This week, we’re diving into one of the most rapidly evolving fields of our time: artificial intelligence. AI takes many forms and is rapidly transforming many industries and sectors - from helping to optimise international supply chains to smarting up energy grids and predicting climate patterns.

But alongside the many celebrated efficiency and problem-solving benefits that AI can offer, there are also many concerns lurking around every virtual corner - including concerns about the massive environmental footprint of AI.

Episode notes:

UNEP World Environment Situation Room: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-artificial-intelligence-helping-tackle-environmental-challenges 

Smart Farming: https://www.bsigroup.com/globalassets/localfiles/en-gb/bsi-knowledge/bsi-knowledge-food/bsi_smart_farming_report.pdf 

AI e-waste: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-ai-looming-threat-e-waste-how-automation-can-save-day-exnfc/ 

TUBERSCAN: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/research/project/1285/tuberscan-using-deep-learning-and-data-science-to-improve-agronomy-decisions-in-the-potato-industry 

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

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Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

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Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

What impact will the incoming President have on the climate? The US Election result this week has left many of us in a spin, and in this bonus episode, we take a trip to BCFM's show Love and Science to chat with the lovely Andrew Glester. We share a few of our initial thoughts on the news and explore ways to remain optimistic, look after ourselves and galvanise as a community to ensure climate action isn't forgotten. 

Episode notes:

Email your MP: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

The Climate and Nature Bill: https://www.zerohour.uk/climate-and-nature-bill/ 

Stop Rosebank and take action on fossil fuels: https://www.stopcambo.org.uk/ 

Cop 29: https://cop29.az/en/home 

BCFM's Love and Science: https://www.bcfmradio.com/show/love-science 

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

Support the show:

Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

How do we teach children about climate change without causing eco-anxiety? What supposedly environmental thing absolutely baffles you? Is biogas actually carbon neutral? Three hot topics on the table today as we sit down to answer your For What It's Earth listener questions.

Episode notes:

The Adventures of Scout children's books: https://theadventuresofscout.com/ 

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

Support the show:

Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

The 2024 Olympics in Paris aspired to be the first Games ever to be fully aligned with Paris Agreement - but can the world's biggest international sporting event ever really be considered sustainable? From incredible eco-design decisions to the energy and food choices made with the planet in mind, to the burden of private aviation and wasteful merchandise and athleisure, we're taking a metaphorical dive into the bold claims, innovative steps and downright failures associated with Paris 2024. 

Episode Notes:

British Association for Sustainable Sport: https://basis.org.uk/2024/07/26/paris-2024-the-greenest-games-ever/

Designing the aquatics centre: https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/making-buildings-paris-olympic-aquatics-centre-costs-flexible-design 

https://aurorasolar.com/blog/2024/04/17/the-2024-paris-olympics-solars-role/

Coca-cola's soda fountain greenwashing: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/07/greenwash-games-french-public-points-finger-at-coca-cola-over-olympics-plastic-waste

Plastic: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2024/8/20/are-efforts-to-green-the-olympic-games-enough

Offsetting and clean energy: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/energy-transition/072324-feature-paris-olympics-to-lean-heavily-on-offsets-clean-power-to-hit-carbon-targets 

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

Support the show:

Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

Welcome to the first of our fortnightly bonus episodes, in which we answer three green questions sent in by you! Ever wondered whether washing your dishes by hand or in a dishwasher is more environmentally friendly, or whether it's better to charge your phone at home or in your car? Or what our humble opinions on the hit farming series Clarkson's Farm might be? Well, this episode has got you covered.

Episode Notes:

10 eco-friendly laundry products to add to your cupboard: https://www.countryfile.com/how-to/green-living/eco-friendly-laundry-products

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

Support the show:

Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

Environmental protests. Beyond grabbing headlines and successfully irritating segments of the population, do they work as a tool to move the needle for the planet? We're starting this new season by taking to the streets (not literally) and exploring how one of history's most effective but divisive change-making methods is being used to demand action on climate change. 

