The Climate Question

Latest Episodes:

Why are we still subsidising fossil fuels? Jan 29, 2023

Show notes

In 2009, the G20 countries pledged to phase out 'inefficient' fossil fuel subsidies, which have long been seen as an obstacle to fighting climate change. But today, subsidies for oil and gas producers are at record levels -- $64 billion in 2021. It’s not just to do with the war in Ukraine.

Despite its image as a leader on climate change, the UK is listed as one of the worst offenders for government support to oil and gas producers because of its generous tax relief. We hear from the centre of the UK’s oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, Scotland, about the difficult balance between energy security, jobs and climate change.

Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by:

Ipek Gensu, Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee and former Secretary of State for the Environment from 1993-97 Kevin Keane, BBC Scotland’s Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs correspondent – at Aberdeen port Fran Bell, Fiscal and Investor Relations Manager at Offshore Energy UK

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: China Collins Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Helena Warwick Cross and Siobhan Reed

Archive: The Obama White House

Why isn’t the world heating equally? Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average temperature. Ice caps are melting, forcing the indigenous Inuit community living around the Northwest passage to change their way of life. Polar bears and wildlife are losing their habitats and the ability to hunt.

Further south, Middle Eastern countries are facing temperatures above 50 Celsius more regularly.

We speak to people living in these rapidly warming parts of the world and find out why their countries are warming faster than others and what impact it is having.

Presenters Sophie Eastaugh and Luke Jones are joined by: Carlo Buontempo, from Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth Observation Programme Kenzie Azmi, Greenpeace Middle East Campaigner Essa Ramadan, Meteorologist and Weatherman in Kuwait Reporter: Mark Stratton in the Arctic Plus interviews with Dr Wenju Cai from Southern Hemisphere Oceans Research and Ben Rich from the BBC Weather Centre

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production Team: Producer: Natasha Fernandes Production coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Emma Rippon Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill

How do we stay cool in a warming world? Jan 15, 2023

Show notes

Heatwaves are already the most deadly of climate risks. If we don’t keep climate change in check, we’ll experience more of them, reaching even higher temperatures.

Already we need cooling to keep our homes, hospitals and workplaces comfortable, our vaccines stable and our food nutritious. As the planet warms up we’ll have even greater need.

Currently the cooling industry is incredibly polluting – it accounts for around 10% of global CO2 emissions. And the demand for it is only going to increase. An International Energy Agency report said that the amount of air conditioners will grow by 5.6 billion by 2050, up from 1.6 billion today – which amounts to 10 new ACs sold every second for the next 30 years.

So how can we cool our warming world sustainably?

This episode looks at the biggest problems with cooling, the rapid rise in air conditioners and the surprisingly simple ways we can keep things cool without using any energy at all.

Presenters Luke Jones and Graihagh Jackson are joined by:

Zerin Osho, International Climate Law and Policy at Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development Karim Elgendy, Associate Fellow at Chatham House and Associate Director at engineering consultancy firm Buro Happold Chhavi Sachdev, Journalist, India

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Lily Freeston Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: China Collins Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

Can renewables be used for heating? Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

Half of all the energy we use globally goes on heating and cooling. We need heating for all sorts of things; from keeping our homes warm to industry which needs super high temperatures. At the moment, the heat we use is mostly powered by polluting fossil fuels, a huge driver of climate change. But can renewables deliver the high temperatures and a constant supply which are so vital? In this episode we visit the world's first commercial-scale sand battery in Finland and find out how it’s using renewables to heat 100 homes and a public swimming pool. Presenters Luke Jones and Graihagh Jackson are joined by: Erika Benke, Journalist, Finland Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh, Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems, Nottingham Trent University Professor Dan Gladwin, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield And BBC Brasil journalist Nathalia Passarinho on the swearing in of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as President and his climate promises.

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Lily Freeston Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Bridget Harney Sound Engineers: Tom Brignell and Graham Puddifoot

Can we reduce lives lost from extreme weather? Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Extreme weather is becoming even more extreme thanks to climate change. Countless lives are claimed by heatwaves, cold snaps, cyclones, droughts and torrential rains every year around the world. Climate change threatens to make things worse. But the United Nations is spearheading new action to make sure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within the next five years. It’s hoped that this could dramatically reduce the numbers of deaths caused by extreme weather.

Presenters Neal Razzell and Graihagh Jackson were joined by: Laura Paterson, from the World Meteorological Organization Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College, London, UK and University of Agder, in Kristiansand, Norway. Hasin Jahan, the Director of WaterAid in Banglasdesh Reporter: BBC’s Nicolas Négoce in Senegal

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production Team Producer: Claire Bowes Production coordinators: Helena Warick-Cross and Siobhan Reed Series producers: Jordan Dunbar & Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton Smith Sound Engineer: James Beard

How to speak to a climate denier Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

From climate sceptic to climate campaigner, Sarah Ott grew up in the US surrounded by doubters, listening to out-right deniers. This is the story of what changed her mind.

