Sustainability podcasts: which sustainability podcasts are best in 2022
Wondering 'what are the best eco podcasts, best zero waste podcasts, and best sustainability podcasts in the UK in 2022'?
Look no further. This complete list from ZeroSmart provides all you need to know about which sustainability podcasts you should be listening to in 2022.
A comedy podcast about the environment. Super relatable, Sustainababble is the perfect podcast for some light hearted eco entertainment.
Discussions around the environment can feel a little “heavy” sometimes. It can be hard to laugh at the climate situation we find ourselves in. However, Ol and Dave do a wonderful job at removing the doom and gloom to let us all belly laugh at what are otherwise difficult topics.
Each week they explore a new topic together. Genuinely funny, topical, and interesting. Highly recommended.
Recommended episode: Hydrogen
A personal favourite of mine, Jen Gale from Sustainable(ish) embodies everything good about engaging people on becoming eco.
Jen delivers top quality practical advice with good cheer and humour. The Sustainable(ish) podcast is the best gateway into learning what you can do to help the planet without being made to feel overwhelmed or guilty about everything else.
This is the podcast I recommend to everybody who expresses any kind of interest and desire to start their eco journey. 80+ episodes of absolute gold. A must listen podcast.
Recommended episode: Climate action for a Billion people
One of the trailblazers of inspiring eco audio content, Costing the Earth has been going since 2007 (!) when they looked into the environmental impact of professional football.
Since then they have covered everything from Yemen’s water crisis to antibiotic resistant bacteria’s effect on our ecology and climate.
Benefitting from BBC’s trademark top quality and covering some of the most interesting topics in the most interesting ways, this is a personal favourite of mine and many others. World class.
Recommended episode: The Future of Environmentalism
From former UN Chief Christiana Figueres and the team who brought you the Paris Agreement, this hard-hitting and multi-award-winning podcast is a must for all people interested in tackling the climate crisis.
Each weekly episode of Outrage and Optimism starts with a round-up of what has made us feel outraged or optimistic in the climate debate, followed by an in-depth interview with our guest for the week.
Special guests so far have included David Attenborough, Ellie Goulding, Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, Richard Branson, Wanjira Mathai, John Kerry, David Miliband and many more.
Seriously, check this one out - there is a reason why it has been named one of the 10 best podcasts of all time on the Apple UK Charts.
Recommended episode: The Scientific Case For The Race To Zero
The BBC is a behemoth in the eco education world, with national Treasures like David Attenborough among their ranks. This BBC Earth podcast is equally awe-inspiring.
It blends topical discussion with world-class storytelling to bring you the best of cutting edge eco science explanations with behind-the-scenes stories from the crews who make the best nature documentaries on the planet.
Recommended episode: This River is Legally a Person
This new podcast from Planet Patrol founder Lizzie Carr delves into the minds of leading scientists, social innovators, activists, storytellers, adventurers and thinkers who are shaking up the planet and helping us make sense of the chaos.
Avid anti-litter-activist and sustainable parent influencer Lizzie interviews incredible people doing incredible things for our planet: from social enterprise CEOs to prominent celebrities using their platform for positive change (like Rainn Wilson who played Dwight Schrute in The Office!).
Listen in to learn how these inspiring individuals got started, what keeps them motivated, and how they have overcome obstacles to bring their respective visions of a green future to fruition.
Recommended episode: Curating Your News Diet
Hosted by prominent Edinburgh students and instagram influencers Michaela Loach and Josphine Becker, The Yikes podcast aims to be a safe space to discuss complex topics like mental health and environmental racism.
Recommended episode: Beyond White Environmentalism
Relatively long-running and super abundant on episodes (293 episodes so far and new episodes about twice a week!) Green Dreamer is a podcast that explores holistic healing, ecological regeneration, ‘true abundance’ and wellness.
Revolving around interviews with experts like New York Times bestselling authors Rutger Bregman and Dr. Christopher Ryan, this is a great podcast to learn lots about all things sustainable - body and mind - and the people behind the organisations you admire.
Recommended episode: Empowering Activists With Solutions-driven Environmental Journalism
A Spotify original which is not to be confused with the Friends of the Earth podcast of the same name, this “How to Save a planet” podcast from Gimlet media asks the big questions and has a big focus on what the possible solutions are.
Hosted by journalist Alex Blumberg and scientist and policy nerd Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson this practical solution focused podcast helps you to discover what solutions exist or are being developed. A wonderful way to regain some optimism about the future of our planet.
Recommended episode: Should we go nuclear?
This popular podcast comes directly from leading climate organisation Friends of the Earth and covers the inspiring stories from the frontlines of the climate movement.
How To Save A Planet often includes discussions of the issues and solutions at play as well as practical tips on how anybody can have an impact, this is a great podcast for all those interested in climate policy and activism.
