Energy crisis: The comeback of coal in Germany?
Germany is firing up old coal plants to ensure energy supply this winter. What does this mean for the country's coal phaseout and climate targets?
Aug 26, 2024•59 min
On The Green Fence
On the Green Fence lives up to its name in looking at complex, often divisive environmental issues from multiple angles. It’s not about greenism, but about delving into the major concerns of our time in an engaging and human way. DW reporter Neil King sits on the fence and explores the role business, society and science play in our transition to a more environmentally friendly world. In so doing, he aims to make sense of issues that affect us all, but which are often over-simplified or convoluted by ideology and lobbyism. On the Green Fence stands for an open-minded, relevant and entertaining approach to the environment.
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Episodes
Farewell and new beginnings
After a great run, the On the Green Fence podcast is coming to a close. But we also have some good news for you.
Jun 05, 2024•2 min
Can we recycle our way out of the plastic crisis?
Globally only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled. But why are mechanical recycling rates so low? And could chemical recycling help achieve our targets or is this the wrong approach to the plastic waste problem?
Jul 21, 2023•44 min
Why don't we use more bioplastics?
Substituting fossil-based plastics with compostable ones could help address plastic pollution. But not all bioplastics are eco-friendly or biodegradable. A startup from the UK says seaweed is the answer.
Jul 14, 2023•35 min
Could plastic-eating enzymes help curb pollution?
Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste ends up in the environment where it can last for centuries. But the discovery of plastic-gobbling enzymes has raised hopes of solving this mounting problem. Some scientists have called these tiny plastic eaters a game changer. But is this really a scalable solution? And does it make economic sense?
Jul 07, 2023•35 min
The growing microplastics problem: risks and solutions
Microplastics have been found everywhere — from the deepest parts of the ocean to the heights of Mount Everest. A problem that is set to intensify as we produce over 400 million tons of new plastics every year. But just how dangerous are microplastics? And what can we do about them?
Jun 30, 2023•37 min
The plastics age: How did we get here?
Each year, the world produces 430 million tons of plastics – and that figure is set to triple by 2060. How did plastics become such a big part of our lives? And what needs to be done to limit their environmental impact?
Jun 23, 2023•42 min
Trailer: The global plastics crisis, new podcast series
Global plastics production has doubled over the past two decades. Despite rising consumer awareness, there is more single-use plastic waste than ever before. Pollutive plastic waste is set to triple by 2060. Microplastics are in our food and water and even entering our bodies. How did we get here and what can we do about it? This series launches in June.
Jun 02, 2023•2 min
More allergies due to climate change?
By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is global warming to blame? Find out more about rising pollen levels and one of the most allergenic plants in the world that is now also spreading in Germany. (This episode has been republished and updated).
May 25, 2023•25 min
How lab-grown meat could help the climate
Global demand for meat is growing, but animal agriculture has a significant carbon footprint. Could cultivating steaks, nuggets and sushi in a lab be a solution? (This episode has been republished and updated).
May 19, 2023•41 min
Climate crisis: Is cli-fi counterproductive?
Climate fiction has become a significant cultural phenomenon, reflecting the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for creative responses to this global challenge. But how does it affect the consumer and is it doing more harm than good?
May 12, 2023•27 min
The rise of climate fiction
Cli-fi is growing increasingly popular as the climate crisis deepens. But could this mainly dystopian genre play a constructive role in tackling the challenge of global warming?
May 05, 2023•30 min
Why more 'edible cities' are a good idea
The German town of Andernach uses its public spaces to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs that anyone can pick free of charge. It's also a social project that has given some residents a new purpose in life. So what would it take to turn your home town into an edible one? (This episode has been republished and updated)
Apr 28, 2023•32 min
Understanding our food choices
Supermarkets stock thousands of food products flown in from all over the world. And we've become used to this bounty of choice, often at the cost of the environment. But what is driving this excessive food consumption and how can we make better food choices? (This episode has been republished and updated).
Apr 21, 2023•33 min
AI: 'It will be a wild ride'
Machines that can outsmart humans are the stuff of sci-fi novels. But some in the tech industry believe that if rapid advances in AI continue, there could someday be systems that attain — or surpass — human intelligence. Philosopher Nick Bostrom shares his thoughts on what that would mean for our species and some of the ethical questions that should be settled before we reach that threshold.
Apr 14, 2023•39 min
AI: What are the downsides for the environment?
