Impacts: Climates Change the World
Season 2
202626 episodes
Episode 1
Extreme Snowfall: An Effect of Global Warming
Jan 16, 202610m
Reductions in Arctic sea ice caused by global warming have ironically led to record-breaking Northern Hemisphere snowfalls and frequent winter storms. What mechanism is at work?
Episode 2
Plankton: The Crisis in the Oceans
Jan 30, 202610m
One effect of climate change worldwide has been changes in plankton levels due to global warming, such as algal blooms. These cause major damage to local fishing and aquaculture industries.
Episode 3
On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 1 Over 48,000 Species Facing the Risk
Feb 9, 202610m
The IUCN lists 48,646 species facing extinction, a figure that has more than quadrupled in 25 years, accelerated by climate change. Has the "Sixth Mass Extinction" begun?
Episode 4
On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 2 Melting Ice Accelerates the Polar Bear Crisis
Feb 10, 202610m
The latest research highlights the polar region crisis, with the lowest ever levels of sea ice and a polar bear population 50% reduced in 42 years in some areas. We look at wildlife in the Arctic.
Episode 5
On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 3 Vanishing Alpine Meadows
Feb 11, 202610m
The ecosystem in Hokkaido's Taisetsu Mountains is changing dramatically. Alpine plants have vanished due to global warming which has created a crisis for rare animals that depend on them to survive.
Episode 6
On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 4 Wind Power and Birds at Risk
Feb 12, 202610m
Wind power helps fight climate change. But as turbines spread across land and sea, birds face growing risks. This episode explores impacts and mitigation measures to protect birds and the climate.
Episode 7
On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 5 Bee Decline and the Looming Food Crisis
Feb 13, 202610m
Rising temperatures due to climate change have affected the behavior of bees, with fewer bees and shorter pollination periods, posing a threat to agriculture that could lead to a food crisis.
Episode 8
Why Is Hay Fever Getting Worse?
Feb 27, 202610m
The number of people suffering from hay fever, which seriously impacts daily life, is increasing worldwide. Behind this trend is a change in pollen dispersal patterns influenced by climate change.
Episode 9
"Climate Refugees": the Growing Crisis
Mar 13, 202610m
Each year, 20 million people are displaced by climate change. If nothing is done, these "climate refugees" will number 216 million by 2050. We examine footage of problem areas and the latest research.
Episode 10
Elephant Encounters: Why Are They Surging?
Mar 27, 202610m
Wild elephants entering human living areas, causing accidents and crop damage, is a problem across Asia. What will happen to elephant-human coexistence as their habitats shift due to climate change?
Episode 11
Water Bankruptcy: An Irreversible Crisis
Apr 24, 202610m
Water researchers have established the term “water bankruptcy,” an irreversible condition approached by many regions in which social and environmental factors exhaust the water supply.
Episode 12
How a Lake Lost Its "Divine Ice"
May 15, 202610m
What happens to lake water when it no longer freezes in winter? Detailed records of a "divine" freezing phenomenon of Lake Suwa in Japan have been kept for 580 years, but since 2018 it has not frozen. Corrected on May 19, 2026: the unit on the vertical axis of the graph at 8'10" has been changed to "mg/L".
Episode 13
Bamboo Invasion: Threat or Resource?
May 29, 202610m
Due to global warming, the bamboo habitat range in Japan is expanding and abandoned bamboo groves are encroaching on forests and farmland nationwide. How should we associate with this iconic plant?
Episode 14
Returning Carbon to the Soil
Jun 12, 202610m
The key to global warming may lie underground: soil contains far more carbon than the atmosphere, but overdevelopment of farmland releases it as CO2. We explore efforts to capture carbon in the soil.
Episode 15
A Surge in Coal Amid an Energy Crisis
Jun 26, 202610m
The US-Iran conflict led to what the IEA called the worst-ever energy crisis, and more power demand was predicted with the summer heat. How do the crisis and a surge in coal use affect climate change?
Episode 16
The "Time Bomb" Ticking Beneath Our Oceans
Jul 17, 202610m
With about 28 times the warming effect of CO2, methane lies in an ice-like form beneath the seabed. Rising sea temperatures dissociates it, releasing methane gas. How do we stop this time bomb?
Episode 17
World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 1 Damage on the Rise
Jul 27, 202610m
In recent years, World Heritage Sites have been severely impacted by climate change. Addressing this issue is a top priority at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session being held this summer.
Episode 18
World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 2 Ancient Greek Treasures Facing Extreme Heat
Jul 28, 202610m
Heatwaves driven by climate change are severely damaging Greece's World Heritage sites, including the Acropolis. This episode explores the mechanisms behind their deterioration.
Episode 19
World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 3 Itsukushima Shrine and the Rising Sea Level
Jul 29, 202610m
Itsukushima Shrine, built over Hiroshima Bay, is one of Japan's world heritage sites. The shrine faces water damage during abnormal tides, due to climate change and the unique geographical location.
Episode 20
World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 4 The Angkor Ruins Face Severe Climates
Jul 30, 202610m
Angkor, in Cambodia, is one of Southeast Asia's most recognized world heritage sites, but extreme weather such as increasingly strong rains and intense drying is causing serious degradation.
Episode 21
World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 5 Protection through Education
Jul 31, 202610m
To promote awareness of conservation efforts among the threat of climate change, more and more World Heritage Sites are now being utilized as tourist destinations and in educational programs.
Episode 22
Ocean Acidification Threatens Marine Ecosystems
Aug 7, 202610m
The climax to our week-long series on the effects of climate change on World Heritage Sites. We visit iconic sites around the world and also report from the UNESCO Committee Session held in Busan.
Episode 23
Hydroclimate Whiplash: the New Climate Risk
Aug 14, 202610m
Droughts, floods, wildfires... We look at the latest research on Hydroclimate Whiplash, a new climate risk in which extreme weather events alternate in a short time, exacerbating natural disasters.
Episode 24
Heat Domes: What's Driving Extreme Temperatures?
Oct 2, 202610m
Why did extreme heatwaves hit Europe this summer? We look at the mechanism of the likely culprits, the huge cages of trapped heat called "heat domes" related to the meandering westerlies.
Episode 25
When Cows Feel the Heat
Oct 9, 202610m
Milk has sustained humanity for centuries, but today it's under threat worldwide. As cows exposed to heat stress under climate change produce less milk, what does the future hold for milk production?
Episode 26
Super El Niño Is Back and Stronger Than Ever
Oct 23, 202610m
A record-breaking "Super El Niño" has begun. We examine the mechanisms driving this climate catalyst and the reality of projected climate disasters.