The Climate Question

BBC World Service

4.4 (166)
SCIENCE
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

3D AGO

Q&A: The jobs of the future, nitrous oxide, ice cores

We answer YOUR climate questions – on everything from “green” careers to ice cores to the world’s electricity challenge! In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Graihagh Jackson explores your climate-related headscratchers. Her panel chat about the new jobs that will open up as the world economy moves away from fossil fuels – and the skills that will be needed. They also discuss the dangers of nitrous oxide – a planet-warming gas, but also crucial for the fertilisers that help feed us. And have you ever wondered how scientists actually date the ice cores they dig out of glaciers. Some of them are 100,000s of years old! Plus: the controversial scientists who’ve won the Nobel Prize, and is there anywhere on Earth that’s untouched by humans? Host: Graihagh Jackson Guests: BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, BBC CrowdScience Presenter Caroline Steel, and Akshat Rathi, Bloomberg Senior Climate Reporter and Host of the Bloomberg Green podcast. Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Graihagh Jackson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? You can email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

28 min
DEC 14

What made the floods in South East Asia so deadly?

Storms, cyclones and flooding in South East Asia have killed close to 2000 people, devastating communities across Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Scientists warn climate change is reshaping weather patterns, increasing the risk of heavier rainfall and more destructive floods in the future. With many densely populated cities sinking and built on flood-prone land, the region is particularly vulnerable. But experts say there are bold ideas and solutions that could help reduce the risks and save lives. In this special collaboration between The Climate Question and the new BBC World Service podcast Asia Specific, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar join host Mariko Oi to explore what made the floods so deadly — and what can be done in the future. Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editors: Bill Birtles and Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? You can email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

23 min
DEC 7

What does the ocean do for us and the planet?

What do you think of when you think about our oceans? Maybe you see a picture of our planet with a big patch of blue? Maybe you think about storms or dramatic ocean voyages? Maybe fish or coral reefs? In this edition of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore how our oceans are even more important than you might imagine. They help put the brakes on climate change and regulate our weather - even in faraway deserts. They provide food, and even influence the rise of great civilisations, like Ancient Egypt. Graihagh and Jordan are joined by oceanographer and physicist Helen Czerski, author of Blue Machine, How the Ocean Shapes Our World. Helen also chats about the challenges of trying to collect data at sea during huge storms. Hosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production team: Simon Watts, Nik Sindle, Grace Braddock Sound engineer: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? You can email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

26 min
NOV 30

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. This programme was first broadcast in February 2025. 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
NOV 24

How can the world speed up climate action?

How can the world speed up its efforts to fight climate change? It’s been a dramatic fortnight at the COP climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belem, with torrential rains and floods, protests and even a fire. A deal has finally been done but it’s divisive and has left many wondering whether we'll really avoid the worst effects of a warming world. Join Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson as they take a deep dive into the results of the negotiations and find out what they mean. The BBC’s Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt joins us from Brazil. Plus, our panel of experts discuss the future of climate action. Guests: Adil Najam, Professor of International Relations and Environment at the Pardee School, USA David Victor, Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at the University of California, USA Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Melanie Stewart-Smith, Steven Bailey Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

29 min
NOV 20

The oil lobbyist who tried to sink the first big climate deal

The American lawyer, oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman is said to have chain-smoked his way through almost every UN climate gathering from the early 1990s until his death in 2005. Some of those who saw Pearlman operate in Kyoto, where the first legally binding international agreement on climate change was agreed in 1997, say he created the playbook for stalling climate talks. The Kyoto protocol was never ratified by the United States, and Pearlman is now the subject of a major play, Kyoto, which has just transferred from London to the Lincoln Center in New York. As the COP30 climate summit takes place in Brazil, Climate Question Host Jordan Dunbar has been telling our friends on The Global Story podcast the true story of the man once nicknamed "the high priest of the carbon club". With episodes each weekday, The Global Story is where the world and America meet. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For The Global Story podcast Producers: Aron Keller and Cat Farnsworth Executive producer: James Shield Mix: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins

28 min
NOV 16

How does carbon dioxide shape our world?

