Earth Radio

Deadly heatwave scorches Western Europe; El Niño could bring more hurricanes to the Eastern Pacific this summer 31.05.2026 4min

This week on Earth Radio, an exceptionally early summer heatwave scorched much of Western Europe this week, breaking temperature records and resulting in over a dozen fatalities. The UK climate adviser has called on the government to install air conditioning in all care homes, hospitals and schools in the next 25 years. These heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense because of climate change, with the UN warning that the Earth is on track to keep warming at or near record levels in the five years. Lastly, the Eastern and Central Pacific are poised to see an above-average hurricane season this summer.Read this week's stories at the link below:Global Temperatures Likely to Breach Record Levels Over Next 5 Years, WMO SaysEl Niño to Spur Above-Average Hurricane Season in Eastern and Central Pacific, NOAA Says‘Absolutely Astonishing’: Unusually Early, Deadly Heatwave Scorches Western EuropeUK Climate Adviser Calls for Rapid Expansion of Air Conditioning As Climate Crisis Intensifies---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our ⁠website⁠.Credits: Stories reported by Martina IginiEditor: Rebekah HendricksProducer: Rebekah HendricksMusic: Rebekah Hendricks

UN members back historic world court climate ruling; US to end safeguards against forever chemicals in drinking water 23.05.2026 4min

This week on Earth Radio, the UN General Assembly backs a historic world court ruling on countries' obligations when it comes to climate change, and chances for a "super" El Niño rise. We also look at the US Environmental Protection Agency's rollback of limits on toxic chemicals in drinking water, and an investigation revealing that Trump-appointed EPA officials accepted $1.8 billion from chemical companies and groups before taking office. Read this week's stories at the link below:UN General Assembly backs historic world court climate ruling April temperatures hit joint third-highest on record globally as chance of very strong El Niño grows Trump’s EPA wants to end limits on carcinogenic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water Trump’s EPA appointees received at least $1.8 billion from chemical industry, trade groups ahead of rollback of major safeguards---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our website.Credits: Stories reported by: Martina Igini and Max BruneauEditor: Rebekah HendricksProducer: Rebekah HendricksMusic: Rebekah Hendricks

World Cup players could face dangerous heat levels; report calls for overhaul of FEMA 16.05.2026 4min

This week on Earth Radio, World Cup players and fans could face dangerous levels of heat, and a report calling for the overhaul of the US disaster response agency only mentions "climate" once. Meanwhile, New Zealand is considering passing legislation that would ban lawsuits against polluting companies. Find this week's stories at the links below:⁠World Cup 2026: 1 in 4 matches could take place in dangerous heat conditions, analysis findsReport calling for overhaul of US disaster response agency only mentions ‘climate’ onceNew Zealand mulls law prohibiting civil lawsuits against polluting companiesExtreme heat now a ‘regular reality’ in India, Pakistan: study---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our ⁠website⁠.Credits:Stories reported by: Martina IginiProducer: Rebekah HendricksEditor: Rebekah HendricksMusic: Rebekah Hendricks

Climate campaigners attack Shell over profits from Iran war; April sees second-highest sea surface temperatures on record 10.05.2026 5min

This week on Earth Radio, scientists say that last year's mega tsunami in Alaska is a stark warning of the risks of coastal rockslides and glacier retreat fueled by the climate crisis. Meanwhile, climate protesters gathered outside Shell’s London HQ to protest against the company’s better-than-expected profits amid the war in Iran, and rising water levels are beginning to revive Iraq's wetlands after years of drought left them cracked and empty.Find this week's stories at the links below:Alaska’s 2025 mega tsunami highlights risk to cruise lines as glaciers retreat (The Guardian)Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war (The Guardian)Iraq's historic marshes revive as water returns after years of drought (Reuters)Second-highest sea surface temperatures recorded during third–warmest April globally (Copernicus)---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization founded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our website.Credits:Producer: Rebekah HendricksEditor: Rebekah HendricksMusic: Rebekah Hendricks

Another city bans fossil fuel ads; countries meet in Colombia to discuss end of fossil fuels 02.05.2026 6min

This week on Earth Radio, soil-dependent species are at risk of extinction, the Trump administration deals another major blow to science and an Italian city takes an important step away from fossil fuels.Find these week’s stories at the links below:Record Heat, Vanishing Ice: New Report Charts the Accelerating Climate Crisis Across EuropeCoalition of ‘High Ambition’ States Calls For Legal International Instrument on Fair Fossil Fuel Phase Out⁠1 in 5 Soil-Dependent Species Is Threatened With Extinction, New Study FindsTrump Fires All 22 Independent Board Members of National Science FoundationAnother Italian City Bans Fossil Fuel Ads, Joining Growing Global Movement---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a nonprofit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://earth.org/) .Credits:Stories reported by: Martina IginiProducer: Rebekah HendricksMusic: Rebekah HendricksEditor: Rebekah Hendricks

Are coral reefs doomed on a warming planet? 25.04.2026 10min

This week, our host Rebekah Hendricks speaks with Dr. Oliver Selmoni, a Spatial Geneticist at the University of Zurich, for a special episode about how coral reefs are responding to climate change.In late 2025, the Global Tipping Points report showed that ocean temperatures have crossed a critical threshold for coral reefs. The heat stress has caused huge swaths of coral reefs to become bleached ghost towns.Luckily, Dr. Selmoni says many reefs have the ability to adapt to heat stress. Listen on to find out how, and what that might mean for the future of these ecosystems.Learn more about coral reefs on our website.---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a nonprofit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information visit our ⁠website⁠.Credits:Producer: Rebekah Hendricks Music: Rebekah Hendricks Editor: Rebekah Hendricks

Sydney's summers are 50 days longer; India quietly withdraws its bid to host COP33 18.04.2026 5min

This week on Earth Radio, summers in Sydney are 50 days longer than they were three decades ago as global temperatures rise worldwide. We also look at two new studies that have re-examined the risk of birds entering in collision with rotor blades of wind turbines, and India's quiet withdrawal of its bid to host the UN's top-tier climate conference COP33.Find these week’s stories at the links below:Sydney summers have increased in length by 50 days (ABC)Two news studies could change opinions about how many birds die from wind turbines (EuroNews)Funding gap threatens next round of IPCC reports (Climate Change News)India walks away from bid to host COP33 (DW)---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a nonprofit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information visit our website.Credits:Stories reported by: ABC, EuroNews, Climate Change News, DW Producer: Rebekah Hendricks Music: Rebekah Hendricks Editor: Rebekah Hendricks

Emperor penguins are now endangered; near-record sea temperatures in March pave wave for El Niño 11.04.2026 5min

This week on Earth Radio, March's near record high sea surface temperatures pave the wave for the return of El Niño, a weather pattern driving temporary spikes in global surface temperature, and a new report looks at "overlooked" and "emerging" sources of microplastics. We also look at why the reasons behind the International Union for Conservation of Nature's reclassification of emperor penguins and Antarctic fur seal as "endangered". Check out the full articles on Earth.Org: Near-Record Sea Temperatures in March Pave Wave for Return of El Niño and Abnormally Hot Year Baby Formula, Paint, Breast Implants: Report Highlights ‘Overlooked’, ‘Emerging’ Sources of Microplastic Exposure Emperor Penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal Downgraded to ‘Endangered’ Due to Climate Change---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org project. Earth.Org is a nonprofit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information visit our website. Credits:Stories reported by: Martina Igini Producer: Rebekah Hendricks Music: Rebekah Hendricks Editor: Rebekah Hendricks

Renewables hit nearly half of global energy capacity; Trump is granted exception to Endangered Species Act 04.04.2026 5min

This week on Earth Radio, renewables hit nearly half of global energy capacity, the Trump administration is granted an exception to the Endangered Species Act to expand drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and Italy delays the closure of its coal-fired power plants by nearly two decades. We also explore the consequences of the US EPA’s decision to remove restrictions on mercury pollution. A coalition of health and environmental groups has sued the agency in response, calling the move "illegal". Check out the full articles on Earth.Org:Renewables Hit Nearly Half of Global Power Capacity in 2025 Trump Administration Officials Waive Endangered Species Act Rules for Gulf Drilling Health, Environmental Groups Sue US EPA Over Rollback of Mercury Standards for Power Plants Italy Votes to Delay Shutdown of Coal-Fired Plants By 13 Years As Energy Crunch Deepens Amid Iran War---Earth Radio is an ⁠Earth.Org⁠ podcast. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our earth.org/donations. CreditsStories reported by Martina Igini Producer: Rebekah Hendricks Music: Rebekah Hendricks Editor: Rebekah Hendricks

Global climate in 'state of emergency'; US $1bn deal to stop wind projects 28.03.2026 5min

This week on Earth Radio, as the UN confirms the warmest decade in recorded history, we examine a sobering new study revealing how heat-related mortality will disproportionately impact the world's poorest nations.We also look at the Trump administration's controversial $1 billion deal to end offshore wind projects in the country, despite the US-Israel war on Iran causing the worst energy crisis in history. Finally, more than 160 organizations are calling for the firing of US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who they say has "betrayed" the agency.Check out the full articles on Earth.Org:UN Confirms Hottest Decade on Record, Says Earth Is ‘Being Pushed Beyond Its LimitsPoor Countries Face 10 Times More Heat-Related Deaths than Wealthy Nations by 2050, Report WarnsIran War: Work From Home, Increase Car Sharing, Fly Less to Ease Energy Crisis, Says IEAUS to Pay TotalEnergies $1bn in Taxpayer Money to Drop Wind Projects, Redirect Investments to Oil and Gas‘He Has Betrayed the Agency’: More than 160 Environmental Groups Call For Firing of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin---Earth Radio is an Earth.Org podcast. Earth.Org is a non-profit environmental news organization funded by readers and listeners. For more information, visit our earth.org/donations. CreditsStories reported by Martina Igini Producer: Rebekah Hendricks Music: Rebekah Hendricks Editor: Rebekah Hendricks

Introducing Earth Radio 25.03.2026

Earth Radio is podcast by Earth.Org bringing you the week's most pressing environmental stories in five minutes, every Saturday. Join host Rebekha Hendricks, as we uncover the stories behind our headlines, and hear from the scientists, activists, and experts leading the charge in adaptation and resilience.