Rethink

What personal lifestyle habits are we prepared to give up to stop global warming and who bears responsibility for changing our behaviour? Is it the state or the individual? Amol Rajan discusses why we continue to live the way we do, despite knowing the planet is heating up. Is it ignorance or denial? Perhaps the problems is with the way we talk about climate change. If so, then how does the discourse need to change?

Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol Rajan alongside guests Tom Bailey, Meghan Kennedy-Woodard and George Marshall.

Producers Nick Holland and Marianna Brain

In the first programme in this series Amol Rajan and guests examine the pledges that have been made on climate change and how far we have gone towards meeting them. What has worked to reduce greenhouse gasses and what’s not working, including the role of COP. Is the commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees the right one?

Graihagh Jackson, presenter of the BBC podcast ‘The Climate Question’ is with Amol, alongside guests Professor Saleemul Huq, Mikaela Loach, Emeritus Professor Bill McGuire and Sarah Bell

Producers Nick Holland & Marianna Brain

Amol Rajan and his guests look for some answers on how to tackle the challenges thrown up by demographic change. From the pressure put on governments by burgeoning populations of young people, to the tactics best adopted by those of us planning to live to a hundred.

GUESTS

Camilla Cavendish, former Director of Policy for Prime Minister David Cameron, Financial Times columnist and author of 'Extra Time: 10 Lessons for an Ageing World'

Professor Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics at London Business School and author of 'The 100-Year Life - Living and Working in an Age of Longevity'

Dr Eliza Filby writer and historian

Professor Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford and author of 'Is the Planet Full?'

Presenter: Amol Rajan

Amol Rajan and his guests look at Japan where almost a third of the population is aged 65 or over. What does that mean for Japan's economy, and its future? And what can other ageing countries learn from its experiences so far?

GUESTS

Kathy Matsui, partner at venture capital fund MPower

Celia Hatton, Asia-Pacific Editor for the BBC

Bill Emmott, Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, former Editor of the Economist

Noreena Hertz economist and author of 'The Lonely Century'

Presenter: Amol Rajan

In episode three of the series, Amol Rajan is joined by guests from Africa and the Middle East to look at the challenges and opportunities faced by countries with rapidly growing young populations. Will this mean demographic dividend or disaster for states like Nigeria?

Amol Rajan and guests look at why British birth rates have declined so much. Can we - should we - try to reverse this and how will we pay for the health and care needs of our growing elderly population?

In a new five-part Rethink series, Amol Rajan and guests challenge some of our long-held assumptions about population change. Are there really too many people in the world - or will some countries actually end up with too few?

During the pandemic many schools and universities relied on virtual lessons using video software. In the final programme of this Rethink on Education, we look to the future and ask what is the role of technology in education? Will students be taught virtually or will online resources only be used to enhance the classroom experience? Amol Rajan and guests discuss.

GUESTS:

Alex Beard, Author, Natural Born Learners

Matt Hood, Founder, Oak National Academy

Dilshad Sheikh, Dean of the Business School, Arden University

Dr. Elizabeth Gemmill, Department for Continuing Education, Oxford University

Presenter: Amol Rajan

Universities receive double the amount of funding that Further Education colleges get, despite the fact they have twice the number of students, most of whom are in vocational training. If the country is to meet the requirements of new technology jobs, and skills, should we be investing more money in higher education that provides the skills we will need for the future economic prosperity of the country rather than a course in English Literature? Amol Rajan and guests discuss.

GUESTS:

Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Cambridge University, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering

David Goodhart, Author 'Head, Hand, Heart: The struggle for dignity and status in the 21st Century

Jude Kelly, Founder WoW Foundation

Professor Steven Spier, Vice-chancellor, Kingston University

Presenter: Amol Rajan

Should we change the current system of examinations for our 16 and 18 year olds? During the past two years pupils across the UK have missed out on official exams like GCSEs, A Levels and Highers. So are official exams no longer needed?

The current system was set up as a conduit for the now, 50 percent of students who go to university. But what about those who don't go on to higher education, are they being catered for? Is there a better way to assess what young people have learnt whilst at school that will help them get what they want out of life in the future? Amol Rajan and guests discuss.

GUESTS

Lord Kenneth Baker, Baker Dearing Educational Trust, UTC's

Laura McInerney, Founder, TeacherTapp

Dr. Kevin Stannard, Head of Innovation and Learning, Girls' Day Schools Trust

Aliyah Irabor-York, Student & Founder , Pupil Power

and

Kiran Gill, CEO and Founder, The Difference

Presenter: Amol Rajan