My sisters, Catherine & Lizzy form the popular country duo, Ward Thomas and they are about to busk in a different city each week in the run up to Cop 26, raising money for environmental charities and awareness for the climate crisis.

I decided to get them onPlanet & The Peopleto find out more and to enjoy a meandering conversation where we discussed our obsession with climate change & exchanged some encouraging news stories, while also looking back at the podcast series so far.

Ward-Thomas recently released their fourth studio album, Invitation. Their second album, Cartwheels was the first ever UK country album to make Number One in the official UK album charts. Notable hits include Carry You Home, No Filter, Cartwheels, Not Just Me and most recently Stranger. They have released a live recorded duet with Jack Savoretti, covering Humans by Brandon Flowers, which they recorded while supporting Jack on his European tour. They also supported David Gray on his Australian tour and before the first lockdown they were touring with James Blunt, with whom they recorded a shared single Halfway.They were planning their own fifth UK tour for May which has since been postponed three times but is now scheduled for November.

For more about Ward Thomas, their website is: https://www.wardthomasmusic.co.uk

From the week of the 17th May until COP 26 in November, they will be busking in a different city around the country to raise money for environmental organisations.

To find out where they'll be busking, they can be found on social media @wardthomasmusic and to donate, visit: https://www.buskingforourplanet.com (live from 17th May)

For more information about some of what is discussed in the podcast:

The chimpanzee sanctuary where Lizzy Volunteered: https://www.chimfunshi.de/en/

How to Save our Planet, The Facts by Mark Maslin:https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/320/320155/how-to-save-our-planet/9780241472521.html

For paintings by Amanda Ward-Thomas and information about her upcoming exhibitions: https://amandawardthomas.com

Planet & The People was produced and hosted by Tom Ward-Thomas

Socials:

Instagram & Facebook @planetandthepeople

Twitter: @planetandthep

Fashion is something we all enjoy, whether purely as a function or as a passion, but it's impacts on the environment have only relatively recently started to be talked about.

I wanted to dive deep into this topic to find out why and in what ways the fashion industry is bad for the planet, and also how we can turn things around, and to help me with this, I spoke to Professor Sheila-Mary Carruthers, FTI FRSA

Sheila-Mary has worked in the field of textiles and fashion for 51 years and is a key consultant in the global industry with a passion for engaging the next generation about how to move the textiles and fashion business forward. She was also awarded the Worshipful Company of Weavers Silver Award.

For more information about Sheila-Mary, visit:

https://www.carruthers-associates.com

Also for the resale platforms mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.depop.com

https://www.vestiairecollective.com

https://www.thredup.com

Planet & The People is hosted by Tom Ward-Thomas

Socials:

@planetandthepeople (Facebook & Instagram)

@planetandthep (twitter)

Plastics are swamping our oceans. This is one of the most talked about issues but what are we doing about it?

The Ocean Cleanup, led by inventor and entrepreneur Boyan Slat are pioneers in technology that is clearing our oceans of plastic and also stopping plastics entering our oceans through river interceptors.

I spoke to Rachel Richardson from The Ocean Cleanup to find out out about how The Ocean cleanup started and what they are currently doing to clean up our oceans.

For more about The Ocean Clean Up visit:

https://theoceancleanup.com

Details of their rivers study will be here from the 30th April

Planet & The People is hosted by Tom Ward-Thomas

Instagram & Facebook: @planetandthepeople

Twitter: @planetandthep

Some time ago I was speaking to a friend of mine Chip Yardly all about the impacts of air travel on the planet. Chip is a pilot who flies for Tui, and had quite a lot to say about the topic, having had to swat up on it for his job interviews.

So I decided to have him on Planet & The People for a bite sized chat where he gave me the low down on how the aviation industry is responding to climate change.

