ClimateCast with Tom Heap
Broadcaster and journalist Tom Heap investigates the biggest environmental stories and issues with guests and Sky News correspondents.
Episodes
March 23, 2024 • 15 mins
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...
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...
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March 16, 2024 • 19 mins
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 nu...
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 nu...
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March 9, 2024 • 23 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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March 2, 2024 • 15 mins
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...
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...
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March 1, 2024 • 14 mins
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 th...
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 th...
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February 24, 2024 • 14 mins
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.
H...
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.
H...
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February 17, 2024 • 20 mins
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...
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...
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February 10, 2024 • 25 mins
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 wh...
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 wh...
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February 3, 2024 • 21 mins
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....
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....
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January 27, 2024 • 20 mins
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 govern...
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 govern...
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January 20, 2024 • 22 mins
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 ou...
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 ou...
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January 13, 2024 • 21 mins
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 th...
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 th...
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December 23, 2023 • 31 mins
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 ex...
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 ex...
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December 16, 2023 • 18 mins
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...
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...
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December 9, 2023 • 26 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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December 2, 2023 • 19 mins
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 fu...
It has taken 32 years to agree so while it is an achievement, the real issue remains cutting fossil fu...
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November 25, 2023 • 26 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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November 18, 2023 • 17 mins
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 ...
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 ...
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November 11, 2023 • 16 mins
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 na...
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 na...
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November 4, 2023 • 18 mins
This week Wales has joined England and Scotland on waving goodbye to single-use plastics. The decision lends its hand to the 'booming' compostable packaging industry.
But could a packaging that reverts to nature be too good to be true? One UCL study has found that 60% of products advertised as home compostable didn't fully decompose within 12 months - and a lot of consumers don't know which bin they go in.
So are compostables genuin...
But could a packaging that reverts to nature be too good to be true? One UCL study has found that 60% of products advertised as home compostable didn't fully decompose within 12 months - and a lot of consumers don't know which bin they go in.
So are compostables genuin...
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