The Climate Question

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

World Service,301 episodes

Episodes

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How does carbon dioxide shape our world?
CO2 makes life possible, but if too much is released the planet can overheat.
16 Nov 2025,25 mins
COP: Is this the world’s toughest event to organise?
As thousands gather for the UN’s climate summit, what does it take to make it happen?
09 Nov 2025,26 mins
Why does the Amazon matter?
Is the world's most important rainforest running out of time?
02 Nov 2025,26 mins
Somalia: Where climate change meets conflict
Justin Rowlatt reports on how global warming turbocharges crises in Somalia
26 Oct 2025,22 mins
Can Mumbai cope with a changing monsoon?
As rain patterns shift, can the Indian megacity adapt to the prospect of more flooding?
19 Oct 2025,26 mins
Can we build better cities for mental health and the climate?
Most of the world will be living in cities by 2050. How can we improve their design?
12 Oct 2025,26 mins
What do ice cores tells us about climate change?
Uncovering the secrets of ice cores and our changing climate with two world experts
05 Oct 2025,26 mins
Why don’t we use more geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is renewable, reliable and powerful. So, why is most of it untapped?
28 Sep 2025,26 mins
How does extreme heat affect pregnancy?
How high temperatures are increasing the risk of miscarriage in India.
21 Sep 2025,26 mins
Will the switch to green technology become unstoppable?
Are there "positive" tipping points when switching to cleaner fuels becomes inevitable?
14 Sep 2025,22 mins
Will there be a solar power boom in Africa?
There's been a recent surge in solar panels arriving in Africa. Is this a game-changer?
07 Sep 2025,22 mins
Are wetlands our secret weapon in fighting climate change?
Wetlands store carbon and lessen global warming's impacts. Should we protect them more?
31 Aug 2025,26 mins
Can we build a world where hurricanes can't kill?
Twenty years on from Hurricane Katrina what lessons has the world learned?
24 Aug 2025,26 mins
Is Brazil doing enough to protect the Amazon?
Are forest fires and demands for oil exploration putting the rainforest at risk?
17 Aug 2025,26 mins
How do we fight the risks of melting glaciers?
We report from Pakistan on the mountain villages on the front line of a warmer world
10 Aug 2025,26 mins
Bill Gates: Why I'm a climate optimist
The tech billionaire turned philanthropist on how he stays positive on climate change
03 Aug 2025,23 mins
How do we save the world's small islands?
From coral reefs to raising land, how small islands are adapting to climate change
27 Jul 2025,27 mins
Is the race for rare earths good for the planet?
The minerals are vital for fighting climate change, but there's a big environmental cost
20 Jul 2025,28 mins
Will climate change affect my holiday?
Hotter? Drier? Less snow? Will we have to travel differently in a warmer world?
13 Jul 2025,22 mins
Why are electric scooters, mopeds and rickshaws booming?
How electric two-wheelers are taking over in India...and helping the climate
06 Jul 2025,27 mins
How could climate change affect my health?
Two doctors discuss the challenges for the medical sector from a warmer world
29 Jun 2025,22 mins
Your Questions Answered
Climate-friendly homes and ships, and which is the best natural way to store carbon?
22 Jun 2025,26 mins
Why are our tropical forests disappearing faster than ever and what can we do about It?
Colombia’s former environment minister, Susana Muhamad on saving the Amazon rainforest
15 Jun 2025,26 mins
Could the oceans help us save our planet?
David Attenborough is urging the world to fix our oceans. Might that fix the climate too?
08 Jun 2025,22 mins
Can nature help us to store carbon?
Could we put carbon dioxide in rocks or seaweed to help fight climate change?
01 Jun 2025,22 mins
Can the past teach us how to fight climate change?
Why farmers around the world are bringing back ancient crops - and ancient animals!
25 May 2025,22 mins
What makes a good climate novel?
A new climate fiction prize has been launched in the UK. We talk to the Nigerian winner.
18 May 2025,22 mins
Will the new Pope be a climate campaigner?
Will Pope Leo continue the Vatican's work on fighting global warming?
14 May 2025,26 mins
Why does it matter that Greenland is melting?
Ice loss caused by warming has serious implications for the Arctic region and elsewhere
11 May 2025,26 mins
Trump and the planet: The first 100 days
Will President Trump slow down the green transition in America and beyond?
04 May 2025,26 mins