Social Media:

Instagram & Facebook: @planetandthepeople

Twitter: @planetandthep

I spoke to Henrietta Moon, co-founder of Carbo Culture all about Biochar. Biochar is one of the lesser known climate solutions. It's not as talked about as renewable energy or trees or direct air capture technology, which was why I was so pleased that Carbo Culture contacted me and asked me to come on the podcast.

For more information about carbo culture, please visit:

https://www.carboculture.com

Social Media:

Instagram & Facebook: @planetandthepeople

Twitter: @planetandthep

Having made a career in theatre and film as a writer and actor, I like to think the arts can be pretty powerful in lots of ways, but how can it be used to inspire us about climate change?

I spoke to playwright April De Angelis whose 20 year career has seen her plays produced at the National Theatre, The Royal Court and the RSC among many others. In 2011 her play 'Jumpy' starring Tamsin Grieg, received much acclaim.

April is also a longstanding activist and a part of Extinction Rebellion. She has a new play, 'Extinct' coming out at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, which she talks to me about in the episode.

To book tickets for 'Extinct' visit: Here

For information about Extinction Rebellion: Here

Planet & The People is by Tom Ward-Thomas and is on Facebook & Instagram: @planetandthepeople, and Twitter @planetandthep

The concept of Carbon Offsetting, or carbon credits is often met with mixed views.

Is it simply an excuse to carry on as normal but look like you're doing good? Or is it maybe a valuable tool? In fact, what is it? Where does the money go? What does it actually do? And what else are the big businesses doing to save the planet?

Tom explores all and more of these questions with Lucy Arndt from Ecosphere Plus, a company that specialises in conservation and generating carbon credits. Lucy is joined by her husband Nick Shute, a school friend of Tom's and co-founder of Dodds and Shute who have used Ecosphere Plus to assist their complete overhaul towards more sustainable practices.

To find out more about Ecosphere Plus: https://ecosphere.plus

And for Dodds & Shute: https://doddsandshute.com

Planet & The People is hosted by Tom Ward-Thomas

Follow on Instagram and Facebook: @planetandthepeople.

On Twitter @planetandthep

The emergence of a new pandemic is something that has impacted us all in varying degrees of hell. But where do pandemics come from? Where do they start and how are we responsible?

Can we call this year an ecological event?

From Measles, to Ebola to Sars to covid 19, Tom talks to Zoonotic disease specialist Dr David Redding, and Reader in Environmental governance, Dr Peter Jones, and finds out about the origins of disease and the correlation between environmental breakdown and the spread of pandemics.

For more information about David Redding, and to read his work, visit his website

For more about Peter Jones, visit Here

Planet & The People is by Tom Ward-Thomas and can be found on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

Georgina Wilson Powell is founder and editor of the online eco lifestyle magazine, Pebble and author of the new book 'IS IT REALLY GREEN'

Pebble was founded to bridge the gap between sustainability and style and the every day. Since then Georgina has recently published 'Is it Really Green', a helpful guide that answers 249 questions about our every day lifestyle choices and how they can impact our world.

Tom talks to Georgina about her book, about Pebble, and dissects all of those rules and opinions about how to live more sustainably without sacrificing the joys of life.

IS IT REALLY GREEN can be bought here

Subscribe to Pebble Here

To find out the provenance of products visit Giki

Find out more about Green Home Grants

Petition to stop the Coal Mine in Cumbria

Follow us on instagram & facebook @planetandthepeopl

And on twitter @planetandthep

World leaders that deny Climate Change.

Nations chopping down forests and expanding their coal industry

It can be overwhelming and terrifying

In this first episode of series 2, Tom talks to Professor Chris Rapley and returning guest Professor Mark Maslin and finds out how the international community has worked together since the 1990s to fight climate change, from international COP summits, COP26 & the Paris Agreement, to oil companies and other big business. Find out how it all works and how you can influence the global stage.

Books mentioned:

The Future We Choose by Christina Figueres

The Merchants Of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes & Erik M. Conway

Instagram @planetandthepeople

Facebook @planetandthepeople

Twitter @planetandthep