Planet Possible

Get Involved: Rivers Trust Big Riverwatch - https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch Earthwatch Europes Great Water Blitz - https://earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwaterblitz/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Yy5BhD-ARIsAI0RbXbP0LGenvFditCly4FiZ6lMRAksO7qXflyKjQZNbyYkDu7ZiNIl8-waAoqyEALw_wcB Our 2024 season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis. Credits   Presented & Prod...

Find out more about The Water Report here: www.thewaterreport.co.uk Credits   Presented & Produced by Niki Roach Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited With thanks to Alastair Chisholm Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Chris Packham spoke to Niki Roach in a special live recording of Planet Possible at ESS Expo (Environmental Services & Technology Solutions 2024) at the NEC in Birmingham. Credits   Presented & Produced by Niki Roach Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited With thanks to Alastair Chisholm Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Green Social Prescribing study: https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-health-and-life-sciences/new-research-has-found-prescribing-nature-can-improve-happiness-and-reduce-anxiety/ Get involved in the Big River Watch here:  https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch Find out what’s happening in Hackney here: https://hackney.gov.uk/trees/   Credits   Presented & Produced by Ni...

Agriculture has a major role in determining water availability and quality, especially in a region like Yorkshire where a large amount of catchment water moves over and through farmland. In this episode, host Niki Roach visits the Biohub at Ings Farm near Harrogate to see a load of innovative farming practices being trialled. The aim is to increase biodiversity, enable sustainable and commercially...

Welcome to our MiniPod! It's an extra once-a-month update episode that will react to current events in water, climate and nature. It's a MiniPod because it'll only take about 15 minutes of your time.. and it means you get a Planet Possible episode every two weeks. Each mini pod you'll hear from an environmental expert guest and together we will discuss 3 key current talking points that will keep y...

Join Niki and her co-host Julie Foley, Director of Flood Risk Strategy and Natural Adaptation at the Environment Agency in England to explore how to manage a moving coastline. With one of the fastest changing coastlines in Europe, we focus on North Norfolk and hear from Councillor Harry Blathwayt on how communities prepare for coastal erosion and the potential loss of their homes to the sea. This...

Welcome to our first MiniPod! It's an extra once-a-month update episode that will react to current events in water, climate and nature. It's a MiniPod because it'll only take about 15 minutes of your time.. and it means you get a Planet Possible episode every two weeks. Each mini pod I will be joined by an environmental expert guest and together we will discuss 3 key current talking points that wi...

What does the cleanliness of England's longest river say about the debate around river quality the role of the UK's biggest water company, Thames Water? This episode aims to find out by telling two sides of the story - what the campaigners say... and what the company itself says. We're joined by broadcaster and environmentalist, Steve Backshall and the CEO of River Action, James Wallace to hear th...

Everyone got a bit of a shock when a General Election was announced for July 4th. So, we know there is going to be a new government. Whoever ends up in power, what should they be doing - in the first 100 days and beyond - to do right by water and the environment? Host Niki Roach and CIWEM Director of Policy Al Chisholm pick their 3 wishes (they actually end up with 4) for the new incoming governme...

Can you be an activist and an environmental professional? How do we tackle eco-anxiety, especially for the next generation and is activism be something everyone can get involved in? In today’s episode we’re exploring the role that activism plays in driving positive environmental and                                                                    climate outcomes. Increasingly we’re seeing and h...

We're exploring the topic of bioresources - sometimes called sewage sludge - and our interview is with Georgia Elliot-Smith, who's heading up 'Fighting Dirty' - a campaign to ensure environmental regulation around sewage sludge - last updated in 1989 in England and Wales - remains effective. Niki's co-host is the Director of Innovation & Delivery at CIWEM and supported the creation of the National...

The water that runs off our traffic-filled roads ends up in our rivers, but we know little about it, it's hardly monitored and improving the quality of that runoff is a huge task. Join us for this special episode of Planet Possible in collaboration with Watershed Investigations as we dig into the realities of highway runoff . . We’re joined from the front line by Jo Bradley from Stormwater Shepher...