Recommended episode: How do Climate and Racism connect?
Full of practical tips and interviews with experts, campaigners and well-known names.
This is the podcast if you want to better understand the available solutions and what you can do to help the climate.
Recommended episode: Christiana Figueres - Stubborn optimism and leadership
Hosts Emma Brisdion and Lloyd Hopkins discuss big issues in such a way as to make them ‘bite sized’.
They are great at introducing concepts and starting you off with the science behind client solutions so you know how you can make a difference.
Epically accessible, For What It’s Earth keeps it simple but effective.
Recommended episode: Saving the Rainforest for TikTok, 3D Printing Coral Reefs, and Offshore Wind Farms
Six seasons of engaging conversations between host Venetia La Manna and special guests about their life with food, well-being and conscious living.
Talking Tastebuds covers a wide range of topics, from taking vegan mainstream and the psychology of food to planet vs privilege and sustainable fashion.
An amazing podcast for a holistic look at eco impacts with some real gems in there for those interested in food.
Recommended episode: Low Waste Cooking on a Budget
A practical environmentalist podcast full of top tips on how to live plastic free.
Plastic might be one issue of many when it comes to climate and the environment but boy is it a big one. Other issues are covered, such as green banking, but this is the best podcast for tips on reducing plastic usage specifically.
Recommended episode: How to have an open relationship with your wardrobe
Streets ahead is probably the best podcast about sustainable transport.
As more and more countries are moving away from car-centric transport systems this podcast explores the alternatives - cycling, walking, quality urban planning, and more are all covered.
Whether you want a realistic solution for your Cities:Skylines playthrough or you want to know what the future of city planning and transport looks like then Streets Ahead has you covered.
How can we make your city more livable and your transport more sustainable? The Streets Ahead podcast is the place to find out.
Recommended episode: Behaviour change
Comedy genius Jon Richardson joins his ‘guarded optimist’ friends ED Gillespie and Mark Stevenson to talk all things future-orientated.
More than ‘just’ a climate podcast, but often discussing climate change in relation to other industries and interests, this podcast discusses the challenges we may face in the near future and how to overcome them.
Are we going to run out of food? Is it already too late to stop climate change? Will my kids grow up to see a real tiger or giraffe? Check this podcast to explore the answers to these questions and many more. Top notch informative comedy.
Recommended episode: Thinking Meat
Building Sustainability is all about how sustainability can be incorporated into the ‘built environment’ - put simply, how can we make building practices more sustainable.
Episodes are on topics ranging from architects' insights on climate change and how it affects their work to the environmental impact of clay plastering in Japan.
The Building Sustainability podcast is perfect for all budding architects, builders, policymakers, and those interested in the built environment.
Check it out if you’re building an eco home or just want to know how buildings can be made more sustainable.
Recommended episode: Sustainable architecture
A bit of a wildcard here because The Guardian Long Reads covers so much more than just environmental issues. This podcast doesn’t even have a strictly environmental focus. HOWEVER when it does stories around environmental issues they are some of the best available and that honestly makes it worth following for that reason.
The stories are always incredible, well-researched, well-presented, and invariably with insider access. Recently they have produced stories on the evolution of extinction rebellion and ‘the curse of white oil’ which was a look into the true environmental impact of electric vehicles.
You might not get an environmental story every time, but when you do it sure is worth the wait.
Recommended episode: The evolution of Extinction Rebellion
Wonderfully informal and approachable yet full of personality and passion, So Hot Right Now interviews world-class guests like David Attenborough to learn how to better communicate about the climate.
Whether you wish to talk to your mates down the pub about climate change or address a crowd of climate scientists, So Hot Right Now will give you the tools to get your points across successfully.
Recommended episode: Sir David Attenborough
Covering issues from eco anxiety and immigration to green tech and activism this podcast is as formidable and inspiring as it’s host, Clover Hogan.
Clover is a 21-year-old climate activist who has worked with Impossible Foods, lobbied the UN, and been an influential voice within the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies
The guests Clover welcomes across this 9-part series are just as impressive; from the woman who started a global movement out of her backyard, to the lawyer responsible for the world’s most historic climate agreement, and a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Force of nature is well worth a listen.
Recommended episode: Grow your own grassroots movement
Yes, THAT Jane Goodall. One of the world’s most renowned scientists in her own right has started a podcast interviewing other majorly influential individuals - from musicians, to activists, leaders in global coalitions, and the heads of major companies.
A true plethora of people making a difference to the climate which serves as an example of the fact that we all have our part to play.
I was hesitant to recommend this one as it is BRAND new, there are only three episodes available at the time of writing but those three episodes are such high quality that I have absolute faith the others will be well worthy of the Hopecast’s place on this list.
Recommended episode: Hope is Taking Action and Inspiring Those Around You
