Stories on why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.
Does recycling help fight climate change?
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a familiar mantra the world over. Recycling has been described as ‘one of the easier climate-friendly acts” that individuals can do. A recent poll found that, globally, most of us believe that recycling is the single best thing we can do to tackle the climate crisis. But there isn’t much mention of “reduce” and “reuse”. This week, presenters Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell explore how successful the world’s recycling system really is, visiting Port Klang in Malaysia where huge swaths of the globe’s recycling gets sent only to end up... well, listen and you’ll find out! Kate and Neal will also learn how climate friendly recycling really is and whether there are other more important actions we can take to improve how we manage our waste. Thank you to contributors: Ke Wang, Lead of the PACE Program at the World Resources Institute (Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy) Costas Velis, Lecturer in Resource Efficiency Systems at the University of Leeds, UK Jenny van Doorn, Professor of Marketing Services at the University of Groningen, Netherlands Farhan Nasa, Project Coordinator at Break Free from Plastic, Malaysia Our team: Reporter: Chen Yih Wen, Environmental Reporter in Tanjung Harapan, Klang, Malaysia Researchers: Immie Rhodes, Natasha Fernandes, Marcia Veiga Producer: Dearbhail Starr Series Producer: Alex Lewis Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill, Siobhan Reed Sound Mix: Tom Brignell Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
How is climate change affecting our mental health?
We often talk about the physical costs of climate change; the economic fallout, the effect on livelihoods and damage to the earth. But all of the changes to our world caused by global warming will have an effect on our minds, our mental health too. Earlier this year the mental health challenges caused by rising temperatures and extreme weather events were spotlighted in a report by the UN’s climate science body, the IPCC. Anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even suicide, are all predicted to increase as the world heats up. Jordan Dunbar looks at what this means for people living on the front line of climate change, including examples from Nigeria, India and the Philippines. Joining Jordan to discuss the mental health challenges facing a warming world are: Dr Brandon Gray – Clinical Psychologist, World Health Organisation Dr Gesche Heubner Senior Researcher University College London, Department of Energy Dr Paolo Cianconi Psychiatrist Catholic University of Rome, Department of Neurosciences Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Reporter: Rajesh Joshi Producer: Jordan Dunbar and Sarah Wild Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill, Siobhan Reed Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Is destroying the planet a vote winner?
Long term climate policy has long been at odds with short-term politics. As numerous countries head to the polls this year, we visit Brazil, Australia and the United States and see how climate policy is being used as a political tool to divide voters. During recent the elections in Australia – a country with some of the world’s highest emissions per capita – experts believe that experiencing the effects of climate change first hand brought the need for action up the agenda, leading to the unseating of the climate sceptic Liberal National Coalition. We hear from a follower of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who believes that the country’s own deforestation figures are fake. Meanwhile, in the US, we look at how the Republican party’s position changed from the 2008 presidential elections from proposing climate policies to denying that man-made climate change is real. Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell are joined by: Kate Walton, political journalist based in Canberra, Australia Kathy Hochstetler, Professor of International Development at the London School of Economics, UK Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of the Program for Climate Change Communication at Yale University, USA Reporter: Roberta Fortuna Researcher: Immie Rhodes Producer: Dearbhail Starr Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Sound Mixer: Tom Brignell
What can we do to stop rising levels of Methane?
Recent research shows that levels of Methane gas in the atmosphere are rising rapidly. It is over 80 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide so poses a major threat to the world’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 C. At COP26, over 100 countries signed a Global Methane Pledge to reduce man-made emissions by 2030 – experts say cutting methane emissions is ‘the most powerful lever we have for reducing warming... over the next 30 years’. So what can be done to stop the levels rising further? We hear how farmers in Bangladesh, along with other parts of Asia, are using wetting and drying techniques in rice paddies to reduce emissions; how cows are being fed special dietary supplements with a surprising ingredient: seaweed, but why naturally occurring wetlands are a cause for concern. Presenters Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell are joined by: Xin Lan, Greenhouse Gas Scientist with NOAA and University of Colorado Drew Shindell, Special Representative on Methane Action for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Ermias Kebreab, Professor at the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, Humnath Bhandari, Bangladesh country representative, International Rice Research Institute, Producers: Alex Murray and Serena Tarling Researcher: Immy Rhodes Reporter: Akbar Hossain, BBC Bengali Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Richard Vadon
How can oceans help us capture carbon?
The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and can hold more than 150 times the amount of carbon dioxide as air. From phytoplankton to whales to seagrass meadows we explore how this happens. Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Rita Steyn, Contributing Editor at The Marine Diaries and lecturer at University of Tampa, Florida Michael Yap, Marine Biologist and Founder of Seagrass Guardians, Malaysia Dr. Haimanti Biswas, Principal Scientist of Biological Oceanography at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, India Dr. Annette Scheffer, Marine Biologist and Lecturer, speaking with us from Antarctica John Kirkwood, Marine Biologist and Expedition Leader speaking with us from Antarctica Researcher: Immie Rhodes Reporter: Mark Stratton Producer: Dearbhail Starr Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell
Why is Asia embracing nuclear power?
China currently has 53 nuclear power plants with plans to scale up significantly in the next decade, while India is planning to build ten new power plants over the next three years. South Korea’s new government has committed to restarting its civil nuclear programme and even Japan’s Prime Minister has pledged to resume nuclear power in a country that has long been resistant. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, energy security has now become more of a priority with countries looking for alternatives to Russian gas. And as countries transition to renewable power in an effort to reach net zero by 2050, governments are looking for a stable, green power supply which is lower cost. In the latest IPCC report, all pathways recommended nuclear in some form to mitigate against climate change. After nuclear disasters such as Fukushima in Japan, safety has become an even more pressing issue, both in the region and globally, in the face of a resistant public and to safeguard communities around any power plants. We gained access to the Hinkley Point power plant in the UK which has adapted the design of the reactors to make them safer after what happened in Japan; but the pace of building has been slow and costs have been high. In China, a commitment to build more has led to a coordinated approach in terms of training, the supply chain and funding. But there are challenges ahead. Presenters Kate Lamble and Jordan Dunbar are joined by: Changhua Wu - a policy analyst specialising in China's environment, energy, climate change and sustainable development Diane Cameron - Head of the Nuclear Technology Development and Economics Division at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency Edwin Lyman - expert on nuclear safety and proliferation and Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned scientists in Washington. Producers: Serena Tarling and Alex Murray Researcher: Immy Rhodes Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Is the world ready for an electric vehicle revolution?
There are over 10 million electric cars on the road globally after a decade of rapid growth, representing around 1% of the world’s car stock. But there are questions about whether there is the infrastructure to match. In many countries there are not enough chargers being installed to cope with the number of electric cars being sold. There are also doubts about whether existing electricity grids have the ability to store enough capacity to cope with charging demand and whether the amount of energy required can be fulfilled by green electricity alone. This week we look at Norway, an early adopter to electric vehicles, or EVs, and have been through a quick adaption period in which they improved their electricity grid to support night time charging, as well as improving the network of fast chargers around the country to enable EVs to take their drivers long distances. We then look at Vancouver in Canada has been looking at ways in which they can improve their EV infrastructure, to encourage the public to make the switch away from internal combustion engines. But do they have enough public chargers to serve those without access to their own private driveway? And finally we take a look at how Sub-Sahara Africa is electrifying motorbikes and minibuses. Many rural communities remain off-grid because demand for electricity is so low that it is not financially viable for them to build the infrastructure. For these rural areas, electric vehicles will bring a solid demand for electricity, bringing the potential for companies to make a profit from introducing solar mini-grids to those communities that don’t yet have electricity. Mora Morrison and Jordan Dunbar are joined by: Christina Bu, Secretary General of Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association Remeredzai Joseph Kuhudzai, Founder of Electric Drive Africa Ian Neville, Senior Sustainability Specialist for the City of Vancouver With special thanks to Katherine Collett from the Energy and Power Group at the University of Oxford. Producer: Dearbhail Starr Researchers: Immie Rhodes and Lauren Stanley Reporter in Vancouver: Max Collins Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Could Chile be a Climate leader?
