The Climate Question

BBC World Service

4.4 (151)
SCIENCE
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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

5 DAYS AGO

Climate change and plastic - what's the connection?

Plastics are everywhere – for good reason – they're cheap, abundant and can go into a myriad of different products from food packaging to vital medical equipment. But plastic waste has a devastating effect on the environment and the manufacturing process is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The world is trying to agree on a treaty to reduce plastics pollution but a recent meeting in South Korea ended in failure. Graihagh Jackson talks to experts on the past and future of plastics, and she hears a report from Malaysia, where plastic waste dumps can be up to 15 metres high. Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Reporter in Malaysia: Leana Hosea Guests: Susan Frankel, author of "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story", and Dr Cressida Bowyer, Associate Professor in Arts and Sustainability at the University of Portsmouth. Producer: Octavia Woodward Production Support: Ellie House Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison Sound Mix: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

26 min
DEC 9

What do melting glaciers mean for the Himalayas?

Climate change is melting thousands of glaciers in the Himalayas and having a devastating impact on the people who live there. The BBC's Caroline Davies has just been to the Pakistani side of the world's highest mountain range: she tells Graihagh Jackson how villagers are coping, and how they are determined to stay put despite the risks of floods and the disruption to their traditional way of life. You can watch Caroline's reporting from Pakistan here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00246nx/from-above-melting-glaciers Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Reporter in Pakistan: Caroline Davies Producers in Pakistan: Fakhir Munir, Usman Zahid, Kamil Dayan Khan Producers in London: Ellie House and Osman Iqbal Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

26 min
NOV 25

Was the COP climate summit a success?

For two weeks, nearly 200 countries have been in Azerbaijan trying to come to an agreement on climate change and how to finance the transition to clean and green economies in developing nations. At COP 29, there were walk-outs, there was drama, and then there was a deal - of sorts. Graihagh Jackson is joined by an all-star panel to re-cap what happened and ask what all of this means for our planet. Guests: Justin Rowlatt, BBC Climate Editor Adil Najam, Professor of International Relations and Environment at the Pardee School and President of WWF David Victor, Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at the University of California, San Diego Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the UN Convention on Wetlands Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenters: Graihagh Jackson with Jordan Dunbar Producer: Octavia Woodward Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison Editor: Simon Watts Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and Giles Aspen

24 min
NOV 22

How does climate change affect me?

In his latest climate change 101, Jordan Dunbar looks at how climate change affects our everyday lives. He discusses the impact on our weather with BBC forecaster Louise Lear; while BBC Africa business journalist Clare Muthinji looks at what a warmer world means for the economy - from prices at the supermarket to where we go on holiday! Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter and Producer: Jordan Dunbar Researchers: Octavia Woodward, Osman Iqbal and Tsogzolmaa Shofyor Sound Design: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

12 min
NOV 18

What do developing nations want from the big climate summit?

When Cyclone Freddy swept through Malawi, it left 100s of thousands of people destitute. Now, survivors are among the first in the world to receive a new kind of climate compensation to relocate and rebuild their lives. This "loss and damage" funding is one of the key issues at the COP meeting in Baku. This year, the focus of the global climate summit is the help which more developed nations should give to countries in the Global South. Graihagh Jackson hears directly from Malawians who've received international climate aid, in their case from Scotland. And she asks Scottish First Minister, John Swinney: Is the money enough? Got a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Graihagh Jackson BBC Africa Reporter in Malawi: Ashley Lime Producers: Octavia Woodward and Anne Okumu Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie Morrison Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

23 min
NOV 15

What progress have we made on fighting climate change?

In his latest climate change 101, Jordan Dunbar looks at the world's success stories. These include the rise of renewable energy, greener urban planning and deep - if insufficient - cuts in carbon emissions. His guest is Dr Caterina Brandmayr, Director of Policy and Translation, Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London. Presenter and Producer: Jordan Dunbar Researchers: Octavia Woodward and Tsogzolmaa Shofyor Sound Design: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

13 min
NOV 11

The Climate Question x Global News Podcast: Listeners Questions Special

In a special programme, The Climate Question join forces with The Global News Podcast to tackle listeners' climate questions from around the world. How does war impact climate change? How can we protect small island nations? And what practical actions can we all take as individuals? Plus, what to look out for at COP 29, The UN's annual Climate Change conference, set to open in Azerbaijan. The Climate Question’s Graihagh Jackson, BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, and Global News Podcast host Nick Miles, provide the answers to a whole range of fascinating questions. Producers: Anna Murphy and Osman Iqbal Sound Engineers: James Piper and Tom Brignell Editors: Karen Martin and Simon Watts Tell us what you think of the show or send us your own climate question. Email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or Whatsapp: +44 8000 321 721

51 min
NOV 9

Trump wins: What does it mean for the climate?

How will the US election result alter climate policy at home and abroad? Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar hear from BBC Environment Correspondent Matt McGrath, US Environment Correspondent Carl Nasman and Zerin Osho, Director of the India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development in Washington DC. Producers: Octavia Woodward and Jordan Dunbar Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Simon Watts Tell us what you think of the show or send us your own climate question. Email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or Whatsapp: +44 8000 321 721

26 min

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4.4

out of 5

151 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.
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?
Rubbish

09/27/2023

deraild77

This podcast is great for people who can’t think for themselves