Podcasts about climate change committee

Niki is joined by Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme and Chair of the APPG on Water. Prior to being an MP has spent his career building partnerships across the water sector and this episode we're talking about…The threat of drought across the UK this summer as April temperatures were the 3rd warmest since records began.The Water Safety Bill – as a new MP this is Lee's first Bill to pass through parliament, we hear why it's so important and why it's not already part of legislation.The Climate Change Committee progress report that states the UK is not prepared for the impact of climate change.Planet Possible is support by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment.Join the Planet Possible mailing list and be the first to hear about new episodes... Join HereShow NotesWater Safety BillClimate Change Committee report Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Border post facilities set up since Brexit to handle import checks could now be scaled down or even dismantled. The UK's new deal with the EU promises progress towards an agreement to reduce the paperwork and border checks involved in trading foods like meat and dairy. It also includes a deal on fishing which would allow EU boats to fish in British waters for a further 12 years. The Scottish Fishermen's Federation has called it "a horror show", but the DEFRA Secretary, Steve Reed, says it's a "reasonably good deal" for UK fishing.In its manifesto the Labour party promised to end what it described as “the ineffective badger cull". The Government now says it's working on a revised TB eradication strategy, which includes increased badger vaccination and a national wildlife surveillance programme to better understand the disease. So how much difference could that make?And a new set of targets to tackle climate change have been recommended to Scottish Government ministers, replacing those scrapped last year. A report from the Climate Change Committee suggests effectively delaying short term progress by six years, but keeping Scotland on track to meet its long-term goal of net zero emissions by 2045.Presented by Anna Hill Produced by Heather Simons

The Net Zero project in Great Britain, so the country does it's part to stop climate change, has a true believer behind it in leftist Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But recent opinion polls show the public is starting to turn dramatically against it, especially when the economic costs become increasingly real. A London Times poll in November found that 92% of the British public viewed Labour's specific Net Zero plans—particularly the 2030 clean power goal—as unrealistic. Despite a foolish drive to “deindustrialize” the UK, force residents to buy expensive heat pumps, and reducing agriculture, the government's own Climate Change Committee frets that the efforts are woefully inadequate. Is the whole project in danger of collapsing due to the weight of its utter infeasibility? Or is that wishful thinking for the people of Britain and climate realists worldwide?The Heartland Institute's Anthony Watts, Sterling Burnett, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely will discuss this topic and more with special guest Lois Perry, the director of Heartland UK/Europe. We will also cover some of the Crazy Climate News of the Week, including the closing of an EPA museum that no one knew existed, how clinical climate anxiety continues to rise, and how global warming is causing your dog to stress out. In The Tank broadcasts LIVE every Thursday at 12pm CT on on The Heartland Institute YouTube channel. Tune in to have your comments addressed live by the In The Tank Crew. Be sure to subscribe and never miss an episode. See you there!Climate Change Roundtable is LIVE every Friday at 12pm CT on The Heartland Institute YouTube channel. Have a topic you want addressed? Join the live show and leave a comment for our panelists and we'll cover it during the live show!

The Net Zero project in Great Britain, so the country does it's part to stop climate change, has a true believer behind it in leftist Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But recent opinion polls show the public is starting to turn dramatically against it, especially when the economic costs become increasingly real. A London Times poll in November found that 92% of the British public viewed Labour's specific Net Zero plans—particularly the 2030 clean power goal—as unrealistic. Despite a foolish drive to “deindustrialize” the UK, force residents to buy expensive heat pumps, and reducing agriculture, the government's own Climate Change Committee frets that the efforts are woefully inadequate. Is the whole project in danger of collapsing due to the weight of its utter infeasibility? Or is that wishful thinking for the people of Britain and climate realists worldwide?The Heartland Institute's Anthony Watts, Sterling Burnett, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely will discuss this topic and more with special guest Lois Perry, the director of Heartland UK/Europe. We will also cover some of the Crazy Climate News of the Week, including the closing of an EPA museum that no one knew existed, how clinical climate anxiety continues to rise, and how global warming is causing your dog to stress out. In The Tank broadcasts LIVE every Thursday at 12pm CT on on The Heartland Institute YouTube channel. Tune in to have your comments addressed live by the In The Tank Crew. Be sure to subscribe and never miss an episode. See you there!Climate Change Roundtable is LIVE every Friday at 12pm CT on The Heartland Institute YouTube channel. Have a topic you want addressed? Join the live show and leave a comment for our panelists and we'll cover it during the live show!

Rich people should cut back on flying and allow poorer families to take the form of travel, all with the intention of cutting overall emissions globally.That's according to Emma Pinchbeck of the Climate Change Committee.What do you think? Is this unreasonable or would it make sense in the big picture?Andrea is joined by Climate Journalist, John Gibbons as well as listeners to discuss.

How is the UK really performing on its net zero goals? Can the UK make electricity cheaper and fairer for all? In this episode of the Fully Charged Show podcast, Imogen sits down with Dr. James Richardson, Chief Economist at the Climate Change Committee, to break down the UK's progress, challenges, and the future of decarbonisation. They discuss the seventh carbon budget, the phasing out of fossil fuels, and the role of electrification in transport, heating, and industry. Dr. Richardson shares insights into policy gaps, energy efficiency, and the true cost of electricity, explaining what must happen to make net zero a reality.   Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: https://everythingelectric.show  Check out our sister channel: https://www.youtube.com/@fullychargedshow Why are our episodes now sponsored? https://fullycharged.show/blog/dan-caesar-on-x-insta-youtube-and-why-we-made-a-contro[…]s-on-fully-charged-everything-electric-electric-vehicles-uk/ Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff Become a Fully Charged SHOW Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0 Subscribe for episode alerts and the Fully Charged newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/ Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/fullychargedshow To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: commercial@fullycharged.show  Everything Electric LONDON (UK) - ExCel - 16th, 17th & 18th April 2025 Everything Electric CANADA - Vancouver Convention Center - 5th, 6th & 7th September 2025 Everything Electric SOUTH (UK) - Farnborough International - 10th, 11th & 12th October 2025 Everything Electric AUSTRALIA VIC - 14th, 15th & 16th November 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Toby Perkins MP, Chair of Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee, to discuss how he and his colleagues plan to hold the Government accountable for its ambitious Net Zero commitments.The Government's advisory body, the Climate Change Committee, has now recommended emissions reductions for the Seventh Carbon Budget (2038-2042) —the next milestone in achieving Net Zero by 2050. Ministers must decide how much of this advice to adopt before presenting a legally binding carbon budget to Parliament for approval. Yet, in 2021, MPs spent just 17 minutes debating the Sixth Carbon Budget Order, a move later criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for its lack of scrutiny. With Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband now leading the Government, how will parliamentary oversight of climate policy change? Will MPs take their role more seriously this time? We also examine an escalating dispute between the Government and Parliament's National Security Committee. The Government has refused to allow Jonathan Powell, the new National Security Adviser (NSA), to give evidence to the Committee and has stopped sharing National Security Council (NSC) agendas — breaking a decade-long tradition of confidential engagement. Every NSA since 2010 has testified before Parliament, yet Ministers now argue Powell is a special adviser, not an official, and should not be subject to scrutiny. Critics, however, warn that this move weakens transparency and parliamentary oversight at a time of heightened public concern over defence and security. Matt Western MP, Chair of the NSC, argues that restricting access to the NSA could leave Parliament in the dark on key national security decisions. Finally, we speak to Simon Hart, former Conservative MP and Chief Whip, about his newly published political diaries—packed with eyebrow-raising revelations, from Ministers getting stuck in brothels at 2am to tantrums from sacked colleagues. But beyond the scandalous anecdotes, Hart delivers a serious message: political parties need to improve candidate selection, manage MPs' expectations, and ensure future politicians are mentally resilient enough to handle the intense pressures of modern political life.____

