The Climate Question

BBC World Service

4.4 (151)
SCIENCE
UPDATED WEEKLY

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

3 DAYS AGO

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
6 DAYS AGO

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
NOV 4

How is climate misinformation evolving?

Climate science and reporting are vital to understanding how our climate is changing and what we can do about it. But false information about climate change spread online is causing big problems. It’s no longer just about saying that climate change isn't happening; it’s increasingly about spreading uncertainty about its causes, its speed and the solutions. That’s making climate misinformation and disinformation harder to spot - and more divisive. Host Jordan Dunbar is joined by Jacqui Wakefield, global disinformation reporter with the BBC World Service and guests Marco Silva, climate disinformation journalist at BBC Verify and Prof Michael E Mann, climatologist and director of the Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media at the University of Pennsylvania. Researcher: Tsogzolmaa Shofyor Producer: Osman Iqbal 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
OCT 28

Should we put a price on nature?

Everyone who steps outside can appreciate the value that the natural world brings to our lives. To some people, the idea of placing a monetary value on trees and mangrove forests is wrong because nature and its gifts are priceless. But others say the love of nature has not stopped it from being polluted or destroyed. The natural world plays a major role in capturing the carbon from our atmosphere. A marketplace now exists where countries and big businesses can pay others to protect their forests, swamps and bogs in return for offsetting their emissions. But several of these schemes have faced scandal and corruption. Could the world’s largest biodiversity conference in Colombia, COP16, help put a stop to that? Presenters Kate Lamble and Jordan Dunbar are joined by Kevin Conrad, founder, Coalition for Rainforests; Tina Stege, climate envoy, Marshall Islands; Pavan Sukhdev, chief executive officer, GIST 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 Producers: Darin Graham and Graihagh Jackson Researcher: Natasha Fernandez Reporter: Gloria Bivigou Series producers: Alex Lewis and Simon Watts Sound engineers: Graham Puddifoot and Tom Brignell

26 min
OCT 21

Your questions answered: The value of trees, "black" oxygen, AI's carbon footprint

Climate Question listeners take over the programme again with their head-scratchers. Graihagh Jackson and her panel: Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor, Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC Crowdscience, ponder the impact of deforestation and marvel at the beauty of sequoia trees, which can live for more than 1000 years. There are also questions on the carbon cost of generative AI, the discovery of "black" oxygen in our oceans and deep-sea mining. Plus, which animal has the biggest carbon footprint? If you've got a query, email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a Whatsapp message on +44 8000 321 721 Producer: Osman Iqbal Sound mix: Gareth Jones and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

26 min
OCT 14

Is the climate on the ballot at the US election?

The southern US state of Georgia has received billions of dollars in investment in clean technology, creating tens of thousands of jobs at solar power factories and electric vehicle factories. It is also on the front-line of extreme weather - facing the threat of hurricanes, heatwaves and drought. So will voters in this swing state be considering climate change when they cast their ballots for the US presidential election in November? And how are politicians in Georgia talking about the issue. Jordan Dunbar takes a road trip across the state to find out. Got a question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producer: Beth Timmins Sound engineer: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

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