Global Water Challenges & Sustainability
The Sustainability Institute of Penn State University is hosting an online screening and panel discussion of two films focused on flooding and climate change. The pair of films, Tidewater and Facing the Mountain, highlight the intersections among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and empowerment of attendees to engage with sustainability issues. The films tell stories that touch upon social, political, and environmental issues of flooding and climate change. The series focus compliments the SDG goals of the CHANCE Romania field course.
Film Summaries
Tidewater brings viewers to Hampton Roads, Virginia, home to the largest naval base in the world and the largest constellation of American military installations anywhere. Yet this same vital area for national security is also one of the areas of the country most vulnerable to climate change, sea level rise, and flooding. Community members are getting proactive and recognizing that the time for action is now, as they try to work on issues that transcend any political boundaries.
Facing the Mountain delves into a once-in-a-generation catastrophe that occurred in 2013 high in the Himalayan mountains. A flood that caused devastation and claimed thousands of lives. The film is ultimately a tale of resilience in the face of adversity, even as it serves as a warning about the coming threats climate change will place on deep cultural roots globally.
