The Climate Question

We answer YOUR climate questions – on everything from “green” careers to ice cores to the world’s electricity challenge! In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Graihagh Jackson explores your climate-related headscratchers. Her panel chat about the new jobs that will open up as the world economy moves away from fossil fuels – and the skills that will be needed. They also discuss the dangers of nitrous oxide – a planet-warming gas, but also crucial for the fertilisers that help feed us. And have you ever wondered how scientists actually date the ice cores they dig out of glaciers. Some of them are 100,000s of years old! Plus: the controversial scientists who’ve won the Nobel Prize, and is there anywhere on Earth that’s untouched by humans? Host: Graihagh Jackson Guests: BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, BBC CrowdScience Presenter Caroline Steel, and Akshat Rathi, Bloomberg Senior Climate Reporter and Host of the Bloomberg Green podcast.Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Graihagh Jackson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? You can email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

In this engaging discussion, Mariko Oi, a presenter for BBC World Service's Asia Pacific, leads the conversation on the recent deadly floods in Southeast Asia. The guest experts, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar, delve into how climate change has intensified storms and flooding, linking warmer oceans to heavier rainfall. They highlight the unique vulnerabilities of urban areas and explore innovative solutions like mangrove restoration and urban planning to mitigate future disasters. The conversation also touches on the economic challenges of adaptation.

Helen Czerski, an oceanographer and physicist at University College London, shares fascinating insights about the ocean's critical role in climate and civilization in this conversation. She discusses her adventures collecting data during tumultuous storms, revealing the challenges of conducting research at sea. Helen defines the ocean as a 'blue machine' that regulates weather and climate while supporting food systems. She highlights how the ocean absorbs heat and carbon, illustrating its vital part in buffering climate change and the intricate interconnectedness of ecosystems.

In this engaging exploration, Noemi Shidlo from CATL discusses the ambitious plans for a massive battery factory in Debrecen, promising thousands of jobs. Hungary's National Economy Minister Marton Nagy highlights the country's strategy to foster local battery production and attract major car manufacturers like BMW. Local business owners reveal how this boom is transforming the local economy, while residents share their concerns over rising rents and environmental issues. The conversation dives into the balance between economic growth and sustainability in Hungary's electric vehicle transition.

In this discussion, Justin Rowlatt, the BBC Climate Editor, shares live updates from COP30 in Brazil, painting a vivid picture of the event's chaos—including floods and protests. Adil Najam, an expert in international climate policy, critiques the divisive outcomes and emphasizes the need for fairness in a just transition. David Victor highlights how smaller groups may accelerate climate action through innovation. Dr. Musonda Mumba stresses the importance of wetlands in resilience while critiquing stagnant finance, underscoring the urgent need for effective international cooperation.

Dive into the shadowy world of lobbyists with the story of Don Pearlman, a master strategist who hindered climate negotiations from the 1990s onward. Discover the tactics he employed, like manipulating language and exploiting NGO access, to stall crucial agreements like the Kyoto Protocol. Learn how his influence shaped modern lobbying and left a legacy that still impacts today's climate discussions. As COP30 unfolds, reflect on the ongoing struggle between fossil fuel interests and the push for genuine action on climate change.

Peter Brannen, a science journalist and author, joins Esme Stallard, a BBC climate reporter with a geology background, to discuss the pivotal role of carbon dioxide in shaping Earth’s climate history. They unravel how CO2 drives photosynthesis and influences ice ages. The conversation dives into how increased fossil fuel usage has led to alarming atmospheric CO2 levels. They explore the potential consequences of our current trajectory and emphasize human agency in altering climate change outcomes. A fascinating look at the ancient and present impact of this crucial molecule!

Every year, tens of thousands of people — from world leaders to activists to celebrities— gather for one of the world’s most ambitious meetings: the UN’s annual climate summit, COP.But what does it actually take to make it happen? How do you feed, transport and house 80,000 people, while trying to keep global negotiations on track?The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar talk to Helen Wright, who helped deliver COP26 in Glasgow and COP28 in Dubai, to find out what goes on behind the scenes. From keeping the meeting rooms at exactly 21.5°C to managing thousands of journalists, politicians and protesters, Helen shares what it’s really like to build a temporary city devoted to climate action. We also hear from Bloomberg’s Akshat Rathi on whether all that effort actually changes global climate policy — and what’s on the cards for COP30 to be held in the Brazilian Amazon.Guests: Helen Wright – Former Head of Delivery, COP26; now Event Director at Identity Group Akshat Rathi – Senior Climate Reporter, Bloomberg News, and host of the Zero podcastProduction team: Jordan Dunbar, Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ben Andrews Editor: Simon WattsGot a question or a comment? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

The Amazon is probably the most famous rainforest on Earth. It’s home to Indigenous communities, one of the world's biggest rivers and a diversity of plant and animal life found nowhere else. But it’s also a region rich in sought-after resources — gold, iron ore, bauxite, coffee and rubber — and vast areas of forest have been cleared for cattle and soy production. Scientists warn that deforestation and climate change are drying the region, fuelling fires, and risking a dangerous tipping point when the rainforest can no longer sustain itself and begins to release more carbon than it absorbs. This week, hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar ask why we need the Amazon, what would happen if it disappeared, and what can still be done to protect it. They speak to a Brazilian ecologist who has spent two decades studying the forest and the fires that threaten it. Guest: Dr Erika Berenguer, Senior Research Associate, University of Oxford and Lancaster University Producers: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Jordan Dunbar, Grace Braddock Sound Mix: Tom Brignell, Dave O'Neil Editor: Simon WattsGot a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

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