How Climate Change and Overdevelopment Are Threatening Cities
Flooding in cities like Jakarta is becoming more common. How are climate change and overdevelopment making urban areas more vulnerable?
Across the U.S. and around the world, coastal cities are grappling with rising seas and worsening floods. With 42 million people, Jakarta, Indonesia, is the world's most populated city. It's sinking rapidly as climate change and overdevelopment collide. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports for our series Tipping Point.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Where is Jakarta, and what kind of climate does it have? (Hint: you can use the map at the bottom of this lesson for help.)
- What holds the sea back from the city of Jakarta in the north of the city?
- When (what time of year) does Jakarta often flood?
- How do floods affect the city and people in it?
- Why might Jakarta be partly uninhabitable by 2050?
Focus Questions
- How have planners in Jakarta tried to protect the city? What else do you think they could do?
- What lessons do you think city planners in the United States can take from Jakarta?
- Media Literacy: Why do you think this segment focuses on climate impacts on one city instead of including other cities that are similarly impacted? How could you find out what cities in the United States are at risk from rising sea levels?
What Students Can Do
- First, examine the map below of Indonesia (the country is highlighted in green). What do you notice about this country based on the map? How is it different than most other countries?
- Next, browse this site from the United Nations Development Program on how Indonesia is adapting to climate change. What are some plans that stand out to you? What seem to be some of the challenges to adapting to rising sea levels? What strategies do you think could be used in coastal areas of the United States?
Climate Change and Urban Planning Digital Storytelling Project
Students will create a digital storytelling project using creative narratives, combining research on the effects of climate change on urban areas, to make a future scenario of their city transformed into a sustainable, climate-resilient community. This activity encourages students to envision practical solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation, enhancing their research, storytelling and digital literacy skills.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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