This video dives into the phenomenon of King Tides and how they serve as a vivid indicator of the worsening impacts of climate change on coastlines worldwide. The panel, featuring climate scientists Paul Beckwith and Dr. Peter Carter, explains how King Tides—extremely high tidal events triggered by celestial alignments—are becoming more frequent and severe due to rising sea levels, ocean thermal expansion, and melting glaciers. The conversation highlights how the combination of sea level rise, land subsidence, coastal erosion, and stronger storms is leading to dangerous and increasingly common flooding events in low-lying areas, especially along the U.S. East Coast.
This video was recorded on October 15th, 2025, and published on October 20th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
Beyond the science, the panel emphasizes the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of chronic flooding: damage to vital infrastructure, loss of agricultural lands due to saltwater intrusion, the destruction of coastal wetlands and mangroves, and projected demographic shifts as millions are forced to migrate away from vulnerable regions. Both experts underscore that even if humanity reaches net zero emissions, sea level rise will be locked in and continue for centuries due to existing temperature increases. They stress that adaptation strategies, coastal protection measures, and aggressive advocacy for emissions reductions are increasingly urgent.
The dialogue concludes with a sobering review of recent climate tipping points—particularly the mass decline of coral reefs—and a call for renewed hope and action. The panel encourages viewers to lobby their governments, support climate organizations, and recognize the interconnectedness of climate threats and solutions worldwide. Their frank discussion of predictable, inevitable changes like King Tides is balanced by a plea for collective determination to defend communities and ecosystems against ongoing and future climate disruption.
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Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute
Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University
Herb Simmens - Author, Co-founder of the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC), Climate Emergency Board Member and former college instructor.
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
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