Episode notes:

They Work For You, the website that connects you with your local political representative and makes it easy to contact them: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ 

Get in touch:

We're on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter and email [email protected]. Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.

Support the show:

Organic cotton FWIE tees & merch: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover our running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

Yes, your favourite climate, nature and sustainability podcast is back! For What It's Earth returns next Wednesday with a shiny new look, new features, and a brand new co-host. Nature writer and science communicator Sophie Pavelle now joins Emma Brisdion for a series exploring a wide range of eco topics - from discussing environmental protests and exploring the green credentials of the Olympics, to finding out how to make your upcoming hen or stag do more sustainable.

Get in touch

Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content between episodes, and get in touch to share your Listener Questions, One Good Things, and to suggest episode topics. Feel free to also shower us with praise, we're fine with that too. We're on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, or you can email [email protected].

While you're here, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star review to help new listeners find us!

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

For What It’s Earth is hosted and produced by Emma Brisdion and Sophie Pavelle, and edited and mixed by Mark Skinner (2024).

We are going to take a little break from podcasting for a while, so in a bid to stop our great podcast algorithm overlords from burying For What It’s Earth, we're going to share a few oldies but goodies with you over the coming weeks. Episodes that we enjoyed making for you at some point in the last few years, which perhaps you might enjoy again or if you’re new here, you might not have heard the first time around. 

So, here you go, enjoy our adventures through the problems surrounding and solutions for, Air Pollution!

What's going on with the air that we breathe? Well, quite a lot, it seems. We're chatting today about the causes of air pollution, the problems it can cause for our health and things like farming and our food supply, and we explore some of the possible solutions.

Enjoyed the episode?

Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or by email [email protected].

Don't forget to leave us a shiny review on your chosen podcast platform. We'd super appreciate it.

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Sophie's debut book, Forget Me Not, has landed on our shelves, chronicling her low-carbon journeys around the UK searching for 10 charismatic species that are being impacted by climate change. She joins Emma for a chat about her adventures, about the role of JOY when communicating climate science and nature connection, and also a little bit about the Kardashians (it makes sense if you've read the book).

Purchase your copy of Forget Me Not: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/1647217193_forget-me-not-finding-the-forgotten-species-of-climate-change-britain/9781472986214

Hear more from Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiepavs/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiepavs 

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email at [email protected].

While you're here, make sure that you've subscribed so that you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5- star review to help new listeners find us!

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast 

Nature connectedness; what is it, why is it important, and can we boost it? Researcher Sam Gandy joins us in this episode to explore the concept of nature connectedness, which is s key predictor of us taking actions that are good for the planet and is also of huge benefit for our mental health and wellbeing. His research takes us to some fascinating places, including the research looking at the role that psychedelics such as psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) have in quickly and deeply enhancing our feelings of connectedness with nature. Plus, we also take a splash through the role of beaver wetlands in improving feelings of nature connectedness, too.

Hear more from Sam: https://twitter.com/SamwiseGandy

The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health (2020) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2055102920978123 

Potential psychological benefits of nature enrichment through the reintroduction of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to Britain: A narrative literature review (2021) https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sam-Gandy-4/publication/356221528_Potential_psychological_benefits_of_nature_enrichment_through_the_reintroduction_of_the_Eurasian_beaver_Castor_fiber_to_Britain_A_narrative_literature_review/links/61929b7b07be5f31b7846897/Potential-psychological-benefits-of-nature-enrichment-through-the-reintroduction-of-the-Eurasian-beaver-Castor-fiber-to-Britain-A-narrative-literature-review.pdf

Get in touch

Enjoyed the episode? Got an idea for another topic? Just want to say Hi? Get in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or by email at [email protected].

While you're here, make sure that you've subscribed so that you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5- star review to help new listeners find us!

Support the show:

Treat yourself to something from our range of organic cotton goodies, from teeshirts to tote bags: https://forwhatitsearth.teemill.com/ 

Help us cover the pod's running costs with a one-off donation or sign up for monthly support (as little as the cost of a cup of coffee goes a long way) using Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/forwhatitsearthpodcast