The Climate Question

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

Ione Wells, a South America correspondent for BBC News, and Laura Bicker, BBC’s senior China correspondent, dive deep into urgent climate issues. They discuss Brazil's slowed efforts to reduce Amazon deforestation and the alarming implications of proposed oil drilling in the region. Meanwhile, Bicker highlights China's ambitious hydropower project, which promises renewable energy but raises environmental concerns and regional tensions. Their insights uncover the complex interplay between economic growth and urgent ecological needs in two pivotal countries.

Caroline Davies, BBC News Pakistan correspondent, shares her insights after reporting on the melting glaciers in the Himalayas. She highlights the devastating impact of climate change on local communities, especially the threat of glacial lake outburst floods. Davies narrates personal stories of villagers coping with these challenges, illustrating their connection to the glaciers and their resilience in the face of adversity. The podcast also discusses community efforts to adapt and prepare for ongoing environmental changes.

Bill Gates, the tech billionaire turned philanthropist, discusses his shift from addressing global poverty to tackling the climate crisis. He believes combating climate change and fighting poverty are interconnected. Gates shares his optimism about technological innovations, like drought-resistant seeds, transforming food security. He emphasizes the importance of equity in climate initiatives and addresses the challenges of political resistance to climate action. Through personal choices and advocacy, he believes positive change is possible.

From coral reefs and mangroves to raising the land itself, how small island nations are using natural and innovative techniques to adapt to rising sea levels and extreme weather events linked to climate change. Jordan Dunbar chats to Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Dr. Rosanne Martyr, senior scientist on coastal vulnerability and adaptation, Climate Analytics. Plus, Anna Holligan, the BBC's correspondent in The Hague, has the latest on a landmark climate case brought by Pacific Islanders at the International Court of Justice.Got a comment or a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721 Presenter: Jordan Dunbar Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineers: Tom Brignell, Rohan Madison and Frank McWeeny Editor: Simon Watts

Laura Bicker, BBC's China correspondent and expert on rare earth mining, shares her firsthand insights from crucial mining hubs in China. She discusses the rising demand for rare earths, deemed vital for renewable energy, while revealing the environmental costs tied to their extraction. Laura highlights the dichotomy between economic benefits and ecological damage, shedding light on China's dominance in this arena. The conversation also touches on the implications for global competition in rare earth minerals and a mysterious climate satellite that's gone missing!

Could changing weather patterns due to climate change make a difference to where and when we travel, or to the cost of our holidays? It was the hottest June on record for Western Europe, according to the EU’s climate service, Copernicus. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting. Extreme heat and drier weather can lead to wildfires, while retreating snow lines can put pressure on winter skiing trips. For their part, popular destinations in the Caribbean and the Pacific face another challenge - from rising sea levels. Host Graihagh Jackson asks how holiday-makers and the travel industry can adapt to a changing climate. Contributors: Simon King, Lead BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Dr. Susanne Etti, Global Environmental Impact Manager at Intrepid Travel Stefan Gössling, Professor of Tourism Research, Linnaeus University, SwedenPresenter: Graihagh Jackson Producer: Diane Richardson Production Co-Ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Dave O'Neill Editor: Simon WattsGot a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: TheClimateQuestion@bbc.com or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721