Surveys show that most of us are really worried about climate change and we want something to be done. But what? This series, we've explored many ways in which nature is changing in response to human activity and the dangers posed to people and planet as a result. In this final episode, Tori and Khalil explore how people are taking action in the face of the planetary emergency. Along the way, you'll find out: When has activism been effective? How do scientists feel about climate change?...

A more sustainable future lies within reach. One where human societies are powered by wind and solar energy, leaving behind dirty, climate-changing fossil fuels in the past. Sounds good right?   But with many tonnes of rare earth metals needed to manufacture just one wind turbine, switching to this greener way of life likely means more mining – and lots of it – at least in the short term. But where and how could we get these metals while causing the least possible harm to people and...

Nigeria has some of the highest levels of unhealthy air across the African continent – a leading cause of inflammatory illness and premature death. Could its huge and growing cohort of young people have the solution? Tori & Khalil head to the “Giant of Africa” to find out how one of the world’s fastest growing nations – by economy and population – is dealing with rapidly accelerating energy demand and what might happen next. Join us and find out What’s the cause of Nigeria’s...

As modern human societies have tried to dominate and organise nature, we have been interacting with other species in some dangerous ways. From encroaching on the territory of wild creatures, to industrially farming other species in unnaturally cramped conditions, human actions are increasing the likelihood of animal nasties jumping the species barrier to infect us. Tori & Khalil ask whether our extractive relationship with nature could be making us sick and what we can do about it. Along...

What’s brainless, heartless, eyeless and thrives in a warming ocean? Hint: it’s wobbly and it could be coming to a dinner plate near you. Tori & Khalil investigate the effects of rising sea temperatures, from changing food sources to the perilous state of coral reefs – home to one quarter of all marine species. They’re joined by scientists and campaigners to help explain the changes we’re seeing and how we can help nature and humanity adjust. Join us and find out: What happens to...

  Breathe in. Breathe out. The oxygen flowing through your body is the result of photosynthesis: the natural process through which living things convert sunlight into energy. About 30% of land-based photosynthesis happens in tropical rainforests: the lungs of the earth. Rainforests are also great at sucking up excess carbon from the atmosphere- something we know we’ve got to do more of. But in recent years, these lungs have been getting constricted: shrinking in size and choked up...

We all know that plastic isn't great for our planet. But how much do scientists really know about how it's affecting nature - including our own species? Tori and Khalil try to get their noodles around 'nurdles', the tiny plastic pellets that are used to manufacture all manner of everyday objects, discovering that millions are ending up in our oceans, with unknown long-term consequences. Plus, join Natural History Museum researcher Alex Bond on Lord Howe Island, a remote paradise in the...

What is a glacier? And what happens when they melt? Glacier ice is the world’s largest freshwater reservoir. About 1 in 5 people depend on them as their main source of drinking water, as do countless animals and plants. As they melt, it's a boom time for nature, with plenty of water to go around. But what happens if glaciers disappear completely and the water stops flowing ? To investigate the past and present impact of glaciers, and what they mean for the nature, culture and...

How much are sea levels rising by? What does it mean for us and for the generations to come? And what can we do about it?    Take your ears on a round-the-world trip, from the icy polar north to the lush tropical paradise of the Marshall Islands, to find out how we got here and ways to fix it.     Along the way, we'll ask:  -Is Greenland turning into Swiss cheese?  -Who is most at risk from rising seas?  -Could mangrove forests save the world?    About the episode:    As polar ice...

Are we living in a new age of fire? What would that mean for people, plants and animals?    Take a trip back in time to find out how our planet's history has been shaped by fire, and peer into the future as we ask how nature will adapt to a new era shaped by flame. Tori and Khalil search for answers from nature, science and activism.     Along the way, we'll ask:  -How did a fire in Australia set off smoke alarms in New Zealand?  -How do forest fires affect global weather?  -What can...

Welcome to Our Broken Planet, a new podcast series from the Natural History Museum in London. Each week, tune in for stories from the front line of the planetary emergency. Along the way, we’ll unpack how we got here and discover solutions from science and nature that could fix the problems facing our world. Join presenters Tori & Khalil as they transport you around the globe to hear from leading scientists, activists, and those most affected by the climate change and biodiversity...

In this episode of Wild Crimes, we look to the future. What impact is wildlife crime having on nature? Should blanket bans be imposed on traders? What can you do to help? Join Simangele Msweli, Senior Manager of the Youth Leadership Program at the African Wildlife Foundation; John E Scanlon, Former Secretary-General of CITES and Chair of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime; and Jorge Rios, Chief of the Wildlife & Forest Crime Programme at the United Nations Office on Drugs and...

In the aftermath of wildlife crime, victims can pile up quickly. In this episode of Wild Crimes, we examine the fallout of southern white rhino poaching. One of the victims is clear - the white rhino - but others can go unremarked on. However, dung beetles and tiny rhino botflies are suffering too. Join the discussion with Rebecca Drury, Head of Wildlife Trade for Flora and Fauna International and the Natural History Museum’s Dr Erica McAlister and Max Barclay.

Bushmeat, meat from wild animals, is an important source of protein for communities across the world. But in some parts of the globe it has become an illegal or luxury item - and that's posing a problem, threatening ecosystems and human health simultaneously. In this episode of Wild Crimes, join us for a in-depth discussion on how our food systems affect our health.

The UK's birds of prey regularly fall victim to criminal behaviour, with dozens found poisoned, trapped and shot every single year. There are 15 raptor species native to the UK, with varying conservation statuses. Some of them are severely threatened, so every lost bird becomes a threat to the survival of the species. In this episode of Wild Crimes, we're finding out why are people risking jail time to kill raptors. How can we protect our birds of prey? And why is this issue so divisive?

In 2020, the most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold was acquired by a private investor for £24.7m. Anybody with money can now get their hands on a T.rex or Stegosaurus - and when big fossils come with million dollar price tags, breaking the law can be lucrative busineess. In this episode of Wild Crimes, find out why the commercial trade in dinosaur fossils is such a big issue for science. Learn more about dinosaurs and support the Natural History Museum's work at nhm.ac.uk/wildcrimes.

Billions of orchids are bought and sold around the world every year. Most of this trade is legal and made up of artificially grown flowers. However, thousands of orchids are illegally harvested from the wild - and it's causing big problems for some of the most coveted species. In this episode of Wild Crimes, we'll find out why no other plant has captured our imagination quite like orchids, and learn about how we can better protect them.

Elephants are the poster child for the illegal wildlife trade. It is estimated that on average, 55 African elephants per day are killed for their ivory tusks. International trade in elephant ivory is banned, but a new product on the global market could be fuelling the flames for elephants: mammoth tusks. Discover more with Museum Research Leader Prof Adrian Lister, Valery Plotnikov from the Academy of Sciences of Yakutia, trade investigator Lucy Vigne and ivory trade research specialist...

Europe is at the centre of an illegal wildlife trade operation worth billions of pounds. Gangs are thought to be smuggling up to 350 million live eels from Europe and shipping them to Asia every single year. Once at their destination, the young eels are farmed to full size and redistributed across the world. But why is the European eel such a valuable commodity? To support the Natural History Museum’s work, visit nhm.ac.uk/wildcrimes

Pangolins are solitary, elusive and shy creatures native to Africa and Asia - there is nothing else like them on Earth. However, they're facing extinction because their keratin scales are traded by the tonne in many countries. Discover more with Museum Reseacher Dr Natalie Cooper, Professor Ray Jansen from Tshwane University of Technology, Cambridge University PhD candidate Charles Emogor and Dr Karin Lourens of Johannesbury Wildlife Veterinary Hospital. To learn more visit...

The global trade in exotic pets sees wild animals illegally caught and distributed around the world. Animals are often forced to trade in their homes in tropical jungles for cramped living quarters in towns and cities. In this episode of Wild Crimes we explore reptile smuggling in Tanzania, a country with a diverse range of magnificent animals, endemic to only tiny pockets of rainforest. To support the Natural History Museum’s work, visit nhm.ac.uk/wildcrimes

Wildlife crime is one of the biggest illegal businesses in the world. Join us on a global tour as we uncover its dark underbelly. In the Natural History Museum's first podcast, discover some of the most shocking, sensational and sinister crimes committed against the natural world, and hear from the people working to end them.