The Climate Question

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" help it deal with climate change?
China's senior leadership is dominated by engineers, starting with President Xi, who trained as a chemical engineer in the 1970s. They have overseen megaprojects like the 50-kilometre bridge joining Hong Kong and Macau, and a plan to move water from southern China to the much drier north.
The engineering mania extends to energy, where the world's largest polluter has invested trillions of dollars in wind and nuclear power, as well as high voltage transmission lines spanning the country. So what does China's approach mean for climate change? And can Beijing build its way out of the problem?
In this edition of The Climate Question Host Jordan Dunbar and BBC Presenter Celia Hatton talk to Dan Wang, the author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future. Dan is currently a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
Producer: Jordan Dunbar and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Johnny Hall and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

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 have become climate researchers. They are glaciologist Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, and Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, who researches how global warming affects indigenous groups in Nepal.
This programme was recorded in July 2026.
Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound engineer: Tom Brignell and Dave O'Neill
Editor: Simon Watts

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 intense droughts in some parts of the world because of climate change.
Our host Graihagh Jackson explores solutions from water usage apps in South Africa to solar irrigation systems in Egypt. She also looks at the challenges of adapting our energy infrastructure for a warming planet.
Her guests are Dr Iain Staffell, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy at Imperial College London, and Dr Vidhisha Samarasekara, Strategic Program Director for Water, Climate Change and Resilience at the International Water Management Institute.
Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Picture Credit: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull
Editor: Simon Watts

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 with one of Africa’s top environmentalists!
From the giant Congo rainforest to the Kenyan highlands and the mangroves of Mozambique, Africa’s forests are some of the most spectacular places on Earth. And these sensitive ecosystems are not just important for Africa: they play a vital role in the global climate because they store huge amounts of carbon dioxide and pump out oxygen.
Kenyan environmentalist Wanjira Mathai has been campaigning to protect and nurture forests for decades. She tells The Climate Question about the challenges they now face across Africa from rapid urbanisation, mining and logging. The solution, according to Wanjira, is to place a proper economic value on the environmental services provided by forests and the communities who live in them – whether that’s supplying water and food, or helping to prevent floods sweeping through cities such as Nairobi.

Wanjira Mathai is Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute. She’s been chatting to The Climate
Question host Jordan Dunbar and BBC Senior Climate Reporter Esme Stallard.
Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Mike Regaard and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

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 of 10 new air conditioners every second will be installed for the next 30 years!
This surge in air con will put strain on the world’s electricity grids, which are still mostly powered by fossil fuels. The units also pump heat into the streets outside our homes – making cities feel even hotter when we step outside.
But there are alternative options – like redesigning houses to include more shading and increase the air flow, or using fans and misting systems. We could also plant more trees or even change the colours of our homes to reflect more sunlight!
In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Graihagh Jackson talks to BBC Tokyo Correspondent, Kurumi Mori, and Radhika Khosla, Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Oxford.
Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Producers: Diane Richardson and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell and Ricardo McCarthy
Editor: Simon Watts