Earth in Crisis: Environmental Policy in an International Context

Synopsis

This podcast compilation features material from the Open University ‘Earth in Crisis’ course DU311 on climate change. The collection includes eleven video tracks focusing on climate-change-induced flooding in the delta regions of Bangladesh and in the Thames region of the UK. In the first five audio tracks, members of the Open University course team explore the main issues raised in the videos. The final three audio tracks discuss some of the wider political and scientific dimensions of climate change. offers a sophisticated understanding of the processes and players that shape contemporary international environmental problems, evaluates what can and should be done in the future, and explores how responses to these dilemmas are intertwined with issues of development, international justice and responsibility.

NB The first video BANGLADESH: WHO WILL PAY? won second prize in in an international short film competition on "Vulnerability Exposed: The Social Dimensions of Climate Change" organised by the World Bank in 2009.

Series

Earth in Crisis, Du311 Course

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2009

Year of production

2008

Subjects

Environmental science

Keywords

Bangladesh; climate change; floods; food production and distribution; Thames River

Online availability

URI

http://podcast.open.ac.uk/oulearn/environment-development-and-international-studies/podcast-du311-earth-in-crisis

Price

free

Delivery

Streamed/Download

Credits

Director

David Humphreys

Contributor

David Humphreys

Sections

Title

Bangladesh: Who Will Pay? (video)

Synopsis

Focuses on the challenges faced in rural Balgladesh. Areas that used to be productive crop-growing fields have suffered from increased salt levels as the result of storms and flooding. Unable to grow crops, local farmers have been forced to adapt by turning to shrimp farming, or to find other employment. Winner of the second prize in an international short film competition entitled "Vulnerability Exposed: The Social Dimensions of Climate Change", organised by the World Bank in 2009.

Duration

5 mins

Title

Climate Change in Bangladesh (video)

Synopsis

Extreme weather events are getting worse. Forecasters predict that Bangladesh will be severely affected by floods, cyclones, droughts and the rising sea level.

Duration

4 mins

Title

Adapting to Salinity (video) .

Synopsis

Villagers in the vulnerable regions of south Bangladesh reflect on the changes in their environment and describe their struggle to survive.

Duration

8 mins

Title

Defence from Cyclones (video)

Synopsis

Redesigning traditional homes. Local tradesmen in Bangladesh are trained to build storm-resistant structures.

Duration

5 mins

Title

Awareness of Climate Change (video) I

Synopsis

Investigating how much the villagers of Paik Gacha really know about climate change as a global phenomenon

Duration

4 mins

Title

Who is to Blame? (video)

Synopsis

Should industrialist countries pay for the devastation and suffering occurring in Bangladesh, where millions of people stand to lose their birthplace and livelihood?

Duration

5 mins

Title

Rising Sea Levels (video)

Synopsis

The results of a two year project to calculate what climate change is doing to the Thames Estuary.

Duration

4 mins

Title

Thames Barrier, The (video)

Synopsis

The history of flooding in the region and the threat of future surges that overwhelm our current defences

Duration

3 mins

Title

Isle of Sheppey, The (video)

Synopsis

The Environment Agency’s attitude towards shoreline management and the devastating consequences for locals

Duration

4 mins

Title

Hold the Line Policy (video)

Synopsis

Changing policy on the Isle of Sheppey. When is it cost-effective to defend and when is it more effective to retreat?

Duration

4 mins

Title

What is Managed Realignment? (video)

Synopsis

Building sustainable defence lines further inland. Accepting that extreme flooding is here to stay.

Duration

4 mins

Title

Bangladesh: the issues (audio)

Synopsis

Members of the DU311 course team explore the main issues emerging from the Bangladesh video case study

Duration

9 mins

Title

Injustice and inequality (audio)

Synopsis

The discussion moves on to consider inequalities in the causes and consequences of climate change between developing and developed countries.

Duration

7 mins

Title

Scientists, sceptics and deniers (audio)

Synopsis

Differing reactions to the scientific evidence for climate change are discussed

Duration

5 mins

Title

Developed and developing worlds (audio)

Synopsis

Differing capabilities and priorities for flood defences in Bangladesh and the UK.

Duration

9 mins

Title

What DU311 offers (audio) How the Open University course promotes awareness and understanding of issues relating to climate change

Synopsis

How the Open University course promotes awareness and understanding of issues relating to climate change

Duration

4 mins

Title

Impact of Science, The (audio)

Synopsis

A discussion with scientists about the nature of scientific knowledge, and it’s relationship to policy making regarding climate change

Duration

18 mins

Title

The Policy Makers (audio) with regards to safe-guarding the planet

Synopsis

The process of using scientific data to inform government policies

Duration

10 mins

Title

Sustainable Climate, A? (audio)

Synopsis

A look at sustainable development, and it’s implications faced by society and the environment, both now and in the future.

Duration

10 mins

Production Company

Name

Open University

Distributor

Name

Open University Podcasts

Web

http://podcast.open.ac.uk/oulearn/ External site opens in new window