TV tonight: a sobering film about the rise of extreme weather – The Guardian

Report on Spain’s Deadly Flood Disaster and Related Media Coverage with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Overview of Spain’s Flood Disaster

In October 2024, the city of Valencia, Spain, experienced catastrophic flooding resulting in the loss of 228 lives. This disaster highlights the urgent need for improved climate resilience and adaptation strategies in urban areas.

2. Analysis of the Flooding Event

A documentary aired on BBC One at 9pm provides a detailed examination of the floods, focusing on:

• The human impact, including the experiences of affected citizens.
• Failures in weather forecasting and disaster preparedness.
• The necessity for humanity to adapt to increasingly volatile weather patterns caused by climate change.

3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Relevance

The flood disaster and its coverage are closely linked to several SDGs, including:

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Emphasizes the importance of building resilient infrastructure and reducing disaster risks in urban settings.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action – Highlights the need for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, including extreme weather events.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Addresses the protection of lives and health during natural disasters.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Calls for improved forecasting technologies and infrastructure to mitigate disaster effects.

4. Additional Media Highlights

4.1 Documentary: “In the Footsteps of Killers”

Channel 4’s 10pm program investigates cold cases, including the 2018 disappearance of Georgina Gharsallah, demonstrating the role of justice and community engagement in societal well-being (related to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

4.2 Storyville: “The Wolves Always Come at Night”

BBC Four’s 10pm feature follows Mongolian farmers displaced by a sandstorm, likely linked to climate change, underscoring the human consequences of environmental degradation and the need for sustainable land management (SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 13: Climate Action).

4.3 Transaction Sitcom

ITV2’s 10.05pm sitcom addresses themes of inclusion and diversity through the story of a transgender woman, aligning with SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

4.4 Film Choice: “Creed” (2015)

ITV4’s 9pm film explores themes of legacy, family, and personal growth, indirectly supporting SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through its focus on physical and mental resilience.

5. Conclusion and Recommendations

The devastating floods in Valencia serve as a critical reminder of the interconnectedness of climate action, urban resilience, and human well-being. To align with the Sustainable Development Goals, it is recommended to:

• Enhance early warning systems and disaster preparedness in cities (SDG 11).
• Invest in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of extreme weather (SDG 13).
• Promote inclusive policies that support vulnerable populations during and after disasters (SDG 10 and SDG 3).
• Foster community engagement and justice initiatives to strengthen societal resilience (SDG 16).

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The article discusses the deadly floods in Valencia, highlighting urban vulnerability to climate-related disasters and the need for better forecasting and preparation.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action – The floods and the sandstorm affecting Mongolian farmers are linked to climate breakdown and extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgency of climate adaptation and mitigation.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The sitcom “Transaction” addresses inclusion and transgender issues, pointing to social equality and non-discrimination.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The cold case investigation into Georgina Gharsallah’s disappearance touches on justice, safety, and institutional accountability.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty (implied) – The displacement of Mongolian farmers due to environmental disasters implies economic vulnerability and poverty risks.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty (implied)
   • Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 11 Indicators
   • 11.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
   • 11.5.2: Direct economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) caused by disasters.
   • Implied need for indicators measuring the implementation of urban disaster risk reduction plans.
2. SDG 13 Indicators
   • 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population (overlaps with 11.5.1).
   • 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning into primary, secondary and tertiary curricula.
   • Implied indicators related to forecasting accuracy and preparedness measures.
3. SDG 5 Indicators
   • 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex.
   • 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions.
   • Implied social inclusion and discrimination-related indicators.
4. SDG 16 Indicators
   • 16.1.4: Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live.
   • 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms.
   • Implied indicators on case resolution and justice access.
5. SDG 1 Indicators
   • 1.5.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
   • 1.5.2: Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to GDP.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: theguardian.com