Climate Watch

April 22 marks Earth Day. Ten years ago on this day, leaders from around the world gathered at the UN Headquarters in New York for the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement. A decade on, where does the global fight against climate change stand today? Climate Watch host Zhao Ying speaks with Michael Grubb, Professor of Energy and Climate Change at University College London.

China is on track to become the world's largest generator of nuclear energy, with 112 reactor units either in operation, under construction, or approved. It has signed on to an international pledge to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. How is China growing from a nuclear newcomer to the world's largest generators of nuclear power? How is nuclear technology evolving? And what's driving this renewed global momentum behind nuclear energy? Zhao Ying speaks with Professor Zhao Jiyun from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong.

Europe has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. The goal is now legally binding, after the European Council formally adopted the amended European Climate Law last month. How achievable is it? What does it mean for Europe and beyond? How might it reshape global industries and trade? Zhao Ying speaks with Dr. Niklas Höhne, co-founder of the NewClimate Institute.

The World Meteorological Organization warns that Earth's energy imbalance has reached a record high. Rising temperatures are just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the excess heat is hidden in the oceans, with far-reaching impacts on our climate. Zhao Ying speaks with Bod Ward, the policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, to explore what this growing imbalance means, why it matters, and how it is shaping our planet's future.

As China targets a 17% cut in carbon intensity by 2030, how much difference can consumer choices make? Earlier this year, the government launched a nationwide action plan to promote green consumption. How is it working in practice? How much is it shaping people's lifestyles? And can greener demand push companies to change the way they produce? Zhao Ying speaks with Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

As World Water Day approaches, this special episode explores how a small mountain village in southwest China is adapting to water scarcity in a changing climate.

China will accelerate the development of zero-carbon industrial parks and factories. This year's government work report has highlighted the strategy, as part of the country's broader push to promote green and low-carbon development. What exactly is a zero-carbon industrial park? How do you build one? And what opportunities do they create for businesses? Zhao Ying speaks with Qu Qiang, a fellow of the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, and Li Hanxi, the lead sustainability officer at HyperStrong, an energy storage system provider in China.

China's top legislature is deliberating on the draft of the country's first-ever Ecological and Environmental Code. If adopted, it would become only the second law in China formally designated as a "Code," after the Civil Code. How significant is this move? And what could it mean for businesses, investors, local governments, and ordinary citizens? Zhao Ying speaks with Ma Jun, Founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.

China has seen a massive, rapid cleanup of its skies over the past decade. Yet some recent reports suggest that these pollution reductions may have unintentionally accelerated global warming. What does the science actually say? Can we really blame clean air for a warming world, or are news headlines oversimplifying a much more complex climate story? Zhao Ying speaks with Arvea Marieni, European Climate Pact Ambassador.

Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? The world's 10 billion kilograms of annual coffee waste usually rots in landfills, spewing greenhouse gases. But now, scientists are turning it into biochar to replace up to 15% of sand in concrete, boosting strength by 30% and cutting carbon footprints by up to 26%.

Zhao Ying speaks with Dr. Zhang Jingxuan from the School of Engineering at RMIT, who leads the Life-Cycle Assessment of coffee waste for low-carbon concrete.