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| Hot Cities | |
|---|---|
| Narrated by | Hugh Quarshie |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC World News |
| Release | 2009 |
Hot Cities is an environmental documentary series broadcast in Autumn 2009 by BBC World News. It highlighted the effects of global warming and climate change on the world's most populous cities. [1]
Episode 1 : Bursting at the Seams- Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is one of the fastest growing mega cities in the world. Large areas of the Lagos could be drowned by rising sea level. It is the largest city in the Western Africa which attracts millions of migratory people due to the effect of climate change and out of desperation. Rising sea levels are pushing people who live on the coastal areas, inland because they feel more protected and that they can survive better. A broader population will lead to a larger production of greenhouse emissions which will then cause more extreme events such as heat waves, floods, and droughts.
Episode 2 : Water, water everywhere- Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the most affected country in the world by climate change. It is constantly attacked by cyclones, coastal surges, flooding rivers and violent downpours. Millions of Climate refugee from across the country are rushing into the capital, Dhaka each year.
Episode 3 : Climate Bites- Jakarta, Indonesia
Heat tends to attract a large number of mosquito populations early on. Mosquitoes are more active in temperatures above 80 degrees. [2] For instance, in Jakarta, the people have been dealing with disease carrying mosquitoes because of climate change. There have been instances where they even have to deal with dengue, a mosquito borne viral disease that has no cure and can lead to death, around summer when usually this type of disease is only seen around wet season. Because there is no vaccine to prevent dengue, it has been sweeping through the city at a really high rate. Jakarta is home to more than 14 million people so it will not be easy to tackle specially with climate change present apart from having to deal with their rapid urban growth, ecological breakdown, gridlocked traffic, congestion, and flooding.
Episode 4 : Meltdown!- Lima, Peru
Lima, which is the largest city in Peru, is also one of the driest cities in the world. Twenty-five percent of Peru's population live in Lima, the state's capital, and every year more and more immigrants are flooding in because the city has more to offer than the countryside. However, even people here are now being affected by the severe drought and are running out of water. Since the city was built in the middle of the desert, the people depend on the rivers for their water that run from the glaciers which hold about 69 percent of the world's freshwater. [3] Due to rising temperatures, the glaciers are melting at a quicker rate and becoming smaller, so not enough water is flowing through. Even then, water used to be drinkable since it was fast moving and contaminants and bacteria where being flushed away, but now that water is just sitting there and flowing at a lower speed, the inhabitants are no longer able to consume due to its dirtiness.
Episode 5 : Feed the World- Dakar, Senegal
The severe drought in Dakar affected its village in many ways. The sudden heat resulted in lower crop yields causing the city to import more food from outside sources. Because of this the cost of food production and the food prices rose by a large quantity. Food shortages lead people to abandon their villages in search of food and a better life. Also, Senegal has relied on the consumption of rice, which has been considered to be the predominant dietary energy source for 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific, ten countries in Asia and the Pacific, ten countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, one country in North Africa and seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, [4] for so many years, but since it is a crop that needs so much water to grow, scientists have begun testing other crops and plants to see which ones are able to withstand the severe climate changes and for people to be able to feed themselves without having to depend on rice so much.
Episode 6 : Surviving the Storm- Cuba
Cuba, is the largest country in the Caribbean, and the Caribbean is the largest region in the world that is more prone to hurricanes that form during summer months from warm water and moist air. Scientists and experts haven't seen much of a difference in patters or frequencies since the average number of hurricanes is still the same, however, they are increasing in terms of power, meaning they have become more destructive. With climate change, hurricanes will be much stronger and will impact a larger number of cities and there will a larger population at risk. Although Cubans are already familiar and prepared with survival strategies, since they have had a total of 56 since the early 1800s, other cities are not, and will eventually need to adapt or create an emergency plan for when a big one hits.
