22 episodes

Nature is in crisis. Hear from activists, scientists and those most affected as we unpack the challenges we face as well as the solutions that lie within our grasp. In this podcast from the Natural History Museum in London, discover the interconnected issues facing our planet and explore what we can do about them together.

Our Broken Planet The Natural History Museum, London

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 55 Ratings

Nature is in crisis. Hear from activists, scientists and those most affected as we unpack the challenges we face as well as the solutions that lie within our grasp. In this podcast from the Natural History Museum in London, discover the interconnected issues facing our planet and explore what we can do about them together.

    Standing up for nature: What can we do to fix our broken planet?

    Standing up for nature: What can we do to fix our broken planet?

    Surveys show that most of us are really worried about climate change and we want something to be done. But what?
    This series, we've explored many ways in which nature is changing in response to human activity and the dangers posed to people and planet as a result. In this final episode, Tori and Khalil explore how people are taking action in the face of the planetary emergency. Along the way, you'll find out:
    When has activism been effective? How do scientists feel about climate change? One thing everyone can do to start making a positive change Contributors:
    Dr Erica McAlister - Senior Curator for Diptera and Siphonaptera (flies and fleas) at the Natural History Museum Professor Tristram Wyatt - Senior research fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research at UCL The Tyre Extinguishers - A nameless group who deflate the tyres of SUVs in criminal acts of protest Alessandra Korap Munduruku - Member of the Munduruku group of Sawré Muybu, an indigenous territory in northern Brazil, and President of the Pariri Indigenous Association Dr Rim Saab - Social psychology lecturer at the University of Sussex, who specialises in the psychology of political action Have your say:
    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum
    Twitter: @NHM_London
    TikTok: @its_NHM
    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast
     
     

    • 43 min
    Deep down and dirty? Mining for a sustainable future

    Deep down and dirty? Mining for a sustainable future

    A more sustainable future lies within reach. One where human societies are powered by wind and solar energy, leaving behind dirty, climate-changing fossil fuels in the past. Sounds good right?  
    But with many tonnes of rare earth metals needed to manufacture just one wind turbine, switching to this greener way of life likely means more mining – and lots of it – at least in the short term. But where and how could we get these metals while causing the least possible harm to people and planet? 
    Khalil meets scientists and campaigners to find out: 
    Why are some people so interested in mining the deep sea?   What lives on the ocean floor and what would happen to it if mining got the green light?  How can science help reverse the long-term damage caused by mining?  Contributors: 
    Richard Herrington, research lead for resourcing the green economy at the Natural History Museum  Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum Merit Researcher specialising in deep-sea biodiversity  Louisa Casson, Global Project Leader for Greenpeace's Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign  Have your say: 
    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us: 
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum 
    Twitter: @NHM_London 
    TikTok: @its_NHM 
    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    • 44 min
    Something in the air: Can Nigeria stop its silent killer?

    Something in the air: Can Nigeria stop its silent killer?

    Nigeria has some of the highest levels of unhealthy air across the African continent – a leading cause of inflammatory illness and premature death. Could its huge and growing cohort of young people have the solution?
    Tori & Khalil head to the “Giant of Africa” to find out how one of the world’s fastest growing nations – by economy and population – is dealing with rapidly accelerating energy demand and what might happen next.
    Join us and find out
    What’s the cause of Nigeria’s dangerous air pollution – and what can be done about it? How can African countries avoid some of the environmental mis-steps made by more industrialised nations?  What can Lagos teach us about building greener, more liveable megacities of the future?
    Contributors
    Dr Rose Alani, head of the Air Quality Monitoring Research Group at the University of Lagos Oludayo Yusuf, Consulting Embryologist at Origene Health Services in Lagos Joshua Gabriel Oluwaseyi, environmental activist and founder of LearnBlue Dr Mofoluso Fagbeja, air quality specialist and co-author of the World Bank-funded report Development of an Air Quality Management Plan for Lagos Desmond Appiah, country lead for The Clean Air Fund in Ghana Have your say:
    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum
    Twitter: @NHM_London
    TikTok: @its_NHM
    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    • 36 min
    Abusing nature is making us sick: What's the cure?

    Abusing nature is making us sick: What's the cure?

