Podcast Review: The Climate Question.
Podcast Review: The Climate Question.
Podcast Review: The Climate Question.
The podcasts regular presenters are Neal Razzell in Canada and Graihagh Jackson in London. They are joined each week by a range of BBC specialists and experts in their fields from around the world to answer burning environmental questions. This podcast is vital to getting information out about the importance of changing the way we are living and to battle the climate crisis we now face. From the fun, quirky introductions to the short bite-sized programs, that run for roughly 30 minutes each, the podcast is well researched and is presented in a way that is appealing to listen to. They raise some very interesting questions and discuss them in depth with people who are very knowledgeable on the subject matter. It is more than just a show about climate change as it addresses how we can change. Introducing its listeners to what is really happening in the world of climate change and shining a light on new solutions that are out there. They ask the questions everyone is thinking but are too afraid to ask like: Why it is happening? What can we do about it? What is holding us back from acting? What difference does half a degree make? Can companies be held accountable for climate change?
The show looks at all industries that produce CO2 emissions and discusses the possibilities of change. They look at a different sector each week and review its shortfalls and discuss the possible changes that could be made. The show provides a fresh, new approach to finding solutions to the world’s climate crisis.
After listening to the Podcast: What does the world want from the US? We heard responses to the question: What is the best for climate change? A single world leader or leaders? Competition or collaboration?
It has been announced that the US has re-joined the fight against climate change. President Joe Biden has invited 40 countries to join together, in a Covid friendly meeting, on April 22nd, referred to as the Earth Day Summit, to discuss how the US can regain the title of world leader in the fight against emissions, after remaining inactive for the last four years. Under Donald Trump’s administration the US showed very little interest in climate change.
Over the last four years the EU has been working on new regulations to reduce carbon emissions globally, everyone wants to be the leader in this area. To be the front runners in the emissions reduction race. This is creating an atmosphere of competition rather that of collaboration. The proposed “Job Plan" that was unveiled earlier this year by President Biden, contains a lot about climate, cutting emissions in transportation, as well as encouraging the US to move into a more aggressive path to reduce emissions by 2030 which the US currently does not have.
Every country that signed the Paris Agreement five years ago, agreed to produce a rolling target to reduce emissions produced, but because the US pulled out of the Paris Agreement nothing has been done.
No research, no policies drafted or implemented, now the US are having to compress years’ worth of work and research that other countries have done into a very short time frame (less than 100 days). To put it bluntly the US needs much more ambitious targets for reducing emissions and getting to net zero as quick as possible, they are at a huge disadvantage due to the loss of four years’ worth of investment and development.
The US has been left with a shredded reputation for negating on promises made, but President Biden is working tirelessly to recover from this. His Earth Day Summit is seen as an important building block to developing a cooperative fight against climate change, building up to the world’s biggest climate change conference, COP. COP 26, in November, in Glasgow will be the gathering of almost 200 countries to come to a consented agreement and decide on the steps needed to reduce our carbon emissions.
Competition in climate change drives people to invest in advancing technologies and accelerating the development of cleaner energies, but it is not just about power but also about money. If we are competing against instead of collaborating, we could see slower action when it comes to combating climate change as a result. If we do not work together to reduce our carbon emissions, we are heading to a catastrophic climate disaster that will affect the whole world’s climate. It is our view that a healthy amount of competitiveness is a good thing as it drives advancements in industry and allows people to come up with innovative ideas, but collaboration is needed to address the global issue we are face with regards to climate change. It is our collective responsibility to do all we can to reduce our carbon emissions globally and to share our efforts to achieve this as soon as possible.