Episode 7 : Counting the Cost- Shanghai, China
Because sea levels have been rising, Shanghai is likely to one day end up underwater especially since it is located near the coast making it a potential victim. Shanghai has sunk more than two meters since 1921 and geologists blame pumping out too much underground water and the rapid construction of skyscrapers for accelerating the rate at which the city is sinking. [5]
Episode 8 : Surviving Climate Change- Los Angeles
Los Angeles is home to nearly 10 million people and approximately 5,484,606 [6] automobiles. It is considered to be the original car capital and home to the first ever urban freeway. About twenty-one million car trips are taken every day in Los Angeles. The U.S. itself produces 45 percent of all CO2 emissions generated by cars worldwide, which are an immense contribution to the global warming we are experiencing. Experts advise that if temperatures continue to rise at this rate, the number of fires in California, will increase by up to 53 percent in the next hundred years. Los Angeles has the dirtiest air in the United States and that is why vehicle emission standards where pioneered. The U.S. is now considered the second largest CO2 emitter in the world that came from transportation, power generation, and industry, [7] and soon the planet will no longer be able to sustain its lifestyle for much longer as it already houses an estimated 1.4 billion cars on the roads. [8]
Climate change in South Asia is having significant impacts already which are expected to intensify as global temperatures rise due to climate change. The South Asia region consists of the eight countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. In the 2017 edition of Germanwatch's Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh and Pakistan ranked sixth and seventh respectively as the countries most affected by climate change in the period from 1996 to 2015, while India ranked fourth among the list of countries most affected by climate change in 2015. The Indian subcontinent is one of the most vulnerable regions globally to a number of direct and indirect effects of climate change, including sea level rise, cyclonic activity, and changes in ambient temperature and precipitation patterns. Ongoing sea level rise has already submerged several low-lying islands in the Sundarbans region, displacing thousands of people.
Climate change in the US state of Washington is a subject of study and projection today. The major impacts of climate change in Washington State include increase in carbon dioxide levels, increase in temperatures, earlier annual snow melt, sea level rise, and others.
Water scarcity is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two type of water scarcity namely physical and economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is where there is not enough water to meet all demands, including that needed for ecosystems to function. Arid areas for example Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa often experience physical water scarcity. Economic water scarcity on the other hand, is the result of lack of investment in infrastructure or technology to draw water from rivers, aquifers, or other water sources. It also results from weak human capacity to meet water demand. Much of Sub-Saharan Africa experiences economic water scarcity.
Climate change is an urgent and significant issue affecting Japan. In recent years, the country has observed notable changes in its climate patterns, with rising temperatures serving as a prominent indicator of this phenomenon. As an archipelago situated in northeastern Asia, Japan is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its diverse geography and exposure to various weather systems. The nation experiences a broad range of climates, spanning from the frigid winters of Hokkaido to the subtropical climates of Okinawa. Changes in temperature patterns have the potential to disrupt ecosystems, impact agricultural productivity, modify water resources, and pose significant challenges to infrastructure and human settlements.
Climate change is having major effects on the Chinese economy, society and the environment. China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, through an energy infrastructure heavily focused on coal. Other industries, such as a burgeoning construction industry and industrial manufacturing, contribute heavily to carbon emissions. However, like other developing countries, on a per-capita basis, China's carbon emissions are considerably less than countries like the United States. It has also been noted that higher-income countries have outsourced emissions-intensive industries to China. On the basis of cumulative CO2 emissions measured from 1751 through to 2017, China is responsible for 13% globally and about half of the United States' cumulative emissions. China is now the world's largest polluter and in 2023 recorded it's hottest year on record with an average temperature of 10.7 C.
Water scarcity in Africa is predicted to reach dangerously high levels by 2025 when it is estimated that about two-thirds of the world's population may suffer from fresh water shortage. The main causes of water scarcity in Africa are physical and economic scarcity, rapid population growth, and climate change. Water scarcity is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. Although Sub-Saharan Africa has a plentiful supply of rainwater, it is seasonal and unevenly distributed, leading to frequent floods and droughts. Additionally, prevalent economic development and poverty issues, compounded with rapid population growth and rural-urban migration have rendered Sub-Saharan Africa as the world's poorest and least developed region.
