was perceived as graphic imagery for audiences of the programming strand.

[5] With its afternoon slot replaced by Sabrina The Teenage Witch, producer Peter Tabern publicly criticized ITV, blaming the move on "the timidness of broadcasters" and accusing them of not making it clear to viewers.