The Climate Question

BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt travels to Somalia to investigate the links between global warming and the decades-long conflict there. He hears how Somalis are responding by launching businesses and their own renewables industry. This programme was first broadcast in 2024.Presenter: Justin Rowlatt Producer in Somalia: Stuart Phillips Producers in London: Miho Tanaka, Sara Hegarty Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and David Crackles Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Mumbai is India’s economic engine, but every rainy season this megacity comes to a virtual standstill as torrential rains flood streets, homes and transport networks. In 2005, Mumbai faced one of its worst floods on record – and experts warn that climate change could make future rainfall even more intense.This week, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore what’s happening with Mumbai and the mighty monsoon – and how a city of more than 20 million people can adapt to a wetter, more unpredictable future.They hear from BBC Marathi correspondent Janhavee Moole and Zerin Osho, Director of the India Programme at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, about the challenges to India’s financial capital.Guests: Janhavee Moole, BBC Marathi Zerin Osho, Director, India Programme, Institute for Governance and Sustainable DevelopmentProduction Team: Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Joe McCartney, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Houssam Elokda, an urban planner with Happy Cities, discusses how the design of our cities impacts both mental health and the climate. He highlights that our urban spaces can be optimized to lower stress and reduce emissions. Car-centric travel increases stress, while walking and cycling foster social interactions. Houssam introduces innovative techniques like passive cooling found in medieval Cairo to create sustainable, comfortable environments. He emphasizes the need for systemic changes to make eco-friendly living the norm.

What can ice cores tell us about the atmosphere millions of years ago? These cylinders of ice, drilled from glaciers and ice sheets around the world, preserve precious clues about our changing climate and records such as rainfall, temperature and greenhouse gases, even volcanic eruptions. But what can the past tell us about the future? Host Graihagh Jackson hears from two ice core experts about their icy adventures in Antarctica, the Himalayas and beyond.Dr Liz Thomas is Head of Ice Cores Research at the British Antarctic Survey and is currently working on an ice core that may be the oldest ever. Lonnie Thompson is a pioneer in the field whose first ice core finds date back to the 1970s. He is Distinguished University Professor of Earth Sciences. Senior Research Scientist, Byrd Polar Research Center, The Ohio State University. Professor Thompson also appears in a documentary called The Canary.Presenter: Graihagh Jackson Producers: Diane Richardson and Nik Sindle Production coordinator: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck Sound mix: Tom Brignell and Louis Griffin Editor: Simon Watts

Christian Freytag, an executive at Vulcan Energy Resources, dives into the exciting potential of geothermal energy. He reveals how extracting lithium from geothermal brine not only makes projects profitable but also supports the transition to electric vehicles. The discussion highlights innovative ideas, including drilling into volcanic magma for super-heated energy, and the challenges of community resistance in geothermal projects in Indonesia. Freytag emphasizes that with effective community engagement and technological advances, geothermal could become a major energy player.

In this insightful discussion, Tulip Mazumdar, a former BBC Global Health Correspondent who reported extensively from India, shares haunting stories of pregnant women from Tamil Nadu impacted by extreme heat. She reveals findings from a troubling study showing that heat exposure almost doubles the risks of miscarriage and related complications. Tulip explores solutions to mitigate these risks, including behavioral changes and cooling strategies, emphasizing the role of employers and the government in safeguarding maternal health.

Tim Lenton, a leading Professor of Climate Change at the University of Exeter and author of *Positive Tipping Points*, discusses the concept of positive tipping points in climate solutions. He reveals how the surge in renewable energy and electric vehicles is already reshaping the market. Lenton shares a fascinating story about how the band A-Ha helped popularize electric vehicles in Norway. The conversation also touches on the impact of social movements and changing dietary habits, highlighting pathways to a sustainable future.

Africa gets a world beating amount of sunshine — but has just 1% of the world’s solar panels. Over half the continent still lives without electricity, stalling progress and holding back people’s lives. But change may be coming — thanks to a surge in solar imports from China. New data from energy think tank EMBER shows a 60% jump in solar panel shipments to Africa in the past year. If installed, they could generate 15 GW — nearly doubling Africa’s current solar capacity. It’s not just the biggest energy users like South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria. Countries like Liberia, DRC, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia have tripled their imports. So, is this the start of a solar-powered revolution on the continent? Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar speak to Dr Rose Mutiso, Science Advisor at the Energy for Growth Hub and Founder of the African Tech Futures Lab. Got a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com Production Team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock, Chris Gouzaris and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts

The world's wetlands store carbon and can help us tackle some of the impacts of climate change. Are we overlooking their importance? And what can we do to protect them more?Graihagh Jackson travels to wetlands near her home in East Anglia while Qasa Alom reports from the Bay of Bengal. And The Climate Question catches up with an old friend of the show, Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Convention on Wetlands.This programme was first broadcast in 2024.Production team: Osman Iqbal, Octavia Woodward, Brenda Brown, Simon Watts Sound design by Tom Brignell.Send your questions to: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated America’s Gulf coast and overwhelmed the city of New Orleans. The destruction and the response to the storm became infamous and are debated to this day. Climate scientists warn that the warming world is likely to make typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes more intense and so even more dangerous. Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar ask what the world has learned since the disaster in New Orleans, and how we can build cities that can stand up better to more extreme weather events. They chat to Prof Reggie DesRoches, an engineer who was on the ground in the aftermath of Katrina to help find out what had gone wrong. His work specialises in adapting infrastructure for natural disasters, including developing innovative materials and practical techniques that might just help us adapt to more violent storms. Can we build a world where hurricanes can't kill? Guest: Prof Reggie DesRoches, President, Rice University, HoustonPresenter: Graihagh Jackson with Jordan Dunbar Producers: Jordan Dunbar, Di Richardson and Nik Sindle Sound mix: Tom Brignell and Sarah Kimberley Editor: Simon WattsGot a climate question you’d like answered? Email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721