Living Planet

How good are you at recycling? While it's good to reduce how much we consume, and reuse what we can, most of us do have to dispose of items and packaging, usually on a daily basis. But what happens to all of our containers and bottles and cardboard after we take them to the curb? Today on the show, we'll be diving into the realities of recycling.

This week, we look at river systems under pressure and what that means for biodiversity, human health and the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Plus, the Turkish scientist who ended up on trial after he blew the whistle on pollution levels in his country.

On this week’s program, we explore ‘invisible’ polluters – noise, light and air. And we visit an exhibition in Berlin, questioning rational thinking in its quest surrounding sustainability.

This week we have stories of discovering new species, those that have made a home out of an unusual piece of land, efforts to preserve some less familiar breeds of livestock, and the science that shows us how we can help save one of our sweetest insect friends.

Lower prices helped democratize air travel, but flying is one of the most carbon-heavy actions a person can take. We look at Sweden's No Fly campaign, take a journey on a night train and visit a city in Spain that is mostly car free.

How do we inspire the fundamental changes that are needed to safeguard our planet? On this program, we look at some novel ideas, from restoring peatlands to their natural state to climate change resistant apples.

Today on the show, we're taking a look at our plastic world — from the oceans, to its place in our homes, to its original source. What can we do now about our plastic problems and what do we still need to figure out?

This week on Living Planet, we hear about the people protesting extinction — our own, to be exact. And we examine how climate change is bringing insects and the diseases they carry to new places around the world.

This week, we look at how melting sea ice is threatening the survival of polar bears in the Arctic, and ask what impact shrinking glaciers will have on Switzerland's hydroelectric power supply. We'll also meet UNDP goodwill ambassador Olafur Eliasson, and find out how illegal mining is destroying India's fragile Aravali mountains.

Why do we waste so much food? And what can we do about it? Neil King and Gabe Borrud get to the bottom of these questions on this week's Living Planet. They visit a supermarket to gauge their role as consumers, and team up with two dumpster diving sisters for a nighttime harvesting spree. They also talk to a leading food economist and discover the root of the food waste problem runs a lot deeper.