Planet Possible
Planet Possible gets behind the headlines and straight to the facts of global environmental issues. Join host Niki Roach as she meets practitioners and visionaries working on the big issues in water, nature and climate change - and finds out what they would make possible with the Planet Possible Magic Wand! Planet Possible is brought to you by CIWEM; a community of environmental professionals creating a more positive world. Not enough time to listen to a full episode? Choose the length of pod to fit the time you have with Accordion.live/PlanetPossible
What Will be the Next big Innovations in the UK Water Sector?
The winners of the sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge, part of the OFWAT £600 million Water Innovation Fund, have just been announced.
In this episode, Hannah Muirhead joins Niki to discuss some of winners.
Together, they highlight the emerging themes in innovation in the UK water sector, and some of the most exciting concepts.
Find out more about the OFWAT Innovation Fund here
Credits
Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited
With thanks to Alastair Chisholm
Honorary Ex...
Re-wilding: From Over-farmed and Uneconomic... to Thriving
Jim Tan is CEO of Kuzuko Private Game Reserve, which has connected and rewilded 35,000 acres of un-economic and over-farmed areas in the Eastern Cape of South Africa since 2001.
In this episode you’ll hear how Kuzuko is now a thriving wildlife reserve home to elephants, buffalos, lions and three of South Africas 9 biomes. Kuzuko has enabled local flora and fauna to re-populate huge swathes of land whilst providing a significant boost to the economy of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The project is also sequestering 1.5 million tonnes of carbon each year through the planting of 26 million cu...
Soils
In this week’s episode, we dig into soils - both literally and metaphorically.
Soils aren’t really visible to us, but they underpin every single life system on planet earth.
Soil is one of our most important carbon sinks, critical to water, home to 60% of all bio-diversity and helping to produce 98% of our food.
In this episode, Niki goes on location to a soil-progressive farm where Yorkshire Farmer, Paul Temple, is managing his soils a little differently and she is joined by Expert co-host, Ellen Fay, Founder and Executive Director of the Sust...
Planet Possible News - April 2026
Each month Planet Possible News will bring you an update on the latest big environmental stories. Host Niki will be joined by an expert guest to discuss recent events in climate, nature and water.
In this episode...
Climate adaptation in the UK - what's coming in terms of reports, policy and progress
How the Iran conflict is impacting the environment
Crisis management - are extreme weather and flood warnings being communicated effectively?
Credits
Presented & Produced by Niki Roach
Executive Producer Andy Taylor...
Faith and the Environment
Niki is joined by Amandeep Kaur Maan, Founder of EcoSikh UK and Mumin Islam, a water industry leader with a passion for water demand management, equity, diversity and environmental and social justice to explore the relationship between faith, culture and our environment.
Both guests have worked on the delivery of a groundbreaking project with Cambridge Central Mosque - the first 'eco Mosque' in the UK - and the conversation covers:
The opportunities for conversations about environmental sustainability and water demand management through the lenses of faith and culture. Where Mumin and Amandeep see organisations that are...Advocating for the Planet - how law can Help the Environment
Monica Feria-Tinta is a lawyer based in England and Wales but with an international outlook . She has a passion for, and a world-leading expertise in, representing climate, nature, water and indigenous peoples in high-profile legal cases.
In this episode she discusses:
how she was the first lawyer to bring climate claims to court successfully. her famous work with indigenous people around the world. why she believes, eventually, rivers will have statutory protection in the UK. why the law needs to move from its previously anthropocentric focus, towards an environmentally inclusive approach.Monica Feria-Tinta's new book...
New York City - A Planet Possible Special
New York City is the most densely populated city in the USA and, famously the "concrete jungle" of all those famous movies and TV shows. Surrounded by water on 3 sides and with old infrastructure, how does the Big Apple cope with rising sea levels, pressure on water quality and very little room for nature?
Vincent worked on high profile projects like Hunter's Point and Little Island - pairing beautiful design with futureproof sustainability functions. Sarah was involved in a decades long project to lower the levels of nutrients in the water surrounding Manhattan. Both native New Yorkers...
March MiniPod with CIWEM Director of Policy Al Chisholm
Al Chisholm is CIWEM's Director of Policy, though he will be soon be leaving to take on a new role at a different organisation.