The “HamasGate” saga endgame approaches as the Daily Mail and Guido Fawkes fold.We look at a new report from those eco fanatics at the CBI while the fossil fools at BP doubles down. And in its latest report The Climate Change Committee talks cars and kebabs. Dale explains why we need to ‘break the link' in order to get our bills down - but is anyone listening…..  And on X-rated corner - a bit of S&M.   

The re-introduction of inheritance tax on farm assets dominated this year's National Farmers Union Conference in London. The Union President told delegates farming is facing its biggest crisis of confidence in his lifetime. Facing a frosty reception, the DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed announced a new Farm Profitability Unit to be set up with the department, but told farmers he couldn't give them the answers they wanted on inheritance tax. Elsewhere, the conference focused on growth in agriculture - through investment, exports and tech. The Climate Change Committee has called for a transformation in agriculture in its latest report. The CCC advises the UK government on ways to reduce emissions in order to meet net zero by 2050. Its 7th report sets out a plan from 2038 to 2042, and recommends a 27% drop in the number of cattle and sheep, and that we all eat less meat.The government's allowing the re-introduction of beavers into the wild in England. Up until now they've only been allowed to be released into enclosures - though there have also been some illegal releases. Wildlife groups will need a licence and to get that they'll need a 10 year plan showing the impact beavers are expected to have. The National Farmers Union has argued that farmers should be able to kill beavers should they end up in the wrong place. Scientists at Scotland's Rural College have been feeding cattle an extract from daffodil bulbs to help reduce methane. The ground-breaking research aimed at reducing emissions is called "dancing with daffodils".We round off with a bit of tradition and competition. The European Ploughing Championships are being held in Nottinghamshire we catch up with a ploughing champion who's one of the organisers

The Climate Change Committee has called for a transformation in agriculture in its latest report. The CCC advises the UK government on ways to reduce emissions in order to meet net zero by 2050. Its 7th report sets out a plan from 2038 to 2042, and recommends a 27% drop in the number of cattle and sheep, and that we all eat less meat. It wants to see more woodlands, more peatlands re-wetted and more energy crops like miscanthus. Scientists at Scotland's Rural College have been feeding cattle an extract from daffodil bulbs to help reduce methane. The ground-breaking research aimed at reducing emissions is called "dancing with daffodils".Fly tipping is on the up - the latest Environment Agency figures for England show more than a million incidents of rubbish being dumped on public land last year, up 6% from the year before. Those stats don't include fly tipping on farms, and the Country Land and Business Association says in its latest survey, 90 per cent of respondents reported having rubbish - from fridges to tyres - dumped on their land in the past year. Rural groups and councils are calling for tougher penalties for fly tippers.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

James and Fliss digest the UK Government's independent climate advisers report on how the 2050 Net Zero target can be met. They are joined by the Chief Economist for the Climate Change Committee, Dr James Richardson, to dig into the detail of some of the changes they are suggesting. They then speak to Dr Sarah Louisa Birchley in Tokyo about Global Welsh's 'Brain Drain to Brain Gain' report. With around the same number of residents in Wales as the number of Welsh people living outside of Wales, the report hopes to find ways to understand and engage with this global community.

In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into the latest developments in the UK's carbon budget and examines the prospects for clean industrial transitions in Europe. With highlights from the UK's Climate Change Committee's seventh carbon budget and insights from Emma Pinchbeck on future household energy savings, the discussion emphasizes the urgent need to reduce electricity prices while expanding clean power technologies. Interviews with climate tech experts, including Liam Hardy from Green Alliance and Charlie Mercer from the Startup Coalition, explore the pressing need for government support in electrifying industries and the potential impacts of decentralized approaches to renewable energy. The episode concludes with reflections on BP's strategic pivot back to oil and gas and the broader geopolitical implications of the energy transition.00:00 Introduction to Clean Electricity and Carbon Capture00:21 Weekly Climate News Recap01:33 UK's Carbon Budget and Future Projections03:34 Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy Transition05:45 BP's Shift in Energy Strategy07:06 Interview with Charlie Mercer on Climate Tech09:08 Government Spending and Climate Tech Investments15:41 Liam Hardy Green Alliance17:16 Interview with Liam Hardy on Electrification of Industry29:46 Encouraging Innovation in Smaller Startups30:20 The Cost Disparity Between Electricity and Natural Gas31:11 Understanding the Spark Gap33:19 Challenges in Reducing Electricity Costs37:17 Government Policies and Industrial Support39:32 Creative Solutions for Energy Transition41:24 Debating Hydrogen and Carbon Capture45:43 Final Thoughts and Future Directions48:39 BP Investor Call48:39 BP's Strategic Reset and Future Plans56:19 The Gulf of America Controversy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four in five cars should be electric and half of homes should have heat pumps within 15 years. That's according to the government's independent climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee. It says to reach the legally required "net zero" target by 2050 we will need to change how we drive, what we eat and how we heat our homes.    Niall Paterson talks to Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke about how individuals can make a difference and what support they can expect from the government.    Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Philly Beaumont

