<description>&lt;p&gt;Electric vehicle sales are soaring in Thailand and Vietnam. What’s behind the boom? And will it help the climate? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thais and Vietnamese are switching to electric cars in huge numbers – attracted by government subsidies and a more exciting range of EVs. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jobs in the car industry are also up in both countries as a new generation of manufacturers compete for domination of the emerging electric market. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;But can the pace of growth last? Will the boom in electric cars reduce the chronic air pollution in cities like Bangkok? And will it help Thailand and Vietnam reduce their carbon emissions? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Jordan Dunbar chats to Ember’s Asian Energy Analyst, Lam Pham and Bloomberg’s Thailand Reporter, Patpicha Tanakasempipat. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Got a question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Production team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith 
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown. 
Sound Mix: Jack Graysmark and Tom Brignell. 
Editor: Simon Watts.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How Thailand and Vietnam are seeing rapid growth in EV sales and manufacturing

Electric vehicle sales are soaring in Thailand and Vietnam. What’s behind the boom? And will it help the climate? Thais and Vietnamese are switching to electric cars in huge numbers – attracted by government subsidies and a more exciting range of EVs. Jobs in the car industry are also up in both countries as a new generation of manufacturers compete for domination of the emerging electric market. But can the pace of growth last? Will the boom in electric cars reduce the chronic air pollution in cities like Bangkok? And will it help Thailand and Vietnam reduce their carbon emissions? In this edition of The Climate Question, Host Jordan Dunbar chats to Ember’s Asian Energy Analyst, Lam Pham and Bloomberg’s Thailand Reporter, Patpicha Tanakasempipat. Got a question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com Production team: Nik Sindle, Diane Richardson, Melanie Stewart-Smith 
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown. 
Sound Mix: Jack Graysmark and Tom Brignell. 
Editor: Simon Watts.

The electric car boom in South East Asia

<description>&lt;p&gt;What’s the carbon footprint of streaming your favourite shows or doing an AI search? How vulnerable are river estuaries to climate change? Plus, are you a climate optimist or pessimist? Graihagh Jackson and her panel answer your questions. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The panel are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Got a question or comment for the next listeners' show? You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock 
Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell 
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown 
Editor: Simon Watts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Picture Credit: ljubaphoto via Getty Images&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Plus: What's the future of our estuaries? And are you a climate optimist?

What’s the carbon footprint of streaming your favourite shows or doing an AI search? How vulnerable are river estuaries to climate change? Plus, are you a climate optimist or pessimist? Graihagh Jackson and her panel answer your questions. The panel are Justin Rowlatt, BBC climate editor; Akshat Rathi, senior climate reporter for Bloomberg News and host of Bloomberg's Zero podcast; and Caroline Steel, presenter of BBC CrowdScience. Got a question or comment for the next listeners' show? You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com or leave a WhatsApp message at + 44 8000 321 721 Production team: Diane Richardson and Grace Braddock 
Sound Engineers: Ben Andrews and Tom Brignell 
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown 
Editor: Simon WattsPicture Credit: ljubaphoto via Getty Images

Q+A: The carbon footprint of your tech and AI

<description>&lt;p&gt;It’s one of the most commonly debated questions in the climate world: Is this weather we’re experiencing natural, or is it linked to man-made climate change? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar are joined by BBC Lead Weather Presenter, Matt Taylor. Matt’s forecasts are seen not just in the UK but around the world. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Matt chats to Graihagh and Jordan about the crucial difference between weather and climate, and the challenge of communicating this on air. They discuss why heavy snowfall will still be possible in a warmer world, as well as the likely increase in droughts, heatwaves and extreme weather. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Matt also talks about whether climate change will make his forecasts more or less accurate. And he tells Graihagh and Jordan about an encounter with BBC wildlife legend, David Attenborough!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Got a climate question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar
Producers: Nik Sindle and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell
Editors: Simon Watts and Melanie Stewart-Smith&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The BBC's lead weather forecaster on the difference between weather and climate change

It’s one of the most commonly debated questions in the climate world: Is this weather we’re experiencing natural, or is it linked to man-made climate change? In this episode of The Climate Question, Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar are joined by BBC Lead Weather Presenter, Matt Taylor. Matt’s forecasts are seen not just in the UK but around the world. Matt chats to Graihagh and Jordan about the crucial difference between weather and climate, and the challenge of communicating this on air. They discuss why heavy snowfall will still be possible in a warmer world, as well as the likely increase in droughts, heatwaves and extreme weather. Matt also talks about whether climate change will make his forecasts more or less accurate. And he tells Graihagh and Jordan about an encounter with BBC wildlife legend, David Attenborough!Got a climate question or comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.comPresenters: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar
Producers: Nik Sindle and Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Mix: Ricardo McCarthy and Tom Brignell
Editors: Simon Watts and Melanie Stewart-Smith

Is this climate change or just crazy weather?