Climate change has resulted in an increase in temperature of 2.3 °C (2022) in Europe compared to pre-industrial levels. Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world. Europe's climate is getting warmer due to anthropogenic activity. According to international climate experts, global temperature rise should not exceed 2 °C to prevent the most dangerous consequences of climate change; without reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, this could happen before 2050. Climate change has implications for all regions of Europe, with the extent and nature of impacts varying across the continent.
There are numerous effects of climate change on agriculture, many of which are making it harder for agricultural activities to provide global food security. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns often result in lower crop yields due to water scarcity caused by drought, heat waves and flooding. These effects of climate change can also increase the currently-rare risk of several regions suffering simultaneous crop failures, which would have significant consequences for the global food supply. Many pests and plant diseases are also expected to either become more prevalent or to spread to new regions. The world's livestock are also expected to be affected by many of the same issues, from greater heat stress to animal feed shortfalls and the spread of parasites and vector-borne diseases.
Droughts and heatwaves are the main hazards due to the climate of Turkey getting hotter. The temperature has risen by more than 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), and there is more extreme weather.
Climate change in Alabama encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Alabama.
Climate change in Colorado encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Colorado.
Climate change in Kentucky encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Kentucky.
Climate change in the United States Virgin Islands encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. territory of the United States Virgin Islands. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted a variety of expected consequences of this phenomenon.
In France, climate change has caused some the greatest annual temperature increases registered in any country in Europe. The 2019 heat wave saw record temperatures of 46.0 °C. Heat waves and other extreme weather events are expected to increase with continued climate change. Other expected environmental impacts include increased floods due to both sea level rise and increased glacier melt. These environmental changes will lead to shifts in ecosystems and affect local organisms. Climate change will also cause economic losses in France, particularly in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Climate change is having serious impacts in the Philippines such as increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, sea level rise, extreme rainfall, resource shortages, and environmental degradation. All of these impacts together have greatly affected the Philippines' agriculture, water, infrastructure, human health, and coastal ecosystems and they are projected to continue having devastating damages to the economy and society of the Philippines.
In Afghanistan, climate change has led to a temperature increase of 1.8 °C since 1950. This has caused far-reaching impacts on Afghanistan, culminating from overlapping interactions of natural disasters, conflict, agricultural dependency, and severe socio-economic hardship.
Climate change in Ghana is impacting the people in Ghana in several ways as the country sits at the intersection of three hydro-climatic zones. Changes in rainfall, weather conditions and sea-level rise will affect the salinity of coastal waters. This is expected to negatively affect both farming and fisheries.
Climate change is posing an increasing threat to global socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Developing countries with low adaptive capacity and high vulnerability to the phenomenon are disproportionately affected. Climate change in Kenya is increasingly impacting the lives of Kenya's citizens and the environment. Climate Change has led to more frequent extreme weather events like droughts which last longer than usual, irregular and unpredictable rainfall, flooding and increasing temperatures.
Climate change is evident in Kyrgyzstan. Among the countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is the third most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as changes in weather patterns that could lead to prolonged periods of precipitation and drought. Moreover, the frequent occurrence of extreme weather and climate events such as heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfalls, and biotic/abiotic catastrophes during recent years are evidence of climate change. Kyrgyzstan is threatened with glacier melting and a lack of freshwater balance, which are accelerated by global warming. The average temperature has increased from 4.8 °C to 6 °C so far within the last 20 years. In 2013 the World Bank estimated a likely increase of 2 °C in average mean temperature by 2060 and of 4–5 °C by 2100, noting that the country's glaciers were significantly reduced and projected to decline further. A significant warming trend in Kyrgyztsan with a projected increase of 6°C under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenario SSP5-8.5 from 2076 to 2096. However the very slight increase in temperature is expected to positively affect climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, energy, and forestry as more land is within the optimum temperature band.
Due to its geographical and natural diversity, Indonesia is one of the countries most susceptible to the impacts of climate change. This is supported by the fact that Jakarta has been listed as the world's most vulnerable city, regarding climate change. It is also a major contributor as of the countries that has contributed most to greenhouse gas emissions due to its high rate of deforestation and reliance on coal power.