In this interview we recorded at COP29, Professor Hugh Hunt speaks with UK Climate Change Committee Chair, Piers Forster. [Order 'COPOUT - How governments have failed the people on climate' by Nick Breeze] Piers clearly asserts that Carbon Capture and Storage technologies (CCS), that are forecast to remove emissions from so-called hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and steel, will not be enough to offset the damage causing carbon pollution. Whether CCS is viable at any meaningful scale remains highly uncertain. At a time when global heating is accelerating and the destructive impacts, such as fires and floods, are making much of the planet uninsurable, phasing out fossil fuels and reducing carbon pollution has never been a more serious issue. Forster also responds to questions related to Al Gore calling CCS a fraud and whether the UK is anywhere near prepared for the more extreme climate impacts that are coming towards us.  The UK must take phasing out fossil fuels and protecting nature seriously, to send a signal that we are truly out of the extractive and destructive 20th century mindset that has become an existential threat. Thanks for listening. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in UK Decarbonisation Piers Forster confirmed that CCS plays a role in the UK's net-zero strategy, particularly for difficult-to-decarbonise industries and sectors like aviation, which faces major challenges in reducing emissions. He emphasised that "you can't get there all the way with carbon capture and storage," making it clear that reducing emissions must remain the priority. The UK government has earmarked £22 billion for CCS over 25 years, mainly to support two industrial clusters, ensuring a "just transition" without shutting down key industries like Port Talbot and Grangemouth. Response to Al Gore's Accusation that CCS “… is a fraud!” When asked about Al Gore calling CCS a "fraud," Forster acknowledged concerns, stating, "it depends on the context." He explained that CCS should not be used to justify fossil fuel expansion but should be reserved for sectors with no viable alternatives. "As soon as you say you want to use it for generating electricity, that's not a good use of it at all," he said, advocating for renewables like wind and solar instead. UK Preparedness for Extreme Weather Forster was clear about the UK's lack of readiness: "We are absolutely not prepared. We should be. We are encouraging the government to really think about climate resilience, just as it thinks about reducing its emissions.” He stressed the need for urgent action to protect infrastructure, homes, and lives from increasing climate risks.

The Climate Change Committee is revising its advice on eating meat. In 2020, the committee - which is the government's advisor on climate change - recommended people cut their intake of beef, lamb and dairy produce by 20% by 2030 and by 35% by 2050, to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by livestock in the UK. But now that could change, in the light of progress to reduce emissions though things like livestock breeding and new technologies on farm.Farmers are being warned to be vigilant after Foot and Mouth disease has killed several buffalo in Germany. Back in 2001 an outbreak of Foot and Mouth in the UK caused the death of millions of animals, through disease and preventative culling. The UK has temporarily banned imports of German meat and dairy, as well as live cattle, sheep and pigs.And we visit the the LAMMA machinery show - which took place at the NEC in Birmingham this week - to see some innovations in farm kit, and ask farmers whether they feel ready to invest right now.Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced by Heather Simons

The Climate Change Committee is revising its advice on eating meat. In 2020 the Committee, which is the Government's advisor on climate change, recommended people cut their intake of beef, lamb and dairy produce by 20% by 2030 and by 35% by 2050, to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by livestock in the UK. But the Interim Chair Professor Piers Forster tells us that in light of new technologies, this is being looked at again.Farmers have to drive change if we're to meet legally binding targets on improving the environment. So says the Office for Environmental Protection in a new report looking at the last government's progress on meeting targets on water quality, air pollution and stopping biodiversity loss. It says England remains largely off track as progress 'slowed' and 'very substantial' challenges remain if targets are to be reached by 2030. We hear about the workarounds which farmers come up with to keep older machines going.Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

Today, we look at Donald Trump avoiding jail, and any punishment, over charges of fraud relating to hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.Adam is joined by Caitriona Perry, the BBC's chief presenter in Washington, and Gary O'Donoghue, the BBC's senior North America correspondent.And, 2024 was the first year to exceed the key global warming threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures. Adam talks to Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, which marks the UK government's homework on… climate change.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Teodora Agarici and Anna Harris. The technical producer was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Turkey farmers are at full stretch across the country, as they get their birds ready for sale. Two years ago it was a very different picture when avian flu hit the poultry industry. In November 2022, the British Poultry Council said the UK had lost 40% of its free-range turkey flock. We visit a producer in Norfolk who lost thousands of birds to the disease. This year, he's back on his own farm, rearing thousands of free-range birds once more.A House of Lords Committee says agriculture must do more to reduce methane emissions. A report by the Lords' Environment and Climate Change Committee says almost half of the UK's methane emissions come from farming, mostly from livestock. It says farmers need support to use both traditional and high-tech solutions, to 'keep up the momentum' in achieving methane reductions. This week we're taking a look at the challenges dairy farming faces, from labour shortages to reducing emissions. An AHDB Levy Board survey in April this year showed a 5% fall in dairy farmers since 2023, but milk production is up as farms get bigger. We visit a third generation dairy farmer who milks hundreds of cows in an intensive dairy system.Presenter - Anna Hill Producer - Rebecca Rooney

November 2024 has been a busy month in the news for conversations about our changing climate – from flooding due to Storm Bert in the UK, the tragic floods in southern Spain and wildfires in South America. It's against this backdrop, that we're digging into what happened at the recent Climate COP in Baku, Azerbaijan; whether it went as experts expected and what it all means at all scales from international agreements to local action.We hear from the Chair of the UK's Climate Change Committee who's represented the UK at COP29, Piers Forster and the episode is cohosted by the Director of both the Leeds and Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commissions, Rosa Foster. Useful LinksYorkshire & Humber Climate Action Plan:https://yorksandhumberclimate.org.uk/news/action-plan-tackle-climate-crisis-has-support-yorkshire's-leaders%C2%A0 Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Today we look at the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.World leaders, diplomats and climate scientists have gathered in Baku for the annual UN climate summit. Adam speaks to BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt and host of The Climate Question Graihagh Jackson to find out what they're hoping to achieve and why so few And, Emma Pinchbeck the incoming chief executive of the Climate Change Committee speaks to Adam about Keir Starmer's plans for the climate and the impact of a Trump presidency on international climate cooperation.You can sign up to Justin's Future Earth newsletter here: bbc.co.uk/futureearthnewsletterYou can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhereNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. It was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Daniel Ehrlich. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The editor is Sam Bonham.

