

Living Planet
DW
Looking to reconnect with nature? Want to make better decisions for the health of the planet? Every Friday, Living Planet brings you the stories, facts and debates on the key environmental issues of our time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 2, 2025 • 40min
Part 3: Who should pay for climate action?
What do a German heat pump and a Canadian carbon price have in common? They're both flashpoints in a growing political battle over how to cut emissions and share the costs fairly. In Part 3 of our series on The Cost of Climate Change, we follow the money and ask: Who should foot the bill — consumers, taxpayers, or polluters?

Apr 25, 2025 • 39min
Part 2: Can we afford a transition to clean energy?
Sun, wind, water, and Earth’s heat — they’re abundant, carbon-free, and cheaper to harness than ever. But what’s the true price of overhauling our energy system? Is clean power really the cheaper path? In Part 2 of our series on The Cost of Climate Change, we head to outback Australia to meet an accidental ally in the race to ditch fossil fuels.

Apr 18, 2025 • 43min
Part 1: How much does a hurricane cost?
In the first episode of our series on The Cost of Climate Change, we head to Miami — where vibrant nightlife, sunshine, and storm surges collide. As hurricanes intensify and insurers pull out, the cost of living in paradise is becoming impossible to ignore. Who picks up the tab for extreme weather, and how do we keep from going broke? One new Florida community might hold some of the answers.

Apr 11, 2025 • 15min
Prologue: The true cost of climate change
Ever notice how debates about the cost of climate change tend to focus on how green policies are too expensive — and less about the huge bill we’ll all face the longer we fail to act? That’s exactly what our new five-part series on The Cost of Climate Change will be exploring, starting April 18. Here's a taste of what to expect.

Apr 4, 2025 • 36min
Are PFAS affecting you? What you should know
PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are everywhere – in food packaging, water, and more. But what happens when they enter our bloodstream? One woman's fight to find out.

Mar 28, 2025 • 33min
Nature's healing touch: Fact or fiction?
Is our love for nature more than instinct? A look at the fascinating link between nature, mental health, and physical recovery.

Mar 21, 2025 • 32min
Are your flowers bad for the environment? (Rebroadcast)
Spring is in the air, and so are fresh blooms! With the US marking National Flower Day this week and flower season about to ramp up in the world's flower capital, the Netherlands, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite episodes. Find out how cut flowers are grown, how they reach us, and what it takes to keep them blooming year-round.

Mar 14, 2025 • 25min
How far will governments go to stop climate protests?
Governments are cracking down on climate protests. They say activists have crossed the line into extremism. But history shows resistance only adapts. As repression intensifies, will it crush the movement - or make it stronger?

Mar 7, 2025 • 33min
What does 1 ton of CO2 look like?
Last year, the world pumped over 41 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Hard to picture, isn’t it? In this episode, we explore different ways of understanding this basic concept of climate science along with the help of a researcher with a very personal link to the origins of our obsession with carbon dioxide.

Feb 28, 2025 • 34min
Water, AI & the craic – Your questions answered
Is Ireland really running out of water? Is AI to blame? And where does Irish mythology fit in? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, we answer your questions, share unexpected insights, and, of course, have a bit of craic along the way.


