Thanks in large measure to the efforts of former Vice President
Al Gore,
global warming is becoming less of a partisan politics chew toy, and more and
more a matter of recognized fact. For those who found a voracious interest and appetite
on the matter awakened by Gore’s Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, as well as those that for whatever reason
were predisposed to skip that film, viewing it as a cult of personality-type release,
this timely, interesting NOVA documentary tackles the subject of the Earth’s climate future
with a fair-minded and even-keeled tone and responsibility.
polar icecaps and soaring record high temperatures worldwide, the global
climate seems to be experiencing calamities at every turn. The question, of
course, is to what degree these are natural, temporary glitches, or more the devastating
and worsening product of decades of international environmental neglect.
the Earth’s atmosphere with dangerous levels of greenhouse gasses, so named for
their warming effect. And with demand for fossil fuels increasing daily, almost
all experts agree that emission levels will basically triple in the next 100 years. Yet
this so-called “greenhouse effect” remains the subject of some heated debate (ha
— gallows humor!) among scientists, climatologists and futurists. Some believe
the Earth’s temperature will rise by nearly 10 degrees, melting arctic icecaps
and sending sea levels surging, destroying low-lying coastal areas and touching
off famine and drought in other portions of the world. Others believe the
weather will stay relatively normal. Who’s right? Decide for yourself with this
riveting documentary special, which crunches some data and takes a fascinatingly
speculative look at the forecast for the future.
and at 112 minutes certainly longer than any number of flashier short-form
entries designed to catch the roving eye of a more down-market crowd. Part of the
problem is that it lacks the upwards-tracking emotional arc of An Inconvenient Truth,
and thus at least the partial optimism if not sociopolitical empowerment that that
movie gives off. Still, though, Global
Warming is an interesting and unassailably researched title, and certainly
worth a look for younger scholastic audiences or those with an unquenched interest
in the subject matter.
Video has released many critically acclaimed public television programs,
including the Emmy Award-winning The
Miracle of Life, plus bestsellers like The
Elegant Universe, The Jane Eyre Masterpiece
Theatre Collection, Commanding
Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, Evolution and Africans in
America. Alongside this full-screen presentation of Global Warming, recent releases include The Hidden Epidemic: Heart Disease in America,
Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius and Kaboom!, a chronological history of the
history of pyrotechnics, from ninth century
to 19th century industrialist Alfred Nobel and legendary physicist Robert Oppenheimer. Global Warming‘s DVD supplemental materials consist of printable materials for educators. To
order this title or any other DVD release from WGBH Boston Video, phone (800)
949-8670 or visit their eponymous Web site’s
shop by clicking here. B (Movie) C (Disc)