Recorded live from COP29 in the UK Pavilion in Baku, Bigger, Better, Bolder: Updating NDCs in Line with 1.5 Degrees captures an energetic dialogue on the crucial role of bold leadership in climate action. Moderated by Tom, this dynamic session dives into why governments must ambitiously update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to meet the 1.5°C goal, recognizing this decade as a pivotal chance to shape a sustainable future. Kicking off with insights from Ed Miliband, the UK's Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, we explore how the UK's ambitious NDC exemplifies targets aligned with scientific guidelines, the public's mandate, and the need for investment-ready, collaborative action. Tom also welcomes Emma Pinchbeck, CEO, Climate Change Committee and Russell Read, Lead Delegate, We Are Family Foundation to unpack how real-economy and societal stakeholders can drive meaningful NDC implementation. He talks to Nigel Topping, non-executive Director of the National Wealth Fund and Diana Layfield, Chair of British International Investment about the critical role business plays in inspiring investment and innovation both domestically and internationally.  The session concludes as Ana Toni, Brazil's National Secretary for Climate Change, joins Ed Miliband in a live Q&A, discussing how partnerships between major powers, such as Brazil and the UK, can accelerate global climate progress before the mid-decade tipping point.   NOTES AND RESOURCES   GUESTS The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Website   Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of Climate Change Committee Twitter (X)   Russell Reed, lead delegate for the We Are Family Foundation Website   Nigel Topping, Non-exec director of National Wealth Fund and COP26 Climate Champion LinkedIn    Diana Layfield, Chair of British International Investment Website   HE Ana Toni, National Secretary for Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, from Brazil as COP30 Presidency LinkedIn   Learn more about the Paris Agreement.   It's official, we're a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective   Please follow us on social media! Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Saint Lucia is currently undertaking consultations to develop more ambitious climate action commitments for the next five years. The National Climate Change Committee has reconvened as part of the process to review the country's Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). An NDC is a country's climate pledge under the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. In its most recent NDC, Saint Lucia committed to reducing emissions from energy and transport sectors by 7%, below 2010 emissions by 2030. https://www.govt.lc/news/national-climate-change-committee-convenes-on-ndc-review-process

As COP29 begins, the ripple effects of the re-election of Donald Trump are reaching the shores of the Caspian Sea.  COP28 welcomed 85,000 delegates, within which a significant contingent of Oil lobbyists. COP29 is supposed to be the “Finance COP”, whatever that means, but all major head of states will not participate.What to expect from COP29?   Are COP still useful? Is it the correct format? Who is really committed and who is just paying lip service to fighting Climate Change?  Those questions and more with Lord Turner, chair of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) a global coalition of companies committed to achieving a net zero global economy by 2050. Lord Turner is a leading British businessman and academic, former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority (2008-13). From 2008-2012 Lord Turner was the first chair of the UK's Climate Change Committee.

How can we build new green infrastructure without wrecking the countryside? Helen Czerski and Tom Heap debate the issue with a panel of experts, and ask what the measures outlined in last week's budget will mean for planning decisions and the environment. On the panel this week: Emma Pinchbeck, new CEO of the Climate Change Committee; Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the CPRE - the Countryside Charity; and Professor Matthew Kelly, modern historian from Northumbria University.Producer: Emma Campbell

As the world moves away from fossil fuels, the electricity grid will need to be able to handle a greater and greater load. In the second installment of Zero's grid series, Akshat Rathi sits down with Scottish Power CEO Keith Anderson to talk about what that looks like in the UK. They discussed the promise of GB Energy, the challenges of hiring qualified engineers, and what the new Labour government can do to speed up the UK's energy transition.  Explore further: Past Grid Series episode with National Grid's Sanjeet Sanghera about the challenges of updating the grid around the world Past episode about the role of the UK's Climate Change Committee in shaping net zero policy Past episode with Vesta's CEO Henrik Andersen about the wind industry's hurdles Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Mythili Rao. Special thanks this week to Kira Bindrim, Matthew Griffin, and Anna Mazarakis. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear from Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, as we explore the shortcomings of nationally determined contributions and how they might be improved. Nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, are a bit like transition plans for countries, in that they set out what a country plans to do in order to meet the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. However, NDCs are voluntary, and collectively they don't currently have us on track to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees, let alone the more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees. Today's guest believes that this is a problem, as NDCs are failing to provide a clear direction for action. The less clarity there is about policy direction and ambition, the less likely markets will respond to policy signals to deliver the investment required for the transition. That's why in this episode, we examine: What are the shortcomings in countries' NDCs and how they can be addressed? Why NDCs don't currently reflect the rapid technological progress that is already being made across sectors; and How geopolitics is influencing the transition and the challenges facing climate finance. To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com   Links from today's discussion: Energy Transitions Commission: https://www.energy-transitions.org/ Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs: https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/credible-contributions-bolder-plans-for-ndcs/ Mission Possible: Reaching net-zero carbon emissions from harder-to-abate sectors: https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/mission-possible/ Climate Change Committee: https://www.theccc.org.uk/ Just Capital: The Liberal Economy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5859117-just-capital The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/the-economics-of-climate-change-the-stern-review/ Finance for climate action: scaling up investment for climate and development: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/finance-for-climate-action-scaling-up-investment-for-climate-and-development/   Speaker's Bio(s) Lord Adair Turner, Chair, Energy Transitions Commission Lord Turner chairs the Energy Transitions Commission, a global coalition of major power and industrial companies, investors, environmental NGOs and experts working out achievable pathways to limit global warming to well below 2˚C while stimulating economic development and social progress. Lord Turner has chaired several high-profile organizations, including at the Institute for New Economic Thinking, the UK's Financial Services Authority, the Climate Change Committee, the Pensions Commission and the Low Pay Commission. He was also Director General of the Confederation of British Industry. He became a crossbench member of the House of Lords in 2006. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of the British Museum, honorary fellow of The Royal Society, and received an Honorary Degree from Cambridge University in 2017.

