+ 03.01.2010 + This film explores the impacts of global warming on coastal cities.

As the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland melt, sea levels rise. This poses significant challanges and requires action on the part of coastal cities like Jakarta, Rotterdam, New York and Alexandria.

After a month of absence, Konrad Steffen is back at the Greenland Ice Sheet, inspecting the current situation. Steffen is an authority when it comes to arctic climatology. For over 32 years, he has studied changes in the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland. According to his findings, sea levels will rise more than one meter by the end of the century, and he emphasizes that “2100 is not the end of our history. Sea levels will continue to rise and probably at a faster rate than today”. The need for adaptation is becoming more and more urgent.

How swift are cities in taking adequate response measures? We take a look at Alexandria, Jakarta, New York, and Rotterdam; four of the world’s coastal cities that will be – and already are being - directly affected by sea level rise. How big is this impact and what can the cities do to be prepared? On the basis of interviews, scientists, policymakers, and inhabitants reflect on the situation of their city. It becomes clear that each city is faced with its own dilemmas, cultural habits, political structure and history, which makes it difficult to undertake immediate and necessary action.

But besides the differences between the cities, the similarities in the dangers and challenges that they are facing are huge. The problems are global and can be tackled more efficiently with an exchange of knowledge and intensive cooperation.

NPO/RNW Sales 2010