On The Green Fence
Episodes
Introducing: Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once dubbed an "economic miracle”, things don't run like they used to in Germany. This new DW original podcast endeavors to find out how Germany los...
Energy crisis: The comeback of coal in Germany?
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Germany is firing up old coal plants to ensure energy supply this winter. What does this mean for the country's coal phaseout and climate targets?
Farewell and new beginnings
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a great run, the On the Green Fence podcast is coming to a close. But we also have some good news for you.
Can we recycle our way out of the plastic crisis?
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Globally only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled. But why are mechanical recycling rates so low? And could chemical recycling help achieve our target...
Why don't we use more bioplastics?
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Substituting fossil-based plastics with compostable ones could help address plastic pollution. But not all bioplastics are eco-friendly or biodegradab...
Could plastic-eating enzymes help curb pollution?
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste ends up in the environment where it can last for centuries. But the discovery of plastic-gobbling enzymes...
The growing microplastics problem: risks and solutions
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Microplastics have been found everywhere — from the deepest parts of the ocean to the heights of Mount Everest. A problem that is set to intensify a...
The plastics age: How did we get here?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, the world produces 430 million tons of plastics – and that figure is set to triple by 2060. How did plastics become such a big part of ou...
Trailer: The global plastics crisis, new podcast series
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global plastics production has doubled over the past two decades. Despite rising consumer awareness, there is more single-use plastic waste than ever ...
More allergies due to climate change?
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is global warming to blame? Find out more about rising pollen levels a...
How lab-grown meat could help the climate
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Global demand for meat is growing, but animal agriculture has a significant carbon footprint. Could cultivating steaks, nuggets and sushi in a lab be ...
Climate crisis: Is cli-fi counterproductive?
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Climate fiction has become a significant cultural phenomenon, reflecting the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for creative responses to this...
The rise of climate fiction
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cli-fi is growing increasingly popular as the climate crisis deepens. But could this mainly dystopian genre play a constructive role in tackling the c...
Why more 'edible cities' are a good idea
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The German town of Andernach uses its public spaces to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs that anyone can pick free of charge. It's also a social projec...
Understanding our food choices
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Supermarkets stock thousands of food products flown in from all over the world. And we've become used to this bounty of choice, often at the cost of t...
AI: 'It will be a wild ride'
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Machines that can outsmart humans are the stuff of sci-fi novels. But some in the tech industry believe that if rapid advances in AI continue, there c...
AI: What are the downsides for the environment?
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence has tremendous potential to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the technology itself has a big car...
How AI can help us protect the planet
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The field of artificial intelligence is growing fast. Not only is it bringing profound changes to the way we live and work, it's also proving to be a ...
Climate change: The biggest health threat to humanity
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The impacts of climate change are making us sick and claiming the lives of 13 million people every year. According to the World Health Organization, c...
The Rhine: Protecting a precious water source
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of World Water Day, we look at how the Rhine was transformed from a heavily polluted and stinking river into a clean waterway. Today, it supplie...
The benefits of a four-day work week
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine your work week is reduced from five to four days without a pay cut. That's precisely what some companies in the UK did over a six-month trial ...
Human composting: The push for greener burials
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most Germans choose to be cremated when they die. But this process has many environmental downsides. A green funeral startup from Berlin wants to make...
Rationing carbon: A fairer way to fight global warming?
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rationing could be an effective way of reducing carbon emissions rapidly and fairly, according to a recent study by UK scientists. But just how would ...
Europe's appetite for frogs' legs puts species at risk
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The trade in frogs legs is thriving. Every year, millions of tons of the delicacy are exported from Asia to the European Union, the world’s biggest ...
Civil disobedience in environmentalism: past, present, future
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From the suffragettes to US civil rights campaigners, there are many examples from history of social movements using direct action to push for change....
A turning point for disruptive climate protests?
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Disruptive climate protests are encouraging the authorities in some democracies to push for harsher anti-protest measures and new legislation. Civil r...
Climate activist: 'I'm doing this for my son'
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just Stop Oil activist Lora Johnson has been arrested several times for disruptive climate protests in the United Kingdom. She has no intention of sto...
Noise pollution — the underestimated threat
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Exposure to loud noise can lead to health issues in humans. But it can also be harmful for wildlife. The problem is only going to get worse as cities ...
The German farmer who's keeping his village warm
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Locally produced biogas could help reduce Germany's dependence on natural gas imports. So why doesn't it play a bigger role? German farmer Henning Var...
Winds of change: How Germany's renewables push is causing division
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's government wants to install thousands of new wind turbines as part of its plan to phase out fossil fuels. But finding a place to put all the...
Energy fears rekindle nuclear debate in Germany
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced Germany to delay its long awaited nuclear phaseout. How likely is a renaissance...
How Germany is preparing for a future without Russian gas
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For years, Germany has relied on gas imports from Russia to power its industry. But Moscow's war in Ukraine has left Berlin scrambling to find alterna...
Trailer: Germany's energy crisis, new podcast series
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's energy policy has been turned upside down by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But what does this mean for energy security and climate targets? ...
Why isn't greener housing the new normal?
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In Germany, buildings are responsible for around 40 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions. Making housing more sustainable can help save money ...