In his last appearance on the podcast in his current role, he gives his thoughts on 3 big current nature, climate and water news stories.
Niki and Alastair discuss:
The new strategic policy statement for the Environment Agency and Natural England. How citizen science is being carried out in one of London’s rivers. The National Emergency briefing.Find out more about the stories Niki and Al discussed here...
St...
The King, Harmony and an Interconnected Approach
The King’s Foundation, founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1990, was inspired by his philosophy of Harmony: that by understanding the balance, order and relationships between ourselves and the natural world, we can create a more sustainable future.
Niki heads to Dumfries House, home of The King’s Foundation, to see how the concept of Harmony comes to life. Hear from Dr Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director of Education at the Foundation about the impacts both locally and internationally of the work happening on site and how the principle of interconnectedness is at the heart of th...
February MiniPod with The Guardian's Phoebe Weston (Bee Bans, Light Pollution and China Climate Stats)
On this MiniPod episode, Niki Roach is joined by The Guardian’s Biodiversity correspondent - Phoebe Weston.
Together, they discuss:
1) Why honey bees aren’t necessarily good for ecosystems and the Italian island that’s banned them.
2) China’s carbon dioxide emissions fall by 1% in the final quarter of 2025.
3) And a radical project in Belgium that’s turning off street lights to preserve wildlife.
Thanks to our sponsors BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment for their support of Planet Possible.
Credits
Presented & Produced by Niki Roa...
Water Reuse
To meet future water demands we will have to embrace water reuse and advanced water recycling. What's possible? What's best practice? What do the public think? Traditionally there has been a public perception challenge over reusing water (the so-called "yuck factor") - how do we get past that?
The UK is just starting to really get going on water reuse, while in the USA they're further ahead. So, in this episode we talk to experts on both sides of the pond to get the latest thinking...
UK Experts:
Simon Langley from MWH Treatment...
January MiniPod with Lee Pitcher MP (South East Water, A New Vision For Water white paper)
The Planet Possible MiniPod focuses on big current stories in climate, water and nature, providing a detailed update in just 15 mins.
Our guest on this episode is Lee Pitcher, the Labour MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Water.
Water is firmly in the spotlight in the UK, with recent supply outages in the South East Water region making headlines. Alongside this, and following last year's Cunliffe Review, the government has published a white paper called 'A New Vision For Water'.
Lee, who pr...
The Year Ahead in UK Environmental Policy
In this month’s Planet Possible, Niki Roach is joined by Ruth Chambers OBE - a Senior Fellow at Green Alliance, and honorary professor of practice at the UCL Centre for law and the environment.
Ruth, and host Niki, metaphorically travel around the nations of the UK - identifying what will be making the headlines in UK environmental policy, in 2026.
In Wales, the Environmental Governance Bill will be a new legislation allowing future Welsh governments to set long-term environmental targets.The Environment Minister of Northern Ireland, Andrew Muir, has outlined how environmental governance is currently operating, hi...December MiniPod with John Curtin (Climate-proof Infrastructure, Energy from Water Droplets, Green Storytelling)
Our last Minipod of 2025 welcomes John Curtin, the president of CIWEM. John joins Niki Roach in this 15 minute episode, to discuss the following 3 current stories in Water, Climate and Nature:
Infrastructure Risks - How should we approach building new infrastructure in a world shaped by climate change, and shifting environmental issues and politics? And how do we move beyond short-term fixes and improve our acceptance of the need to build for 2050 and beyond?A piece of research, supported by the natural science foundation of China, shows a new technique that could let us generate electricity from water in...COP 30 and Climate Politics
In this month’s Planet Possible, we’re going beyond the specifics of COP30 and reflect on the shifting geo politics of climate leadership, and what it could mean for our future generations.
Niki Roach is joined by two experts in this field - Dr Clare Richardson-Barlow, a Political Economist with a focus on the Asia specific region, and Professor of International Politics at the University of Leeds - Richard Beardsworth.
Together, they discuss:
COP30 - The climate change conference that has just taken place in Brazil, why it matters so much and the conte...November MiniPod with Jo Caird (Climate Geo-Engineering, Tehran Drought & Tropical Forests Forever)
In this MiniPod episode, Niki is joined by freelance environmental journalist Jo Caird, whose portfolio includes Editor of The Environment Magazine - a CIWEM publication.
They discuss:
1) Using geoengineering to repair the climate, and how the technology has the potential to adjust global temperatures. The process of solar radiation modification could see injecting aerosol compounds and potential refreezing of the arctic.
2) The unprecedented drought impacting Tehran, Iran, where the main source of drinking water for residents is at risk of running dry within a matter of weeks. 9 million people may need to be...
Could Sewers Help Heat our Homes?
On this month’s Planet Possible, Niki is joined by co-host Polly Cook - Chief Officer for Climate, Energy and Green Spaces at Leeds City Council.
And for our deep dive interview, on this episode into Heat Networks, Niki and Polly are joined by David Riley - Head of Carbon and Climate Adaptation within Anglian Water and Michael Avant Smith - Senior VP for Decarbonisation at BMA.
This Episode is an introduction to Heat Networks and a look at an innovative plan to harness waste heat from sewers:
We’...
October MiniPod with Phoebe Weston (Human Microbiodiversity Depletion, Rise Of Renewables & Bird Migration Warnings)
The stories on this week's Minipod are:
Finnish researchers have been exploring what happens when we bring a little more wild back into our everyday lives. Their “rewilding” experiment shows the link between increasing our nature exposure and better microbiome biodiversity.There’s good news, and perhaps some not so good news, about renewables. Solar power has now been the largest source of new electricity globally for three years in a row. Some nations are increasing their reliability on fossil fuels. However, solar prices have fallen making it more much accessible for lower income countries.Why the changing migrat...Zac Goldsmith - The Politics of Climate and Nature
Lord Zac Goldsmith has been a voice for environmental issues throughout his political career. He has held vital positions of power in government that have made him able to move the needle on climate and nature. His insights take us inside the cabinet meetings, international negotiations and global summits where progress can be encouraged and delivered... but also stifled.
In this wide-ranging interview he talks candidly about:
His opinion on current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's desire to repeal the Climate Change ActWhy he felt he had to resign from the Rishi Sunak-led Conservative government over a...September MiniPod with Al Chisholm (New Environment Minister, Drought & Sponge Cities)
Emma Reynolds has been appointed the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK. How will she sort through all the recent reports and reviews into the highly contentious future of the water sector in the UK? What actions will she take from the various recommendations
There is drought in many parts of the UK. Should it be water companies that decide (and announce) when things like hosepipe bans are implemented or could there be a better process?
What are Sponge Cities? How has China had so much success with...
On Location at Britain's First new Reservoir in 30 years
This episode explores Niki's visit to Havant Thicket, the first new reservoir to be built in the UK, in 30 years.
Niki spoke to Terry Fuller from Future Water, Robert Taylor CEO of Portsmouth Water and other key members of the delivery team about this ambitious project.
The site is owned by Portsmouth Water, who will store and supply Southern Water, as part of a water cooperative.
Once complete, the site will hold 9 billion litres of water and will serve 160,000 customers.
It’s also the first of ten further reservoirs that are pla...
August MiniPod with Hannah Burgess (Flood Funding, Global Plastics Treaty, Updated UK Sustainable Drainage Standards)
In this month's MiniPod, we're joined by CIWEM President Hannah Burgess and we discuss...
1. The consultation on how flood funding is awarded and how that opens the door to more voluntary groups, and environmental NGOs, directly accessing funding.
2. The news that a global plastics treaty is being debated, alongside some ideas for individual actions.
3. We also consider the updated national sustainable drainage standards which should drive more consistency in what's delivered.
Useful Links
Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new episodes - http://eepurl.c...
Environment Goes Mainstream
Have we reached an important positive tipping point where more people than ever of power and influence want to talk about - and take action on - the challenges facing our planet in climate, nature and water?
It certainly seems to us - making this podcast - that more people want to talk about environmental issues, and we want to play our part by amplifying planet positive messages both from people of real influence... and people making real progress.
In this episode we bring you a collection of interviews. First up, two new conversations, recorded...
