What on Earth?
What on Earth?
eianews
Environmental Investigation Agency Podcast - We investigate and campaign against environmental crime and abuse.
Why do the world’s whales still need saving from commercial hunting?
Why do the world’s whales still need saving from commercial hunting? The International Whaling Commission effectively banned commercial whaling from 1986 and yet the world’s amazing and environmentally essential whales are still being hunted for their flesh and blubber. EIA has joined forces with several partners to launch a new global petition calling on the last three whaling nations to join the 21st century and to stop the slaughter for good. In this episode, EIA Senior Ocean Advisor Clare Perry talks with Senior Press and Communications Officer Paul Newman about the history of whaling, the countries that defy the ban to keep on hunting and the new petition we’ve launched with partners to press for a complete end to the appalling and unnecessary practice. You can make your voice heard by signing the petition at https://endcommercialwhaling.org/– and do please share it with family and friends.
Feb 18
25 min
Understanding the impacts of nitrous oxide and why it matters for the climate
In recent years, nitrous oxide has gained attention as a significant environmental threat, yet many people remain unaware of its implications for the climate, the integrity of the Earth’s protective ozone layer and for human health. While nitrogen is essential for life, excessive reactive nitrogen results in substantial pollution issues … In this episode, Climate Campaigner Tom Nickson talks with Senior Press & Communications Officer Paul Newman about EIA’s nitrous oxide campaign and unpacks some of the complexities surrounding the gas and its negative effects.
Dec 3, 2025
23 min
Tackling the methane challenge: Why it matters and what we can do
Methane is widely regarded as the second most important greenhouse gas the world needs to address in the fight against runaway climate change. Tonne per tonne, it’s 82.5 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and is responsible for a third of the warming that has occurred so far. In this episode, EIA Climate Campaigner Jack Corscadden and special guest Christophe McGlade, an energy expert with the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, discuss the impacts of methane and what’s being done to tackle the problem with Senior Press and Communications Officer Paul Newman.
Nov 26, 2025
28 min
Green Crime: What drives the criminals devastating our wildlife and environment?
Green Crime author Dr Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist, writer and TV and audio presenter, talks with EIA about her book, which features a number of major case studies, including EIA’s 2017 investigation into and exposure of the notorious Shuidong wildlife trafficking syndicate.
Nov 12, 2025
36 min
How well are major retailers doing in the switch to climate-friendly cooling?
Our Climate campaigners have been directly engaging with the retail sector since 2009 to make it aware of the serious impacts of using climate-harming refrigeration while simultaneously sharing information about the alternative systems available.
Nov 3, 2025
26 min
Climates of fear: Five eco-themed chillers to watch for the Halloween season
Fantastical cinema has long been a place where audiences can confront their darker fears in a safe environment, albeit often dressed up in the guise of shambling monsters and unknown alien threats to keep them at arm’s length. In this episode, we’re taking a look at five unsettling films with environmental themes – just in time for Halloween! Join EIA Senior Technical Services Manager Chris Buckler and Senior Press and Communications Officer Paul Newman as they share their thoughts after viewing The Last Winter (2006), The Bay (2012), Silent Running (1972), Prophecy (1979) and Soylent Green (1973).
Oct 29, 2025
43 min
Despite commendable efforts, Vietnam remains a hub for illegal wildlife trade
Our latest report, A Pivotal Player – Vietnam’s ongoing fight against the illegal wildlife trade, concludes that, although the country has made significant inroads, it still faces significant challenges. In this episode, the report’s main authors, EIA UK Senior Wildlife Campaigner Linh Nguyen and EIA US Senior Wildlife Policy Analyst Taylor Tench, discuss the latest findings and talk about what more Vietnam and other countries need to do to tackle wildlife crime with Senior Press & Communications Officer Paul Newman.
Sep 16, 2025
15 min
After the collapse of Global Plastic Treaty talks, where do we go from here?
The final round of talks to hammer out the detail of a Global Plastics Treaty opened in Geneva in early August – and almost two weeks later collapsed with no agreement at all, due in large part to the blocking tactics employed by a handful of petrostates and a multitude of lobbyists working to safeguard corporate fossil fuel interests. To discuss what went wrong in Geneva and what the way forward for a plastics treaty might look like now, in this episode EIA Ocean Campaign Lead Chris Dixon talks with Senior Press & Communications Officer Paul Newman.
Aug 27, 2025
30 min
Science in the crosshairs of industry lobbyists as Global Plastic Treaty talks go down to the wire
The final round of talks in pursuit of a Global Plastics Treaty is due to get under way in Geneva shortly and there's everything still to play for. But as ambitious countries and civil society organisations such as EIA pursue a robust agreement to meaningfully tackle the crisis, corporate fossil fuel interests seek instead to discredit the science and push for a diluted Treaty which will allow them to continue business as usual. To discuss what’s at stake and what we might expect from the talks, Senior Press & Communications Officer Paul Newman talks with EIA Ocean Campaign Lead Chris Dixon and special guest Bethanie Carney Almroth, Professor of Ecotoxicology at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg and a part of the Scientists Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.
Jul 28, 2025
33 min
The grim toll of fisheries bycatch on whales, dolphins and porpoises in European waters
Tens of thousands of dolphins, porpoises and whales are killed each year in European waters due to being bycaught in fishing gear – and some populations are coming perilously close to extinction. To discuss the findings of her new report Catch of the Day, EIA Senior Ocean Campaigner joins Senior Press & Communications Officer Paul Newman.
May 9, 2025
23 min
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