After 14 years as a member of Parliament for the UK's Conservative Party, Chris Skidmore quit the government in January — an act of protest over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to allow new oil and gas licenses. Skidmore says the party has lost its way when it comes to climate issues, costing the UK lives, jobs and opportunities for economic growth. In this episode, Skidmore also discusses the Net Zero Review he published while in office, and talks through climate solutions emerging outside of Westminster.  Explore further: Past episode with Chris Stark of the UK's Climate Change Committee about whether the era of climate consensus is over  Past episode with Bryony Worthington, one of the authors of the UK's Climate Change Act  Past episode with three US governors– Republican and Democrat– about how they  navigate partisan politics and the need for climate action.  Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Mythili Rao. Special thanks this week to Kira Bindrim and Alicia Clanton. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the UK, the collaboration between banks and policymakers is crucial for accelerating the energy transition. The financial sector in the UK managed assets worth over 9 trillion UK pounds (11.3 trillion USD) as of 2020, with a considerable portion needing realignment towards sustainable investments to meet the 2050 net zero goal. The Climate Change Committee, an independent advisory board to the UK government, estimates 50 billion UK pounds, or US$60 billion per year, is needed to meet net zero goals.Heather Buchanan is co-founder of Bankers For Net Zero, an initiative aiming to involve banks with governments to make better investment and policy decisions for the energy transition. One significant need for investment is the retrofitting of the housing stock; over half of the UK's homes are old and inefficient. This a major challenge for banks. With host David Banmiller, Heather explores the financial implications of decarbonizing financed emissions from all banking products by 2050.Plus, the importance of Energy Performance Certificates and measuring efficiency, the financial incentives to de-risk clean energy investments, and how B4NZ is working to engage banks, government and NGOs to drive us to net zero. Collaboration is crucial, but it's a constant struggle.For more information visit woodmac.com/podcasts. The Interchange is back at Wood Mackenzie's Solar Energy and Storage Summit, in San Francisco on June 12. To secure your ticket visit woodmac.com/events/solar-energy-storage-summit.In this episode:00:00:08: Importance of collaboration between banks and policymakers for energy transition00:00:43: About Bankers for Net Zero initiative00:01:20: Discussion begins about financial community involvement in energy transition00:01:35: Introduction and milestones of Bankers for Net Zero00:04:19: Focus area for Bankers for Net Zero00:06:06: Challenges faced in housing issue and retrofit issue00:08:33: Introduction to National Retrofit Hub and role of energy performance certificate00:10:40: Ideas to de-risk financial burden of energy efficiency00:12:24: Coordinating energy efficiency on a larger scale00:14:41: Importance of convincing constituents00:15:22: Role of communities in the energy efficiency transition00:16:20: Designing policy to support the energy efficiency efforts00:18:01: Importance and issues of EPC in retrofitting00:20:00: Balancing energy security and costs00:23:35: The Role of Financial Institutions & SME's00:25:50: Changes to GHG Protocols00:27:04: Introduction to Project PerseusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FOLLOW UP: WALES TO CHANGE SOME ROADS BACK TO 30MPHKen Skates, the Welsh Government Transport Secretary, has announced that some of the road limits recently changed from 30mph to 20mph, will now revert back to the original limit. This is an acknowledgement that the implementation of the reduced road speeds has not been as carefully executed as should have occured. If you wish to learn more about this story, click this BBC News article link here. UK GOVERNMENT RULES OUT GRANTS FOR EVSThe UK Government has reiterated that it will not be providing incentives for private buyers seeking an EV. This follows calls from the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee's Electric Vehicles report, which recommended several actions. Click this Autocar article link, to read more. BIT OF A WEEK FOR TESLATesla have decided to step up to the plate of not having the best week imaginable. Firstly, they announced the sacking of over 10% of the global workforce, as one step to deal with their declining sales. You can learn more about that, by clicking this Reuters article link here. Secondly, the company has quickly recalled all Cybertrucks following the news that the accelerator pedal cover can become loose and potentially cause the pedal to be jammed down. We applaud Tesla for quickly reacting to this news, though. To read more, click this article link from The Verge. Finally, the company announced a new raft of price cuts to it's models. Reminding all fleet operators why they will not be buying Teslas in the future, where dependency on value is a must. Click this article link from The Guardian for more. JLR 2023 SALES UPNow that JLR can get its hands on parts, once again, it has increased its sales in 2023 by 22%. Much of that was from the Defender, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. However, there is also good news for Jaguar as its sales are up too. If you wish to find out more, click this Autocar article link here. JLR UNVEILS ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONJLR, in partnership with Alley Energy, has revealed their portable Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which incorporates used PHEV batteries from Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports. Click this press release from JLR to learn more, including how they propose to use it. VW WORKERS IN US VOTE TO UNIONISEFor the first time, the US car workers union, UAW, has been voted for by workers in Tennessee at a Volkswagen plant. The south of America has attracted manufacturing plants due to previous anti union sentiments, but this seems to be changing. You can find out more, by clicking this article link from The Autopian. VW IN COURT OVER ID NAMEA former supplier to Volkswagen,...

Today we look at the apologies made by the Met Police after threatening to arrest an anti-Semitism charity leader for being near a pro-Palestine march.Gideon Falter, the Campaign Against Antisemitism chief executive was told by police his presence was causing a "breach of peace", in a video posted online.Laura and Paddy speak to former Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Zoe Billingham about policing protests and the pressures on the police.And Laura's spoken to the outgoing Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, Chris Stark who says Rishi Sunak has “set us back” on climate change. Today's Newscast was presented by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Gemma Roper. The technical producer was Frank McWeeny. The editor is Sam Bonham.