The renowned climate scientist and IPCC author Maisa Rojas has been making headlines after being appointed as Chile’s new Minister for the Environment. She has pledged to deliver a green, sustainable and resilient future – and a ‘just transition’ to renewables from an economy that has to date been reliant on mining, forestry and agriculture. The legacy of General Augusto Pinochet has cast a long shadow over Chile, so one of the first hurdles is a vote on a new constitution in July which would ease the passage of new climate legislation. The new government of leftist leader Gabriel Boric also faces a divided Congress, and will need to galvanise support for a radical new agenda. Chile has vast potential for solar energy and hydropower, providing the infrastructure is in place to transmit it to different parts of the country. Can the government play a leading role globally in shifting to great dependency on renewables – and closing down coal-fired power stations in the coming decade? Presenters Kate Lamble and Mora Morrison are joined by: Maisa Rojas, Minister for Environment for the Chilean government and climatologist Claudia Heiss, head of political science at the Institute of Public Affairs at Universidad de Chile. Dr Álvaro López-Peña, consultant on energy transition, CEO ALP Sustainable Energy Producer: Serena Tarling and Darin Graham Researchers: Natasha Fernandes and Frances Read Reporter: John Bartlett Series Producer: Alex Lewis Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Nicola Addyman
What does 'net zero' really mean?
When talking about climate change, the term net zero has become popular with politicians over the last few years. More than 130 countries have now pledged to go net zero to help slow global warming. Reaching net zero means reducing the amount of emissions as much as possible and removing any that remain from the atmosphere. We hear from communities in South Africa, where the government plans to reach net zero by 2050. But the country is heavily tied to coal and faces several challenges around employment and energy security. And while politicians make their net zero announcements, the United Nations projects that emissions will continue to rise even with the current pledges politicians have announced. What does net zero mean and could it help climate change? Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN climate change high-level champion for Egypt Lola Vallejo, climate programme director at the IDDRI Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum Reporter: Zinhle Kanyane Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Producer: Darin Graham Series producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Production coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
How are young people feeling 6 months from COP?
Hundreds of youth activists travelled to COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland to have their voices were heard. As we approach the halfway point between COP26 and COP27- to be held in Egypt - we want to know how young people are feeling about progress made. We speak to Maria Reyes from Mexico, Edwin Namakanga from Uganda and Farzana Faruk Jhumu from Bangladesh, who all attended the conference. Is the world on course to protect nature, curb emissions and generate the necessary finance to help poorer nations adapt? Helping us answer these questions is Wanjira Mathai, a COP veteran and the Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. With presenters Jordan Dunbar and Mora Morrison.
Is space travel a problem for the climate?
As more countries launch more rockets into orbit for commercial and scientific reasons, the space industry is experiencing rapid growth. It’s on the verge of an even greater increase as space tourism takes off. The International Space Station is now open to tourists and private companies have developed rockets that can be reused – all meaning more launches into space. But rocket exhausts contain particles that can affect the climate. What are the potential impacts and is it time to apply the brakes to the new space race? Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Phoebe Keane are joined by: D Raghunanadan, director at the Delhi Science eForum Eloise Marais, associate professor of physical geography at University College London Stephen Freeland, emeritus professor of international law at Western Sydney University. Producer: Darin Graham Researcher: Lizzie Frisby Reporter: Mike Killian Series producer: Alex Lewis Sound engineer: Neil Churchill Editor: Emma Rippon
What does war in Ukraine mean for the climate? Part 2: Energy Security
