Season 2

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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".

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

Heatwaves driven by climate change are severely damaging Greece's World Heritage sites, including the Acropolis. This episode explores the mechanisms behind their deterioration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

A record-breaking "Super El Niño" has begun. We examine the mechanisms driving this climate catalyst and the reality of projected climate disasters.

At COP31 in Turkey, there will be talks on how to protect agriculture and ensure food security. We report from France, which has been hit by record-breaking heatwaves.

This summer, Europe was hit by record-breaking heatwaves. How should we protect health and lives? We talk with people on the front lines in France and Japan.

In Greenland, the melting glaciers are causing geopolitical changes. We covered the impacts on the Arctic shipping routes and the potential halt of the ocean conveyor AMOC.

COP31 aims for 35% electrification, driven by EVs and renewable energy. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has increased energy security concerns. We look at Southeast Asia's surging green tech initiatives.

COP31 host Turkey is pursuing a Zero Waste policy, tackling climate change by cutting waste that emits lots of greenhouse gases and turning it into renewable fuel. We take a deep look at the strategy.

In this special edition of IMPACTS, we explore Climate Security. Unprecedented heatwaves in France and melting ice in Greenland are causing international turmoil. We report from the frontlines.