Episodes
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1. Extreme Snowfall: An Effect of Global Warming
16 Jan 2026 · 10 min
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?
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2. Plankton: The Crisis in the Oceans
30 Jan 2026 · 10 min
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.
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3. On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 1 Over 48,000 Species Facing the Risk
9 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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?
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4. On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 2 Melting Ice Accelerates the Polar Bear Crisis
10 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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.
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5. On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 3 Vanishing Alpine Meadows
11 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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.
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6. On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 4 Wind Power and Birds at Risk
12 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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.
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7. On the Brink of Extinction?: Episode 5 Bee Decline and the Looming Food Crisis
13 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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.
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8. Why Is Hay Fever Getting Worse?
27 Feb 2026 · 10 min
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.
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9. "Climate Refugees": the Growing Crisis
13 Mar 2026 · 10 min
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.
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10. Elephant Encounters: Why Are They Surging?
27 Mar 2026 · 10 min
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?
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11. Water Bankruptcy: An Irreversible Crisis
24 Apr 2026 · 10 min
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.
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12. How a Lake Lost Its "Divine Ice"
15 May 2026 · 10 min
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".
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13. Bamboo Invasion: Threat or Resource?
29 May 2026 · 10 min
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?
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14. Returning Carbon to the Soil
12 Jun 2026 · 10 min
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.
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15. A Surge in Coal Amid an Energy Crisis
26 Jun 2026 · 10 min
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?
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16. The "Time Bomb" Ticking Beneath Our Oceans
17 Jul 2026 · 10 min
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?
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17. World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 1 Damage on the Rise
27 Jul 2026 · 10 min
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.
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18. World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 2 Ancient Greek Treasures Facing Extreme Heat
28 Jul 2026 · 10 min
Heatwaves driven by climate change are severely damaging Greece's World Heritage sites, including the Acropolis. This episode explores the mechanisms behind their deterioration.
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19. World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 3 Itsukushima Shrine and the Rising Sea Level
29 Jul 2026 · 10 min
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.
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20. World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 4 The Angkor Ruins Face Severe Climates
30 Jul 2026 · 10 min
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.
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21. World Heritage Under Threat: Episode 5 Protection through Education
31 Jul 2026 · 10 min
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.
22. Ocean Acidification Threatens Marine Ecosystems
7 Aug 2026 · 10 min
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.
23. Hydroclimate Whiplash: the New Climate Risk
14 Aug 2026 · 10 min
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.
24. Heat Domes: What's Driving Extreme Temperatures?
2 Oct 2026 · 10 min
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.
25. When Cows Feel the Heat
9 Oct 2026 · 10 min
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?
26. Super El Niño Is Back and Stronger Than Ever
23 Oct 2026 · 10 min
A record-breaking "Super El Niño" has begun. We examine the mechanisms driving this climate catalyst and the reality of projected climate disasters.
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27. COP31 Series: Ep. 1 Food Security Rocked by Extreme Weather
9 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
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28. COP31 Series: Ep. 2 Deadly Heat: A Threat to Health
10 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
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29. COP31 Series: Ep. 3 Geopolitics in a Thawing Arctic
11 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
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30. COP31 Series: Ep. 4 /The Shift to Electric in Southeast Asia
12 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
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31. COP31 Series: Ep. 5 Turkey's Zero Waste Challenge
Airs 13 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
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32. COP31 Special Edition: Nations in Peril: Climate Security
Airs 14 Nov 2026 · 10 min
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.
Impacts: Climates Change the World Season 2: quick answers
How many episodes are in Impacts: Climates Change the World Season 2?
Season 2 of Impacts: Climates Change the World has 32 episodes, about 5 hours in total.
When did Impacts: Climates Change the World Season 2 come out?
Season 2 premiered on 16 Jan 2026 and its finale airs 14 Nov 2026.