39 ways to save the planet
We worked in partnership with BBC Radio 4 on a radio series that showcases 39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is placing on the Earth.
The Society is supporting the radio programmes by providing links to experts who can comment on the potential impact of the ideas featured, as well as by producing events and resources linked to the series.
Presented by environmental journalist and Society Fellow, Tom Heap, each 15 minute programme features an individual associated with the idea being discussed. All of the ideas are practical, feasible and carbon-cutting but Tom doesn't take the claims of their creators for granted, with the device or concept illustrated on location and tested within the programme.
Society Fellow and Kings College London Geographer, Dr Tamsin Edwards, also features in each programme, discussing the potential of each proposal to contribute to climate change mitigation.
You can listen to the programmes on demand on BBC Sounds. You can also read additional comments by some of the specialists advising on the series, and follow links to further reading on the pages below.
We’re resourceful, adaptable and the smartest thing this planet has ever seen. We got ourselves into this mess but can we get ourselves out of it?
Presenter Tom Heap
Hydrogen revolution
Fuelling the future with hydrogen.
Hunting down polluters
How to catch the planet's polluters with satellites, artificial intelligence and Al Gore.
Low carbon crisps
Ever thought about the carbon cost of a packet of crisps?
Windcatchers
Wind energy is vital in the battle against climate change, but can we make it better?
Better batteries
Batteries are powering the electric car revolution, but can we make them last longer?
The happiness index
Do we need an alternative way to access a nation's success and growth?
Floating solar power
Most of the surface of this planet is water. Can we cover it with solar panels?
Local wisdom
Can indigenous knowledge help us fight climate change?
Zero carbon flight
Can we fly carbon-free?
New nuclear
Can new forms of nuclear power help in the fight against climate change?
Black gold
Discover biochar - the arch-enemy of climate change.
Better bricks
Concrete block are the foundations of the moden world. But they could be greener.
Eat better for the planet
How to improve mass catering for the planet.
Buy less stuff
Can we consume less by sharing more, finding new homes for old stuff and using it smartly?
Big drop energy
A big weight and a really deep hole. Could they help turn our electricity grid green?
Insulate the nation
Retrofitting new technology to insulate old homes on a grand scale.
Magical rockdust
Discover how sprinkling rockdust on farm fields could capture carbon.
Swiss air
Giant fans suck in fresh Alpine air and remove the carbon dioxide. Is this our future?
Hot shower, cool planet
A cheap and simple idea turn the heat of the sun into hot showers for the world.
Zero carbon farm
Can British farmers transform themselves into carbon-cutting heroes?
Cutting the cow burps
Cattle emit huge quantities of planet-warming methane. But they can be stopped!
Logging for good
How to cut down trees for timber without harming the planet?
Slippery ships
How to make ships more carbon-efficient?
Steel without the fossil fuels
Steel-making is a huge emitter of carbon dioxide. Is green steel a genuine possibility?
Bog-tastic!
There's a lot of carbon locked up in the peatlands of Britain and Ireland. Can we keep it there and even return drained bogs to life, sucking more carbon dioxide from the air?
Polluter pays
Should the price of a litre of petrol include the cost of the carbon clean up?
Ocean farmers
Meet the Newfoundland fisherman with a tasty plan to cut the carbon.
The Chill Hunters
Meet the fearless investigators hunting down planet-destroying gases.
Phenomenal photosynthesis
Can we improve nature's engine room - the amazing process of photosynthesis?
The legal fight
Is it better to take to the courts than take to the trees?
Siberian rewilding
How trees and fluffy snow are the bad guys when it comes to climate change in Siberia.
More power from the sun
Solar energy is cheap and clean, but it could be better.
Chilling food
A fresh way to keep food cool and cut food waste.
Robots of the wind
Meet the robots that can keep the turbines of Britain's offshore wind industry turning.
Bamboo is better
Fast growing bamboo could be a powerful climate ally.
Educating and empowering girls
How ensuring girls get a full education can help fight climate change.
Sublime seagrass
Can underwater seagrass meadows make a comeback to reduce our carbon?
Wood for good
The global possibilities of cities built of wood.
Super rice
Discover the secret of low-carbon rice.