Witness firsthand the threat that sea level rising poses to Earth's coastal cities. The choices we make today will determine the fate of our planet and future generations.The science is clear.
Watch: Top 5 Cities That Could Be Underwater by 2050 | Climate Change Explained- posted Oct 3 at Hotshotknicks channel, transcript below:
The future of these cities and countless others like them hangs in the balance. But despair is not an option. We must act now with urgency and determination to address the root causes of climate change and mitigate its impacts.
Transcripts here for readers writers and researchers
TRANSCRIPT:
[Music]
1:13
defining issue of our time.
1:16
Our
1:18
journey begins on the sun-kissed shores
1:20
of Miami. A vibrant metropolis renowned
1:23
for its art deco architecture, pristine
1:25
beaches, and pulsating nightife. Yet
1:28
beneath the veneer of glamour and
1:30
exuberance, lies a city grappling with
1:32
an existential threat. Miami's low
1:35
elevation, coupled with its porest
1:37
limestone bedrock, makes it
1:39
exceptionally vulnerable to the rising
1:41
seas. As sea levels continue their
1:43
relentless ascent, Miami's iconic
1:45
beaches are slowly being swallowed by
1:47
the ocean. High tides now regularly
1:50
inundate low-lying areas, causing
1:52
millions of dollars in damage to
1:54
property and infrastructure.
1:56
The city's freshwater aquifers,
1:58
essential for drinking water, are
2:00
becoming increasingly contaminated by
2:02
saltwater intrusion, a phenomenon
2:04
directly linked to rising sea levels.
2:07
The human toll is no less alarming.
2:10
Millions of residents face the prospect
2:12
of displacement as their homes and
2:14
businesses are threatened by the
2:16
encroaching tide. The economic
2:18
repercussions are staggering with
2:20
billions of dollars in real estate and
2:21
tourism revenue at risk. Despite these
2:25
challenges, Miami is not surrendering to
2:27
the sea without a fight. The city is
2:29
investing heavily in infrastructure
2:31
improvements, including elevated roads,
2:33
seaw walls, and pumping systems to
2:35
mitigate the impacts of rising sea
2:37
levels. However, these measures are
2:39
costly and may only buy the city
2:41
precious time. The fate of Miami serves
2:44
as a stark reminder of the profound
2:46
consequences of climate change. It is a
2:48
city on the front lines of a global
2:50
crisis, grappling with the very real
2:52
possibility of a future submerged
2:54
beneath the waves.
2:58
From the sundrenched beaches of Miami,
3:01
we travel across the Atlantic to the
3:02
ancient city of Venice. A place where
3:04
art, history, and culture intertwine
3:07
amidst a labyrinth of canals and
3:09
bridges. For centuries, Venice has
3:11
captivated visitors with its timeless
3:13
beauty and romantic allure. But this
3:15
floating city, built on a lagoon in the
3:18
Adriatic Sea, is now engaged in a
3:20
desperate struggle for survival.
3:22
Venice has always been intimately
3:24
connected to the sea. Its fortunes
3:26
rising and falling with the tides. But
3:28
now, the very waters that have shaped
3:30
its destiny threaten its very existence.
3:33
Rising sea levels, coupled with more
3:35
frequent and intense storms, are pushing
3:37
Venice closer to the brink. The iconic
3:40
Piaza San Marco, the heart of Venice, is
3:43
particularly vulnerable to flooding.
3:45
High tides known as aqua alta now
3:47
regularly submerge the square, forcing
3:50
residents and tourists to navigate the
3:51
elevated wooden walkways erected to
3:53
provide dry passage. The city's historic
3:56
buildings, many dating back centuries,
3:58
are suffering irreparable damage from
4:00
the corrosive effects of saltwater.
4:03
Faced with this unprecedented challenge,
4:05
Venetian authorities have implemented a
4:07
multi-billion dollar flood barrier
4:09
system known as MO. This intricate
4:12
network of mobile gates designed to rise
4:14
from the seabed and block incoming tides
4:17
offers a glimmer of hope for the
4:18
belleaguered city. However, the MO
4:21
project has been plagued by delays, cost
4:24
overruns, and technical challenges.
4:26
Whether it will be enough to save Venice
4:28
from the relentless onslaught of the sea
4:30
remains to be seen.
4:33
Our
4:35
journey now takes us to Southeast Asia,
4:37
to the bustling metropolis of Bangkok,
4:40
the capital of Thailand and a city of
4:42
vibrant contrasts. Bangkok is a city of
4:45
ancient temples and modern skyscrapers,
4:48
of bustling markets and serene canals, a
4:51
city where the past and present coexist
4:53
in a delicate balance. But this delicate
4:56
balance is under threat as Bangkok, like
4:58
many coastal cities, faces the growing
5:01
threat of rising sea levels. Built on
5:03
the banks of the Chao Pria River, just a
5:06
few meters above sea level, Bangkok is
5:08
sinking at an alarming rate. The city's
5:11
soft soil, coupled with the extraction
5:13
of groundwater, has led to significant
5:15
subsidance, making it even more
5:17
vulnerable to the rising tides.
