As series 1 of Imagining Tomorrow draws to a close, presenter Emma Newman reflects on the battle against despair and what the podcast has revealed about the entrepreneurs, scientists, innovators and communities she's interviewed. Emma explores the key lessons they've imparted, and whether they're enough to tackle the climate. Resources: Research on new onshore wind and solar sites: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/mapping-england-could-produce-13-times-more-clean-energy https://www.oxfam.org...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Seaweed has long been touted as an important resource in the battle against climate change, thanks to its rapid growth and ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Inspired by conversations with a community garden group in Scotland and the founder of a company producing sustainable materials from seaweed, Emma Newman imagines a world in which new materials replace plastics and fossil fuels are replaced by different types of biomass, including seaweed. In episode 9 we heard from: Professor Chris Chuck f...
Aug 09, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Recent council decisions to cut down trees in Sheffield and Plymouth have prompted outcry from local residents and demonstrated how passionate we can be about preserving trees in urban environments. Research carried out on behalf of Friends of the Earth shows the dramatic impact trees have on bringing down temperatures in urban areas, and calls to increase our woeful tree cover in the UK are gathering momentum. Inspired by conversations with the CEO of one of the most ambitious rewilding project...
Jul 10, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The decline in pollinator numbers is a frightening trend that needs to be reversed as soon as possible. If you live in a city, is there anything you can do? And if you're a farmer, how can you tell if the changes you're making to increase numbers of pollinators that food production depends upon are actually working? Inspired by conversations with an ecologist who has an ambitious plan for pollinators in London, the founder of a UK start-up using smart listening devices and AI to monitor pollinat...
Jun 10, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In recent years, young people have been at the forefront of campaigning on climate change. How does it feel to spearhead a campaign? How is it possible to campaign with busy lives and academic pressures? What keeps you going in these times of hostile politics, an adversarial press and toxic social media? Emma Newman talks to a young activist who has spearheaded an amazing campaign for clean air in London and a youth campaigning mentor from Friends of the Earth. In episode 5 we heard from: Destin...
May 20, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 6
One day, a man in Salford Quays awoke to find a duck nesting on his balcony, 150 ft above the water. Once born, her ducklings had to be lowered down in a bucket. With over 20 acres of water at her disposal, why did that mother duck decide to nest there? And why did thousands of fish in the same location die overnight? Inspired by talking to the duckling rescuer, the inventor of cutting-edge water monitoring equipment, and an award-winning science fiction author, Emma Newman imagines a future whe...
Apr 05, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 5
When the average person can’t control how the funds in their own bank accounts or pensions are used by institutions, is there any way to stop terrible things being done with our money? Inspired by conversations with the leader of a grassroots movement empowering women to take control of their finances, a community farm in Wales raising funds to keep the farm in the service of the local people it feeds, and an award-winning science fiction writer, Emma Newman imagines a world in which fossil fuel...
Mar 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Across the UK there are thousands of faith buildings playing important roles in their communities. Churches, mosques, gurdwaras, all host gatherings for worship and for community activities such as playgroups, choirs, support groups and many more. Recently, many have been serving as warm banks, providing a space for people struggling to heat their homes in the energy crisis. How can these buildings, often huge and sometimes hundreds of years old, afford to provide these critical spaces in times ...
Feb 06, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Over the past couple of years, extreme weather events, the energy crisis and Brexit have put a visible strain on the UK’s food supply chain and increased prices for the consumer. What if we increased the amount of food that we grow in cities, and thus increased biodiversity and reduced food miles? Inspired by talking to a community gardens group in Reading, a horticultural engineer who has co-founded a vertical farm in London and an award-winning author and screenwriter, Emma Newman imagines a f...
Jan 05, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Most homes in the UK are still heated by burning fossil fuels. Struggling households are faced with unnecessarily high bills and cold winters, or bearing the financial burden of replacing old-fashioned central heating. So is there a better way to heat and cool our buildings, accelerate decarbonisation and reduce fuel poverty? Inspired by talking to a Welsh community, a scientist and award-winning author Anne Charnock, Emma Newman imagines a future in which ex-industrial towns can be regenerated,...
Nov 20, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Coming soon, a new podcast, Imagining Tomorrow shows how we can create a future that is good for people and for nature, based on innovations in technology and community action that are already having a positive impact. Join Emma Newman as she pieces together the roadmap to utopia by interviewing amazing inventors, communities and award-winning science fiction authors. We can’t build a better future until we can imagine it, so let’s imagine it together. Support the show...
Nov 01, 2023•4 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. This summer, in a ground-breaking ruling, a Dutch court ordered Shell to reduce its emissions. This is the first time a company has been made to take action to prevent climate breakdown. The case was brought by Friends of the Earth Netherlands, alongside 17,000 co-plaintiffs and other organisations. In this episode Fran and Finn speak to Nine de Pater, from Friends of the Earth Netherlands, to hear more about the case a...
Sep 28, 2021•27 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. As lockdowns ease and we're able to get out again we look at groups working to address the under-representation of black and brown people in the outdoors. Over a couple of future episodes, we speak to people who are challenging this. Louisa and Danny speak to Rhiane Fatinikun. In 2019 Rhiane set up a small walking group Black Girls Hike, which today has thousands of members, providing a safe space for black women to exp...
Jul 29, 2021•23 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. We explore the governments controversial new Policing Bill, speaking to our Head of Political Affairs, Dave Timms about the risk to peaceful protest and Mattey Mitchell from Friends, Families and Travellers about its potential devastating effects on the rights of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Support the show...
Jun 11, 2021•40 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. On 6th May polls open for local elections around England and Wales, for communities to vote for their next Mayor, Metro Mayor, local council and Senedd representatives. But interest in local elections can be low, with the power of your local representatives to make big decisions for our planet often get overlooked. This episode we spoke to Connie and Jackie, local campaigners in Friends of the Earth's network of grassro...
Apr 26, 2021•35 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. A green, low carbon future means new jobs and industries that are good for the environment and the people in them. But what counts as a green job? Do people really want them? How do you get one? And what should government be doing to create more? We're joined today by Clare Linton from Urban Transport Group and Lola Fayokun from Teach The Future to talk all things green jobs. ---- Support the show...
Apr 01, 2021•45 min
Part of our plan for building a greener and fairer future as we recover from the pandemic is to fix the broken economy. But what's broken about it? What might a different approach look like? And what difference would that actually make to your life? Fran and Danny talk to Adrienne Buller from think tank Common Wealth who answers all of these burning questions. Want to hear from us on a specific topic? Tweet us @friends_earth or email podcast@foe.co.uk and let us know. Find out more about Common ...
Feb 24, 2021•34 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. As we make our way through the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a lot of talk of building back better and a new normal. We have heard campaigners and politicians talking about a green and fair recovery or a green new deal. But what do any of these things really mean? What parts of our society need to change? What would that look like in your life? This episode kicks off the new year with a new series and a new presente...
Jan 27, 2021•20 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. The holiday season is barrelling towards us, and it can be a high stress time of year, even as we try to relax. So, Muna and Louisa spoke to Tori Tsui, a climate and mental health activist. Tori came loaded with tips on how we can look after ourselves, each other and the planet as we make it through the final hurdle of 2020. Head to Instagram to follow Tori @toritsui_ If you'd like to give the gift of a donation to Frie...
Dec 18, 2020•35 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. You've signed petitions and shared posts, but what next? How can you make an actual difference to the climate? It’s easier than you think: start in your backyard! We speak to local campaigner Ian Bowler and Wigan Council's Climate Change Manager Kerrell Walley, to find out how working with your local council can have a massive impact. Support the show...
Nov 25, 2020•28 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. What is environmental justice? How are black and brown communities impacted by climate breakdown differently? Why do equality and anti-racism need to be central to the environmental movement? To mark Black History Month, campaigner Muna Suleiman chats to MP David Lammy, MEP Magid Magid and activist Mikaela Loach about how climate and race are connected, and what we can do to make the environment movement more inclusive....
Oct 26, 2020•28 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. As fashion week draws to a close, we take a look at one of our most problematic faves - new clothes. Muna and Louisa speak to fashion insiders Ros and Marie to get useful tips about how we can look good sustainably, what we can do as consumers to push the fashion industry to be better, and what companies and our government should be doing to make the important changes we need to see. Ros Studd worked as a buyer in the f...
Sep 25, 2020•26 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. Outside of our major cities, the UK is reliant on cars to get us around. We know they're huge contributors to climate breakdown, but what are the alternatives? Could we really aim for the bike culture of Holland? Could our public transport system ever be accessible enough to challenge the car's rule? In this episode, Muna talks to Haf, Ian and Ridhi, all of whom are working on making our approach to transport that bit g...
Sep 03, 2020•24 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. Caring about the climate doesn't always mean it's easy to talk about. We know it can be a tricky conversation to have, whether with friends, family or your least favourite coworker. We're here to help, so we asked Cassie Flynn to share some wisdom. Cassie is the Strategic Advisor on Climate for the United Nations Development Programme, and joins Muna and Fran to talk us through key lessons she's learned from a long care...
Jul 20, 2020•31 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. The UK claims to be a climate leader, but the truth behind where our tax money goes tells a different story. Muna and Louisa are joined today by Adam McGibbon, an investigator with Global Witness. We discover how our money is being used to damage our climate and destroy the communities and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate breakdown in the global south. And how we can stop it. We’ll also hear from Ilham Rawo...
Jun 09, 2020•33 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. Lockdown may mean we're spending more time at home, but there's still a lot of the natural world we can look out for (and enjoy) from our doorstep. In this episode Muna and Isobel speak to 14-year-old RSPB Youth Ambassador, Kabir Kaul, who's on a mission to transform the way we look at urban landscapes and get us all looking out for nature nearby. We had a couple of tech issues with the mics, so please forgive the sound...
May 14, 2020•21 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. Ramadan has kicked off for Muslims around the world, a time of fasting, reflection and family. This week Muna is talking to 3 British Muslims, Magid Magid, Lamees Hafeez, and Zunaira Malik. They chat about how lockdown has impacted their fasting, cooking channel addictions and advice for making your Ramadan as eco friendly as possible. Visit friendsoftheearth.uk for more tips. --- Support the show...
May 06, 2020•26 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet So the UN climate talks are postponed, but what really happens there anyway? And does the delay mean anything for climate breakdown? This episode, Muna and Fran chat to Friends of the Earth's international campaigner Rachel. As a regular at the talks, she shares what really goes on there, the highs and lows of the conference, and the impact of a delay to COP 26. All whilst trying to avoid the endless acronyms. Support th...
Apr 09, 2020•28 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet Muna catches up with a few Friends of the Earth staff to see how they're coping and staying connected as we enter life on lockdown. We discuss how we're looking after ourselves, what social distancing means for activism, experiences with homeschooling, and of course what we're binge watching. As we grapple with the complexities of life in a global pandemic, it's more important than ever that we find ways to stay connecte...
Mar 30, 2020•33 min
An episode from Friends of the Earth podcast series, How to Save the Planet. Our special bonus episode today comes hot on the heels of Friends of the Earth's historic win in the Court of Appeal. On Thursday 27 February, government plans to expand Heathrow airport were ruled illegal, on the grounds that they did not full consider the climate impacts of the project. But what happens now with Heathrow's expansion? And what does this ruling mean for holding the government to account on their promise...
Feb 28, 2020•20 min
