The fire starters

Passenger pigeons once blotted out North America’s skies. Within decades, they were gone. How did the continent’s most abundant bird vanish so fast and what can we learn from this? An episode swap from Points North.

Once, storms sparked witch hunts. Today, conspiracy theorists blame secret government plots for extreme weather. Why do we search for hidden enemies when disaster strikes, and how can we break the spell?

To many on Germany’s Hallig Islands, the thought of relocating is scarier than facing dangerous flood events. A closer look at why the German government is investing big money into preserving their unique way of life.

As the world races to adapt to sea level rise, in Germany, nature itself is part of the solution. A visit to its islands, the vital coastal defenders protecting the mainland from the very threats they face themselves.

Dave McGann had never experienced a serious asthma attack. Then a storm rolled in and he couldn't breathe - neither could thousands of others. What was in the air that night?

As a teen, Lobsang Yangtso left her home in Tibet. It took two decades to return, and what she found shocked her. China's clean energy revolution is bringing major gains, but also difficult trade-offs.

Cycling changed Aisling's life for the better. So why did she begin to wonder whether it was worth it? Her story reveals the hidden barriers keeping many women off two wheels, and why overcoming them benefits everyone.

Anasuya Basil lives in a virtual tinder box in California. After surviving blazes big and small, she winced at the smell of smoke. Then everything changed. Now she sets fires on purpose.

Katie Hodgetts wanted to do everything right for the planet. She stopped flying, changed how she lived, and threw herself into climate activism. But when doing more became too much, she learned an important lesson.

In 2022, a catastrophic flood tore through Australia's Northern Rivers region. By the time it receded, life for one couple had changed forever. Surviving the flood was one thing, figuring out what came next was another.