The Climate Question

In the global race for critical minerals - could the seabed provide solutions? Or should we leave these metal-rich environments undisturbed?
Governments and mining companies around the world are on the hunt for the critical minerals we need for the green tech transition. And there’s growing interest in an unlikely source – potato-shaped nodules that are found kilometres below the surface of our oceans.
These polymetallic nodules contain high levels of elements like cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper. Supporters of deep-sea mining say that harvesting them might be less damaging to the environment than mining on land. But many scientists support a moratorium; they say industrial activity on the seabed could damage the biodiversity of a fragile part of our planet.
The BBC’s Climate and Science Reporter Georgina Rannard has been following the deep-sea mining debate for five years. She chats to Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar.
Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]
Production team: Simon Watts, Graihagh Jackson, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts
Picture Credit: Michael Zeigler via Getty Images

Electric vehicle sales are soaring in Thailand and Vietnam. What’s behind the boom? And will it help the climate?
Thais and Vietnamese are switching to electric cars in huge numbers – attracted by government subsidies and a more exciting range of EVs.
Jobs in the car industry are also up in both countries as a new generation of manufacturers compete for domination of the emerging electric market.
But can the pace of growth last? Will the boom in electric cars reduce the chronic air pollution in cities like Bangkok? And will it help Thailand and Vietnam reduce their carbon emissions?
In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Jordan Dunbar chats to Ember’s Asian Energy Analyst, Lam Pham and Bloomberg’s Thailand Reporter, Patpicha Tanakasempipat.
Got a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]
Production team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown.
Sound Mix: Jack Graysmark and Tom Brignell.
Editor: Simon Watts.

What’s the carbon footprint of streaming your favourite shows or doing an AI search? How vulnerable are river estuaries to climate change? Plus, are you a climate optimist or pessimist? Graihagh Jackson and her panel answer your questions.
The panel are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience.
Got a question or comment for the next listeners' show? You can email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721
Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock
Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts
Picture Credit: ljubaphoto via Getty Images

It’s one of the most commonly debated questions in the climate world: Is this weather we’re experiencing natural, or is it linked to man-made climate change?
In this episode of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar are joined by BBC Lead Weather Presenter, Matt Taylor. Matt’s forecasts are seen not just in the UK but around the world.
Matt chats to Graihagh and Jordan about the crucial difference between weather and climate, and the challenge of communicating this on air. They discuss why heavy snowfall will still be possible in a warmer world, as well as the likely increase in droughts, heatwaves and extreme weather.
Matt also talks about whether climate change will make his forecasts more or less accurate. And he tells Graihagh and Jordan about an encounter with BBC wildlife legend, David Attenborough!
Got a climate question or comment? Email us at [email protected]
Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar
Producers: Nik Sindle and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell
Editors: Simon Watts and Melanie Stewart-Smith

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear accident devastated the Soviet Union and shocked the world. But, 40 years on, are we now seeing a nuclear renaissance? And what does that mean for the climate?
Climate Question host Jordan Dunbar has just visited the most contaminated place in the world for a BBC World Service documentary. He tells co-host Graihagh Jackson about the ghostly atmosphere in the former Chernobyl control room and the huge dome that now covers the remains of the nuclear reactor that exploded.
Jordan and Graihagh also discuss how the disaster set back the nuclear power industry for decades. Now, however, nuclear is firmly back on the international agenda because of rising power demand and concerns about energy security.
With around 40 countries now aiming to build more nuclear power stations, what will this mean for the climate and the world’s goal of keeping global warming under control?
Got a question or a comment? Email us at [email protected]
Presenters: Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson
Producers: Simon Watts and Diane Richardson
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
Picture credit: Getty Images