The Climate Question artwork

Science · BBC World Service

The Climate Question

by BBC World Service

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

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Mining: Can we learn lessons from the past?

Lithium and copper are at the heart of the green energy transition, but what's the environmental cost of extraction? From the lithium mines of Salar de Atacama in Chile

Oct 18
30 min

Are we ready for a super El Niño?

When a powerful El Niño strikes, it can devastate harvests, flood communities and kill thousands of people. Scientists have been warning for months that this one could be

Oct 11
22 min

The battery revolution

From Mongolia to Texas, record numbers of lithium-ion batteries are being added to the world's electricity grids - helping to provide more reliable power and speeding up

Oct 4
26 min

Climate overshoot: The world beyond 1.5°C

The United Nations says the world will pass its most important climate target within a few years. So can we bring the planet's temperature back down quickly? Or will the

Sep 27
28 min

The solar power boom in Pakistan and the Philippines

The Philippines and Pakistan are now the world's top solar panel importers. We find out why, and what other countries can learn from the boom! Cheap solar panels, mainly

Sep 20
22 min

Can China build its way out of climate change?

Huge construction projects are transforming China - think enormous dams, giant solar power farms and a vast high-speed rail network. Will Beijing's "engineering mindset"

Sep 13
27 min

How will melting glaciers change Nepal?

As shown by the recent flash floods, Nepali mountain communities are on the front line of climate change. Can they adapt? Host Jordan Dunbar talks to two Sherpas who hav

Sep 6
26 min

Can we cope with droughts?

Europe is reeling from a record-breaking drought which has closed nuclear power stations, stopped river traffic and sent food prices soaring. And there may now be more in

Aug 30
26 min

How do we save Africa's forests?

African forests are vital for food and economic development, as well as for supporting millions of species of animals and plants. We find out how to protect them better w

Aug 23
22 min

Is air conditioning the answer to extreme heat?

Experts say we may now need to spend more on cooling our homes than heating them because of climate change. In fact, the International Energy Agency thinks the equivalent

Aug 16
26 min

Is this a new era of wildfires?

Huge wildfires have been sweeping across Southern Europe and North America. Is climate change increasing the risk? And what can we do? Weather experts say the world is

Aug 9
22 min

How is climate change affecting motherhood?

Graihagh Jackson talks to mothers from India, Kenya and the UK about how climate change is affecting women's decisions about whether to have children and how to raise the

Aug 2
26 min

Do climate protests ever work?

Climate activists have blocked highways, scaled oil rigs and even thrown soup at master artworks. But have protests ever made a difference? The modern green movement st

Jul 26
26 min

Could climate change fuel an epidemic?

Scientists are warning that climate change and deforestation increase the risk of outbreaks of deadly diseases. How big is the danger? And what action can we take? Dr N

Jul 19
26 min

Can science fiction help us fight climate change?

The acclaimed US sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson is also a star in the world of climate activism because his work often features climate change - on Earth and beyond.

Jul 12
26 min

How to build a climate friendly city

More than seven billion of us are expected to be living in urban areas by 2050. So what are the world’s great cities doing about climate change? Humans are now city cre

Jul 5
26 min

"Super" El Niños and climate change

Scientists say the El Niño weather pattern has started and this one is potentially so strong that it could have devastating effects in many parts of the world. So how doe

Jun 28
22 min

Is climate change ruining our sleep?

Parts of India have been facing extreme heat - with temperatures soaring past 46 degrees Celsius. But a less familiar story unfolds after dark. When temperatures stay hig

Jun 21
25 min

How will climate change affect insects?

Insects play a crucial role in food production and the spread of disease, as well as being keystone species in many ecosystems. What does a warmer world mean for them? C

Jun 14
23 min

Can the World Cup cope with extreme heat?

Scorching temperatures are expected at this year’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. How will players and fans cope? And how will it affect the action on the pitc

Jun 7
26 min

Chart trend

Position in the Science chart (US), last 90 days.

#54
all-time peak
5
days in the top 100 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Climate Question ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 23, 2026).

#166 ▲ 7 Science US

More podcasts like The Climate Question

Popular shows in Science, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About The Climate Question on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Climate Question, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00