The Climate Question

Latest Episodes:

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

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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

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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

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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

Is this a new era of wildfires? Aug 09, 2026

Show notes

Huge wildfires have been sweeping across Southern Europe and North America. Is climate change increasing the risk? And what can we do?

Weather experts say the world is starting to see new types of wildfire – including enormous Pyrocumulonimbus fire clouds that spit lightning and black hail.

These infernos can burn for more than a year. They can also spawn fire tornadoes, which move at more than 200 kilometres an hour, destroying everything in their path.

The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to John Vaillant, the author of “Fire Weather”, about how wildfires are increasing in intensity and frequency, and how they are burning in places they have never burned before.

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

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

How is climate change affecting motherhood? Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

Graihagh Jackson talks to mothers from India, Kenya and the UK about how climate change is affecting women's decisions about whether to have children and how to raise them.

Her guests are Bhavreen Kandhari, a clean air campaigner from Delhi; Dr Susan Chomba, a Kenyan forest scientist and environmentalist; and Dr Elizabeth Cripps, a political philosopher specializing in climate justice. This programme was first broadcast in 2025.

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

Produced and presented by Graihagh Jackson Sound mix: Tom Brignell and Neil Churchill Editor: Simon Watts

Do climate protests ever work? Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

Climate activists have blocked highways, scaled oil rigs and even thrown soup at master artworks. But have protests ever made a difference?

The modern green movement started in the 1970s when Greenpeace sailed a fishing boat towards a nuclear test site in Alaska. It now encompasses everything from bake-ins and marches to Radiohead concerts.

A small minority of activists even favour breaking the law to raise awareness about climate change. Some of them have superglued themselves to railings and blocked bridges.

BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt has made a new podcast series about the green movement – and the heated splits among activists about tactics. He talks to Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar about the past - and future - of climate protest. You can hear Ten Fights That Made the Green Movement here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002ybbl

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

Producers: Simon Watts, Diane Richardson and Ellie House Sound Mix: Mike Regaard Editor: SImon Watts