ClimateCast with Tom Heap

Sky News’ Yalda Hakim and NBC’s Richard Engel have covered world events for years. Now, they team up for a new podcast to share their experiences from the frontline. They debrief from global flashpoints and discuss their encounters with the biggest decision makers. They’ll also be joined by some of those key players to help make sense of world events. From conflict in the Middle East, to the US election, and the war in Ukraine there is no better place for analysis and expertise. New episodes from Richard and Yalda every Wednesday, starting October 9th.

We've seen a trend over recent decades of wetter winters - and this year was no exception. This winter was in the top 10 wettest for the UK, with the south of England experiencing its wettest February since records began in 1836. Scientists expect this trend to continue as the climate changes. Farmers are particularly vulnerable to increased rainfall which either prevents them from sowing or destroys the seeds they have been able to plant. On this episode of ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits Groove Armada musician Andy Cato at his Wiltshire farm to find out how this winter has been challenging for farmers already on wafer-thin margins and what he thinks the solutions could be. Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Wendy Parker

Sports Utility Vehicles, the big cars blamed for causing huge damage to the planet, now make up two-thirds of all new car sales. More commonly known as SUVs, many people are choosing them for their increased comfort and a feeling of safety. They were originally designed for off-roading in the countryside, but now they are often more of a status symbol. Their larger size and weight mean they're big polluters, so their growing number is undoing years of progress towards cleaner air. On this week's ClimateCast, Tom Heap speaks to the Tyre Extinguishers, climate activists who are notorious in cities around the world for deflating the tyres of SUVs to protest against their pollution. Plus, hear from AutoTrader's Erin Baker about why so many of us want these bigger cars. Producers: Alex Edden and Gemma Watson Assistant producer: Iona Brunker Editors: Wendy Parker

Climate change has led to storms becoming more extreme and rising sea levels, threatening the future of coastal communities around the UK. The British Geological Survey suggests up to 1.35 million homes could be at risk by the end of the century without further sea defences. On this week's ClimateCast with Tom Heap, the team are on the Isle of Wight and in north Norfolk hearing from people who are losing their homes to the sea and from others fighting to protect their properties. Tom also speaks to those who make the decisions on what should and shouldn't be saved from the sea. Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce Location producer: Gemma Watson Assistant Producer: Evan Dale Promotion producer: Jonathan Day Editor: Wendy Parker

The North East of England is famous for its history of coal mining – entire livelihoods were built on powering the country on coal before they were closed at the end of the last century. But now, the disused coal mines could play a role in powering the future, while doing no harm to the climate. On this week’s ClimateCast Tom Heap is in Gateshead where they’re using mining infrastructure to heat up water as an energy supply for the future. He visits Beamish Living Museum to speak to the Coal Mining Authority about the how it works and its future potential as an energy source. Plus, he finds out what difference it could make to energy bills.

Today, something different – we're bringing you the trailer of an exciting new podcast from Sky called Electoral Dysfunction. Beth Rigby. Jess Philips. Ruth Davidson. With polls suggesting trust in politicians is low, three political powerhouses unite to unravel the spin and explain what’s really going on in Westminster and beyond. Every week, they will examine our political leaders and their policies – how they’re written, and how they’re sold to voters – as we prepare for a general election. With so much at stake, they will work out which politicians are coming out on top and who is having an Electoral Dysfunction – and what it all actually means for you. Here's the trailer. For more, follow Electoral Dysfunction now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hydrogen sulphide is the smell that comes from a rotten egg. Imagine that seeping out from a mound of rubbish the size of a small hill. You don't have to imagine it if you go to the Staffordshire town of Silverdale, population 5,700. It's an ever-present threat and a frequent reality. On this week's ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits Silverdale to speak to residents campaigning to shut down a landfill that's been haunting them for years. He talks to protesters in the village, as well as the local doctors' surgery to ask health professionals if they believe the landfill is a risk to health - which operators deny. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Mickey Carroll Editors: Luke Denne and Philly Beaumont

Solar farms in the UK only account for 0.1% of land – that's less than that of golf courses. But, as the government aims to meet its clean energy targets, more agricultural land is being lost to solar panels. On this episode of ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits farmer Andrew Dakin, whose family have farmed the same land for 94 years, but now, his landlord is selling up to make room for a solar farm. Tom speaks to Andrew about how not just his job, but his livelihood is at risk - and Georgia, who grew up nearby and has launched a community campaign to help save the farm. Plus, Chris Hewitt – Solar Energy UK’s Chief Executive – explains how solar farms are a necessary part of the energy transition and how agriculture will be at risk of climate change without urgent action, including more solar energy. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Gemma Watson Assistant Producer: Iona Brunker Editor: Paul Stanworth

Multi-millionaire musician Taylor Swift had two private jets - until she sold one of them just a week before her lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to the creator of social media accounts that log take-offs and landings of planes and helicopters owned by public figures. So, on this episode of ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits a private jet investors conference in London to find out just how climate un-friendly these jets are, and what the industry says it's going to do about it. Tom speaks to industry leaders, including Steve Varsano is the founder of The Jet Business, which has a street front corporate aircraft showroom and almost two million TikTok followers. Plus, Todd Smith, a former airline pilot, now climate activist and Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, shares his experience of trying to make the industry more sustainable. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Luke Denne

On this episode of ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits the home of afternoon tea, Fortnum and Mason, but there's something different about the menu. Its scotch egg is made from cultivated meat – that's meat grown in a lab. He speaks to the scientists behind the product to find out how it was made and explores if this could be a solution to our polluting meat and dairy industry - which accounts for 14% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Cultivated meat is technically not yet legal in the UK - but as pressure mounts to change our diet - could this be the future? And where does that leave farmers? Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Gemma Watson Editor: Wendy Parker

The government's plan to grant new oil and gas licences every year has passed its latest hurdle in parliament. The bill's supporters say it will improve energy security, as the UK still relies heavily on fossil fuels. Critics, however, argue it will not cut energy bills and instead will break the UK's promise to phase out fossil fuels. One of those critics is Chris Skidmore who recently resigned as a Conservative MP over the government's net zero strategy and its decision to boost new oil and gas production. On this episode of ClimateCast, Mr Skidmore, who led the independent government review into net zero, sits down with Sky's science and technology editor Tom Clarke. They discuss the reasons behind his decision to quit, the 'culture war' attached to net zero and the realities the UK faces getting there.

Heating accounts for a third of emissions in the UK, meaning we have to ditch our favourite fuel, gas. The Government's alternative? The heat pump. But despite installations being on the rise, the UK is much behind it's European neighbours on the number of heat pumps being installed each year. So why are we so slow? Is it the price, reluctance to change - or do heat pumps have a bad name? On this week's ClimateCast Tom Heap finds out the truth about heat pumps. He debunks some myths, sees one being installed, and meets a customer who recently made the change. He speaks to Mike Foster from energy and utilities alliance about why he believes heat pumps aren't the only option - as well as Lord Callanan about the misinformation surrounding heat pumps. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse

More than 1,000m underground is one of Britain's deepest mines. But it's not coal they're mining in North Yorkshire. It's a mineral that could help fight climate change. On this week's ClimateCast, Tom Heap explores the tunnels way beneath the North Sea bed to find out if what lies under the ground can help protect the atmosphere above. He discovers how miners are extracting polyhalite, a fertiliser that emits 85% less emissions than its counterparts, and learns why a multi-billion pound project is under way to extract more. Above ground, he's joined by professor of soil erosion and conservation, Jane Rickson from Cranfield University, to discuss the state and significance of the ground beneath our feet. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