When the UK's Climate Change Committee was formed in 2008, it both signaled the country's seriousness about its environmental goals and gave other nations a template for setting their own climate policy. More recently, though, the UK appears to be backpedaling: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has approved new oil and gas licenses and pushed back a ban on fossil fuel cars. To understand how we got to this contentious moment, and how the UK can reclaim leadership, Zero host Akshat Rathi sat down with the CCC's chief executive, Chris Stark.  Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producers are Mythili Rao, Sommer Saadi and Magnus Henriksson. Special thanks this week to Kira Bindrim and Jessica Nix. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*INNOVATION ZERO DEADLINE*We're getting this out before 31 March 2024 to remind you of your last chance to get free tickets to Innovation Zero at the London Olympia next month. Where you also might get a chance to see Matt Winning who will host the Innovation Zero Awards (ticketed separately) on the evening of 30th April.After the 31st, tickets for the 2-day event go for £199 each.TODAY'S BONUS EPISODERichard Delevan sits down with Dr. Matt Winning, who strikes the balance of being the OG of climate comedy with capital-S Serious academic as Head of Climate Research at Oxford Economics.In addition to pitching ourselves to Gary Lineker and Goalhanger to front “The Rest is Climate”, and suggesting that outgoing Climate Change Committee head Chris Stark could benefit from his own Anger Translator (if you've seen the Obama version), we explore how Matt keeps that balance.Show NotesThe Intersection of Comedy and Climate:* Matt describes the moment he decided to merge his work on climate change with his passion for comedy.* The challenges and rewards of communicating serious topics through humor.Career Path and Unexpected Turns:* Matt reflects on his unexpected journey from academia to the comedy stage.* Discussion on how current events, like Brexit and the election of Trump, influenced his comedy on climate change.Audience Reactions Over Time:* How audience perceptions and knowledge of climate change have evolved since Matt started his comedy career.* The impact of global events, such as the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the rise of Greta Thunberg, on public awareness.The Dynamics of Climate Comedy:* The process of crafting comedy that resonates with both climate experts and the general public.* Matt's experience with balancing humor and factual accuracy in his performances.Comedy as a Vehicle for Climate Communication:* Insights into how comedy can break down barriers and engage people in climate conversations.* Examples from Matt's shows that have effectively combined laughter with learning.Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Ambitions:* Matt shares his plans for future comedy projects, including shows that incorporate theatrical elements and staged protests.* The importance of creating new platforms and spaces for climate-related comedy.Links and Resources:* Matt Winning's Website: mattwinning.com* Machynlleth Comedy Festival: Details about Matt's participation and how to get tickets.* Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Information on Matt's upcoming shows in August 2024.* And Matt is one of LinkedIn's best follows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Blenkinsop was born  in Middlesbrough, brought-up in Marton and graduated from Teesside University with a BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and the University of Warwick with an MA in Continental philosophy.Tom joined  the Army Reserve in 2017 in the Royal Military Police in which he still serves today, and was an MP whilst training to be an RMP, something we explore in this episode.Tom worked as a constituency researcher for Ashok Kumar, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, from 2002 to 2008. He became a campaign manager for the Community Trade Union in 2008 and continued in the role until his election to Parliament in 2010.Tom was selected as the Labour candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in April 2010, following Ashok Kumar's unexpected death the previous month. He was elected at the May 2010 general election. In his first Parliamentary term, he was a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee from 2010 to 2012, the Standards and Privileges Committee from 2010 to 2011 and the Treasury Select Committee in 2011. He joined the opposition front bench under the leadership of Ed Miliband, serving as a whip from 2011 to 2015.He was re-elected at the 2015 general election. During his second Parliamentary term, he was a member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee from 2015 to 2016, the Privileges Committee from 2015 to 2017, the Standards Committee from 2015 to 2017, and the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee from 2016 to 2017.After the calling of the 2017 general election, Blenkinsop announced that we would not seek re-election as an MP as he could not campaign for Labour whilst Corbyn served as party leader.  Again, this is something we discuss at length in the podcast.Blenkinsop returned to the Community union as a London-based project manager after leaving Parliament, and became a public affairs advisor for the Federation of Small Business in 2020. We thank Tom for sharing his story with us!Support the show✅Support The Show Help Us Grow! Help us reach more veterans by donating the cost of a cup of coffee today...

Sophie emphasizes the importance of leaning into emotional and personal connections in climate-focused storytelling. By crafting compelling narratives around social justice, health perspectives, and the overall wellbeing of future generations, Sophie believes we can better motivate audiences to drive meaningful change.In the Age of Adoption, organizations across the economy are furiously adopting climate and sustainability solutions. The Climate Change Committee is committed to forging partnerships to address pressing environmental challenges across the UK.Learn more about the Climate Change Committee. Learn more about Antenna Group. 

The legal fraternity is convening in Sabah this week for the Borneo Rainforest Law Conference 2024, spotlighting issues related to environmental conservation. As rising climate change risk underscores the importance of conserving the environment, are Malaysia's environmental laws sufficient to meet these challenges and how can our legal framework be strengthened? We get recommendations from lawyer Kwong Chiew Ee of the Bar Council Environment and Climate Change Committee.Image credit: Shutterstock.com

What is the outlook for UK climate policy in 2024? Listen to Jason Mitchell discuss with Chris Stark, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, about how the implications of COP28 could reshape the UK's global climate leadership; what the Climate Change Committee is doing to advise the UK government on its climate action and adaptation strategy; and why it's vital we find more powerful ways to drive the net zero transmission into the real economy into the next carbon budget. Chris Stark is Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee, and previously Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government where he led the development of Scotland's approach to emissions reduction and the energy system transition. The Climate Change Committee, which was established under the UK's Climate Change Act in 2008, is an independent, statutory body sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and NetZero that advises both the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and on progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.  

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. Today, we look at the deal that's been agreed at COP28.Climate editor Justin Rowlatt goes through the detail, and Nigel Topping from the Climate Change Committee tells us what it means.And Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced he will be stepping down in March. Former Wales political editor and host of Walescast, Felicity Evans, explains why. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn with Cordelia Hemming and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.

Are we responsible for how we behave? If so, should we feel bad about it? And if the answer to those two is 'yes' and 'yes' respectively, how do we change our behaviour?  How much of 'behaviour change' is about nudging or encouraging individuals to change, versus how much is banning bad things and making good things easier and cheaper?  And are simple answers stupid? (Spoiler: yes.) Joining Dave this month is the esteemed Professor Lorraine Whitmarsh MBE. Lorraine is Prof of Environmental Psychology at the University of Bath, UK, and runs the Centre for Climate and Social Transformations (CAST).  She's an expert in a hundred thousand things, several of which help her know how to change our behaviour and whose job it is. Owl noises: --  07:34 - The Climate Change Committee advises  the UK government on, er, climate change. It says about 60% of emissions cuts to come require behaviour change in some form.  You might also like this report Lorraine wrote for them about how to do that. -- 20:25 - An excellent primer on nudging from the Decision Lab.  And at 25:18, here's them on sludging. -- 24:01 - The Austrian nudging experiment. -- 32: 24: Fly lots? Pay disproportionately more tax. Here's the Frequent Flyer Levy idea. -- 43:17: Lessons from Covid for climate, from CAST. Your Brain on Climate is a podcast about human psychology vs the climate crisis: what we think, why we think it, and how it all adds up to a planet-sized emergency.  Contact the show:  @brainclimate on Twitter, or hello@yourbrainonclimate.com. Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate. The show is hosted and produced by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Twitter.  Original music by me too. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.   

