The Climate Question

Latest Episodes:

Mining: Can we learn lessons from the past? Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Lithium and copper are at the heart of the green energy transition, but what's the environmental cost of extraction?

From the lithium mines of Salar de Atacama in Chile to the historic copper mines of Butte Montana, author James Crawford has visited the extraordinary landscapes and mining operations powering the renewable energy transition.

Graihagh and Jordan chat to James Crawford about his new book Vanishing Earth, and the legacy of mining repair and restoration. Can we learn from the past to mine better in the future?

If you have a Climate Question you’d like answered, email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com

Hosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production team: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound engineers: Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Photo: Lithium ponds in Chile (courtesy James Crawford)

Are we ready for a super El Niño? Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

When a powerful El Niño strikes, it can devastate harvests, flood communities and kill thousands of people. Scientists have been warning for months that this one could become the strongest on record. The question is: are we ready?

In this episode of The Climate Question, hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar find out how communities in Kenya and Peru are preparing for a potentially historic El Niño.

They speak to BBC Nairobi Correspondent Thomas Mukhwana and Miguel Aristegui from the international development charity Practical Action about the challenges that lie ahead. Miguel's charity worked with the Peruvian government on an action plan it introduced after a localised El Niño event in 2017.

From flood-prone neighbourhoods in Nairobi to Peru's newly installed meteorological radar network, we explore what happens when weather extremes collide with existing vulnerabilities. Can early warning systems, emergency planning and climate adaptation reduce the risks? Or will many communities remain exposed when the worst impacts arrive?

If you have a Climate Question you’d like answered, email: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com

Producers: Diane Richardson, Jordan Dunbar and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound engineer: Ben Andrews, Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

The battery revolution Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

From Mongolia to Texas, record numbers of lithium-ion batteries are being added to the world's electricity grids - helping to provide more reliable power and speeding up the transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

China is installing over half of these new batteries, often in giant battery farms, followed by the United States and Europe. And with prices dropping fast, the trend is likely to continue and spread to more developing countries.

But is battery development moving fast enough to help us meet our climate goals? And what about alternatives to lithium-ion technology like using air, water or even sand? Could these types of batteries help us with other energy problems such as storing heat over the winter.

In this edition of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson talks to Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter at Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg Green's Zero podcast.

Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound engineer Gareth Jones and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Climate overshoot: The world beyond 1.5°C Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

The United Nations says the world will pass its most important climate target within a few years. So can we bring the planet's temperature back down quickly? Or will the damage be irreversible?

In 2015, world leaders agreed in Paris to try to keep the global temperature below 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

But the UN now says what scientists call "overshoot" is guaranteed, and it may have devastating consequences.

Experts are worried that the higher temperature may trigger "tipping points" in vital parts of our planet's climate system, including coral reefs, glaciers, rainforests and ocean currents.

Once past their tipping points, they could flip from helping to keep the Earth cool to making it even warmer.

In this show, The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Producers: Simon Watts, Melanie Stewart-Smith and Diane Richardson Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Phil Bull Editor: Simon Watts

The solar power boom in Pakistan and the Philippines Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

The Philippines and Pakistan are now the world's top solar panel importers. We find out why, and what other countries can learn from the boom!

Cheap solar panels, mainly imported from China, are transforming lives and slashing electricity bills across Asia.

In the last year, Filipinos have put up five times as many rooftop solar panels as the previous ten years combined. Installation companies are struggling to keep up with demand.

In Pakistan, where the boom started earlier, solar power has reached every sector of the economy from the textile industry to farming. Solar has helped Pakistanis weather the current energy crisis and reduced the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The Climate Question Host Jordan Dunbar talks to Filipino climate journalist, Jhesset Enano, and Pakistani energy analyst, Zeeshan Ashfaq, from the Renewables First think tank in Islamabad.

Producers: Jordan Dunbar and Melanie Stewart Smith Sound engineer: Tom Brignell and Dafydd Evans Editor: Simon Watts

Can China build its way out of climate change? Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Huge construction projects are transforming China - think enormous dams, giant solar power farms and a vast high-speed rail network. Will Beijing's "engineering mindset" help it deal with climate change?

China's senior leadership is dominated by engineers, starting with President Xi, who trained as a chemical engineer in the 1970s. They have overseen megaprojects like the 50-kilometre bridge joining Hong Kong and Macau, and a plan to move water from southern China to the much drier north.

The engineering mania extends to energy, where the world's largest polluter has invested trillions of dollars in wind and nuclear power, as well as high voltage transmission lines spanning the country.

But China still uses a huge amount of coal power, and its mega projects have often damaged the local environment and led to the displacement of millions.

So what does Beijing's approach mean for climate change? And can China build its way out of the problem?

In this edition of The Climate Question Host Jordan Dunbar and BBC Presenter Celia Hatton talk to Dan Wang, the author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future. Dan is currently a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.

Producer: Jordan Dunbar and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Johnny Hall and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

How will melting glaciers change Nepal? Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

As shown by the recent flash floods, Nepali mountain communities are on the front line of climate change. Can they adapt?

Host Jordan Dunbar talks to two Sherpas who have become climate researchers. They are glaciologist Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, and Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, who researches how global warming affects indigenous groups in Nepal.

This programme was recorded in July 2026.

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound engineer: Tom Brignell and Dave O'Neill Editor: Simon Watts

Can we cope with droughts? Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

Europe is reeling from a record-breaking drought which has closed nuclear power stations, stopped river traffic and sent food prices soaring. And there may now be more intense droughts in some parts of the world because of climate change.

Our host Graihagh Jackson explores solutions from water usage apps in South Africa to solar irrigation systems in Egypt. She also looks at the challenges of adapting our energy infrastructure for a warming planet.

Her guests are Dr Iain Staffell, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London, and Dr Vidhisha Samarasekara, Strategic Program Director for Water, Climate Change and Resilience at the International Water Management Institute.

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Picture Credit: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull Editor: Simon Watts

How do we save Africa's forests? Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

African forests are vital for food and economic development, as well as for supporting millions of species of animals and plants. We find out how to protect them better with one of Africa’s top environmentalists!

From the giant Congo rainforest to the Kenyan highlands and the mangroves of Mozambique, Africa’s forests are some of the most spectacular places on Earth. And these sensitive ecosystems are not just important for Africa: they play a vital role in the global climate because they store huge amounts of carbon dioxide and pump out oxygen.

Kenyan environmentalist Wanjira Mathai has been campaigning to protect and nurture forests for decades. She tells The Climate Question about the challenges they now face across Africa from rapid urbanisation, mining and logging. The solution, according to Wanjira, is to place a proper economic value on the environmental services provided by forests and the communities who live in them – whether that’s supplying water and food, or helping to prevent floods sweeping through cities such as Nairobi. Wanjira Mathai is Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute. She’s been chatting to The Climate Question host Jordan Dunbar and BBC Senior Climate Reporter Esme Stallard.

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Mike Regaard and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

Is air conditioning the answer to extreme heat? Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

Experts say we may now need to spend more on cooling our homes than heating them because of climate change. In fact, the International Energy Agency thinks the equivalent of 10 new air conditioners every second will be installed for the next 30 years!

This surge in air con will put strain on the world’s electricity grids, which are still mostly powered by fossil fuels. The units also pump heat into the streets outside our homes – making cities feel even hotter when we step outside.

But there are alternative options – like redesigning houses to include more shading and increase the air flow, or using fans and misting systems. We could also plant more trees or even change the colours of our homes to reflect more sunlight!

In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Graihagh Jackson talks to BBC Tokyo Correspondent, Kurumi Mori, and Radhika Khosla, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Oxford.

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ricardo McCarthy Editor: Simon Watts

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