By the year 2050, summers in New York City are expected to feel a lot like the summers in Birmingham, Alabama, according to city government estimates.
By then, melting glaciers are expected to raise the sea level by about a foot and a half, rendering long-established neighborhoods unlivable, and forcing huge rebuilding projects to preserve the roads, tunnels and subways that we depend on.
This week, NBC 4 New York, together with our partners at WNYC, will air a special joint project called “NYC 2050,” looking ahead to the ways that climate change will affect our city over the next three decades. The year 2050 is one many of us hope we will live to see -- when the young children of today will just be arriving at middle age. Yet it is far enough away that the incremental changes -- that are so hard to measure year to year -- will be easy to be seen in their accumulation.
Each day, an NBC 4 New York reporter or meteorologist will spotlight a different aspect of life at the midpoint of the century. On Monday, lead meteorologist Janice Huff will give an overview of the series, describing the weather changes we can expect and the way they will change our city.
On Tuesday, Michael George will ask local power companies how they expect to keep our lights on in the face of skyrocketing energy demand, and what alternative energy sources they are looking toward.
On Wednesday, Andrew Siff will look at our transit system, and how it will fare against the rising tide. Thursday, meteorologist Raphael Miranda will take you inside our area's weather alerts system to show you how information gets to your home when dangerous storms hit.
And on Friday, Brynn Gingras, will show you what innovators are already doing to offset the problems of the future, and help take action in your own home.
Throughout the week, we’ll be connecting with our viewers through our website and social media, linking to our partners at WNYC and collecting your stories on how you feel about climate change and what, if anything, you are doing to prepare for what’s to come.