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, parts of the world are so dependent on Russian gas that they have no option but to continue to buy it. This week’s episode looks long term plans for improving energy security, particularly in Europe where the biggest focus is on increasing renewables. Whilst this sounds like great news for the climate, Europe only accounts for 10% of the worlds’ emissions. For fossil fuel rich countries like the United States, energy security policy will mean pumping more oil and gas out of the ground. We visit Bonny Island in the Niger Delta where business in Liquified Natural Gas is booming to explore how other resource rich countries stand to gain from the increase in oil and gas prices. And ask, as the world makes plans to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas, what will this mean for Russia’s climate policy? Presenters Kate Lamble and Jordan Dunbar speak with contributors: Simone Tagliapietra, Senior Fellow and Energy expert at European think tank, Bruegel Laura Cozzi, Chief Modeler at International Energy Agency (IEA) Ken Caldeira, Senior Scientist at Carnegie Institution of Sciences and at Breakthrough Energy Oksana Antonenko, Global Risk Analyst at Control Risks Group Researchers: Natasha Fernandes, Frances Reed and Julian Kwong Reporter: Fyneface Dumnamene is Executive Director at Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre Producer: Dearbhail Starr Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Studio Engineer: Tom Brignell
What does war in Ukraine mean for the climate?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been met with harsh financial sanctions. These have come from North America and Europe. The US and Canada have also banned Russian oil and gas, but Europe has found itself unable to do so - even as natural gas prices soar. The EU receives 40% of its natural gas from Russia, and for many countries, if they turn it off, the lights will go out and they’ll be unable to keep themselves warm. As a result European money continues to pay Russia for its natural gas resources. This episode looks at the short term plans for European countries, dependent on Russian gas, to remove it from their energy systems and ask if this could be the perfect moment to turn away from fossil fuels, including natural gas, and turn toward a much improved renewable energy network? Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Victoria Gill, BBC Science and Climate Correspondent Simone Tagliapietra, Senior Fellow specialising in European Union climate and energy policy at think tank, Bruegel Bernice Lee, is Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow for sustainability, Chatham House Team: Producer: Dearbhail Starr Reporter: Alessia Cerantola Researcher: Natasha Fernandes & Frances Read Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell
Can we rely on insurance to help rebuild after extreme weather?
Scientists say extreme weather is intensifying and becoming more frequent because of climate change and the impacts are causing huge losses. People living in Brisbane and other parts of eastern Australia dealt with those impacts recently, when heavy rain fell for days - destroying thousands of homes and at least 22 people are known to have died. Authorities declared it a once in a-100-year-event, making it the second disaster of its kind in the same area in just 11 years. While insurers face losses trying to cover it all, reinsurers say climate change is now a number one risk. We talk to residents in Brisbane as they clean up after the floods and ask if insurance can be the world’s safety net as the impacts of climate change intensify? Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble are joined by: Ernst Rauch, chief geo and climate scientist, Munich Re Robin McConchie, reporter based in Brisbane. Ekerete Olawoye Gam-Ikon, insurance strategy consultant Maryam Golnaraghi, director, climate change and environment, the Geneva Association Producer: Darin Graham Reporter: Robin McConchie Researchers: Lizzie Frisby, Frances Read, Natasha Fernandes, Perisha Kudhail Series producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Sound engineer: Tom Brignell
Can animals evolve to deal with climate change?
As climate change brings rising temperatures, droughts and shifting patterns of rainfall, animals are adapting to keep pace. Bird’s bodies are growing smaller, their wingspan longer, lizards are growing larger thumb pads to help them grip more tightly in hurricane strength winds, beak size is changing. We visit the Galapagos, where evolution was first discovered by Charles Darwin, and investigate the many ways animals are adapting their behaviour and physiology to survive the impact of climate change. Changes to climate are also influencing animals’ genetics, meaning that we are seeing species evolve within our own lifetime. However, most animals won’t be able to adapt quickly enough to cope with the speed they need to in order to survive in a warming world. Presenters Jordan Dunbar and Kate Lamble look at what role evolution plays in helping animals adapt to climate change. Contributors: Kiyoko Gotanda, Assistant Professor at Brock University Ramiro Tomala, Expedition leader, Metropolitan Touring in the Galapagos Thor Hanson, conservationist and author of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid Anne Charmantier, Director of Research at Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), Montpellier With thanks to research carried out by Colin Donihue of Institute at Brown for Environment and Society. Producer: Dearbhail Starr Reporter: Mark Stratton Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Nicola Addyman Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell