The Climate Question BBC World Service

Someone dies every other day protecting the environment, according to data gathered by the campaign group, Global Witness. Even higher numbers of people are attacked or threatened.
To understand why this is happening, the BBC’s East and Central Europe Correspondent, Nick Thorpe travels to the foothills of the Carpathians in Romania, to show us how important the forests there are in fighting climate change, why they’re subject to high levels of illegal logging and consequently, clashes with environmentalists. One activist, Gabriel Păun of Agent Green, describes the numerous and brutal attacks he’s experiences whilst out documenting illegal logging. We also hear from a mother, whose son was murdered when he confronted a ‘wood thief’ in 2019. Laura Furones from Global Witness tells host Graihagh Jackson why this is happening around the world and what we can do about it.
Got a question, comment or experience you’d like to share? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com
Produced and presented by Graihagh Jackson. Additional production by Osman Iqbal.
Editor: Simon Watts
Mixing: Tom Brignell

There’s been a lot happening in our warming world and so The Climate Question is taking a break from its usual analysis to catch you up with the latest news. From worsening turbulence and plummeting planes to new rocket launches with satellites on board that hope to unlock one of the Earth’s big mysteries: clouds... and how they might impact, and be impacted, by global heating.
Plus, a look at the latest trends in clean, green energy technology. Are we investing enough in renewables to put the brakes on climate change?
Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar are joined by Tim Gould from the International Energy Agency to find out about their new World Energy Investment Report and by BBC Climate Journalist Esme Stallard to discuss worsening air turbulence and what we can do about it.
Do you have any questions or comments? Email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com
Show Notes: Check out Jordan’s YouTube videos, covering the climate basics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQYTEotCJw8&t=5s
BBC Bitesize website for kids can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2np6g8
Production Team: Octavia Woodward, Ben Cooper, Brenda Brown
Sound Engineers: Neil Churchill and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

Billions of dollars have been pumped into the promise of a climate-friendly way of producing meat, but is growing a steak in a lab any better for the planet than rearing a cow on a farm?
Supporters of the idea say it will dramatically reduce the impact of livestock, which is responsible for about 15% of the world’s planet-warming gases, as well as returning huge amounts of land to nature. But studies suggest cultivating meat in a lab might actually be worse for the planet, at least in the long-run – we put both claims to the test.
Graihagh Jackson presents an update of a programme first broadcast in 2023.
Guests:
Tasneem Karodia, co-founder of Mzansi Meat, in South Africa;
John Lynch, postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oxford, in the UK;
Nick Marsh, the BBC’s Asia business correspondent, in Singapore
Producer: Simon Tulett
Researcher: Matt Toulson
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: China Collins
Sound engineer: Tom Brignell
Production Coordinators: Debbie Richford and Sophie Hill

Graihagh Jackson is joined by her regular panel to answer climate-related questions from listeners. BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, Prof Tamsin Edwards of King's College London, and Dr Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News, discuss telling children about climate change, solar panels, nuclear fusion and more.
Plus, Graihagh finds out if playing music really helps plants to grow.
If you have got a climate question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Production team: Osman Iqbal, Octavia Woodward, Neil Churchill, Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

China is scouring the globe for the raw materials of the future. How will we be affected? Graihagh Jackson investigates.

Today, more than half the world’s population live in cities – and as our numbers swell, so will our cities, especially those around the Pacific Rim, where it’s predicted our largest megacities of 10 million plus will be situated. And herein lies an opportunity: 60% of the buildings needed for 2050 are not yet built.
Could we shape our cities into places that are good for the climate and also good for our mental health? Can we design buildings and infrastructure that make green decisions easier and also help us deal with stress or depression?
Jordan Dunbar hears about examples in the Netherlands and Egypt. Are there win-win options out there that can help the world deal with two of its biggest challenges?

Contributors:
Houssam Elokda -Urban Planner, with Happy Cities, Vancouver
Sally Nabil - BBC Arabic Egypt Correspondent, Cairo
Anna Holligan - BBC Correspondent, The Hague, Netherlands
Production Team: Graihagh Jackson, Octavia Woodward, Brenda Brown, Simon Watts
Sound Design: Tom Brignell
email theclimatequestion@bbc.com