Planet Possible CIWEM

Can you be an activist and an environmental professional? How do we tackle eco-anxiety, especially for the next generation and is activism be something everyone can get involved in?

In today’s episode we’re exploring the role that activism plays in driving positive environmental and climate outcomes. Increasingly we’re seeing and hearing individuals and groups looking to drive faster action on slowing the speed at which our planet is warming.

To explore this - and much more - we're joined by a 24-year-old climate activist and the founding Executive Director of Force of Nature - a youth non-profit mobilising mindsets for climate action - Clover Hogan.

We're exploring the topic of bioresources - sometimes called sewage sludge - and our interview is with Georgia Elliot-Smith, who's heading up 'Fighting Dirty' - a campaign to ensure environmental regulation around sewage sludge - last updated in 1989 in England and Wales - remains effective. Niki's co-host is the Director of Innovation & Delivery at CIWEM and supported the creation of the National Biosolids Strategy in 2023 - Paul Shaffer.

The water that runs off our traffic-filled roads ends up in our rivers, but we know little about it, it's hardly monitored and improving the quality of that runoff is a huge task.

Join us for this special episode of Planet Possible in collaboration with Watershed Investigations as we dig into the realities of highway runoff . We’re joined from the front line by Jo Bradley from Stormwater Shepherds as she carries out water quality testing and hear from both National Highways, who own the strategic road network and the Environment Agency, the environmental regulator in England.

We explore how we manage these flows and what the future looks like - and of course we’ll offer our guests the Planet Possible magic wand too.

Are you flood ready? How do you find out if your home is at risk of flooding? What can you do to protect your home and if water does suddenly come through your door, what should you do next?

With much of England and Scotland experiencing rainfall 70% above average for December, flooding has impacted thousands of homes and businesses. Join Niki and her co-host and Environment Agency Environment Manager, Ian Withers as they explore the role of the EA in flood forecasting, warning and operational response.
And we hear the first hand impact of flooding from Mary Long-Donaugh OBE, who after experiencing significant flooding in 2007 is now a property flood resilience advocate.

And as ever, find out what our guests decided to make possible with the Planet Possible Magic Wand…

2023 is set to be the hottest year on record with temperatures 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average and sea surface temperatures for the polar oceans reaching almost 21 degrees C in October. In recent years we’ve seen the climate COPs making headline news - so what was it like to attend COP28, how significant were the outputs - and how did the paradox of a fossil fuel economy hosting COP hosting a COP play out?

Join Niki and her co-host and Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commissioner, Adam Ashman as they explore what COP28 means at a national and local level and hear from CIWEM President Bushra Hussain and Chair of the Trustee Board, Annie Shepperd, as they tell us about their COP28 experiences.

Join Niki and her co-host Dr Chloe Sutcliffe of the Royal Horticultural Society as they explore the often controversial topic of plastic grass. Hear from Professor Ross Cameron who recently called for a “radical changes” in the way we think about our gardens.