About five years ago, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced better government action on environmental issues, literally 'declaring war' on air pollution. Today, the country is still far from being a green utopia — but it has undertaken efforts to clear its smoggy skies. Here's a look at what improvements it's made and what still needs to be done.

One of our listeners recently asked how recycling works here in Germany. From bottle deposit schemes to incineration, how does recycling actually work in a country that's often seen as one of the best when it comes to waste management? And what could be improved?

It's been nearly two years since China quit accepting certain types of plastic and paper recycling. For many Western countries, this meant a scramble to find other nations that would accept their waste. In some cases, it's meant a build-up of trash at home. The Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia have even sent shipping containers of low-quality recycling back to Europe and North America.

A former steel town about an hour from Stockholm has found a way to address the problems of consumption and waste at their source and final destination — the shopping mall and the landfill. In an effort to reinvent the Swedish town of Eskilstuna after industry moved out in the 1970s, residents turned to upcycling. Locals and tourists alike are flocking to this town to see what it has to offer.

The 14 waterfalls on Kenya's River Athi were once a popular tourist attraction. But in recent years, the crystal-clear water has become contaminated with sewage, trash and chemicals from the capital, Nairobi — and nearby residents say it's making them sick.

Basra in southern Iraq used to be known as the "Venice of the Middle East." But decades of neglect mean the river that runs through the city is now highly polluted, putting residents at risk.

Plans to build a series of new hydroelectric plants on the Mekong have alarmed communities who depend on the river for their livelihoods. Scientists warn the dams could disrupt fish migration to breeding grounds and cause irrevocable damage to the river's complex ecosystem. DW talks to Maureen Harris of International Rivers about how locals are being impacted.

Turkey is undergoing a construction boom, and the rapid pace of development and urbanization is taking its toll on the environment. A recent study commissioned by the government discovered high levels of pollution in the air and water. But when a researcher went public with the findings, he found himself on trial.

According to the World Health Organisation, noise is a serious public problem and a leading cause of pollution. But when does sound become noise and what are we hearing every day? We meet with sound engineer and environmental acoustician, Daniel Cherney.

The need to keep the wheels of capitalism well-oiled and the lack of investment in clean technologies has taken precedence for decades. It’s led to changes in our climate and deadly levels of air pollution. Dr Michał Krzyzanowski, who’s an environmental epidemiologist, and a visiting professor at Kings College in London talks to us about the problem.