New Year Solutions

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Getting to carbon neutral relies on us being able to reliably store and save up renewable energy - otherwise it's just too unreliable to safely power our grid or our cars. The key to that is in one metal in particular: Lithium, a central component of modern batteries. But there's a catch - we aren't yet sure how a rush for lithium will impact communities and local environments in the handful of countries where it can be mined. So how can we as individuals responsibly use more lithium?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Oil is everywhere around us - not just in energy, but in everything from pipes and plastic to cosmetics. For an individual, giving up oil is next to impossible, despite its long record of environmental damage. But what are the best ways to cut down on our oil consumption? And what would a world without oil look like?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

A recent study suggested that having just one fewer child each would, for people in the developed world, be by far the biggest thing we can do to cut our carbon footprint. But is global warming really a problem of population?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

From asparagus to quinoa, your food can rack up a sizable carbon cost before it ends up on your dinner table. But choosing the most eco-friendly meals is not as easy as it seems.

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

In this episode, Jo considers air travel. Not many people - at least globally - fly. If you do, it's probably your single biggest contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. But what would it mean for the world if we decided to stay grounded?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Too many of us are living in spaces that are too big, too cluttered and too inefficient. The alternative is to share more, to live more communally, and to free up space by getting rid of the things we don't need. And according to some, re-imagining our homes is not only essential for sustainability, but a step towards being happier too.

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Britain may be wet and rainy a lot of the time, but our water supply is more fragile than many realise, especially as global warming starts to kick in. By borrowing the ingenuity of those who live in hotter, drier weather, can we find ways that we can cut out pointless water waste?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen explores the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Our wardrobes are a surprisingly massive contributor to environmental damage and climate change, as fast fashion habits encourage more and more reckless consumption. But what would the world look like if we decided to stamp out fashion's carbon footprint?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

Cars are one of the climate's biggest problems, from burning petrol to the carbon cost of manufacture. But they've also revolutionised how we get around and embedded themselves in the way our cities and societies are designed. Can people really be convinced to cut down their time behind the wheel?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

As global warming threatens the future of our society, Jo Fidgen tackles the ways in which ordinary people can make a difference.

We're often told that we could help the environment by driving less, eating less meat, or using less water.

But in the face of a challenge as significant as global warming, how big a difference can small changes really make? And what would the world look like if we took those solutions to their logical extremes?

The production of meat and animal products takes up a shocking proportion of our planet's land - from feed to farting, livestock are a huge burden on the planet. How far could ditching meat go to solving the climate crisis?

Producer: Robert Nicholson

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4