For What It’s Earth

How green is your city? And what can we learn from the international urban metropolises that are bringing inviting nature back? Last week, Wild Cities was published, and Emma was invited to join author Chris Fitch at Stanfords bookstore in Bristol to chat about the book. We chatted about fast-tracking ancient forests, gardens in skyscrapers, beavers, birdwatching and, of course, asked, 'What one g...

We've got three absolutely corking listener questions on the show this week, including one from the wonderful Gillian Burke! We're answering: A South Korean motorway has a solar panel-covered bike lane in its central reservation - can we do this in the UK? How much water and waste accumulates at airport security, and can we reduce it? What's the env. impact of the north sea oil tanker crash, and h...

We’re plunging our hands into the soft green bits you find in woodlands, and shining a spotlight on moss. Can the many life-giving, pollution-gobbling, and carbon-storing species of moss on earth be the quiet antidote to climate change?   Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The...

This week we're answering your questions! First, we explore whether environmental boycotts actually work, and ask whether we should all stop buying Wild deodorant since the news that Unliver are purchasing the brand. Finally, we settle down with a steaming mug to find out whether our teas and coffees can be more sustainable.   Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhat...

This week we’re talking about make-up - or more specifically - the make-up of it, alongside other personal care products, and what that means for our environment. Shampoo, eye cream, and SPF, we're coming for ya.   Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet.   Support the sh...

Are wildflower lawns the best thing to do with your garden? Do rats deserve their bad rep? Can books be more sustainable, and am I still allowed to buy new ones sometimes? This week we're answering your big green listener questions, and we're introducing two new members of the For What It's Earth team!   An RHS guide to making wildflower meadows: https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/creating-wildflower-me...

Things are hotting up. As global temperatures increase, so too does extreme fire risk. Parts of LA are still burning, and this week we’re exploring all things wildfire in a changing climate. As we watch fires erupt on our TV screens, we ask: In the UK, are we really as sheltered from wildfires as we might think?   More info: State of Wildfires Report: https://tyndall.ac.uk/news/state-of-wildfires-...

What's the environmental footprint of taking a cruise? Does medication you take end up in your composting toilet or the sewage system, and if so, what happens next? And can you bank in greener ways? All this and a bonus mini-q on this week's Listener Questions episode. Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and...

As climate change marches on, and transport is under a spotlight for significantly contributing to carbon emissions, we’re exploring electric transport. Are we ready for it, particularly in the UK when compared to other countries? What is outstanding in electrification/decarbonisation? And is it a realistic climate ambition?    Show notes: Hinkley Point Petition: https://win.newmode.net/hinkley-po...

This week you asked us which environmental habits and green-living changes we've managed to keep up the longest, whether things actually get recycled, and whether bleach should (or shouldn't) be our go-to household cleaning product. PLUS, Sophie beefs with her neighbour over bin etiquette, and we realise that all of our listeners are called Andrew. Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twit...

The sale of single-use vapes is set to be banned in the UK in June, and the environmental impact of e-cigarette-style devices was a key lever in the campaign that fought for this legislation. So, we're following the lifecycle of a vape and exploring the many moments in which these electronic devices can cause planetary problems.   Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email for...

We’re seeking a talented and passionate volunteer with digital marketing and editing experience to join the FWIE team in 2025! This year we're taking the pod to exciting places, but working full time in the environment sector AND making the podcast ourselves means we have little time to do the whole ‘digital’ thing. We need a hand making reels, cutting down clips, making graphics for carousels, na...

In Listener’s Questions this week, we’re sharing who in the environment sector inspires us, chatting laundry detergent choices (and recipes…) and exploring top tips for keeping green while getting tatted! Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Support the show: Organic...

Zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and seed banks: Is keeping animals and wild creatures in captivity for entertainment ever ok? Or are zoos the conservation powerhouses and the biodiversity arks that we need as wildlife declines across the globe? Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thin...

We're back with another episode in which we answer your burning eco-living questions. Find out whether Vinted is as good for the planet as it seems, what the climate impact of search engines may be, and what we're loving reading.   Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet....

We're brushing away the crumbs of Christmas, readying to weather the month of Veganuary spam, and trying to get to the bottom of the big heavy question: What should or shouldn't I be eating, if I want to be kind to the planet? Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions and weekly One Good Thing For The Planet. Supp...

Left your Christmas shopping to the last minute? We've got you. This episode is packed with environmentally friendly gift ideas, from experiences to things to look out for in charity shops before the big day. We also answer listener questions on the environmental impact of both plastic grass, and of salting our roads during icy weather this winter. We're taking a break over the Christmas week, so...

Like many a party, hen and stag dos (or bachelor/bachelorette parties) can come with a big carbon footprint and create a lot of waste. But they can still be special events without being polluting.  We’re looking at these milestone gatherings and trying to help you throw one in ways that don’t leave the planet with a sore head too. This episode contains a toolkit, and many of our top tips can be ap...

We're asked whether gym equipment could actually generate enough electricity to power the gym, we try to divulge some useful career advice to a climate-concerned listener, and our classic 'what one good thing have you done for the planet this week?' prompt gets flipped on its head. Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener...

We're zoning in on Black Friday; the holiday that celebrates binge-shopping and leaves the environmental credentials of the retail sector in tatters. For the sake of the planet, put your bank cards away! Do you really *need* that thing that's on a super duper exclusive promotion and will never (wink wink) be that cheap again? Sure, you might, and that's fine. But if you're keen and able to try to...

This week we're answering your questions. Join Emma and Sophie for a grand tour of 'plogging', an investigation into whether dog poo is natural enough to be left in the environment, and a chat about how we remain hopeful in the environment sector despite all the bad news. Get in touch We're on Instagram ,  Bluesky , Twitter  and email forwhatitsearthpod@gmail.com . Send us your Listener Questions...

This week, we’re diving into one of the most rapidly evolving fields of our time: artificial intelligence. AI takes many forms and is rapidly transforming many industries and sectors - from helping to optimise international supply chains to smarting up energy grids and predicting climate patterns. But alongside the many celebrated efficiency and problem-solving benefits that AI can offer, there ar...

What impact will the incoming President have on the climate? The US Election result this week has left many of us in a spin, and in this bonus episode, we take a trip to BCFM's show Love and Science to chat with the lovely Andrew Glester. We share a few of our initial thoughts on the news and explore ways to remain optimistic, look after ourselves and galvanise as a community to ensure climate act...

How do we teach children about climate change without causing eco-anxiety? What supposedly environmental thing absolutely baffles you? Is biogas actually carbon neutral? Three hot topics on the table today as we sit down to answer your For What It's Earth listener questions. Episode notes: The Adventures of Scout children's books: https://theadventuresofscout.com/     Get in touch: We're on Instag...

The 2024 Olympics in Paris aspired to be the first Games ever to be fully aligned with Paris Agreement - but can the world's biggest international sporting event ever really be considered sustainable? From incredible eco-design decisions to the energy and food choices made with the planet in mind, to the burden of private aviation and wasteful merchandise and athleisure, we're taking a metaphorica...