Hear from Nigel Topping, Former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP26, as we set the scene for COP28 in Dubai. The COP, or Conference of Parties, is the annual convention of the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This is where all the high-level decision-making around the global transition to net-zero occurs – as such, it's an incredibly important event for stakeholders all around the world. With the next one just around the corner, this episode will set the scene for COP28 in Dubai, explaining the inner workings of the COP and identifying the key issues up for discussion. We'll explore: The successes and shortcomings of the COP mechanism, and how it squares up to the challenge of multilateral negotiations; The complex ecosystem of government, business, civil society and lobbying that has coalesced around the formal proceedings, and the challenges and opportunities that it brings; And the headline issues that will be faced (and hopefully resolved) over the course of COP28. To find out more about the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate, follow this link: https://www.garp.org/scr For more information on climate risk, visit GARP's Global Sustainability and Climate Risk Resource Center: https://www.garp.org/sustainability-climate If you have any questions, thoughts, or feedback regarding this podcast series, we would love to hear from you at: climateriskpodcast@garp.com Links from today's discussion: UNFCCC High-Level Champions - https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/global-ambassadors/ Our Episode with Sir Dieter Helm - https://www.garp.org/podcast/not-net-zero-cr-210708 UNFCCC, Global Stocktake - https://unfccc.int/topics/global-stocktake The Inevitable Policy Response - https://www.unpri.org/sustainability-issues/climate-change/inevitable-policy-response Institute and Faculty of Actuaries/University of Exeter, The Emperor's New Climate Scenarios - https://actuaries.org.uk/emperors-new-climate-scenarios Rocky Mountain Institute, X-Change: Electricity - https://rmi.org/insight/x-change-electricity/ Speaker's Bio Nigel Topping, Global Ambassador with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions As one of the 14 Global Ambassadors, Nigel was selected by the UN to help accelerate the implementation of net-zero targets and climate adaptation. Until November 2022, Nigel was the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion from COP26 in Glasgow, having been appointed by the UK Prime Minister in January 2020. Working alongside Egypt's High-Level Champion for COP27, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Nigel helped strengthen collaboration and drive action from businesses, investors, organisations, cities, and regions on climate change, and coordinate this work with governments and Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Previously, Nigel was CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. Before that, he was Executive Director of the CDP, following an 18-year career in the private sector, having worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing. Nigel is also a non-executive director of the UK Infrastructure Bank, and is a member of the UK's Climate Change Committee.

The price of petrol in rural areas: supermarkets charge up to 15p more per litre if you live in the countryside. The Climate Change Committee has called for a 40% increase in hedgerows in the UK by 2050 to help tackle global heating. Defra says it wants to create or restore 45 thousand miles of hedges in England by 2050, and is asking farmers how it can support them to achieve that goal. It's a far cry from the post-war farming policies that led to hundreds of thousands of miles of hedges being ripped out. And can the River Wye look forward to a cleaner future? Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

FOLLOW UP: britishvolt saga takes another twistThe buyer for the bankrupt Britishvolt company, Recharge Industries, has failed to make the final payment and is in breach of contract, according to the administrator. Recently we covered the news that the Australian head office was raided by tax officials and police. Click this Autocar Business article to find out more. FOLLOW UP: TESLA RANGE CALCULATIONS EXPLAINEDFollowing the report that Tesla was deliberately misleading owners on the range of their vehicles, Car & Driver investigated how range was calculated in Teslas and compared that to other vehicles. Tesla appear to use a very simple formula which works in a very linear manner and does not adapt to conditions or driving styles. You can find out more, by clicking this link here. FOLLOW UP: LISTENER FEEDBACK Thank you, to Tony Wood, for writing in to us to tell us about the free Android app, called “Petrol Prices” which is available in the Google PlayStore, which uses crowdsourced information to tell you of the cost of fuel in areas of the UK. Tony went on to tell us of his experience of traffic lights changing dependent on whether the car is being driven in excess of the speed limit or not. He confirmed this was done in Spain a decade ago and he thought it was an excellent way to encourage better behaviour on the roads. If you would like to get in touch with us, please feel free to use our contact page, which is linked to here. HOUSE OF LORDS ASKS FOR EVIDENCE ABOUT OUR EV TRANSITIONThe House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has asked for evidence of a strategy and plan from the Government and wider public on the transition to EVs by the mandated dates. Click here to read the Autocar article but also to find links to the committee's list of questions and how to respond. CONFUSION OVER DVLA REMINDER SERVICE AND POST OFFICE CONTRACTThank you to Meilyr Williams for sending a Mastodon thread to Andrew about confusion over the changes to the DVLA's reminder service, for car tax, which you can read by clicking here. Check it out and then go see if you are in the system for reminders or need to get on the list for reminders. Additionally, we also we informed that the DVLA is looking to cancel its contract with Post Office, which will mean there will be no way to use a Post Office for any DVLA related services. Once again, the attack on those who are not on the internet or need to do things in person rears its head. Click this link to read more. CAR INSURANCE PRICES HIT ALL TIME HIGHCar insurance prices hit a record level, according to the industry itself. The blame is being put on the costs of repair increasing at an alarming rate. However, Andrew does have personal and recent experience that shows not all costs are justifiable. You can find out more by clicking this Motoring research article link here. WARNING OVER CAR EMISSION STICKER REQUIREMENTS in europeIf you are...

A hedge to the uninformed eye might just look like a line of bushes, trees and weeds marking out a field, but there's much more to them than that. So much so that the independent body which advises all of the UK governments on climate change, the Climate Change Committee, has called for a 40% increase in hedgerows in the UK by 2050 to help tackle global heating. DEFRA says it wants 45000 miles of hedges in England by 2050, and ministers are currently consulting on how to make that happen. It's a far cry from the post war farming policies that led to hundreds of thousands of miles of hedges being ripped out. All this week we're looking into hedges, starting with their ability to sequester carbon. King Edward, Maris Piper, and Shetland Black; just some of the varieties of spuds that were on display last week at the UK potato industry's biggest field-based event, Potatoes in Practice, which takes place annually in Scotland. Interest in UK farm holidays has doubled over the last decade according to the farm holiday co-operative, Farmstay, which has just clocked up 40 years of supporting and advising farmers who welcome holiday makers onto their farms. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In this week's episode, Han is joined by Baroness Kate Parminter. Kate is affiliated with the Liberal Democrat party and works within the Environment and Climate Change Committee. Kate has experience with her daughter having an eating disorder, which has driven her passion to bring about change for eating disorder support through her role within the government.In this week's episode, we discuss:Kate's personal experience of supporting her daughter with an eating disorder, and how this has motivated her passion to campaign for eating disorders.Kate's 3 goals for improving the support for eating disorders:Improving the training provided to medical professionals regarding eating disorders.Reducing the waiting times and creating a minimum waiting time for adult patients.Increasing the number of beds available for patients with eating disorders.The urgency of determining the prevalence of eating disorders, and the importance of further research and government support.Kate's efforts and aims for improving medical professional training, increasing beds, and establishing a waiting time standard for adults, and how she is working with the government to achieve them.The horror of the term "terminal anorexia", palliative care, and how we are not providing the appropriate support for patients.Improving the online safety bill to support individuals with eating disorders by recognising content that can cause harm, and protecting vulnerable adults by having an "opt-in" option on potentially harmful content.The importance of speaking to individuals with lived experience when making changes to a service or legislation.To keep updated on Kate's work, or to get in contact with Kate, you can find her on Twitter @kateparminter or email her at parminterk@parliament.co.uk.Please note that this podcast discusses eating disorder topics that some individuals may find triggering. Please check in with yourself along the way, and remember this is not a replacement for clinical support and advice.

