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BBC Inside Science

Towards Net Zero

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.51.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 February 2023

⏱️ 32 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore’s report into Net Zero calls for ambitious policies to drive energy transition, framing it as a huge economic opportunity to drive national growth. Using and conserving energy in the home is one theme the report tackles. We discuss home insulation with Colm Britchfield , policy advisor at E3G. His recent report found those in some of the worst housing , in the private rented sector could save hundreds of pounds a year if their homes were properly insulated. But what is the incentive for landlords to pay for insulation? Electric heat pumps have been heralded as an alternative to gas boilers, but they are currently more expensive and finding an installer is not easy. Rebecca Dibb-Simkin from Octopus Energy tells us how they are working to make the technology more available. And what is the role of local authorities in the strive for net zero? We hear from Polly Billington, chief executive of UK 100 – a network of local government leaders committed to sustainability policies. How do you catch a poacher? One way might be through their own mobile phone. Another is using a camera trap which sends a signal to game wardens. These are technologies developed by Tim Van Deursen and Thijs Suijten from Hack the Poacher. And we look at new findings on one of Australia’s Iconic species – Echidnas. Dr Christine Cooper at Cutin University in Western Australia, found this marsupial is actually remarkably heat tolerant, and capable of handling temperatures which were previously thought to be lethal. BBC Inside Science is produced in partnership with the Open University.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.

0:03.7

My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a Load of Sport Podcasts.

0:08.4

I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced

0:12.2

pundits and the biggest sport stars.

0:14.3

Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'

0:18.5

mouths.

0:19.5

But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport in world.

0:25.0

What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to

0:28.8

dedicated sports fans across the UK.

0:31.4

So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.

0:36.0

Hello, I'm Guy Evans and this is the podcast edition of BBC Inside Science, first broadcast

0:42.5

on the 19th of January 2023 on Radio 4.

0:46.2

On this week's show we've got a kidnas, elephants and energy efficiency, all the ease.

0:53.0

We'll start with energy which is after all the start of everything.

0:57.4

We're in the midst of an energy revolution as we transition away from generating our

1:03.0

heat and electricity by burning stuff.

1:06.9

The UK has committed to the global agreement to cut our emissions of greenhouse gases to

1:12.3

zero by the year 2050.

1:15.3

But pledging to reach net zero emissions is not the same as delivering and a report out

1:21.3

this week by the government's net zeroed star Chris Skidmore calls for much more ambitious

1:27.0

policies to drive the energy transition.

1:30.6

He frames it as a huge economic opportunity to drive national growth.

...

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