Press release

BBC World Meets Arctic World

July 24, 2003

Canadian climate change documentary to air internationally

Winnipeg — Sila Alangotok, an acclaimed documentary video on Inuit observations of climate change, will be aired on BBC World's "Earth Report" at the end of July and the beginning of August.

The video, produced in 2000 by the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), documents Inuvialuit observations of the effects of climate change on their way of life in the remote Artic community of Sachs Harbour.

The presence of unusual species of fish, birds, animals and insects; melting permafrost; a disappearing lake; and unprecedented reports of Arctic lightning storms are among dozens of climate change related impacts in the far north.

The video supports a long-held belief that climate change impacts would be felt first in the Polar Regions. The project involved scientists working with Elders, hunters and community members to document the dramatic changes that have occurred on their landscape and in their hunting and fishing patterns.

For more information about the project, please visit our climate change web site.

BBC World will air the documentary on Monday, July 28, 5:30 pm & 9:30 pm EDT; Tuesday, July 29, 5:30 am EDT; Saturday, August 2, 12:30 pm EDT; and Sunday, August 3, 5:30 am EDT. Click here for regional variations to air times.

Further Information and Interviews:

Stuart Slayen
Communications Officer
Ph: 204-958-7740

About IISD

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a globally recognized think tank with 3 decades of experience working to solve the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. We combine deep expertise in a wide range of issues with a collaborative approach to research, policy advice, and hands-on support to ensure these solutions are brought to life. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we are a diverse team of over 300 professionals working from offices in Canada, Switzerland, and other locations around the world.