If a week is a long time in politics, what's a fortnight?Yup, it's definitely a catch-up episode after the hiatus for the Joyce flit.After a labyrinthine link from the Lord's test match to the SNP Independence Convention in Dundee we get down to analysing Humza's speech and strategy of "A vote for the SNP is a vote for independence", at the next General Election.On a day when Orkney Council debated its future with the UK and Scotland we try and look behind the media feeding frenzy at the underlying issues of too much power being vested not only in Westminster and Holyrood but also in massive "local" authorities. This American Independence Day also sees the “thanksgiving” ceremony at St Giles' Cathedral where King Charles will be  presented with the Honours of Scotland. Is it a piece of pointless vanity and should Humza attend?The Climate Change Committee has issued a report condemning the UK government's lack of action on implementing its policies on meeting Net Zero and missing key opportunities to reap the benefits of a Green Industrial Revolution. Is Sunak,and indeed Starmer, too focused on fiscal targets to see the big picture?And it's your last chance to buy Thrive for two weeks while Lesley is off cycling in the mists of Lochaber. You need to get your order in tonight to hit the post before she's on her way up the road on Wednesday.https://lesleyriddoch.com/books/thrive ★ Support this podcast ★

Rishi Sunak and now former government minister Lord Zac Goldsmith have a war of words over why Goldsmith resigned this morning. Sunak says its because of the latest Privileges Committee report. Goldsmith says it's because Sunak and his government are not serious about climate change. It comes in a week where it's been announced that this June has been the hottest ever, and the head of the Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben, questions how serious the Conservative government are about sticking to net zero policies. Does Rishi Sunak not care about climate change? We speak to Lord Deben himself, Ed Conway, Economics Editor at Sky News, and Lara Spirit of The Times.

Thames Water struggles to stay afloat. But who is to blame, will the taps dry up, and what solutions are there? ConservativeHome's Henry Hill joins the podcast team to discuss the latest headache for the PM. And are there any good chaps left in politics anymore? Boris Johnson's new job as a newspaper columnist has caused controversy – so perhaps it is time to overhaul the rules for jobs after government. Plus, does Rishi Sunak actually believe in the Net Zero agenda? A new report by the Climate Change Committee is far from impressed with the government's efforts to drive down emissions. Tim Durrant presents, with Jill Rutter and Alex Thomas. Produced by Milo Hynes

This week I'm talking about transitions with a webinar from Business Green and a warning from energy company, Ithaca. There's a report and a letter to the prime minister from the Climate Change Committee, and what did happen at that Paris Finance Summit? More worrying news about climate tipping points and a new film to cheer you up. Or not.

The Climate Change Committee has published its annual report. The independent body, set up to scrutinise government progress towards net zero, says that it's less confident that the government will meet its goals, than it was a year ago. MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs committee have been drilling down into Baroness Rock's report into tenant farming which was published last October. It's estimated that 64% of farmland in England is rented. Baroness Rock told the committee that there's an unbalanced power dynamic between tenant farmers and their landlords and that plans for an independent commissioner to help tenant farmers are still some way off. All week we're taking a closer look at the breakfast bacon buttie - and finding out about how that bacon gets on our plates. We've heard about breeding and rearing pigs for bacon, today we speak to buyers at a pig market in Somerset. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Jim talks with Morten Christiansen and Nick Chater about their new book The Language Game: How Improvisation Created Language and Changed the World. They discuss the game of charades & its relevance to the evolution of language, the false myth of a pure language, language as self-organizing system, Captain Cook's encounter with indigenous South Americans, pidgins & creoles, gesture & vocalization, language & tool construction, the communication iceberg metaphor, misunderstandings in relationships, the now-or-never bottleneck, language understanding vs language production, genetic capacity for sequence-action-sequence tasks, chaotic improvisation as the core, the complaint that the young are ruining the language, the unbearable lightness of meaning, the miracle of sloppiness, order & disorder, word order & frozen accidents, language evolution without biological evolution, ChatGPT as a demonstration of how far learning from experience can get you, a poetry Turing test, and much more. The Language Game has been featured on Behavioral Scientist's Notable Books of 2022. Morten and Nick's previous co-authored book Creating Language: Integrating Evolution, Acquisition, and Processing (MIT Press 2016) was named the Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2017. Episode Transcript JRS EP75 - Nick Chater: “The Mind Is Flat” The Language Game: How Improvisation Created Language and Changed the World, by Morten Christiansen & Nick Chater Simpler Syntax, by Peter Culicover & Ray Jackendoff Syntactic Nuts: Hard Cases, Syntactic Theory, and Language Acquisition, by Peter W. Culicover Morten H. Christiansen is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Psychology at Cornell University, Professor in Cognitive Science of Language at the School of Communication and Culture and the Interacting Minds Centre at Aarhus University, Denmark, as well as a Senior Scientist at the Haskins Labs. His research focuses on the interaction of biological and environmental constraints in the evolution, acquisition and processing of language. He was awarded the Cognitive Psychology Section Award from the British Psychological Society in 2013 and a Charles A. Ryskamp Research Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies in 2006. Christiansen was elected as a foreign member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters and of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, as well as elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and of the Cognitive Science Society. Christiansen is the author of over 250 scientific papers and has edited four books and authored two monographs. Nick Chater is a Professor of Behavioral Science at Warwick Business School. His research focuses on the cognitive and social foundations of rationality, with applications to business and public policy. He has (co-)written more than two hundred research papers and six books. His research has won awards including the British Psychological Society's Spearman Medal (1996); the Experimental Psychology Society Prize (1997); and the Cognitive Science Society's life-time achievement award, the David E Rumelhart Prize (to be awarded in 2023). His book, The Mind is Flat, won the American Association of Publishers PROSE Award in 2019, for Best book in Clinical Psychology. Nick is a fellow of the British Academy, the Cognitive Science Society and the Association for Psychological Science. He is a co-founder of the research consultancy Decision Technology; has served on the advisory board of the Behavioural Insight Team (popularly known as the 'Nudge Unit'); and been a member of the UK government's Climate Change Committee. He co-created, and was resident scientist on, eight series of the BBC Radio 4 show The Human Zoo.

Happy Valley star James Norton talks about the success of the show, helping Ukrainian friends caught up in the war, and how a health breakthrough could improve his life. Plus, the government's net zero strategy is put under the spotlight by Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the UK's Climate Change Committee and Sophie Eastaugh from the BBC's The Climate Question podcast. This episode of Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming and was made by Chris Flynn with Ivana Davidovic, Miranda Slade, Cecelia Armstrong and Madeleine Drury. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Damon Rose.