With the general election now two weeks away, Helen Czerski and Tom Heap take a look at how the environment is featuring on the political agenda. They are joined by a panel of guests: energy and climate commentator Sepi Golzari-Munro; senior po

Can writers save the planet?

9 days ago 53m 1s

Nature-writing is going through a renaissance. What started largely with TV tie-ins has evolved into a genre encompassing books about climate change, the countryside, walking, and off-grid living. For Radio 4's new landmark environment and nat

Hush! Don't Mention the Environment

16 days ago 53m 51s

In the first edition of a new series of Rare Earth Tom Heap and Helen Czerski reveal a new phenomenon- 'Greenhushing'. Big corporations that once trumpeted their green credentials are now staying very quiet about the environment. From the lef

How do we get our healthy rivers back?

Mar 1st, 2024 53m 18s

With river pollution more in the news than ever before, and sewage now a hot topic, Helen Czerski and Tom Heap investigate how we can restore the health of our rivers. They talk to the Rivers Trust, which this week released its latest ‘State of

Can the Oceans Save Us from Climate Change?

Feb 23rd, 2024 52m 28s

The world's oceans have absorbed huge quantities of carbon dioxide, protecting us from the worst effects of climate change, but how much longer can they defend us? Join Helen Czerski in New Orleans at the world's biggest conference of marine sc

Can Politicians Save the Planet?

Feb 16th, 2024 53m 5s

Why do politicians have such trouble sticking to their environmental promises? Why are they happy to hug a husky one minute, desperate to ditch the 'green crap' the next?As Labour ditch their £28bn commitment to green the economy, Tom Heap and

Alien Invasion

Feb 9th, 2024 53m 12s

Should we celebrate the arrival of new species to the UK or drive them out? Tom Heap and Helen Czerski investigate the role of alien invasive species in the British countryside and beyond.Tom and Helen hear about non native earthworms invadin

Can We Build a Better World with Wood?

Feb 2nd, 2024 53m 52s

From the emotional balm of a walk in the woods to the first wooden skyscrapers, Tom Heap and Helen Czerski ask if we can replace a world of concrete and steel with a wooden utopia. Will the Wood Age be healthier for us and for the planet?Micha

Can we live without waste?

Jan 26th, 2024 53m 12s

Rare Earth is a new weekly podcast and radio show from BBC Radio Four which digs deeper into the biggest issues for our planet. Each week, environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski will tackle a major story about our environ

Is Nature Better Off Without Us?

Jan 19th, 2024 53m 9s

Welcome to the future

Jan 16th, 2024 1m 55s

Journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski unpack a burning environmental issue each week, discovering fresh ideas and new ways to approach our relationship with nature.

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