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.

This Episode is an introduction to Heat Networks and a look at an innovative plan to harness waste heat from sewers:

We’re going to hear about the innovative TORCH Project which is a research and development initiative focused on assessing, and promoting, the viability of recovering heat from urban sewer systems in the UK.

It aims to address the current evidence gap and de-risk the concept for wider adoption.

We find out:

• What TORCH stands for and what’s it aiming to achieve and by when.

• What’s going to happen in practice.

• How far along the project is and who’s involved.

• What makes it so innovative.

• If successful, what scaling looks like and what the enablers, and barriers, are to implementation.

As we think about the energy mix we want in the UK, moving forwards, heat networks could play a really interesting role.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 migration routes for birds, once defined seasons, are bending, shifting north, skipping stops they’ve made for centuries. Each altered flight path is a living chart of how fast habitats are shrinking and ecosystems are changing.

Show Notes:

Read the BBC article on renewable energy here

Read the Guardian article on bird migration here

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 Act
• Why he felt he had to resign from the Rishi Sunak-led Conservative government over a move away from green issues
• How he judges the current UK government to be doing on climate, nature and water
• What the biggest global challenges are and how to solve them
• How - done right - governments and campaigners can work together to bring about meaningful change
• What he thinks lies behind the current trend for right-leaning political parties to de-prioritise the environment
• Why he believes it is possible for us to make the progress we need to on the environment

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 them and should the approach be replicated in other parts of the world?

Host Niki Roach and CIWEM Director of Policy Al Chisholm discuss all of the above current issues in this month's Planet Possible MiniPod.

If you want to find out more about the 'A Fresh Water Future Conference' in December, visit:

www.ciwem.org/events/a-fresh-water-future-conference-2025

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 planned to be built across the country, in the next 20 years.

The project balances the difficult trade-offs, such as loss of ancient woodland, against major rewilding, habitat restoration, and reduced pressure on water supply.

As a sustainability lead project and with a collaboration focus between water companies and environmental groups, the huge build plans to leave a strong legacy of education, recruitment, training, and a new recreational space for the local community.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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.com/i7VmiA

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 at Northumbrian Water's Innovation Festival in Newcastle, with George Clarke (architect and TV presenter on Channel 4) and Simon Reeve (TV adventurer and author).

Plus, we revisit some of our most powerful conversations from the last 12 months, including...

Chris Packham talking about biodiversity and his call-to-action for all individuals wanting to help the planet

Dr Roz Savage MP explains how her own passion for nature led her to lead the Climate & Nature Bill

Sue Jefferson from Circular Molton and Norton talks about how she is making huge progress on making the circular economy a reality at a local scale.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

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 The Guardian’s article on UK farmers, and their worries about the climate crisis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/02/farmers-climate-crisis-livelihood-extreme-weather-study

The Times article on the smart way to rebuild Ukraine can be read https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/smart-way-rebuild-recycle-rubble-mbbhgdl32

Find the Independent Water Commission review of the water sector https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-water-commission-review-of-the-water-sector

Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about new episodes - http://eepurl.com/i7VmiA

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland