The Climate Question BBC World Service

Worsening energy blackouts are crippling South Africa. They’re being caused in part by an over-reliance on ageing coal-fired power stations which can’t produce enough electricity. The government has an ambitious plan to rapidly build up solar and wind power by opening up the grid to private providers. But it’s facing opposition from the coal lobby.

Will this electricity crisis be the thing that finally pushes South Africa to implement its climate plan? And can it be implemented in a way that treats all South Africans equally, and doesn’t unfairly benefit a rich minority?

Presenters Sophie Eastaugh and Luke Jones are joined by:
Dr Nthabiseng Mohlakoana, expert in South Africa’s Just Energy transition, Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands
Steve Nicholls, Head of Mitigation at the Presidential Climate Commission, South Africa’s
Elna Schutz, freelance journalist who spoke to businesses in and around Johannesburg

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Laurence Knight
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

The effects of climate change on weather patterns around the world, including seasonal temperatures and rainfalls, are being felt keenly in agriculture – with shifting seasons and varying yields undermining years of habit-formed knowledge and process. Technology experts are helping farmers, including in some of the world’s poorest regions, adapt to the new food production landscape through the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, and machine learning.

Presenters Sophie Eastaugh and Luke Jones are joined by:
Ranveer Chandra, Managing Director for Research for Industry and the CTO of Agri-Food at Microsoft
Himanshu Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of ClimateAI
Dr Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division at the International Food Policy Research Institute
Reporter: Shuriah Niazi, speaking to members of a Farmer Producer Organization, working with ITC Foods.

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Ben Cooper
Researchers: Matt Toulson and Laura Cain
Production co-ordinator: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Sound Engineer: James Beard

Some oil and gas giants are being pushed by shareholders to adopt more climate friendly strategies.

An environmental law charity is suing the directors of a global oil company, arguing their climate strategy is not adequate to meet current targets, supported by other shareholders. Elsewhere, a group of investors in another fossil fuel giant, recently unseated multiple board members in an effort to force a change of direction.

How effective is this form of activism?

Presenter Paul Connolly is joined by:
Chris James, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Engine No.1, US
Camila Domonoske, NPR journalist, US
Tariq Fancy, former Global Chief Investment officer for Sustainable Investing at BlackRock, Canada
Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Producers: Ben Cooper and Mora Morrison
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Production Coordinator: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: China Collins
Sound Engineer: James Beard and Rod Farquhar

Our warming world is changing the geographical distribution of several animal species. Mosquitoes have been able to colonise new regions, places where they haven’t been found before including Afghanistan and countries in Europe.

According to the World Health Organisation, dengue fever is the most critical mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. Globally there’s been a 30-fold increase in infections in the last 50 years.

But is there a way to prevent the spread of the disease?

Presenter Paul Conolly is joined by:

Valdya Baraputri, reporter, BBC News Indonesia in Jakarta

Dr. Dewi Iriani, Paediatrician at Koja Hospital, Jakarta

Dr Nyla, Vice Director of Koja Regional Hospital, Jakarta

Dr. Imran Pambudi, Director of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Health Ministry of Indonesia

Manisha Kulkarni, Associate Professor University of Ottawa in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health

Felipe Colon Gonzalez, Technology Lead The Wellcome Trust, London

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Ivana Davidovic

Researcher: Matt Toulson

Production Co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill

Series Producer: Alex Lewis

Editor: China Collins

Sound Engineer: Rod Farquhar

Record-breaking temperatures in the Alps in Europe have led to a disappointing ski season so far. Some slopes have been more brown than white, while others have been forced to close all together. Many worry this is a bad omen for the whole industry – which employs thousands globally.

This is part of a wider trend of unpredictable weather. Some ski resorts are trying to adapt, by making artificial snow for example, but these short-term measures aren’t always sustainable.

It’s predicted that the Alps will have 25% less snow by 2050, whereas resorts in Arctic Sweden are forecast to stay colder for longer. Could the northern country become skiing’s last resort, or will the industry have to fundamentally change to survive?

Presenter Graihagh Jackson is joined by:

Anna Richards, freelance journalist

Linda Lundmark, associate professor at Department of Geography at Umea University

Mathias Vuille, professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at the University of Albany

Rob Stewart, writer and PR Director for Ski Press

With thanks to additional research by Harald Rice, University of Surrey.

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Ben Cooper and Mora Morrison
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Production Coordinator: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill
Series Producer: Ros Jones
Editor: China Collins
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

Natural gas is often seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to coal, yet it’s a fossil fuel and gives off climate warming emissions when burned. On the internet there are many adverts suggesting that natural gas is a clean and green way to reduce emissions.
We investigate whether these adverts mislead the public as to whether gas is really ‘green.’
Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Marco Silva are joined by:
Pep Canadell, Executive Director of the Global Carbon Project & Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO
Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science and affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University
Former Senator, Mary Landrieu, co-chair of ‘Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future’

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Frances Read and Marco Silva
Researchers: Natasha Fernandes and Matt Toulson
Production Coordinator: Siobhan Reed
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: China Collins
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell