Global Us: What connects us all

In 2014 the Vrbas River in Bosnia and Herzegovina overflowed its banks after heavy rains, leaving twenty people dead. Climate change is making such extreme weather more likely. That is why the country is investing in flood protection.

Nepalese farmer Ram Chaudary shows us his home in Kapilvastu in the Terai, a fertile lowland region in the south of the country. He lives there with his mother, two daughters and two nieces.

The Russian capital produces millions of tons of trash every year. It often ends up in landfills thousands of kilometers away. In the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk protest is growing against the garbage from Moscow.

One of the world’s most expensive spices, vanilla originates in Mexico. Its blossoms are pollinated by bees – but with bees dying out due to widespread use of pesticides, the plant’s survival is at risk. Environmentalists are looking for solutions.

Traffic congestion is a huge problem in major cities. But there are efficient ways to work the transportation system. In Vilnius, around a quarter of the population use a mobility platform to help them get from A to B.

At least 70% of global CO2 emissions are connected to city living. The greener a city is, the more carbon dioxide is absorbed and oxygen produced. Trees and plants also help regulate the temperature.

Beijing was once filled with bicycles. But as prosperity grew, those who could swapped their bikes for automobiles. Now bike-share systems have hit the scene. Will two-wheeled transportation soon rule the roads in China's capital once again?

How do you plan a city that has to contend with a steady river of newcomers? At the African Design Centre, Christian Benimana teaches young designers and urban planners to come up with sustainable solutions for both housing and infrastructure.

Theoretically, there is enough food in the world to ensure nobody has to go hungry. But huge amounts of produce are lost between the field and the plate.

Meet Sharon from Cartago in Costa Rica. She is very close to her family. Her dream is to open a beauty salon with her sister. But she has a back-up plan in case that doesn't work out.