On this special Christmas episode of ClimateCast Tom Heap is joined by climate and energy analyst, Sepi Golzari-Munro. They’re joined by a panel of special guests look back over a remarkable year in climate science and politics, as well as look ahead to some reasons to be cheerful in the world of climate going into 2024. Special guests Dr Ella Gilbert, Antarctic climate scientist Dr Friederike Otto, Climatologist specialising in extreme weather Alastair Campbell, Former director of communications, Blair government Ed Conway, Sky’s Economics editor

This week COP28 reached a "historic" and "unprecedented" conclusion to "move away from fossil fuels". While leaders are hailing the agreement a breakthrough, campaigners argue it doesn't go far enough and it should phase out fossil fuels entirely, but how realistic is that ambition? On this week's ClimateCast Tom Heap is joined by Sky's economics editor Ed Conway who explains why the answer to our fossil fuel reliance starts with a piece of Lego. They discuss what happens to fossil fuels now that deal is in place and what a net-zero 2050 might look like, and how we get there. Tom is also joined by Racquel Moses, CEO of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, who speaks about the enormous impact the climate deal with have on small island developing states for decades to come. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Shipping our heavy goods around the world is a huge carbon emitter. In the UK, we transport a vast amount via roads which has the same carbon footprint as air travel, buses and domestic shipping combined. So could we be shipping in a more environmentally friendly way? On this week’s ClimateCast, Tom Heap boards a freight train to find out how rail freight fits into our net-zero future.He finds out why the cost of electricity means freight operators are running more diesel than electric and what changes are needed to the UK’s infrastructure to slash shipping emissions. Plus, our climate reporter Victoria Seabrook joins Tom to talk about what’s been happening at COP28 in Dubai this week. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Luke Denne Editor: Philly Beaumont

The King has urged world leaders assembled in Dubai to make the COP28 climate summit a "critical turning point" in the fight to tackle global warming. And there has already been a breakthrough with wealthy nations contributing nearly $300m to a 'loss and damage' fund compensating poorer countries for the effects of climate change. It has taken 32 years to agree so while it is an achievement, the real issue remains cutting fossil fuels. In oil-rich Dubai that is a thorny issue. It and other petrostates are still arguing that the world needs fossil fuels while it transitions to greener energy sources. Climatecast host Tom Heap is in Dubai finding out what COP28 might achieve. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse & Luke Denne Editor: Wendy Parker

Climate change has long been a divisive topic that is often forced to the bottom of the news agenda, even as the threat of a warming world grows. Ahead of COP28, the annual UN climate negotiations, Tom Heap is joined by a panel of guests to discuss the challenges of covering climate change. Political scientist, Sir John Curtice, former Times journalist, Liz Gerard, and video journalist, Zoe Broughton debate how to best encapsulate the public, make climate stories relevant and make audiences care. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont The panel all contributed to new book Toxic News? Covering Climate Change which features essays from academics and journalists on the challenges of reporting the subject.

Shipping, in the form of cruises, ferries and even the navy, accounts for around 2% of our emissions that contribute to global warming - just a little less than aviation. The diesel powered vessels also worsens air pollution, the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK. At Portsmouth Harbour, they're on a mission to tackle both of those things. On this week's ClimateCast Tom Heap visits Portsmouth Port who are planning to plug in some of its ships at berth and run them on electricity. He speaks to brains behind the Sea Change project to find out what benefits charging ships could offer Portsmouth and how far the shipping industry has to go to become green. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Gemma Watson Editor: Wendy Parker

Building new homes often comes at the expense of living space for wildlife. But from 2024, a new law in England means developers will have to make sure their projects deliver 10% more nature. It's called biodiversity net gain. Conservation groups are "cautiously optimistic", but do local authorities have the resources to maintain, measure and police the uptick in nature? On ClimateCast, Tom Heap visits a housing development with nature embedded into its foundations as well as a field of barley a few miles from Milton Keynes that's been selected to enjoy natural regeneration as a payback for damage elsewhere. Plus he speaks to Prue Addison, from Wildlife Trust, about the realities of the new law and the potential impact it could have. Podcast producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Field producer: Mickey Carroll Editor: Paul Stanworth