The Climate Question

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

World Service,315 episodes

Episodes

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Can China build its way out of climate change?
Will Beijing's huge investment in infrastructure help fight global warming?
13 Sep 2026,27 mins
How will melting glaciers change Nepal?
Nepali mountain communities are on the front line of climate change. Can they adapt?
06 Sep 2026,26 mins
Can we cope with droughts?
Water crises are expected to get worse in many parts of the world. Are there solutions?
30 Aug 2026,26 mins
How do we save Africa's forests?
Environmentalist Wanjira Mathai on protecting some of the planet's most vital ecosystems
23 Aug 2026,22 mins
Is air conditioning the answer to extreme heat?
Air con is increasingly seen as a lifeline not a luxury. What about its climate impact?
16 Aug 2026,26 mins
Is this a new era of wildfires?
Is climate change increasing the size and intensity of wildfires? And what can we do?
09 Aug 2026,22 mins
How is climate change affecting motherhood?
Mothers from India, Kenya and the UK discuss raising children in a warming world
02 Aug 2026,26 mins
Do climate protests ever work?
The modern green movement is more than 50 years old. What has it achieved?
26 Jul 2026,26 mins
Could climate change fuel an epidemic?
Are rising temperatures and deforestation leading to outbreaks of deadly disease?
19 Jul 2026,26 mins
Can science fiction help us fight climate change?
The acclaimed US sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson talks to the Climate Question team
12 Jul 2026,26 mins
How to build a climate friendly city
More than seven bilion of us will be living in cities by 2050. What can mayors do?
05 Jul 2026,26 mins
"Super" El Niños and climate change
How does the El Niño weather pattern work? And what's the link to global warming?
28 Jun 2026,22 mins
Is climate change ruining our sleep?
How the rise in night-time temperatures is starting to disrupt our sleep and health
21 Jun 2026,25 mins
How will climate change affect insects?
Insects are crucial to food production, the spread of disease and most ecosystems
14 Jun 2026,23 mins
Can the World Cup cope with extreme heat?
Will hot temperatures affect players and fans? And what's the World Cup's climate impact?
07 Jun 2026,26 mins
Can we save the world's coral?
Corals protect human and marine life. Can scientists grow more climate-proof versions?
31 May 2026,26 mins
Should we mine the deep ocean?
What is deep‑sea mining? And is it a climate solution or an environmental hazard?
24 May 2026,22 mins
The electric car boom in South East Asia
How Thailand and Vietnam are seeing rapid growth in EV sales and manufacturing
17 May 2026,26 mins
Q+A: The carbon footprint of your tech and AI
Plus: What's the future of our estuaries? And are you a climate optimist?
10 May 2026,26 mins
Is this climate change or just crazy weather?
The BBC's lead weather forecaster on the difference between weather and climate change
03 May 2026,26 mins
Chernobyl at 40: Is nuclear power back in fashion?
There's a surge of global interest in nuclear power. Is that good news for the climate?
26 Apr 2026,28 mins
Can technology help us fight flooding in cities?
Extreme weather can devastate informal urban settlements. Can drones and AI help?
19 Apr 2026,26 mins
Earthquakes and climate change
New research suggests global warming may affect when and where seismic activity happens
12 Apr 2026,26 mins
Why are some cities banning fossil fuel ads?
Amsterdam is the first capital city to bring in a ban. Could this become the new normal?
05 Apr 2026,22 mins
What's it like being a chief heat officer?
Graihagh Jackson meets two women trying to protect their cities from heatwaves
29 Mar 2026,26 mins
Can better buses fix city pollution?
From Bogotá to New York, cities try ways to cut traffic and emissions.
22 Mar 2026,26 mins
Q&A: Beavers, solar panels in the Sahara and nuclear waste
The Climate Question panel answer your queries on all things climate.
15 Mar 2026,26 mins
What's the climate cost of war?
How does war impact our planet? And are there any ways for the military to cut emissions?
08 Mar 2026,23 mins
Is cutting methane the quick way to cool the planet?
How do we tackle a planet-warming gas that's much more powerful than carbon dioxide?
01 Mar 2026,24 mins
China's green energy revolution
Has China managed to stop its greenhouse gas emissions from growing thanks to renewables?
22 Feb 2026,25 mins