Rare earths have been described as the oil of the 21st century, incredibly valuable both economically and in the fight against climate change. There's a battle underway around the world to mine and control these minerals - a battle that is currently being won by China.

As demand rises, the problems with rare earths are also becoming clearer because getting them out of the ground requires strip mining and the use of poisonous chemicals.

BBC China Correspondent Laura Bicker has seen this environmental impact first hand on a visit to the rare earth hubs of Bayan Obo in northern China and Guanzuo in the south. She's been speaking to locals about the benefits this booming industry brings and the damage that it can cause.

BBC Climate and Science Reporter Esme Stallard also joins Jordan Dunbar to chat about why rare earths are so valuable and the state of greenhouse gas emissions in China. Plus, she's got an update on a climate satellite that's gone missing in space!

Presenter: Jordan Dunbar

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Could changing weather patterns due to climate change make a difference to where and when we travel, or to the cost of our holidays?

It was the hottest June on record for Western Europe, according to the EU’s climate service, Copernicus. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting.

Extreme heat and drier weather can lead to wildfires, while retreating snow lines can put pressure on winter skiing trips. For their part, popular destinations in the Caribbean and the Pacific face another challenge - from rising sea levels.

Host Graihagh Jackson asks how holiday-makers and the travel industry can adapt to a changing climate.

Contributors:

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

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Delhi’s roads are being taken over by electric mopeds, scooters and rickshaws. More than fifty per cent of two- and three-wheelers are already electric, and the market is expected to continue growing. It’s good news for the fight against climate change. Why has the transition to green vehicles been so swift in India and what can the rest of the world learn from it?

Graihagh Jackson speaks to reporter Sushmita Pathak, who’s been chatting to those who’ve made the switch to electric as well as those who haven’t.

Akshima Ghate from the RMI Foundation and Louise Ribet of C40 cities explain why these small vehicles are so popular and what countries like India and others gain from encouraging electric uptake. From better air quality and healthier children to energy security and manufacturing expertise, there are many benefits beyond mitigating climate change.

Got a comment or a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected] or whatsapp us on +44 8000 321 721

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

Got a question you’d like us to answer? Send an email to: [email protected]

Climate change is having major health impacts around the world - which are only expected to increase as our planet gets warmer. These impacts range from heat stroke to the spread of tropical diseases, from hospitals losing power during extreme weather to the effect on our mental health. In this week's show, Graihagh Jackson talks to two doctors from Malaysia and Egypt about the challenges the medical sector faces, as well as possible solutions and how healthcare must also address its own emissions problem.

If you have a question or a comment, email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

Guests:

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

The Climate Question panel discuss how to make homes - and ships - better for the climate. Plus, what about our own carbon footprints? And are oceans or forests better at storing carbon?

Answering your head-scratchers are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience.

Got a question for the next listeners' show? You can email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

Host: Graihagh Jackson

Tropical rainforests cover around 6% of our planet, yet they're home to more than half of the world’s species. They're also one of our planet’s most vital defences against climate change. But a new report shows how our tropical forests were ravaged in 2024 - and the Amazon rainforest was one of the worst impacted.

Host Graihagh Jackson finds out why, speaking to BBC climate reporter Esme Stallard and Colombia’s former environment minister, Susana Muhamad.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

David Attenborough's new documentary argues that our oceans have been underexplored and undervalued. Could protecting our seas not only help biodiversity, but fix the climate too?

Keith Scholey, one of the directors of "Ocean With David Attenborough", tells The Climate Question how the world’s seas are at a critical turning point. Many countries have pledged to protect a third of the world’s oceans, and the film’s creators hope it will push global leaders to deliver on their promise at this year's UN conference on oceans.

The documentary also includes some of the most detailed footage ever captured of bottom trawling, a widespread fishing method that damages the seabed.

In this episode we ask why we know so little about the ocean? And why the largest part of our planet been under-protected for so long?

Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar

Got a question? Email us: [email protected]

Around the world, scientists and entrepreneurs are pouring billions into researching new ways of storing carbon dioxide. We look at a scheme in India to put CO2 in rocks and research in the UK using kelp. Will either of them be effective?

Host Graihagh Jackson dives into the waters off Britain's southern coast to find out more about the magical powers of kelp, while Chhavi Sachdev visits a tea plantation in Darjeeling which is hoping to diversify into carbon sequestration.

Contributors:

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

If you have a question, email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

Climate change is making weather more extreme and threatening crops and wildlife. But could old solutions help us tackle these challenges? Around the world, farmers and scientists are reviving ancient crops, and reintroducing ancient animals to build resilience against climate impacts.

In this episode, reporter Beth Timmins travels to the Peruvian Andes to meet the ‘Potato Guardians’, while Jordan Dunbar visits London’s Natural History Museum. Curator Lottie Dodwell-Williams introduces the museum's first climate-focused exhibit, Fixing Our Broken Planet, which includes a plan to bring bison back to Britain.

Host Graihagh Jackson chats to Jordan and Beth about how traditional knowledge and techniques from the past are being used to combat the effects of climate change today.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

If you have a question, email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721

A new climate fiction prize has been launched in the UK, with the aim of spreading awareness about climate change and its solutions. But is that a realistic hope? And how should novelists be writing about climate change anyway?

Graihagh Jackson talks to the Nigerian winner of the Climate Fiction Prize, Abi Daré , and the chair of judges, Madeleine Bunting.

Presenter: Graihagh Jackson

The Climate Fiction Prize is supported by Climate Spring.

If you have a question, email us at [email protected] or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721