The Climate Question

Winter sport depends on one thing that is becoming less reliable each year: snow. As temperatures rise, glaciers are retreating, seasons are shifting, and lower-elevation resorts are struggling to guarantee consistent conditions.
Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore the ways climate change is reshaping winter sport, from elite competition to local economies. Former alpine ski racer and BBC Ski Sunday presenter Chemmy Alcott describes how competitors have to deal with shorter training seasons, cancelled races and increasing injury risks.
They also speak to Daniel Scott, a leading researcher on climate change and winter tourism at the University of Waterloo in Canada, about which cities may still be able to host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics by the 2050s. And Professor Scott tells The Climate Question how organisers are adapting through snowmaking, snow storage and changes to competition schedules.
Guests:
Chemmy Alcott – former British Winter Olympian and BBC Ski Sunday presenter
Professor Daniel Scott – University of Waterloo, Canada
If you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721
Presenters: Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson
Production team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle
Sound engineers: Tom Brignell and Philip Bull
Editor: Simon Watts
Image: Reuters

Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, dread and powerlessness are some of the many emotions associated with what’s called climate anxiety.
A global survey of 10,000 young people aged between 16–25 years, found that 60% were very worried about climate change, and nearly half said that their anxiety negatively effects their daily life.
Psychologists say these are rational responses to our changing climate, experienced in many different ways around the world.
Graihagh Jackson asks how people can manage these difficult emotions and whether climate anxiety itself can be motivational.
Graihagh chats to:
Svetlana Chigozie Onye who leads the Eco-anxiety in Africa Project, which looks at the mental health impact of climate change and solutions across Africa.
Dr Daniella Watson, Chartered Health Psychologist and a Research Associate at the The Climate Cares Centre, Imperial College London.
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Presenter: Graihagh Jackson
Production Team: Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineers: Jonny Hall and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts

Image Credit: Dried up dam. Mike Hutchings, Reuters.

We know the planet is getting hotter because of human-induced climate change. But just how hot could it get?
In this show, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar chat to Nasa scientist, Kate Marvel, about the world of climate modelling. Kate has spent decades trying to work out what will happen to the Earth as emissions of carbon dioxide increase.
Although the basic facts of climate change are settled, climate modellers are trying to understand how photosynthesis by plants will change in a warmer world. And they’re also puzzling over the crucial role played by clouds!
Recently, Kate has written Human Nature, a book about how climate change affects our emotions - from grief and anger to hope and love. She says the wide range of feelings prompted by global warming are compatible with getting the science right.
Presenter: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar
Production Team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Brenda Brown
Sound engineer: Phil Bull and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
If you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721
(Image: Wildfires in California. Credit: Reuters)

How farmers and scientists in eastern India are using ancient rice seeds to fight the growing impact of flooding, soil salinity and drought.
The BBC’s William Kremer tells Graihagh Jackson about his visit to the Sundarbans in West Bengal, where cyclones and rising sea levels have devastated crops. William meets the rice growers drawing on the skills of their forefathers to feed their families. Graihagh also gets a global overview from Dr Rafal Gutaker, rice expert at Kew Gardens, London. This programme was first broadcast in 2025.
Reporter in India: William Kremer
Production Team: Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Octavia Woodward
Sound Mix: Neil Churchill and Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts
If you have a question for the team, email: [email protected] or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721
Image credit: Reuters

Across the world, cars are getting taller, wider and heavier. Sports Utility Vehicles, or SUVs, now dominate global car sales, and the trend has continued into the electric age with many new EVs larger than ever.
In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar examines why bigger cars have become so popular with drivers and so profitable for manufacturers. From comfort and safety to status and aspiration, SUVs are reshaping roads across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Size matters. Heavier vehicles use more energy, require bigger batteries, and create challenges for cities, from congestion and parking to road damage and safety. Jordan speaks to Theo Leggett, the BBC’s International Business Correspondent, and Anjani Trivedi, Global Business Correspondent at The Economist, about car-spreading, emissions, electrification, and whether governments and consumers could reverse the trend.
Guests:
Theo Leggett, BBC International Business Correspondent
Anjani Trivedi, Global Business Correspondent, The Economist
Presenter: Jordan Dunbar
Production team: Ben Andrews, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Gareth Jones, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle
Editor: Simon Watts
Image: CJ Gunther / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock
Got a question or a comment? You can email us: [email protected]