New Nineveh

In one episode of the Simpsons, Lisa predicts that in 50 years, the planet will be nigh uninhabitable primarily due to climate change. She refers to this global wasteland as a "New Nineveh." I looked up this phrase, and it doesn't have the connotation Lisa ascribes to it. Any clue as to why the writers chose this term as a kind of synonym for apocalyptic dystopia?

Thanks much!