Before the covid-19 pandemic started making its way across the world, air pollution was already killing seven million people prematurely every year, according to researchers from Harvard University and air pollution experts from the World Health Organization.
The latest research has shown that there is a complex relationship between the covid-19 virus and particulate matter. That makes understanding the perils of air pollution and its burden of disease all the more important. Similarly, the pandemic has also led to a rethink on sustainability and climate change going forward. Since these topics are key to the broader debate on environmental awareness, here is a look at five podcasts that focus on air pollution, sustainability and the environment.
Costing the Earth
The BBC’s long-running programme looks at the effect of anthropogenic activities on the environment. It also features people and initiatives that are working towards a greener planet. Recent episodes have looked at everything from sustainable housing to forests of the future and the environmental impact of the covid-19 pandemic.
Living Planet
German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s weekly half-hour radio programme offers environment stories from around the world. The podcast has touched upon some exciting developments recently, including the revival of certain aquatic animals and the issue of climate change in Africa.
Plastisphere
A project by journalist Anja Krieger, Plastisphere is a dedicated podcast on plastic, people and the planet. As Krieger explains on its official website, the podcast delves deeper into the world of synthetic polymers, their impact on nature and the quest to tackle plastic pollution. Plastic has become an indelible part of human lives and Krieger tries to explore if humans can develop a healthy relationship with the material.
Peak Planet
Hosted by Karthik Ganesan of the Indian research think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water, Peak Planet’s first season focused solely on India’s massive air pollution problem. In five episodes with subject matter experts, the podcast has looked at several issues: everything from the public discourse on air pollution to the challenges in measuring air quality and the reasons for worsening air quality in cities
Nature’s Voice
This award-winning podcast from the UK-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is an absolute delight for bird lovers and ornithology enthusiasts. Nature’s Voice features the latest news and developments on avian species and wildlife from across the world. In recent years, the monthly episodes have probed everything from the declining sparrow population to climate change and its effects on biodiversity.
These podcasts are available across multiple streaming platforms such as Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