We also hear people’s questions about climate change from Kenya where there’s major drought and we speak to BBC Disinformation reporter Marco Silva on dealing with climate misinformation.

Presenter Neal Razzell is joined by: Sarah Ott, teacher and former sceptic Marco Silva, BBC Climate Disinformation Reporter Michael Kaloki, journalist in Kenya With thanks also to Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge, UK

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Mora Morrison Researcher: Richard Tisdale Production Coordinator: Siobhan Reed & Sophie Hill Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Bridget Harney Sound engineer: Graham Puddifoot

Was the 2022 World Cup as green as it seemed? Dec 18, 2022

Show notes

Back in 2010, FIFA announced that the tiny country of Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup. It would be the first Middle Eastern country to do so. The tournament has seen thousands of fans travel to see it, with millions tuning in around the world. But it hasn’t been without controversy.

The event’s organisers claimed that it would be the first fully carbon-neutral World Cup. A big new solar park was built, fleets of electric buses were released onto the roads and climate-friendly projects were set up to offset emissions.

Some say that organisers are trying to do the right thing. But others are critical, arguing that emissions have been underestimated and that the carbon-neutral claim is misleading.

This episode dives into the debate and asks if the 2022 World Cup was really as green as it seemed.

Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by: Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Omani football pundit and climate change activist Khaled Diab, Communications Director at not-for-profit Carbon Market Watch Zach Banzon, goalkeeper for Kaya FC in the Philippines and “Team Player” for We Play Green Peter Ball, Journalist, BBC World Service Josephine Moulds, Reporter at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Producers: Lilly Freeston and Sophie Eastaugh Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Production Coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

How much does biodiversity matter to climate change? Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

The ecosystems of the land and ocean absorb around half our planet warming emissions. But these are being destroyed by human activity. At the same time, climate change is a primary driver of the destruction of these habitats and biodiversity loss. If biodiversity is our strongest natural defence against climate change (as it’s been described), what’s stopping us from doing more to protect it?

As the big global biodiversity conference (COP15) gets underway in Montreal, Canada, presenters Sophie Eastaugh and Luke Jones are joined by a panel, including Victoria Gill, BBC science correspondent at COP15 in Montreal; Felipe Zapata, a Colombian botanist at UCLA; Marcela Fernandez from conservation NGO Cumbres Blancas; Akanksha Khatri, Head of Nature Action Agenda at the World Economic Forum

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com.

Researcher: Frances Read Producer: Georgia Coan Editor: Bridget Harney

Are meat substitutes as green as we think? Dec 04, 2022

Show notes

What we eat has a massive impact on global warming. Meat and dairy are among the biggest drivers of the climate crisis - creating more planet-warming emissions than all the cars in the world. As we all try to reduce our carbon footprints, it’s not surprising that the global market for meat alternatives that come from soy or pea protein is growing at a huge rate. In fact it’s estimated that by the end of the decade it will be worth nearly 20 times what it was in 2018. But are these meat substitutes as good for the planet as we’d like to think? Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Simon Maybin are joined by: Reporter: Paul Furley BBC Radio Gloucestershire Dale Vince, Chair of Forest Green Rovers, UK Gustavo Guadagnini, Director of the Good Food Institute in Brazil Dr Ximena Schmidt, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Brunel University, UK Nick Jacobs, Director of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com Producer: Georgia Coan Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Production Coordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross and Siobhan Reed Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Sound engineer: Tom Brignell

Did ‘Africa’s COP’ deliver for Africa? Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

At the start of COP 27 Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi told the world that it was vital that African countries receive "appropriate support and funding according to the principle of shared responsibilities and burdens”.

For years the richest nations have been accused of failing to meet their $100 billion-a-year pledge for funding. It turn out this doesn’t even scratch the surface - a recent report puts the estimated figure for all of Africa’s climate needs closer to $2.8 trillion dollars.

The Climate Question looks at whether COP 27 made a difference to the money flowing and asks how African countries will get what they need to protect themselves from climate change. Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Neal Razzell are joined by:

Peter Okweche from the BBC’s Focus on Africa Gyude Moore, former Liberian government minister, now Senior Policy Fellow for the Centre for Global Development in Washington Ayaan Adam, Senior Director at The Africa Finance Corporation Mxolisi Kaunda, Mayor of Durban Yvonne Denise Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown The Climate Question’s Jordan Dunbar at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Georgia Coan and Sophie Eastaugh Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Helena Warwick-Cross Series Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: Richard Fenton Smith Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

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