Planet Possible

On this MiniPod episode, Niki Roach is joined by The Guardian’s Biodiversity correspondent - Phoebe Weston.

Together, they discuss:

1) Why honey bees aren’t necessarily good for ecosystems and the Italian island that’s banned them.

2) China’s carbon dioxide emissions fall by 1% in the final quarter of 2025.

3) And a radical project in Belgium that’s turning off street lights to preserve wildlife.

Thanks to our sponsors BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment for their support of Planet Possible.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

To meet future water demands we will have to embrace water reuse and advanced water recycling. What's possible? What's best practice? What do the public think? Traditionally there has been a public perception challenge over reusing water (the so-called "yuck factor") - how do we get past that?
The UK is just starting to really get going on water reuse, while in the USA they're further ahead. So, in this episode we talk to experts on both sides of the pond to get the latest thinking...
UK Experts:
Simon Langley from MWH Treatment and Heather Smith from Cranfield University
US Experts:
Paul Pitt and Gaya Ram Mohan from Hazen and Sawyer

 

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

The Planet Possible MiniPod focuses on big current stories in climate, water and nature, providing a detailed update in just 15 mins. 
Our guest on this episode is Lee Pitcher, the Labour MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water. 
Water is firmly in the spotlight in the UK, with recent supply outages in the South East Water region making headlines. Alongside this, and following last year's Cunliffe Review, the government has published a white paper called 'A New Vision For Water'.
Lee, who previously worked in the water sector before becoming an MP, joins host Niki Roach to unpack both of these topics.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

In this month’s Planet Possible, Niki Roach is joined by Ruth Chambers OBE - a Senior Fellow at Green Alliance, and honorary professor of practice at the UCL Centre for law and the environment.
Ruth, and host Niki, metaphorically travel around the nations of the UK - identifying what will be making the headlines in UK environmental policy, in 2026.
In Wales, the Environmental Governance Bill will be a new legislation allowing future Welsh governments to set long-term environmental targets.
The Environment Minister of Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir, has outlined how environmental governance is currently operating, highlighting implementation.
The Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill - Introduces statutory environmental targets that politicians will be required to meet in the future.
The UK Government has added 13 new deliverables, expanding the scope and ambition of environmental action at UK-wide level.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Our last Minipod of 2025 welcomes John Curtin, the president of CIWEM. John joins Niki Roach in this 15 minute episode, to discuss the following 3 current stories in Water, Climate and Nature:
Infrastructure Risks - How should we approach building new infrastructure in a world shaped by climate change, and shifting environmental issues and politics? And how do we move beyond short-term fixes and improve our acceptance of the need to build for 2050 and beyond?
A piece of research, supported by the natural science foundation of China, shows a new technique that could let us generate electricity from water in an entirely new way. With the potential to scale, and real promise for countries with large water masses, such as the UK.
John Curtin explains the new CIWEM presidential theme of “Green Roots, Growing Prosperity” policy and why protecting the environment, and growing the economy, don’t have to be opposing forces despite how they’re often framed in politics and the media.
 

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland