ClimateCast with Tom Heap

COP28: Breakthrough at Dubai climate conference

The King has urged world leaders assembled in Dubai to make the COP28 climate summit a "critical turning point" in the fight to tackle global warming. And there has already been a breakthrough with wealthy nations contributing nearly $300m to a 'loss…

Toxic News: The hurdles of covering climate change

Climate change has long been a divisive topic that is often forced to the bottom of the news agenda, even as the threat of a warming world grows. Ahead of COP28, the annual UN climate negotiations, Tom Heap is joined by a panel of guests to discuss.…

Can ships steer away from air pollution?

Shipping, in the form of cruises, ferries and even the navy, accounts for around 2% of our emissions that contribute to global warming - just a little less than aviation. The diesel powered vessels also worsens air pollution, the biggest environmenta…

Can we build homes for wildlife as well as people?

Building new homes often comes at the expense of living space for wildlife. But from 2024, a new law in England means developers will have to make sure their projects deliver 10% more nature. It's called biodiversity net gain. Conservation groups..…

Is compostable packaging a good alternative to plastic?

This week Wales has joined England and Scotland on waving goodbye to single-use plastics. The decision lends its hand to the 'booming' compostable packaging industry. But could a packaging that reverts to nature be too good to be true? One UCL study…

A story of redemption: How a fracking site converted to a renewable energy source

Just a few years ago, a small village in North Yorkshire became a magnet for protesters who were opposing hydraulic fracturing for gas - also known as fracking. Now, the organiser of those protests works for the same company he opposed, but it has.…

Can we imprison carbon dioxide? 

Carbon dioxide is the big villain of global warming - the "most wanted" for crimes against the climate that we'd love to lock up. In Merseyside and North Wales, they're putting a posse together. It's called HyNet and it's a group of around 40...

Heat: The small business with a big plan to cut carbon emissions

Half of energy is used as heat and, both across the world and here in the UK, most of that comes from fossil fuels. But a small business in Hampshire thinks that have the solution to store and decarbonise heat - a heat battery. If successful, the..…

River Fixers: Can citizen science push back pollution?

On this week's ClimateCast Tom Heap is in west London to talk about the quality of the UK's waterways, something that's causing a public and political outcry across the country. With his waders on, he meets the brains behind water quality monitors.…

How Northern Ireland’s stalemate is worsening an environmental crisis 

Lough Neagh is the UK’s largest lake – and it’s being poisoned by toxic algae. It’s killing dogs, birds, fish and is dangerous to humans. Campaigners say the “toxic soup” is being used “as a toilet” and although it’s treated, it still provides 40% o…