The Climate Question

BBC World Service
The Climate Question

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

  1. 7 HR AGO

    Who wins in the electric vehicles transition?

    Across the world vehicle manufacturers are racing to make zero emission cars in the move away from fossil-fuel powered vehicles. It’s a huge market which could reach 9 trillion dollars worldwide by 2030. One small country which is grabbing this opportunity is Hungary. Located in the heart of Europe but with a population of under 10 million, it’s becoming one of the top battery producers globally for electric cars. This transition is bringing billions of euros of investment into the Hungarian economy and creating tens of thousands of jobs. One city in particular – Debrecen – the country’s second biggest, is becoming an epi-centre for battery production. The Climate Question’s Jordan Dunbar has been to Debrecen to find out who’s benefitting from the green gold rush. He speaks to local people and businesses about their hopes and fears as their city is transformed. Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producers in Hungary: Ellie House and Balint Bardi Producer in London: Caroline Bayley Sound Designer: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts If you have a question, email us at the climatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at +44 8000 321 721

    26 min

  2. 10 FEB

    Is Climate Change ruining your relationship?

    How can you have a successful relationship with someone if you believe passionately in climate action, but they don’t? The fate of our planet can be a divisive, emotive, even frightening issue. It’s something that’s tearing more and more couples and families apart, experts have told us. It’s not easy getting past those differences with the ones we love, but it is possible. We speak to a couple, as well as a mother and daughter, to find out how. And we ask whether the way we talk to our loved ones about climate change might offer important lessons on how we discuss the issue more broadly. Presenter Graihagh Jackson is joined by: Daze and Antonia Aghaji, from London Caroline Hickman, researcher at the University of Bath in the UK and psychotherapist Mohini and Sam Pollock, from Campbell, California Thanks to Jasmine Navarro, founder of Nava, for her help with this episode, which was first broadcast in 2023. Producer: Simon Tulett Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: China Collins Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Production co-ordinators: Debbie Richford and Sophie Hill If you have a question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

    23 min

  3. 3 FEB

    Grace and Kisilu's Story

    The Musya family from rural Kenya have become the stars of two documentaries, inspiring audiences around the world with their efforts to fight the impact of climate change. The award-winning 'Thank You For The Rain' shows how Kisilu Musya manages to keep his family on their farm by planting trees, diversifying their crops and adapting to more extreme weather events. 'Grace And The Storm' tells the story from the perspective of his daughter Grace and was made by CBBC for children around the world. The Climate Question visits the Musya farm in Kenya and talks to the documentary-maker Julia Dahr. Dahr directed 'Thank You For the Rain' and co-directed 'Grace And The Storm' with Dina Mwende. UK viewers can watch 'Grace And The Storm' via the link. Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Reporter in Kenya: Michael Kaloki Producers: Ellie House and Graihagh Jackson Sound Design: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts If you have a question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

    26 min

  4. 27 JAN

    Your questions answered: The speed of global warming; space junk; advice for kids

    Climate Question listeners take over the programme again, putting their queries to Graihagh Jackson and her panel: BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, Bloomberg News senior climate reporter Akshat Rathi and the presenter of BBC CrowdScience Caroline Steel. One listener asks why the climate appears to have changed so dramatically and fast in the last 50 years. Another wonders whether "space junk" plays a role in global warming. Plus, a question from a five-year old and - in a first for the programme - a listener's climate song! If you have a question, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721 Producer: Michaela Graichen Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

    26 min

  5. 20 JAN

    Could ancient rice seeds help fight climate change?

    How farmers and scientists in eastern India are using ancient rice seeds to fight flooding, increasing 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, and 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. And if you'd like to hear more about rice, the BBC World Service's Food Chain programme has just made a show about the climate impacts of the crop. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5xp0 Reporter in India: William Kremer Production Team: Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Octavia Woodward Sound Mix: Neil Churchill and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts If you have a question for the team, email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721

    27 min

  6. 10 JAN

    News update: The Earth breaches its temperature target

    In 2024, the global temperature was more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Graihagh Jackson and BBC Climate Report Esme Stallard consider the significance of this key climate target being breached. Plus, why farmers in Malawi are switching to banana wine and how global warming might be forcing humpback whales to migrate even further. With Zeke Hausfather, Climate Scientist at the University of California, Berkeley; and BBC Africa reporter Ashley Lime. Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Production Team: Anne Okumu in Malawi; Diane Richardson, Ellie House and Sophie Eastaugh in London Sound Mix: James Beard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

    28 min

  7. 6 JAN

    How is climate change affecting animal migration?

    Every year, the great migration sees hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, gazelles, zebras and antelopes migrate from the Serengeti plains in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya, in search of water and juicy grass. But rising temperatures and unpredictable weather are changing this epic animal journey dramatically. It’s the same for great white sharks, which are being spotted in areas where they’d never normally live. Tanzanian safari guide Neema Amos takes us into the Serengeti to explain why the wildebeest migration is so important. And shark expert Trisha Atwood reveals how these changes affect not just the animals, but our fight against climate change itself. Presenter Sophie Eastaugh is joined by: Neema Amos, Safari Guide in Tanzania Trisha Atwood, Associate Professor of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University Joseph Ogutu, Senior Statistician at University of Hohenheim Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com Producers: Sophie Eastaugh and Octavia Woodward Editors: Graihagh Jackson and Tom Bigwood Series Producer: Simon Watts Sound design and mixing: Tom Brignell Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Archive from the Sir David Attenborough programme, ‘Wildebeest: The Super Herd’, BBC Two, 2008 This programme was first broadcast in March 2024

    23 min

  8. 30/12/2024

    Review of the year 2024

    From elections around the world to records in both temperatures and renewable energy, 2024 has been jam-packed with extreme weather and climate news. Graihagh Jackson, Jordan Dunbar and an expert panel reflect on the key climate stories of the year. Dr Rose Mutiso from the Energy for Growth Hub reveals a ‘silent solar revolution’ that has surged across rooftops in South Africa and beyond, helping the grid finally meet people’s electricity needs. We discuss the rise of electric vehicles – but also, deforestation. And the BBC’s Climate Reporter Esme Stallard explains why rising ocean temperatures are the red flag to which we should all be paying more attention. So, has 2024 been a good or bad year for the climate? Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Reporter: Jordan Dunbar Guests: Dr Rose Mutiso, Research Director at the Energy for Growth Hub Esme Stallard, BBC Climate Reporter Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and James Beard Editor: Simon Watts

    26 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC World Service
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    231
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    The Climate Question

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