ClimateCast with Tom Heap

Wet winters are damaging farmland - is the solution in the soil?

We've seen a trend over recent decades of wetter winters - and this year was no exception.       This winter was in the top 10 wettest for the UK, with the south of England experiencing its wettest February since records began in 1836. Scientists...

The group sabotaging SUV tyres to save the planet

Sports Utility Vehicles, the big cars blamed for causing huge damage to the planet, now make up two-thirds of all new car sales.    More commonly known as SUVs, many people are choosing them for their increased comfort and a feeling of safety.    The…

Britain's crumbling coastlines: Deciding what should and shouldn't be saved

Climate change has led to storms becoming more extreme and rising sea levels, threatening the future of coastal communities around the UK. The British Geological Survey suggests up to 1.35 million homes could be at risk by the end of the century...

How disused coal mines can be part of a green energy future

The North East of England is famous for its history of coal mining – entire livelihoods were built on powering the country on coal before they were closed at the end of the last century. But now, the disused coal mines could play a role in powering…

Introducing… Electoral Dysfunction

Today, something different – we're bringing you the trailer of an exciting new podcast from Sky called Electoral Dysfunction. Beth Rigby. Jess Philips. Ruth Davidson. With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses...

The town that smells like rotten eggs 

Hydrogen sulphide is the smell that comes from a rotten egg. Imagine that seeping out from a mound of rubbish the size of a small hill. You don't have to imagine it if you go to the Staffordshire town of Silverdale, population 5,700. It's an...

Cows or solar? The lucrative future for farmland

Solar farms in the UK only account for 0.1% of land – that's less than that of golf courses. But, as the government aims to meet its clean energy targets, more agricultural land is being lost to solar panels. On this episode of ClimateCast, Tom...

Can the private jet industry really clean itself up?

Multi-millionaire musician Taylor Swift had two private jets - until she sold one of them just a week before her lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to the creator of social media accounts that log take-offs and landings of planes and helicopters.…

Could a scotch egg help solve climate change? 

On this episode of ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits the home of afternoon tea, Fortnum and Mason, but there's something different about the menu. Its scotch egg is made from cultivated meat – that's meat grown in a lab. He speaks to the scientists...

Chris Skidmore - The Tory climate rebel who quit parliament

The government's plan to grant new oil and gas licences every year has passed its latest hurdle in parliament. The bill's supporters say it will improve energy security, as the UK still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Critics, however, argue it wil…