Carbon dioxide is a molecule so important it has shaped life on Earth for billions of years. Without it, there would be no plants, no oceans, no people. But now, after centuries of burning coal, oil and gas, it's in the atmosphere at levels that alarm scientists. In this episode of The Climate Question, Graihagh Jackson speaks to Peter Brannen, science journalist and author of The Story of CO2 is the Story of Everything, and Esme Stallard, BBC climate and science reporter. They explore what makes this tiny molecule so powerful, how it has driven ice ages and mass extinctions, why the story of CO2 is the story of human progress — and what might come next. Host: Graihagh Jackson Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Graihagh Jackson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ben Andrews Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

25 min
NOV 9

COP: Is this the world’s toughest event to organise?

Every year, tens of thousands of people — from world leaders to activists to celebrities— gather for one of the world’s most ambitious meetings: the UN’s annual climate summit, COP. But what does it actually take to make it happen? How do you feed, transport and house 80,000 people, while trying to keep global negotiations on track? The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to Helen Wright, who helped deliver COP26 in Glasgow and COP28 in Dubai, to find out what goes on behind the scenes. From keeping the meeting rooms at exactly 21.5°C to managing thousands of journalists, politicians and protesters, Helen shares what it’s really like to build a temporary city devoted to climate action. We also hear from Bloomberg’s Akshat Rathi on whether all that effort actually changes global climate policy — and what’s on the cards for COP30 to be held in the Brazilian Amazon. Guests: Helen Wright – Former Head of Delivery, COP26; now Event Director at Identity Group Akshat Rathi – Senior Climate Reporter, Bloomberg News, and host of the Zero podcast Production team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ben Andrews Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

26 min

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Neal Razzell

Host
Graihagh Jackson

Host

4.4

out of 5

166 Ratings

Slickly Produced and Highly Engaging but Too Cheerful?

09/01/2022

jtimothyknox

The BBC World Service has put quite a lot into the production of “The Climate Question,” their weekly podcast on climate change, and what we can do about it. Topics are timely and well-chosen. Field reporting from around the globe is relevant and professional. Keeping the length of the show at 25-30 minutes is generally a good idea. So, what’s the issue? Someone has decided that the show needs to remain light, upbeat, and entertaining no matter what the content. Neal and Graihagh are pleasant hosts but often try so hard to be cute and clever that your eyes can’t help but roll. On one hand, “The Climate Question” successfully avoids the doom and gloom, and getting bogged down in the details of scientific reports and forecasts, but on the other hand, it seems too determined to keep it all “fun” and cheerful. Let’s tone that part down a bit.
THE podcast about climate change

Mar 3

SalamanBizTu

If you’re curious about climate change and yearning to learn about how you can fight it - then THIS is the podcast for you. Produced well with amazing stories!
Cringey delivery — 2 stars subtracted

11/25/2023

knikkiii

Cringey delivery (-) of important climate change topics, with beginner-friendly and accessible content (+). It’s hard to find a beginner friendly podcast on climate change. This podcast does a great job of making accessible information. What I can no longer handle is the weird “VH1: Where Are They Now” tone used to provide crucial facts for people to absorb without distractions at the same time from the weird format. The manner in which this podcast is made and scripted may work for some, but it isn’t universal and can lose their audience pretty easily (as other reviewers have stated). I hope they change it considering the amount of feedback on this, because the content is valuable! I also hope they consider making extended versions of each episode that go into deeper analysis of each topic for those eager to learn more. 🤞🏽
Weirdly plucky

11/25/2023

Bunny Cub

And upbeat for a podcast about an attempt to save an entire planet. Get that it can’t be all doom and gloom but it feels creepily disconnected. Maybe rein it in?