<description>&lt;p&gt;In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear accident devastated the Soviet Union and shocked the world. But, 40 years on, are we now seeing a nuclear renaissance? And what does that mean for the climate? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Climate Question host Jordan Dunbar has just visited the most contaminated place in the world for a BBC World Service documentary. He tells co-host Graihagh Jackson about the ghostly atmosphere in the former Chernobyl control room and the huge dome that now covers the remains of the nuclear reactor that exploded. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jordan and Graihagh also discuss how the disaster set back the nuclear power industry for decades. Now, however, nuclear is firmly back on the international agenda because of rising power demand and concerns about energy security. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With around 40 countries now aiming to build more nuclear power stations, what will this mean for the climate and the world’s goal of keeping global warming under control? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Got a question or a comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Presenters: Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson
Producers: Simon Watts and Diane Richardson
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon Watts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Picture credit: Getty Images&lt;/p&gt;</description>

There's a surge of global interest in nuclear power. Is that good news for the climate?

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear accident devastated the Soviet Union and shocked the world. But, 40 years on, are we now seeing a nuclear renaissance? And what does that mean for the climate? Climate Question host Jordan Dunbar has just visited the most contaminated place in the world for a BBC World Service documentary. He tells co-host Graihagh Jackson about the ghostly atmosphere in the former Chernobyl control room and the huge dome that now covers the remains of the nuclear reactor that exploded. Jordan and Graihagh also discuss how the disaster set back the nuclear power industry for decades. Now, however, nuclear is firmly back on the international agenda because of rising power demand and concerns about energy security. With around 40 countries now aiming to build more nuclear power stations, what will this mean for the climate and the world’s goal of keeping global warming under control? Got a question or a comment? Email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.comPresenters: Jordan Dunbar and Graihagh Jackson
Producers: Simon Watts and Diane Richardson
Sound Mix: Tom Brignell
Editor: Simon WattsPicture credit: Getty Images

Chernobyl at 40: Is nuclear power back in fashion?

<description>&lt;p&gt;With more and more people moving to cities, informal settlements are expected to grow. When floods hit these unplanned places, it can be disastrous, as we often don’t know much about them. Crucial questions often remain difficult to answer, like how many people live there, what are the buildings made of, and could they withstand a flood? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko visits a project using drones and artificial intelligence to help authorities prevent the worst impacts of flooding. And in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, we hear how an innovative digital map helped the emergency response – and will soon be available to all for free across the world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This programme was first broadcast in 2024. You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Guests:
Rodrigo Rocha, Partner at the Responsive Cities Institute, Porto Alegre
Dr Caroline Gevaert, Associate Professor at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente
Nomsa Maseko, the BBC’s South Africa Correspondent&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Presenter: Jordan Dunbar
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Sound mix: Tom Brignell
Editors: Sophie Eastaugh and Simon Watts&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Image: Reuters&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Extreme weather can devastate informal urban settlements. Can drones and AI help?

With more and more people moving to cities, informal settlements are expected to grow. When floods hit these unplanned places, it can be disastrous, as we often don’t know much about them. Crucial questions often remain difficult to answer, like how many people live there, what are the buildings made of, and could they withstand a flood? In the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko visits a project using drones and artificial intelligence to help authorities prevent the worst impacts of flooding. And in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, we hear how an innovative digital map helped the emergency response – and will soon be available to all for free across the world.This programme was first broadcast in 2024. You can email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.comGuests:
Rodrigo Rocha, Partner at the Responsive Cities Institute, Porto Alegre
Dr Caroline Gevaert, Associate Professor at the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente
Nomsa Maseko, the BBC’s South Africa CorrespondentPresenter: Jordan Dunbar
Producer: Osman Iqbal
Researcher: Octavia Woodward
Sound mix: Tom Brignell
Editors: Sophie Eastaugh and Simon WattsImage: Reuters

Can technology help us fight flooding in cities?

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