    As modern human societies have tried to dominate and organise nature, we have been interacting with other species in some dangerous ways. From encroaching on the territory of wild creatures, to industrially farming other species in unnaturally cramped conditions, human actions are increasing the likelihood of animal nasties jumping the species barrier to infect us.
    Tori & Khalil ask whether our extractive relationship with nature could be making us sick and what we can do about it. Along the way, you’ll find out:
    Why are bats so full of viruses?   Could the next pandemic start on a factory farm? Which single behaviour has an outsized impact on helping keep nature healthy? Contributors:
    ·       Dr Emilia Skirmuntt, Evolutionary virologist with the Oxford Vaccine Group, Oxford University. 
    ·       Dr Rajib Ausraful Islam, Veterinary researcher with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh 
    ·       Pak Warman, fisherman and local bat protector with the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation, based in Sulawesi, Indonesia
    ·       Dr David Redding, Biodiversity and health research lead at the Natural History Museum
    ·       Ed Winters (AKA Earthling Ed), vegan educator and co-founder of Surge Activism
    Have your say:

    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum
    Twitter: @NHM_London
    TikTok: @its_NHM
    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    • 39 min
    All hail our jellyfish overlords

    All hail our jellyfish overlords

    What’s brainless, heartless, eyeless and thrives in a warming ocean? Hint: it’s wobbly and it could be coming to a dinner plate near you.
    Tori & Khalil investigate the effects of rising sea temperatures, from changing food sources to the perilous state of coral reefs – home to one quarter of all marine species. They’re joined by scientists and campaigners to help explain the changes we’re seeing and how we can help nature and humanity adjust. Join us and find out:
    What happens to animals living in a more acidic sea? How do you regrow a coral reef? Will we all be eating jellyfish soon? Contributors
    Sanne Tuijten, marine biologist with the Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire
    Dr Sebastian Hennige from the University of Edinburgh
    Dr Lucas Brotz, from the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia
    John Hourston, founder of the Blue Planet Society
    Megan Randles, global political lead for Greenpeace’s Protect the Oceans campaign
    Have your say
    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum
    Twitter: @NHM_London
    TikTok: @its_NHM
    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    • 38 min
    Rainforests: How to restore Earth's lungs

    Rainforests: How to restore Earth's lungs

     
    Breathe in. Breathe out. The oxygen flowing through your body is the result of photosynthesis: the natural process through which living things convert sunlight into energy. About 30% of land-based photosynthesis happens in tropical rainforests: the lungs of the earth. Rainforests are also great at sucking up excess carbon from the atmosphere- something we know we’ve got to do more of.

    But in recent years, these lungs have been getting constricted: shrinking in size and choked up with smoke. So grab your mosquito net and join Tori & Khalil on a trip through the tropics to find out what's going on - and how we can help rainforests breathe deeply again.

    Contributors:
    Mardi Minangsari - Campaigner with Indonesian conservation group Kaoem Telapak
    Dr Helena Varkey - Professor of Environmental Politics, Universiti Malaya
    Dr Thomas Smith - Geographer and environmental scientist, London School of Economics
    Dr Michael Pashkevich, Marshall Sherfield Fellow, University of Cambridge
    Dr Rico Fischer, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ Leipzig

    Have your say:
    Join the conversation on social media using #OurBrokenPlanet and tag us:
    Instagram: @natural_history_museum
    Twitter: @NHM_London
    TikTok: @its_NHM

    Learn more about how you can take action for nature and find additional resources at www.nhm.ac.uk/podcast

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
55 Ratings

55 Ratings

Imagine_having_a_bad_game ,

LISEN TO THIS RIGHT NOW 🙃

Just amazing leaned so many things even tho a lot of thing r negative, some positive things are so interesting 🤨
Recommend
8.73/10.00

Fegamorph ,

Interesting

Interesting albeit a bit depressing when you realise what a stain on the world is humans are, but nevertheless enjoyable and informative.

jkiytfg ,

Fantastic Podcast

I have learned so much from this podcast! The hosts are so human, animated and a pleasure to listen to. I never knew Chameleons and Orchids were a threatened species. Please keep the podcast going. It’s so educational.

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