Artificial intelligence has tremendous potential to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the technology itself has a big carbon footprint, and in some cases it's being used to accelerate activities that make climate change worse.
Apr 06, 2023•30 min
How AI can help us protect the planet
The field of artificial intelligence is growing fast. Not only is it bringing profound changes to the way we live and work, it's also proving to be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Mar 31, 2023•32 min
Climate change: The biggest health threat to humanity
The impacts of climate change are making us sick and claiming the lives of 13 million people every year. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the single biggest health threat humanity faces. So what does it mean for our health if we fail to meet our climate goals and what can we do about it? (This episode has been republished and updated).
Mar 24, 2023•19 min
The Rhine: Protecting a precious water source
Ahead of World Water Day, we look at how the Rhine was transformed from a heavily polluted and stinking river into a clean waterway. Today, it supplies over 30 million people with high quality drinking water. But new threats are emerging for Germany's longest artery. (This episode has been republished and updated).
Mar 17, 2023•31 min
The benefits of a four-day work week
Imagine your work week is reduced from five to four days without a pay cut. That's precisely what some companies in the UK did over a six-month trial period. Apparently, this is good for workers, business and the environment. Is the four-day work week overdue?
Mar 10, 2023•22 min
Human composting: The push for greener burials
Most Germans choose to be cremated when they die. But this process has many environmental downsides. A green funeral startup from Berlin wants to make human composting the new normal. But just how eco-friendly is this and why hasn't it taken off in Germany yet?
Mar 03, 2023•26 min
Rationing carbon: A fairer way to fight global warming?
Rationing could be an effective way of reducing carbon emissions rapidly and fairly, according to a recent study by UK scientists. But just how would this work and would people really go along with it?
Feb 24, 2023•31 min
Europe's appetite for frogs' legs puts species at risk
The trade in frogs legs is thriving. Every year, millions of tons of the delicacy are exported from Asia to the European Union, the world’s biggest customer by far. But scientists warn the trade is unsustainable, and that Europe’s insatiable taste for the amphibian’s limbs could cause some species to die out altogether.
Feb 17, 2023•26 min
Civil disobedience in environmentalism: past, present, future
From the suffragettes to US civil rights campaigners, there are many examples from history of social movements using direct action to push for change. It's a tactic climate activists in the West are increasingly resorting to today. But do radical acts still work with a challenge as immense as climate change? And how are such protests viewed in other parts of the world?
Feb 10, 2023•34 min
A turning point for disruptive climate protests?
Disruptive climate protests are encouraging the authorities in some democracies to push for harsher anti-protest measures and new legislation. Civil rights groups fear the right to peaceful protest could come under threat. In Germany, for instance, climate activists from 'The Last Generation' have already been placed in preventive detention. Is more escalation on the horizon?
Feb 03, 2023•33 min
Climate activist: 'I'm doing this for my son'
Just Stop Oil activist Lora Johnson has been arrested several times for disruptive climate protests in the United Kingdom. She has no intention of stopping, even if it means being separated from her son. But just how far is she prepared to go to achieve her goals?
Jan 27, 2023•22 min
Noise pollution — the underestimated threat
Exposure to loud noise can lead to health issues in humans. But it can also be harmful for wildlife. The problem is only going to get worse as cities expand. So what can we do about it?
Jan 20, 2023•26 min
The German farmer who's keeping his village warm
Locally produced biogas could help reduce Germany's dependence on natural gas imports. So why doesn't it play a bigger role? German farmer Henning Varnholt knows all the stumbling blocks. He's been producing biogas since 2009 despite criticism from neighbors. Today, he and his community are self-sufficient and the critics have fallen silent. But is biogas really all it's cracked up to be?
Dec 23, 2022•26 min
Winds of change: How Germany's renewables push is causing division
Germany's government wants to install thousands of new wind turbines as part of its plan to phase out fossil fuels. But finding a place to put all these windmills is proving controversial - even within green circles. Some critics argue wind is far too volatile a power source, while others warn these massive structures will harm vulnerable ecosystems. So when does this technology make sense?
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Energy fears rekindle nuclear debate in Germany
The energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced Germany to delay its long awaited nuclear phaseout. How likely is a renaissance of nuclear power amid blackout fears and increased energy prices? What role can "green" nuclear power play in the climate crisis? And why is there no embargo on Russian uranium?
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 6 min
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