The Climate Question

Insects play a crucial role in food production and the spread of disease, as well as being keystone species in many ecosystems. What does a warmer world mean for them?Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to zoologist Dr Tim Cockerill, Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University.Got a question or comment? You can email the team: [email protected]: Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson and Grace Braddock Sound mix: Mike Regaard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Scorching temperatures are expected at this year’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. How will players and fans cope? And how will it affect the action on the pitch? Scientists are concerned about the impact of extreme heat on the biggest sporting event in history. The organisers, FIFA, is introducing mandatory water breaks to keep players cool, but experts say the hot conditions may slow down the game and give an advantage to teams that play more matches in air-conditioned stadiums. There’s also concern about the health effects on fans. FIFA has put in place measures such as cooling areas and misting systems, but some say the plans don’t go far enough. The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to Dr Madeleine Orr, Associate Professor of Sports Ecology at the University of Toronto, and BBC Sport Correspondent Katie Gornall. Katie also breaks down the carbon footprint of a World Cup that’s been described as one of the most polluting events ever. Got a question or comment? You can email the team: [email protected]: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Producers: Nik Sindle, Jordan Dunbar, Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Tom Brignell, Philip Bull Editor: Simon Watts

Corals protect humans and sustain 25% of all marine life. But reefs are under threat from climate change, and mass bleaching events mean that some scientists estimate they could disappear by 2100.In this episode, Graihagh Jackson is joined by BBC CrowdScience presenter, Caroline Steel. We go to Puerto Rico to see how self-duplicating, carnivorous coral could be the solution. We also speak to the scientist who helped discover what was causing coral bleaching in the first place - back when climate change was commonly denied.This programme was first broadcast in 2024.Guests: Dr Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane Dr Stacey Williams, Executive Director at the Institute for Socio Ecological ResearchPicture: Prickly alcyonarian - Dendronephthya sp. Orange red colored soft coral. Credit: ultramarinfoto via Getty. Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Caroline Steel Producer: Octavia Woodward Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon Watts Sound Engineer: Tom BrignellGot a climate question you’d like answered? E-mail the team: [email protected]

In the global race for critical minerals - could the seabed provide solutions? Or should we leave these metal-rich environments undisturbed? Governments and mining companies around the world are on the hunt for the critical minerals we need for the green tech transition. And there’s growing interest in an unlikely source – potato-shaped nodules that are found kilometres below the surface of our oceans. These polymetallic nodules contain high levels of elements like cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper. Supporters of deep-sea mining say that harvesting them might be less damaging to the environment than mining on land. But many scientists support a moratorium; they say industrial activity on the seabed could damage the biodiversity of a fragile part of our planet.The BBC’s Climate and Science Reporter Georgina Rannard has been following the deep-sea mining debate for five years. She chats to Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar.Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] Production team: Simon Watts, Graihagh Jackson, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon WattsPicture Credit: A Brittle Star, Michael Zeigler via Getty Images

Electric vehicle sales are soaring in Thailand and Vietnam. What’s behind the boom? And will it help the climate? Thais and Vietnamese are switching to electric cars in huge numbers – attracted by government subsidies and a more exciting range of EVs. Jobs in the car industry are also up in both countries as a new generation of manufacturers compete for domination of the emerging electric market. But can the pace of growth last? Will the boom in electric cars reduce the chronic air pollution in cities like Bangkok? And will it help Thailand and Vietnam reduce their carbon emissions? In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Jordan Dunbar chats to Ember’s Asian Energy Analyst, Lam Pham and Bloomberg’s Thailand Reporter, Patpicha Tanakasempipat. Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected] Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producer: Nik Sindle Sound engineer: Jack Graysmark and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

What’s the carbon footprint of streaming your favourite shows or doing an AI search? How vulnerable are river estuaries to climate change? Plus, are you a climate optimist or pessimist? Graihagh Jackson and her panel answer your questions. The panel are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience. Got a question or comment for the next listeners' show? You can email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721 Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon WattsPicture Credit: ljubaphoto via Getty Images

It’s one of the most commonly debated questions in the climate world: Is this weather we’re experiencing natural, or is it linked to man-made climate change? In this episode of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar are joined by BBC Lead Weather Presenter, Matt Taylor. Matt’s forecasts are seen not just in the UK but around the world. Matt chats to Graihagh and Jordan about the crucial difference between weather and climate, and the challenge of communicating this on air. They discuss why heavy snowfall will still be possible in a warmer world, as well as the likely increase in droughts, heatwaves and extreme weather. Matt also talks about whether climate change will make his forecasts more or less accurate. And he tells Graihagh and Jordan about an encounter with BBC wildlife legend, David Attenborough!Got a climate question or comment? Email us at [email protected]: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Producers: Nik Sindle and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell Editors: Simon Watts and Melanie Stewart-Smith

With more and more people moving to cities, informal settlements are expected to grow. When floods hit these unplanned places, it can be disastrous, as we often don’t know much about them. Crucial questions often remain difficult to answer, like how many people live there, what are the buildings made of, and could they withstand a flood? In the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko visits a project using drones and artificial intelligence to help authorities prevent the worst impacts of flooding. And in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, we hear how an innovative digital map helped the emergency response – and will soon be available to all for free across the world.This programme was first broadcast in 2024. You can email us at [email protected]: Rodrigo Rocha, Partner at the Responsive Cities Institute, Porto Alegre Dr Caroline Gevaert, Associate Professor at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente Nomsa Maseko, the BBC’s South Africa CorrespondentPresenter: Jordan Dunbar Producer: Osman Iqbal Researcher: Octavia Woodward Sound mix: Tom Brignell Editors: Sophie Eastaugh and Simon WattsImage: Reuters

Earthquakes are caused by a sudden release of stress along faults in the earth's crust, not by climate change, but some new studies suggest that melting glaciers and permafrost may influence when, where and how often seismic activity occurs. In this episode, hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to seismologist Dr. Verena Simon from the Swiss Seismology Service and Associate Professor of Geosciences at Colorado State University, Sean Gallen. Got a question or comment? email us at [email protected] Production team: Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown. Editor: Simon Watts. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)

How much does advertising influence what we buy and how we think?A growing number of cities are restricting adverts for fossil fuel products, from flights and petrol cars to gas heating. From May, Amsterdam is set to become the first capital city to do so. In 2024, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to introduce similar bans worldwide.In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar asks whether banning fossil fuel adverts is a good idea and whether it makes any difference when it comes to fighting climate change.He speaks to Marco Silva from BBC Verify about the role advertising plays in shaping public attitudes, and Anna Holligan, the BBC's correspondent in The Hague, explains how the restrictions in The Netherlands actually work.Guests: Anna Holligan – BBC correspondent in The Hague Marco Silva – Senior journalist, BBC VerifyGot a question or comment? email us at [email protected] team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and James Piper Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon WattsPicture: Getty Images

As climate change makes the world hotter, some cities have appointed so-called Chief Heat Officers to try to improve their response to record-breaking temperatures. In 2024, Graihagh Jackson spoke to two women who have done the job in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Monterrey, Mexico. What does their role involve? What solutions are out there? And do they get enough funding?Plus, Umaru Fofana reports from Freetown on what happens when extreme heat grips the city. Umaru talks to locals forced to sleep outside because of the temperature, despite risks to their health and safety. And he also investigates a new piece of building design that might help people living in informal settlements.Got a question or comment? email us at [email protected]: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Osman Iqbal Sound engineer: James Beard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Transport is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and in cities around the world it is also one of the biggest daily frustrations. Congestion, pollution and long journeys to work affect millions of people every day.In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar explores how cities can move large numbers of people more quickly, cheaply and with fewer emissions. With most urban journeys still dominated by private cars, the challenge is how to shift people towards more efficient forms of transport.He speaks to Dario Hidalgo, a transport expert based in Bogotá, where a system known as Bus Rapid Transit has helped transform how millions of people travel. By giving buses dedicated lanes, larger vehicles and faster boarding systems, cities can move more people using fewer vehicles, cutting both congestion and emissions. Variations of the model are now being used in cities around the world.Jordan also hears from Sarah Kaufman, Director of the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation in New York, about why similar systems can be harder to implement in dense cities, and how measures like congestion charging are helping to reduce traffic and fund improvements to public transport.While electric cars are often seen as part of the solution, both experts say reducing the number of cars on the road altogether is key. From buses to bikes, they explore how cities might redesign transport systems to be cleaner, faster and more efficient.Guests: Dario Hidalgo – Professor of Transport and Logistics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá Sarah Kaufman – Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, New YorkGot a question or comment? email us at [email protected] team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Mike Regaard Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Melanie Stewart-SmithImage: Guillermo Legaria/AFP via Getty Images

The Climate Question panel answer your queries. Do beavers protect the planet? Should we put solar panels in deserts? And why does the world need to upgrade its electricity grids?Host Graihagh Jackson puts your head-scratchers to Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience. Got a question for the next listeners' show? You can email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721 Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Johnny Hall Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon WattsPicture Credit: A beaver. Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

War leaves a visible trail of destruction: lives and families devastated, homes and communities reduced to rubble. But there is also a climate cost of armed conflict, and it’s an issue that Climate Question listeners have been asking about. So in this show, Host Graihagh Jackson chats to two leading experts about the carbon footprint of battle itself - the jets, the bombs, the supply lines - and the impact of maintaining armies and bases during peacetime. They discuss Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the current US-Israel war with Iran.Graihagh also finds out if there any ways for the military to reduce their emissions and whether they see climate change as a strategic threat.GUESTS: Neta Crawford, Professor of International Relations, University of St Andrews. Dr. Benjamin Neimark, Associate Professor at Queen Mary, University of London Got a question or comment? email us at [email protected] Producers: Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon Watts

Methane is much more powerful than carbon dioxide and emissions are still rising. So what can we do to tackle the human-made sources of this greenhouse gas? And could this buy us time to get to grips with climate change?It's a topic which many Climate Question listeners have been contacting us about. So in this episode Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar put some of your questions and comments to Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth System Sciences at University College London.What makes methane so powerful? Is meat production to blame? And what about leaks and gas-flaring in the fossil fuel industry?Got a question or comment, email us at [email protected] Production team: Simon Watts, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Engineers: Tom Brignell and James Piper Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon Watts

China is installing solar panels and wind turbines so fast that its greenhouse gases emissions may now have peaked. If this trend is confirmed, it would be a major milestone in the fight against climate change because China is the world's largest polluter.The BBC’s Beijing Correspondent Laura Bicker has travelled across China to see the country’s clean energy revolution first hand. She’s visited solar farms in the deserts of Inner Mongolia and in the tea plantations of Yunnan. Laura even discovered a huge lake with panels floating on the surface! But she also saw how China’s addiction to coal is continuing – with new power plants still being built and many poorer Chinese needing to burn coal to get through the winter. In this edition of The Climate Question, Laura chats about her reporting with hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar. They discuss whether the world’s biggest polluter is moving fast enough to meet its green energy targets, and what that means for China and the rest of the world. Got a question you’d like answered? Email: [email protected]: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Guest: Laura Bicker, BBC China Correspondent Producer in China: Joyce Liu Production Team in London: Simon Watts and Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Philip Bull and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsImage: BBC - Solar panels in Yunnan, China

First broadcast in 2024. Graihagh Jackson finds out about the little know pollutant making us sick and driving the climate crisis. It commonly comes from burning coal, diesel or wood and has a habit of getting stuck in people’s lungs as well as causing glaciers to melt. In Nepal, home to some of the world’s most beautiful glaciers, we meet journalist Tulsi Rauniyar, who tells us all about the impact black carbon is having on women and children. She meets Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, a glacier expert who maps the ice losses in the Himalayas. Zerin Osho from the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development helps us understand why black carbon is so important - but often forgotten - in the fight against climate change, and how we can change that. NOTE: The figure given in this programme for the exact amount of global warming linked to black carbon is incorrect. The correct figure will be included in this programme description once re-checked. Got a question you’d like answered? Email: [email protected] Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Ben Cooper Researcher: Octavia Woodward Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Simon Watts Sound Designer: Tom Brignell PHOTO CREDIT: SAIF DAHLAH/AFP via Getty Images

Winter sport depends on one thing that is becoming less reliable each year: snow. As temperatures rise, glaciers are retreating, seasons are shifting, and lower-elevation resorts are struggling to guarantee consistent conditions.Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore the ways climate change is reshaping winter sport, from elite competition to local economies. Former alpine ski racer and BBC Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy Alcott describes how competitors have to deal with shorter training seasons, cancelled races and increasing injury risks.They also speak to Daniel Scott, a leading researcher on climate change and winter tourism at the University of Waterloo in Canada, about which cities may still be able to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics by the 2050s. And Professor Scott tells The Climate Question how organisers are adapting through snowmaking, snow storage and changes to competition schedules.Guests: Chemmy Alcott – former British Winter Olympian and BBC Ski Sunday presenter Professor Daniel Scott – University of Waterloo, CanadaIf you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721Presenters: Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson Production team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Sound engineers: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull Editor: Simon WattsImage: Reuters

Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, dread and powerlessness are some of the many emotions associated with what’s called climate anxiety. A global survey of 10,000 young people aged between 16–25 years, found that 60% were very worried about climate change, and nearly half said that their anxiety negatively effects their daily life. Psychologists say these are rational responses to our changing climate, experienced in many different ways around the world. Graihagh Jackson asks how people can manage these difficult emotions and whether climate anxiety itself can be motivational. Graihagh chats to: Svetlana Chigozie Onye who leads the Eco-anxiety in Africa Project, which looks at the mental health impact of climate change and solutions across Africa. Dr Daniella Watson, Chartered Health Psychologist and a Research Associate at the The Climate Cares Centre, Imperial College London. Got a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected] or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Maria Ogundele Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts Image Credit: Dried up dam. Mike Hutchings, Reuters.