July MiniPod with Adam Bedford (Farmer's Climate Concerns, Rebuilding Ukraine Sustainably & Cunliffe+Agriculture)
We're joined by Adam Bedford - Collaborative Projects Director at FERA Science, in this month’s MiniPod and we discuss...
1. The news that more than 80% of famers are worried about the climate crisis harming their livelihood.
2. A group of British, Ukrainian and Dutch engineers trying to rebuild Ukraine as efficiently and sustainably as possible, by recycling the rubble from bombed buildings to make new concrete.
3. We also consider the impact of the recent final report, from the Independent Water Commission, on our farming communities and agriculture.
Useful Links
Read Th...
SPECIAL - Cunliffe Review Reaction
The Cunliffe Review has just been published and proposes massive change to the UK water sector. What are the headlines? Are the recommendations right? Do they go far enough? What are the implications for the water companies, campaigners, the general public... and the bigger picture of climate, nature and the environment as a whole?
CIWEM's Director of Policy Al Chisholm and host Niki Roach give their expert analysis.
Read the summary report here
Read the full report here
Planet Possible is supported by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment.
...
Nature Based Solutions - A Crossroads Moment
Nature is in decline across the UK. 2023 data shows the abundance of terrestrial and freshwater species has on average fallen by 19% across the UK since 1970. Yet working with nature may be part of the answer to reversing this decline.
As the Environment Agency release a new position statement on nature-based solutions, we’re joined by their Director of Water, Helen Wakeham and the CEO of the Rivers Trust, Mark Lloyd.
Hear Helen and Mark discuss the rationale behind sharing their position on these types of solutions and what role they have to play in the envir...
June MiniPod with Phoebe Weston (Forever Chemicals, Working with Farmers & Climate Attitudes)
We're joined by The Guardian newspaper Biodiversity Reporter, Phoebe Weston in this months MiniPod and we discuss...
The news that water contamination by forever chemicals from an airport in eastern France has resulted in 3000 vulnerable residents unable to drink their tap water.A groundbreaking tree-planting programme that is uniting farmers and rewilders in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.UK data shows 60% of adults think climate and the environment are important issues – we’ll explore the role of the media in portraying these topics responsibly.Useful Links
Read Phoebe's article on ghost woodlands and rewilding here
Tony Juniper
For many in the environment sector the name Tony Juniper is synonymous with the defence of nature. He has led major organisations, run global campaigns and advised at the highest levels, including co-authoring ‘Harmony’ with His Majesty King Charles II. He was recently re-appointed as the Chair of Natural England and is a Fellow of the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.
In our June episode we explore how we achieve the pace and scale of change that is needed to create a system that meets the needs of people thriving on a living planet - and what still...
May MiniPod with Lee Pitcher MP (Drought, Water Safety & Climate Change)
Niki is joined by Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme and Chair of the APPG on Water. Prior to being an MP has spent his career building partnerships across the water sector and this episode we’re talking about…
The threat of drought across the UK this summer as April temperatures were the 3rd warmest since records began.The Water Safety Bill – as a new MP this is Lee’s first Bill to pass through parliament, we hear why it's so important and why it's not already part of legislation.The Climate Change Committe...Ofwat Innovation Fund Winners
Jeannette Henderson, co-lead for Innovation at Ofwat shares some of the winners of the latest round of funding from the 5th Water Breakthrough Challenge.
Hear some of the projects that are embracing drones, robotics and AI as Ofwat share £42m across 16 projects aiming to radically innovate within the water sector in England and Wales.
Jeanette shares how Ofwat are working with other regulators to also drive innovation in the way they regulate.
Finally find out what the future holds for the Innovation Fund, aiming to share £600m across by 2030.
Find out mor...
Biocides
Main interview guest: Natalie Bennett - Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
Expert co-host: Michael Mattle - Head of Wastewater Technology at Holinger
We're exploring how biocides – human-made chemicals that we find in products like surface cleaners and toothpastes – are impacting the microbiomes in our bodies and our environmental systems. In 2025 Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Natalie Bennett, brought a private members bill to Westminster to regulate the use of these chemicals in consumer products intended for human consumption. We hear what Biocides are, where we'll find them and why Natali...
