Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

The Climate Question

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

World Service,279 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

Are there any quick fixes to the climate crisis?
From burping cows to cool buildings, experts pitch low-cost ideas to cut emissions fast.
04 Jan 2026,26 mins
What can whales tell us about climate change?
From deep ocean to inner ear, scientists are uncovering how whales record our climate.
28 Dec 2025,26 mins
Q&A: The jobs of the future, nitrous oxide, ice cores
Your questions on green careers, temperature predictions and dating ancient ice cores
21 Dec 2025,28 mins
What made the floods in South East Asia so deadly?
Can people in the region be protected from future disasters?
14 Dec 2025,22 mins
What does the ocean do for us and the planet?
How our oceans are crucial for life on Earth and help protect us from climate change
07 Dec 2025,26 mins
Who wins in the electric vehicles transition?
Hungary is becoming a global leader in EV batteries, but who really benefits?
30 Nov 2025,26 mins
How can the world speed up climate action?
We're still behind on our global warming targets after the big summit in Brazil.
23 Nov 2025,29 mins
The oil lobbyist who tried to sink the first big climate deal
The true story of the man once described as "the high priest of the carbon club"
20 Nov 2025,27 mins
How does carbon dioxide shape our world?
CO2 makes life possible, but if too much is released the planet can overheat.
16 Nov 2025,25 mins
COP: Is this the world’s toughest event to organise?
As thousands gather for the UN’s climate summit, what does it take to make it happen?
09 Nov 2025,26 mins
Why does the Amazon matter?
Is the world's most important rainforest running out of time?
02 Nov 2025,26 mins
Somalia: Where climate change meets conflict
Justin Rowlatt reports on how global warming turbocharges crises in Somalia
26 Oct 2025,22 mins
Can Mumbai cope with a changing monsoon?
As rain patterns shift, can the Indian megacity adapt to the prospect of more flooding?
19 Oct 2025,26 mins
Can we build better cities for mental health and the climate?
Most of the world will be living in cities by 2050. How can we improve their design?
12 Oct 2025,26 mins
What do ice cores tells us about climate change?
Uncovering the secrets of ice cores and our changing climate with two world experts
05 Oct 2025,26 mins
Why don’t we use more geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is renewable, reliable and powerful. So, why is most of it untapped?
28 Sep 2025,26 mins
How does extreme heat affect pregnancy?
How high temperatures are increasing the risk of miscarriage in India.
21 Sep 2025,26 mins
Will the switch to green technology become unstoppable?
Are there "positive" tipping points when switching to cleaner fuels becomes inevitable?
14 Sep 2025,22 mins
Will there be a solar power boom in Africa?
There's been a recent surge in solar panels arriving in Africa. Is this a game-changer?
07 Sep 2025,22 mins
Are wetlands our secret weapon in fighting climate change?
Wetlands store carbon and lessen global warming's impacts. Should we protect them more?
31 Aug 2025,26 mins
Can we build a world where hurricanes can't kill?
Twenty years on from Hurricane Katrina what lessons has the world learned?
24 Aug 2025,26 mins
Is Brazil doing enough to protect the Amazon?
Are forest fires and demands for oil exploration putting the rainforest at risk?
17 Aug 2025,26 mins
How do we fight the risks of melting glaciers?
We report from Pakistan on the mountain villages on the front line of a warmer world
10 Aug 2025,26 mins
Bill Gates: Why I'm a climate optimist
The tech billionaire turned philanthropist on how he stays positive on climate change
03 Aug 2025,23 mins
How do we save the world's small islands?
From coral reefs to raising land, how small islands are adapting to climate change
27 Jul 2025,27 mins
Is the race for rare earths good for the planet?
The minerals are vital for fighting climate change, but there's a big environmental cost
20 Jul 2025,28 mins
Will climate change affect my holiday?
Hotter? Drier? Less snow? Will we have to travel differently in a warmer world?
13 Jul 2025,22 mins
Why are electric scooters, mopeds and rickshaws booming?
How electric two-wheelers are taking over in India...and helping the climate
06 Jul 2025,27 mins
How could climate change affect my health?
Two doctors discuss the challenges for the medical sector from a warmer world
29 Jun 2025,22 mins
Your Questions Answered
Climate-friendly homes and ships, and which is the best natural way to store carbon?
22 Jun 2025,26 mins