

Living Planet
DW
Looking to reconnect with nature? Want to make better decisions for the health of the planet? Every Friday, Living Planet brings you the stories, facts and debates on the key environmental issues of our time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 1, 2024 • 28min
The truly amazing world of fungi
When you hear the word fungus, what comes to mind? Maybe you're thinking about those semi-circular growths on tree trunks in the forest, or some mold on a piece of fruit. Estimates suggest more than 90% of all fungal species are still unknown to science - and that new discoveries are happening all the time. Join us for a deep dive into the world of fungi.

Jan 25, 2024 • 30min
If you love salmon, you might want to listen to this...
From farmed salmon with open wounds and lice-infested bodies, to the dangers of mating between wild salmon and its farmed counterpart after thousands of fish escaped from a fish farm - we take you to Iceland's aquafarms. And: why it's a good idea to pay close attention to the Southern Right Whale.

Jan 19, 2024 • 22min
Why this 3D-printed house could be a gamechanger
This week, a deep dive into the fascinating story behind a 3D-printed house made entirely of bio-based materials. We spoke with people behind BioHome 3D to find out why Maine was almost a fateful setting for this project, and what its effect might be on the US housing crisis.

Jan 11, 2024 • 30min
Is recycling really the answer to the plastic crisis?
Globally only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled. But why is that rate so low? On this week's episode of Living Planet, we're airing an episode from a special on the plastics age which was produced by the DW podcast On the Green Fence.

Jan 4, 2024 • 30min
Bioplastics: The good, the bad and the ugly
One way to curb the world's plastics problem would be to use bioplastics. But not all bioplastics are created equal.

Dec 28, 2023 • 30min
Bugs that eat plastic
What if there were a way to curb plastic pollution using enzymes? That's what scientists are exploring. On this episode, we'll take a look at how realistic this solution might be.

Dec 21, 2023 • 30min
The everyday Americans tackling climate change
Americans across the United States are grappling with unprecedented extreme weather events. And if you travel across the country, you'll meet all manner of people, from winemakers to aviation experts, who are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work to find sustainable solutions.

Dec 15, 2023 • 34min
What kind of world is possible?
Some major climate records were broken this year that paint a grim picture. But what we hear less about are the climate trends heading in the right direction. Dr Hannah Ritchie wants to help us see them.

Dec 7, 2023 • 30min
Cooling amphibians & carbon-capturing mollusks
A podcast explores the story of the Mexican axolotl and its role in regulating Mexico City's temperature. It discusses the pollution of the city's canals and efforts to save the critically endangered amphibian. The podcast also follows fishermen harvesting clams in Italy, explores clam farming for carbon capture, and discusses the practice of eco-grazing with sheep.

Nov 30, 2023 • 30min
Whisky's peat problem, the repair cafe & climate skeptics cashing in on the green economy
Is indulging in a wee dram bad for the climate? We investigate whisky's peat problem from the Isle of Islay in Scotland. Later, we drop into a repair cafe in Manchester doing its bit to reduce the millions tons of fixable items we throw out every year. And lastly, we visit the Republican US state of Georgia where the electric vehicle business is booming.