April MiniPod (Smart Meters, Data Centres & Diversity)
In today's episode we’re focusing on water that’s used by businesses, which makes up 30% of all the water that’s supplied in England. Join Sarah McMath, CEO of MOSl as we explore the challenges of needing to deliver an extra 5 billion litres of water each day into supply by 2050 and the opportunities - and challenges - presented by commercial water demand.
We explore...
Smart metering for business customers and the current lack of data to understand how much water they're using - and when.News that Amazon, Microsoft and Google are planning to build hundre...Could Rainwater fill the Water Demand Gap?
25% of all the water that comes into our homes is flushed down the toilet. By 2050, we’re going to need an extra 5 billion litres of water a day - almost a third more - available in 25 years.
This increased need for water is driven by a growing population, new homes and a water hungry economy and there's an opportunity to reduce our demand for the highest quality drinking water by using an alternative for things like flushing the toilet and watering the garden.
So in todays episode we explore whether harvesting rainwater and using it in...
March MiniPod (Beavers, Western Forest & Communities and nature)
Welcome to our March MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.
In this episode we're joined by Dave Slater, Regional Director for Natural England for the South West of England, and we explore...
Whether beavers are a force for good after the news that the UK Government has announced its commitment to reintroducing beavers into the wild. The creation of the Western Forest – the first new national forest in 30 years.How we ensure nature has an endur...Circular Economy - Passion, Progress and Profitability?
A circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated.
The UK government wants to transition the UK to a circular economy and in 2024 established a circular economy taskforce to consider the policy pathways, interventions and targets make this happen.
We explore the circular economy in the UK and internationally and dig into a range of examples from both community action and the water sector.
Our main interview is with Rick Lancaster, Global Bioresrouces Director for Atkins Réalis and to help us navigate this topic our Co-Host is Su...
February MiniPod (Flea Treatments, Ocean Nutrient Changes & AI and Bathing Waters)
Welcome to our February MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.
In this episode we're joined by Dr Vera Jones, Technical Director and Global Technical Authority for Water Quality at AtkinsRéalis, and we explore...
How pet owners might be having an unexpectedly negative impact on the health of aquatic life in our rivers and estuaries.New research that makes the link between human driven climate change and the impact on nutrient cycles in our oceans.In...Green Finance - Making Nature Valuable?
Interview guest - Bevis Watts (CEO of Triodos Bank UK, a leader in ethical and sustainable banking)
Co-host - Ed Dick (CEO of Great Yellow, a company that sources long-term capital for nature restoration projects)
We’re often joined by guests on Planet Possible who identify and look to take action to solve the challenges that we face in our water and environment. But we don’t often talk about how the work gets paid for.
We know that water customers' bills can provide funding for environmental improvements or flood schemes, and governments can p...
January MiniPod (Coastal Erosion Risk, Climate & Inclusion in Flood Projects)
Welcome to our January MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.
In this episode we're joined by Julie Foley, Director of Flood Risk Strategy & National Adaptation at the Environment Agency and we explore...
The recently updated flood and coastal erosion risk information for England that means one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by the middle of the century.2024 was the 4th warmest year on record in the UK – so...The Climate & Nature Bill (with Roz Savage MP and Lord Deben)
As we record this episode at the start of January, wherever you are in the world your news is likely to be filled with images of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, or temperatures well below freezing alongside flooding across much of the UK.
And whilst climate and it’s impact on weather might be making the headlines, we know that nature and the biodiversity crises are inexorably linked to this challenge.
So in todays episode we explore just how linked climate and nature are – and potentially could be in UK legislation. Ahead of the Climate...
Valencia Floods: What Really Happened?
In this episode we explore the recent flooding that has happened across the south of Spain, resulting in the tragic loss of 224 lives, and resulting in Spain mounting it’s biggest peacetime disaster recovery operation.
One of the consequences of a changing climate is more extreme weather and that’s what exactly what the Valencia region experienced in late October.
You'll hear what happened, what the situation is like at the moment in Valencia and what early lessons are beginning to be shared. We're joined by Miguel Cano, a Principal Hydraulic Modeller at Anglian Water who was...