5:19
Scientists predict that large parts of
5:21
Bangkok could be underwater by 2050 if
5:24
current trends continue. The
5:26
consequences of such a scenario are
5:28
dire. Bangkok is not only Thailand's
5:30
political and economic heart, but also a
5:33
major tourist destination, attracting
5:35
millions of visitors each year. The
5:38
city's cultural heritage, including its
5:40
iconic temples and historical landmarks,
5:42
is also at risk. The Thai government is
5:45
acutely aware of the threat posed by
5:47
rising sea levels and has implemented a
5:50
number of measures to address the issue,
5:52
including the construction of seaw walls
5:54
and water gates, the restoration of
5:56
mangroves and other coastal ecosystems,
5:58
and the development of early warning
6:00
systems for floods. However, the scale
6:03
of the challenge is immense, and much
6:05
more needs to be done to protect Bangkok
6:07
from the encroaching sea. The fate of
6:10
this vibrant metropolis hangs in the
6:12
balance. A stark reminder of the global
6:14
stakes of climate change.
6:19
Our next destination takes us to the
6:21
heart of the American South, to the city
6:23
of New Orleans, a place renowned for its
6:25
unique culture, musical heritage, and
6:27
vibrant spirit. But New Orleans bears
6:30
the scars of past disasters. A city
6:32
forever marked by the devastating floods
6:34
that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
6:37
And as sea levels continue to rise, New
6:40
Orleans finds itself on the front lines
6:42
of climate change. Facing an uncertain
6:44
future, New Orleans is uniquely
6:46
vulnerable to flooding. Built on the
6:49
Mississippi River Delta, much of the
6:51
city lies below sea level, protected by
6:53
a complex system of levies, flood walls,
6:55
and pumps. But this system, designed to
6:58
withstand past storms, is now being
7:00
tested like never before. As sea levels
7:04
rise, the effectiveness of New Orleans
7:05
flood defenses is compromised. Higher
7:08
sea levels mean that storm surges, like
7:11
the one that overwhelmed the city during
7:12
Katrina, will be even more destructive
7:15
in the future. The city's aging
7:17
infrastructure, much of it still
7:19
recovering from past disasters, is
7:21
illquipped to cope with the increasing
7:23
frequency and intensity of extreme
7:24
weather events. Despite these
7:26
challenges, the people of New Orleans
7:28
are resilient. They are rebuilding their
7:30
city, strengthening its defenses, and
7:33
adapting to the realities of a changing
7:34
climate. New Orleans is embracing
7:37
innovative solutions such as restoring
7:39
coastal wetlands to act as natural
7:41
buffers against storm surges, elevating
7:44
homes and businesses, and investing in
7:46
green infrastructure. The fight to save
7:48
New Orleans is a testament to the human
7:50
spirit, a reminder that even in the face
7:52
of daunting challenges, there is always
7:55
hope. But it is also a stark warning
7:57
that we must act now to address the root
8:00
causes of climate change before it's too
8:02
late.
8:05
[Music]
8:06
Our final destination takes us to
8:08
Southeast Asia, to the sprawling mega
8:10
city of Jakarta, the capital of
8:11
Indonesia and a city of immense size and
8:14
complexity. Home to over 10 million
8:16
people, Jakarta is a melting pot of
8:18
cultures, a center of commerce and
8:20
industry, and a city pulsing with
8:22
energy. But Jakarta is also sinking at
8:25
an alarming rate, facing the possibility
8:27
of being submerged by the sea. Built on
8:29
a low-lying plane crisscrossed by rivers
8:32
and canals, excessive groundwater
8:34
extraction has caused the ground to
8:36
subside. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and
8:38
rising sea levels compound these
8:40
threats. Proposed solutions include a
8:42
giant sea wall and relocating the
8:44
capital. Jakarta's future hangs in the
8:46
balance, urging global climate action.
8:52
As we've journeyed across the globe,
8:54
from the sundrenched beaches of Miami to
8:56
the sinking streets of Jakarta, we've
8:58
witnessed firsthand the very real threat
9:01
that rising sea levels pose to our
9:03
planet's coastal cities. The science is
9:05
clear. Climate change is real. It's
9:08
happening now, and its impacts are being
9:10
felt around the world. The future of
9:12
these cities and countless others like
9:14
them hangs in the balance, but despair
9:16
is not an option. We must act now with
9:20
urgency and determination to address the
9:22
root causes of climate change and
9:24
mitigate its impacts. The choices we
9:27
make today will determine the fate of
9:28
our planet and future generations. We
9:31
must transition away from fossil fuels
9:33
and embrace renewable energy sources,
9:36
invest in sustainable infrastructure,
9:38
protect our forests and oceans, and
9:40
promote responsible consumption
9:42
patterns. Share this video. Talk to your
9:45
friends, family, and elected officials.
9:47
demand action from our leaders. The time
9:49
for complacency is over. The time for
9:52
action is now. Let's work together to
9:55
create a sustainable future for all.
***
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