Are you flood ready? How do you find out if your home is at risk of flooding? What can you do to protect your home and if water does suddenly come through your door, what should you do next? With much of England and Scotland experiencing rainfall 70% above average for December, flooding has impacted thousands of homes and businesses. Join Niki and her co-host and Environment Agency Environment Man...

2023 is set to be the hottest year on record with temperatures 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average and sea surface temperatures for the polar oceans reaching almost 21 degrees C in October. In recent years we’ve seen the climate COPs making headline news - so what was it like to attend COP28, how significant were the outputs - and how did the paradox of a fossil fuel economy hosti...

You might already have a view on whether it’s a helpful way of bringing some greenery to a tricky space – or that it should be banned entirely. Either way, we’re going to explore in this episode some of the science and evidence behind the use of plastic grass, think about why it’s proving so popular and explore some great alternatives for people to think about.  We’re joined by a fantastic co-host...

Water in the UK has become both a political football and a source of vast public anger. Storm overflows, sewage spills, dying rivers and dividend payouts have dominated debates everywhere from parliament to the pub. Everyone seems to have an opinion, and clearly there are huge and complex issues... but what are the answers? CIWEM Director of Policy Al Chisholm is in a unique position of objectivit...

If you’re in the UK you’ll have heard about recent proposed changes to nutrient neutrality. Adding to the wider debate about the health of our rivers across England in particular, we explore the proposed changes & what they could mean for river health. Niki is joined by Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow and the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee who in 2021 put forward the private members bill t...

Uruguay has been facing the longest drought the country has ever recorded in it’s capital Montevideo, leaving the city almost completely dry and the Paso Severino reservoir, supplying over half the country’s 3.4 millions people, at 2.4% capacity in late June. This is especially fascinating for a country that in 2004 enshrined access to water as a fundamental right in it’s constitution. To help us...

*Content warning: This podcast contains brief mentions of experiences around mental ill-health and miscarriage which some listeners may find upsetting. Many different types of neurodivergence exist, and it can be hard to understand what workplace adjustments we can make that will support everyone. What constitutes a reasonable request? Whose responsibility is it? Niki Roach is joined by Lea Nighti...

What does the future of water look like? Do we need a single organisation managing our water catchments and do we need more resources to regulate the quality and quantity of our water? Join the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, John Curtin and CIWEM's Director of Policy, Alastair Chisholm as we explore these topics - and find out what John's biggest environmental concern is. A fresh water...

On the day we hear an apology from WaterUK on behalf of the water sector for sewage pollution from storm overflows, we wanted to explore what this really means for customers and the environment and whether there are any unintended consequences.   We’re joined by the acting CEO of the Environment Agency John Curtin and Niki’s co-host and CIWEM Director of Policy, Al Chisholm to discuss their reflec...

Join us for the Season Finale of the pod and our first on-location episode!  Niki and co-host Alastair Chisholm head to Spains Hall Estate in north Essex to meet Archie Ruggles-Brise and explore some of his innovative approaches to managing the land - and water - across the estate.  Listen as we explore the estate, hear about the approaches to natural flood management, biodiversity net gain, natur...

Join Niki and her co-host, Susan Stockwell, Managing Director of Skewb Green, as they explore how business are approaching the challenge of climate change. Our guest interview is with the Rt. Hon John Gummer, Lord Deben, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change and formerly the longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment for UK (1993-97). We explore the legacy of COP27 and what actions...

Join Niki in conversation with Hannah Coogan, Emma Sherburn and Clare Rodgers as they celebrate the role that mentors, friends and allies have played in their careers to date.  Find out what advice they'd give to their 21 year old selves and as ever - we pass them the Planet Possible 'magic wand' to see what they'd want to make possible. This is perfect listening if you're thinking about a career...