logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
14m 59s

Is extreme weather the new normal?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

There’s been massive flooding in Dubai, with twice the annual amount of rain in a single day. Roads, runways and shopping malls were flooded. Meanwhile, West Africa has been dealing with one of its worst heatwaves. Late March and early April saw consistent temperatures above 40 degrees centigrade, sometimes even at night. We know a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme weather events more likely - but are the freak events going to be the new normal?

Three BBC reporters take us through the facts. Abdirahim Saeed looks at the infrastructure in Dubai and our Climate Disinformation reporter, Marco Silva, explains what conspiracies around cloud-seeding were doing the rounds after the floods. We go to Lagos to speak to Makuochi Okafor, a BBC Health Correspondent for West Africa, and we also hear from three people in their early twenties about how they’re coping in the heat and trying to limit the effects of climate change.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Adam Chowdhury, Alex Rhodes, Emily Horler and Mary Isokariari Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
Yesterday
Who and what are in the Epstein files?
We’re talking about the final release of the Epstein files today. Three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos were posted by the US Justice Department last week. Apparently, if you piled them on top of each other, it would be twice as high as the Eiffel Tower! It can all ... Show More
10m 13s
Feb 3
Why people in China are seeking parental love from strangers
Videos of strangers offering parental love are gaining traction in China. POV videos of parents doing everyday things - like telling you to wrap up when it’s cold outside or reminding you not to skip meals - are racking up millions of views. Fans leave lots of comments sending lo ... Show More
9m 25s
Feb 2
Grammys: Chappell Roan stuns and Bad Bunny calls out ICE
It’s the biggest night in the music industry calendar… every year musicians from all over the world flock to the Grammys in the hopes of picking up an award. But this year, the ceremony is also hitting headlines for the speeches and not just the wins. Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish ... Show More
8m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Y a-t-il plus d’ouragans à cause du réchauffement climatique ?
Les habitants de Floride ne s’étaient pas encore remis des dégâts matériels et humains causés par l’ouragan Helene, fin septembre, qu’ils devaient déjà se préparer à en affronter un autre, Milton. Il s’annonçait comme un des plus violents à frapper les Etats-Unis depuis un siècle ... Show More
25m 20s
Aug 2024
ENVIRONNEMENT - Peut-on devenir écologiste et surtout comment ?
REDIFF - RTL consacre une semaine aux enjeux climatiques. Peut-on, à notre échelle, réduire l'impact du réchauffement climatique sur la planète ? Le GIEC, ce groupe d'experts scientifiques qui analyse les données sur le réchauffement climatique, explique que la température global ... Show More
26m 24s
Jul 2025
Why Is It So Hot?
Today, as the UK faces the third heatwave already of the summer - is this the kind of summer we should expect in future?Adam is joined by Jordan Dunbar, one of the hosts of the Climate Question podcast and Sarah Keith-Lucas lead weather presenter for the BBC. They discuss when ho ... Show More
31m 33s
Aug 2025
Another Take: Why hasn't Pakistan recovered from its catastrophic floods?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on February 22, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Pakistan is still reeling from 2022’s deadly floods, which put a third of the country underwater. Tho ... Show More
20m 45s
Oct 2024
America and… Climate change
How could Kamala Harris or Donald Trump shape the global response to the climate crisis? As one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels and carbon emissions, the US plays a pivotal role in addressing climate change. The environmental policies of the next president could ... Show More
26m 29s
Nov 13
Why is Iran's capital facing the worst drought in recorded history?
Iran's capital is facing its worst drought in recorded history. The President warns the only option may be to evacuate Tehran. Some commentators call that idea 'a joke'. But water cuts have begun - and no rain is expected. How did things get this bad? And how many of the world's ... Show More
25m 30s
Jan 2025
Climate change is coming for your Bordeaux
<p>Tesla’s annual vehicle deliveries declined for the first time in more than a decade, and China’s BYD hit a milestone. Crypto chief Do Kwon makes his first US court appearance to face criminal charges. The rerouting of global trade from China to ports elsewhere in Asia is shrin ... Show More
11m 37s