We know the planet is getting hotter because of human-induced climate change. But just how hot could it get?In this show, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to Nasa scientist, Kate Marvel, about the world of climate modelling. Kate has spent decades trying to work out what will happen to the Earth as emissions of carbon dioxide increase. Although the basic facts of climate change are settled, climate modellers are trying to understand how photosynthesis by plants will change in a warmer world. And they’re also puzzling over the crucial role played by clouds! Recently, Kate has written Human Nature, a book about how climate change affects our emotions - from grief and anger to hope and love. She says the wide range of feelings prompted by global warming are compatible with getting the science right.Presenter: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production Team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Brenda Brown Sound engineer: Phil Bull and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsIf you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721(Image: Wildfires in California. Credit: Reuters)

How farmers and scientists in eastern India are using ancient rice seeds to fight the growing impact of flooding, soil salinity and drought.The BBC’s William Kremer tells Graihagh Jackson about his visit to the Sundarbans in West Bengal, where cyclones and rising sea levels have devastated crops. William meets the rice growers drawing on the skills of their forefathers to feed their families. Graihagh also gets a global overview from Dr Rafal Gutaker, rice expert at Kew Gardens, London. This programme was first broadcast in 2025.Reporter in India: William Kremer Production Team: Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Octavia Woodward Sound Mix: Neil Churchill and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsIf you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Image credit: Reuters

Across the world, cars are getting taller, wider and heavier. Sports Utility Vehicles, or SUVs, now dominate global car sales, and the trend has continued into the electric age with many new EVs larger than ever.In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar examines why bigger cars have become so popular with drivers and so profitable for manufacturers. From comfort and safety to status and aspiration, SUVs are reshaping roads across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.Size matters. Heavier vehicles use more energy, require bigger batteries, and create challenges for cities, from congestion and parking to road damage and safety. Jordan speaks to Theo Leggett, the BBC’s International Business Correspondent, and Anjani Trivedi, Global Business Correspondent at The Economist, about car-spreading, emissions, electrification, and whether governments and consumers could reverse the trend.Guests: Theo Leggett, BBC International Business Correspondent Anjani Trivedi, Global Business Correspondent, The EconomistPresenter: Jordan Dunbar Production team: Ben Andrews, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Gareth Jones, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon WattsImage: CJ Gunther / EPA-EFE / REX / ShutterstockGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

People often ask whether there are any quick fixes to the climate crisis — easy wins that could cut emissions without waiting decades. This week, The Climate Question does something a little different.Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar stage an imaginary cabinet meeting, with three “ministers” competing to deliver the biggest climate impact in just five years. Climate scientist and YouTuber Adam Levy pitches methane cuts in food and farming. Radhika Khosla, an urban climatologist and adviser to national governments, argues building smarter and reducing air conditioning are the fastest levers. And Jordan steps into the role of Transport Minister to make the case for buses, bikes and less traffic.Together, they explore whether these quick fixes are enough — and why, if they’re so effective, they aren’t already happening.Guests: Radhika Khosla – Associate Professor, University of Oxford Adam Levy – Climate Scientist and creator of ClimateAdamHosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production Team: Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Dafydd Evans, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon WattsImage: ReutersGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

Whales are among the largest animals to have ever lived – and scientists are discovering they also play a big role in the climate system. From the food they eat to where their waste and bodies end up, whales help move carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, where it can be locked away for centuries.This week, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore what whales can tell us about climate change – and how warming seas may be affecting them in return. They speak to Victoria Gill, BBC Science Correspondent, about new research analysing Antarctic seabed samples to trace how whale populations influence long-term carbon storage.They also hear from Helen Czerski, physicist, oceanographer and author of Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World, about one of the most surprising scientific records of all: whale earwax – and how it reveals stress levels in the changing oceans.Guests: Victoria Gill, BBC Science Correspondent Helen Czerski, Professor of the Environment and Society, University College LondonHosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production Team: Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, James Piper, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

We answer YOUR climate questions – on everything from “green” careers to ice cores to the world’s electricity challenge! In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Graihagh Jackson explores your climate-related headscratchers. Her panel chat about the new jobs that will open up as the world economy moves away from fossil fuels – and the skills that will be needed. They also discuss the dangers of nitrous oxide – a planet-warming gas, but also crucial for the fertilisers that help feed us. And have you ever wondered how scientists actually date the ice cores they dig out of glaciers. Some of them are 100,000s of years old! Plus: the controversial scientists who’ve won the Nobel Prize, and is there anywhere on Earth that’s untouched by humans? Host: Graihagh Jackson Guests: BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, BBC CrowdScience Presenter Caroline Steel, and Akshat Rathi, Bloomberg Senior Climate Reporter and Host of the Bloomberg Green podcast.Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Graihagh Jackson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

Storms, cyclones and flooding in South East Asia have killed close to 2000 people, devastating communities across Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Scientists warn climate change is reshaping weather patterns, increasing the risk of heavier rainfall and more destructive floods in the future.With many densely populated cities sinking and built on flood-prone land, the region is particularly vulnerable. But experts say there are bold ideas and solutions that could help reduce the risks and save lives.In this special collaboration between The Climate Question and the new BBC World Service podcast Asia Specific, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar join host Mariko Oi to explore what made the floods so deadly — and what can be done in the future.Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editors: Bill Birtles and Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

What do you think of when you think about our oceans? Maybe you see a picture of our planet with a big patch of blue? Maybe you think about storms or dramatic ocean voyages? Maybe fish or coral reefs? In this edition of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore how our oceans are even more important than you might imagine. They help put the brakes on climate change and regulate our weather - even in faraway deserts. They provide food, and even influence the rise of great civilisations, like Ancient Egypt. Graihagh and Jordan are joined by oceanographer and physicist Helen Czerski, author of Blue Machine, How the Ocean Shapes Our World. Helen also chats about the challenges of trying to collect data at sea during huge storms. Hosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production team: Simon Watts, Nik Sindle, Grace Braddock Sound engineer: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]

How can the world speed up its efforts to fight climate change? It’s been a dramatic fortnight at the COP climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belem, with torrential rains and floods, protests and even a fire. A deal has finally been done but it’s divisive and has left many wondering whether we'll really avoid the worst effects of a warming world. Join Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson as they take a deep dive into the results of the negotiations and find out what they mean. The BBC’s Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt joins us from Brazil. Plus, our panel of experts discuss the future of climate action.Guests: Adil Najam, Professor of International Relations and Environment at the Pardee School, USA David Victor, Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at the University of California, USA Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Melanie Stewart-Smith, Steven Bailey Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? Email us: [email protected]

The American lawyer, oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman is said to have chain-smoked his way through almost every UN climate gathering from the early 1990s until his death in 2005.Some of those who saw Pearlman operate in Kyoto, where the first legally binding international agreement on climate change was agreed in 1997, say he created the playbook for stalling climate talks. The Kyoto protocol was never ratified by the United States, and Pearlman is now the subject of a major play, Kyoto, which has just transferred from London to the Lincoln Center in New York.As the COP30 climate summit takes place in Brazil, Climate Question Host Jordan Dunbar has been telling our friends on The Global Story podcast the true story of the man once nicknamed "the high priest of the carbon club". With episodes each weekday, The Global Story is where the world and America meet. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption.For The Global Story podcastProducers: Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins

Carbon dioxide is a molecule so important it has shaped life on Earth for billions of years. Without it, there would be no plants, no oceans, no people. But now, after centuries of burning coal, oil and gas, it's in the atmosphere at levels that alarm scientists.In this episode of The Climate Question, Graihagh Jackson speaks to Peter Brannen, science journalist and author of The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything, and Esme Stallard, BBC climate and science reporter. They explore what makes this tiny molecule so powerful, how it has driven ice ages and mass extinctions, why the story of CO2 is the story of human progress — and what might come next. Host: Graihagh Jackson Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Graihagh Jackson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ben Andrews Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? Email us: [email protected]

Every year, tens of thousands of people — from world leaders to activists to celebrities— gather for one of the world’s most ambitious meetings: the UN’s annual climate summit, COP.But what does it actually take to make it happen? How do you feed, transport and house 80,000 people, while trying to keep global negotiations on track?The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to Helen Wright, who helped deliver COP26 in Glasgow and COP28 in Dubai, to find out what goes on behind the scenes. From keeping the meeting rooms at exactly 21.5°C to managing thousands of journalists, politicians and protesters, Helen shares what it’s really like to build a temporary city devoted to climate action. We also hear from Bloomberg’s Akshat Rathi on whether all that effort actually changes global climate policy — and what’s on the cards for COP30 to be held in the Brazilian Amazon.Guests: Helen Wright – Former Head of Delivery, COP26; now Event Director at Identity Group Akshat Rathi – Senior Climate Reporter, Bloomberg News, and host of the Zero podcastProduction team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ben Andrews Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? Email us: [email protected]

The Amazon is probably the most famous rainforest on Earth. It’s home to Indigenous communities, one of the world's biggest rivers and a diversity of plant and animal life found nowhere else. But it’s also a region rich in sought-after resources — gold, iron ore, bauxite, coffee and rubber — and vast areas of forest have been cleared for cattle and soy production. Scientists warn that deforestation and climate change are drying the region, fuelling fires, and risking a dangerous tipping point when the rainforest can no longer sustain itself and begins to release more carbon than it absorbs. This week, hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar ask why we need the Amazon, what would happen if it disappeared, and what can still be done to protect it. They speak to a Brazilian ecologist who has spent two decades studying the forest and the fires that threaten it. Guest: Dr Erika Berenguer, Senior Research Associate, University of Oxford and Lancaster University Producers: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell, Dave O'Neil Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: [email protected]

BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt travels to Somalia to investigate the links between global warming and the decades-long conflict there. He hears how Somalis are responding by launching businesses and their own renewables industry. This programme was first broadcast in 2024.Presenter: Justin Rowlatt Producer in Somalia: Stuart Phillips Producers in London: Miho Tanaka, Sara Hegarty Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and David Crackles Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: [email protected]

Mumbai is India’s economic engine, but every rainy season this megacity comes to a virtual standstill as torrential rains flood streets, homes and transport networks. In 2005, Mumbai faced one of its worst floods on record – and experts warn that climate change could make future rainfall even more intense.This week, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore what’s happening with Mumbai and the mighty monsoon – and how a city of more than 20 million people can adapt to a wetter, more unpredictable future.They hear from BBC Marathi correspondent Janhavee Moole and Zerin Osho, Director of the India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, about the challenges to India’s financial capital.Guests: Janhavee Moole, BBC Marathi Zerin Osho, Director, India Programme, Institute for Governance and Sustainable DevelopmentProduction Team: Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Joe McCartney, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: [email protected]

What can ice cores tell us about the atmosphere millions of years ago? These cylinders of ice, drilled from glaciers and ice sheets around the world, preserve precious clues about our changing climate and records such as rainfall, temperature and greenhouse gases, even volcanic eruptions. But what can the past tell us about the future? Host Graihagh Jackson hears from two ice core experts about their icy adventures in Antarctica, the Himalayas and beyond.Dr Liz Thomas is Head of Ice Cores Research at the British Antarctic Survey and is currently working on an ice core that may be the oldest ever. Lonnie Thompson is a pioneer in the field whose first ice core finds date back to the 1970s. He is Distinguished University Professor of Earth Sciences. Senior Research Scientist, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University. Professor Thompson also appears in a documentary called The Canary.Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Producers: Diane Richardson and Nik Sindle Production coordinator: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Sound mix: Tom Brignell and Louis Griffin Editor: Simon Watts

Graihagh Jackson and the BBC’s former Global Health Correspondent Tulip Mazumdar investigate how extreme heat, fuelled by climate change, is affecting pregnant women in India. In the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Tulip hears the heart-breaking stories of some of the women affected and explores simple solutions that would make their work in scorching agricultural fields safer. The programme was first broadcast in 2024. Email us at [email protected] Produced by Sophie Eastaugh, Graihagh Jackson and Camilla Horrox Editor: Sophie Eastaugh Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and James Beard Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown

When people talk about tipping points in the climate, it’s usually bad news – the irreversible melting of ice sheets or the collapse of rainforests. But could there be positive tipping points too, moments where climate solutions break through and spread rapidly?Tim Lenton, Professor of Climate Change at the University of Exeter and author of Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis, says it’s already happening – from the dramatic rise of renewable energy to the surge in electric vehicles. He explains how in Norway, the 80s pop band A-Ha played a crucial role in making EVs mainstream.So, could positive tipping points hold the key to addressing the climate crisis? Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar speak to Professor Lenton about how positive tipping points happen and what we can learn from them. Got a question? Email us: [email protected] Production Team: Jonathan Baker, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Diane Richardson, Sabine Schereck and Nik Sindle Editor: Simon Watts

Africa gets a world beating amount of sunshine — but has just 1% of the world’s solar panels. Over half the continent still lives without electricity, stalling progress and holding back people’s lives. But change may be coming — thanks to a surge in solar imports from China. New data from energy think tank EMBER shows a 60% jump in solar panel shipments to Africa in the past year. If installed, they could generate 15 GW — nearly doubling Africa’s current solar capacity. It’s not just the biggest energy users like South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria. Countries like Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia have tripled their imports. So, is this the start of a solar-powered revolution on the continent? Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar speak to Dr Rose Mutiso, Science Advisor at the Energy for Growth Hub and Founder of the African Tech Futures Lab. Got a question? Email us: [email protected] Production Team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock, Chris Gouzaris and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

The world's wetlands store carbon and can help us tackle some of the impacts of climate change. Are we overlooking their importance? And what can we do to protect them more?Graihagh Jackson travels to wetlands near her home in East Anglia while Qasa Alom reports from the Bay of Bengal. And The Climate Question catches up with an old friend of the show, Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Convention on Wetlands.This programme was first broadcast in 2024.Production team: Osman Iqbal, Octavia Woodward, Brenda Brown, Simon Watts Sound design by Tom Brignell.Send your questions to: [email protected]

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated America’s Gulf coast and overwhelmed the city of New Orleans. The destruction and the response to the storm became infamous and are debated to this day. Climate scientists warn that the warming world is likely to make typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes more intense and so even more dangerous. Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar ask what the world has learned since the disaster in New Orleans, and how we can build cities that can stand up better to more extreme weather events. They chat to Prof Reggie DesRoches, an engineer who was on the ground in the aftermath of Katrina to help find out what had gone wrong. His work specialises in adapting infrastructure for natural disasters, including developing innovative materials and practical techniques that might just help us adapt to more violent storms. Can we build a world where hurricanes can't kill? Guest: Prof Reggie DesRoches, President, Rice University, HoustonPresenter: Graihagh Jackson with Jordan Dunbar Producers: Jordan Dunbar, Di Richardson and Nik Sindle Sound mix: Tom Brignell and Sarah Kimberley Editor: Simon WattsGot a climate question you’d like answered? Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721

This week Host Graihagh Jackson grabs a chat with the BBC’s correspondents in two countries that will shape our future climate. Brazil is about to host the giant COP climate conference in the Amazon, but the pace of reducing deforestation has just slowed and there are concerns about potentially weaker environmental standards. Ione Wells in Sao Paulo also talks Graihagh through proposals for oil exploration in the mouth of the rainforest. Plus, China has just started work on the world’s biggest hydroelectric dam. It’s a huge 167-billion dollar project to bring power from Tibet to Hong Kong. The dam will increase Beijing’s use of renewable energy, but comes with a potential environmental cost, as well as the risk of creating tension with China’s neighbours. Laura Bicker gives us some staggering facts and figures about the dam – as well as an explanation of how fish can use “ladders”. Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721Presenter: Graihagh Jackson with Jordan Dunbar Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-Ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge Sound Engineers: Dafydd Evans and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Climate change is melting thousands of glaciers in the Himalayas and having a devastating impact on the people who live there. In 2024, the BBC's Caroline Davies visited the Pakistani side of the world's highest mountain range: she told Graihagh Jackson how villagers are coping, and how they are determined to stay put despite the risks of floods and the disruption to their traditional way of life.You can watch Caroline's reporting from Pakistan here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00246nx/from-above-melting-glaciersGot a climate question you’d like answered? Email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Reporter in Pakistan: Caroline Davies Producers in Pakistan: Fakhir Munir, Usman Zahid, Kamil Dayan Khan Producers in London: Ellie House and Osman Iqbal Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Bill Gates, the tech billionaire turned philanthropist, has been combating poverty, disease, and inequity around the world for decades. However, in recent years he has shifted focus and resources towards the climate crisis.Gates believes fighting climate change and fighting poverty are two sides of the same coin. Food, health and economic crises will last longer and become more severe as climate threats escalate, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable communities.But the billionaire remains optimistic and believes the power of human ingenuity will win out with a technology-driven approach to reducing carbon emissions and dealing with the impact of global warming.In 2023, Graihagh Jackson sat down with Bill Gates to talk about his positive outlook and the billions he’s investing in tackling climate change.Email us: [email protected]: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Osman Iqbal Series producers: Alex Lewis and Simon Watts Editor: China Collins Sound engineers: James Beard, Graham Puddifoot and Tom Brignell

From coral reefs and mangroves to raising the land itself, how small island nations are using natural and innovative techniques to adapt to rising sea levels and extreme weather events linked to climate change. Jordan Dunbar chats to Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Dr. Rosanne Martyr, senior scientist on coastal vulnerability and adaptation, Climate Analytics. Plus, Anna Holligan, the BBC's correspondent in The Hague, has the latest on a landmark climate case brought by Pacific Islanders at the International Court of Justice.Got a comment or a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected] or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineers: Tom Brignell, Rohan Madison and Frank McWeeny Editor: Simon Watts

Rare earths have been described as the oil of the 21st century, incredibly valuable both economically and in the fight against climate change. There's a battle underway around the world to mine and control these minerals - a battle that is currently being won by China. As demand rises, the problems with rare earths are also becoming clearer because getting them out of the ground requires strip mining and the use of poisonous chemicals.BBC China Correspondent Laura Bicker has seen this environmental impact first hand on a visit to the rare earth hubs of Bayan Obo in northern China and Guanzuo in the south. She's been speaking to locals about the benefits this booming industry brings and the damage that it can cause. BBC Climate and Science Reporter Esme Stallard also joins Jordan Dunbar to chat about why rare earths are so valuable and the state of greenhouse gas emissions in China. Plus, she's got an update on a climate satellite that's gone missing in space! Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producers: Diane Richardson and Jordan Dunbar Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Dave O'Neill Editor: Simon WattsGot a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected] or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721

Could changing weather patterns due to climate change make a difference to where and when we travel, or to the cost of our holidays? It was the hottest June on record for Western Europe, according to the EU’s climate service, Copernicus. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting. Extreme heat and drier weather can lead to wildfires, while retreating snow lines can put pressure on winter skiing trips. For their part, popular destinations in the Caribbean and the Pacific face another challenge - from rising sea levels. Host Graihagh Jackson asks how holiday-makers and the travel industry can adapt to a changing climate. Contributors: Simon King, Lead BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Dr. Susanne Etti, Global Environmental Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel Stefan Gössling, Professor of Tourism Research, Linnaeus University, SwedenPresenter: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Dave O'Neill Editor: Simon WattsGot a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected] or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721

Climate change is having major health impacts around the world - which are only expected to increase as our planet gets warmer. These impacts range from heat stroke to the spread of tropical diseases, from hospitals losing power during extreme weather to the effect on our mental health. In this week's show, Graihagh Jackson talks to two doctors from Malaysia and Egypt about the challenges the medical sector faces, as well as possible solutions and how healthcare must also address its own emissions problem.If you have a question or a comment, email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721Guests: Dr Jemilah Mahmoud, Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Malaysia. Dr Omnia El Omrani, Vice-Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance,Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Diane Richardson Research: Jordan Dunbar Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull Editor: Simon Watts

The Climate Question panel discuss how to make homes - and ships - better for the climate. Plus, what about our own carbon footprints? And are oceans or forests better at storing carbon?Answering your head-scratchers are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience.Got a question for the next listeners' show? You can email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721Host: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Diane Richardson Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Mike Regaard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Tropical rainforests cover around 6% of our planet, yet they're home to more than half of the world’s species. They're also one of our planet’s most vital defences against climate change. But a new report shows how our tropical forests were ravaged in 2024 - and the Amazon rainforest was one of the worst impacted. Host Graihagh Jackson finds out why, speaking to BBC climate reporter Esme Stallard and Colombia’s former environment minister, Susana Muhamad.Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Producers: Beth Timmons and Diane Richardson Sound Engineer: Dave O'Neill and Tom Brignell Editors: Simon Watts and Lisa Baxter

David Attenborough's new documentary argues that our oceans have been underexplored and undervalued. Could protecting our seas not only help biodiversity, but fix the climate too?Keith Scholey, one of the directors of "Ocean With David Attenborough", tells The Climate Question how the world’s seas are at a critical turning point. Many countries have pledged to protect a third of the world’s oceans, and the film’s creators hope it will push global leaders to deliver on their promise at this year's UN conference on oceans. The documentary also includes some of the most detailed footage ever captured of bottom trawling, a widespread fishing method that damages the seabed. In this episode we ask why we know so little about the ocean? And why the largest part of our planet been under-protected for so long? Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Producer: Beth Timmins Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews, Mike Regaard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: [email protected]