Living sustainably — with strangers
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Co-housing projects are growing in popularity thanks, in part, to increasing awareness about the impact of our homes on the planet. But how difficult ...
Do we really need such big homes?
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The living space of people in Western countries has been expanding for decades. But tackling housing shortages and the climate crisis may require a re...
The case for a car-free city
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reducing the number of cars in urban areas can bring down pollution and traffic accidents. But the idea of shifting away from cars and designing citie...
Low water levels: Is deepening the Rhine a good idea?
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While major businesses depending on Rhine shipments are backing a government plan to deepen the river in key sections, towns on the Middle Rhine are f...
The Rhine as a symbol of identity
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The river Rhine has played a crucial role in Europe's history and development, shaping the people and towns along its banks. But just what makes this ...
Reviving the Rhine's wetlands amid drought
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A historic drought is drying out the few remaining wetland areas along Germany's Rhine river, putting native wildlife under stress. Conservationists h...
The mighty Rhine: A shrinking river?
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is transforming the Rhine. Scant rainfall and above average summer temperatures have caused its water level to drop to near-record lows...
Boosting climate resilience with agroforestry
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Agriculture needs to adapt to climate change to ensure food security. Agroforestry systems could help make farms more resilient, but they only constit...
Is it time to rethink air travel?
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Staff shortages and flight cancellations have thrown airlines into turmoil at the start of a busy summer holiday season. But that's just one challenge...
Climate change: Why planting more trees won't save us
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Expanding forests can help bring down the amount of CO2 trapped in the atmosphere. But restoring these invaluable ecosystems is a complex business, an...
Germany's forests: Rising from the ashes
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change and monoculture plantations are rendering Germany's forests more vulnerable to forest fires. One solution could be the creation of fore...
Has climate activism failed?
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Global CO2 emissions continue to rise despite the urgent need to decarbonize. What does this failure to tackle climate change mean for climate activis...
The wood wide web: What is it and how does it work?
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trees are connected to each other by a huge underground network through which they can exchange information. But why is this crucial for the survival ...
Trailer: Forests and climate change
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Forests cover 30% of the Earth's land area and are home to 80% of its biodiversity. Forests are our lungs and can help mitigate climate change by stor...
How a German 'edible city' is teaching locals about food
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The town of Andernach uses its public spaces to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs that anyone can pick free of charge. The project has been a resoundin...
Food choices: Why are we so greedy?
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Supermarkets stock thousands of food products flown in from all over the world. And we've become used to this bounty of choice, often at the cost of t...
Is lab-grown meat a good idea?
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lab-grown meat could help us decarbonize agriculture and abolish factory farming along with all its environmental and ethical downsides. So why the ho...
Are GM crops the answer to feeding the world?
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The world is going to need about 50% more food by 2050. Has the time come to roll out genetically modified crops that promise higher yields, are more ...
War in Ukraine exposes food system flaws
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is threatening global food security and supply chains. The shocks to food systems are set to intensify amid climate chang...
Will climate change lead to water wars?
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Water scarcity already affects about 40% of the world's population and droughts could put up to 700 million people at risk of displacement by the year...
How clean is your river?
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Rhine used to be a heavily polluted and stinking river. Today, it supplies over 30 million people with high quality drinking water. How was this a...
Privatizing water: Pros and cons
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As global demand for water continues to rise, safeguarding the water supply will likely grow more challenging and costly. Is more privatization the an...
Living with the existential threat of water scarcity
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Of all the world's water-stressed countries, India has the highest population at risk. But despite shrinking water reservoirs and dire warnings that t...
How to cope with climate anxiety
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The psychological impact of climate change is growing across the globe. But how do you know whether you have eco-anxiety and what can you do to keep i...
The rise of allergies
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is climate change to blame?
Are mosquitoes becoming more dangerous?
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Disease-spreading mosquitoes kill more humans than any other animal. They are responsible for 1 million deaths per year. Global heating will expose ha...
Creating a green health care system
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The health care sector is responsible for about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is contributing to climate change, which will create more pa...
How climate change is fueling a health crisis
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The impacts of climate change are making us sick and claiming the lives of 13 million people every year. According to the World Health Organization, c...
How to solve Germany's cheap meat problem
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's new agriculture minister Cem Özdemir has caused a stir after speaking out against junk prices in supermarkets, especially for meat - the bi...
Co-housing: a green alternative to the family home?
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Buying a family home is a major life milestone in many countries. But a lack of affordable housing and a desire to curb carbon footprints has led to t...
Housing: rethinking our living space
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The average living space in western countries has increased dramatically over the past decades. In Germany, urban sprawl and construction projects are...
Keeping homes cool as the planet heats up
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is expected to make heat waves longer and more severe, with catastrophic consequences for our health and economies. The International E...
Reducing the carbon footprint of houses
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Germany, nearly 40% of national greenhouse gas emissions are caused by buildings. The housing and construction sector will need to change dramatica...
Living in a flood zone: rebuild or relocate?
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three months after deadly flash floods tore through Germany's Ahr Valley, residents in the village of Dernau are looking to the future. For many, that...
Introducing: Outside/In
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This time On the Green Fence is bringing you an episode from our friends at Outside/In, an American podcast about the natural world and how we use it....
'We didn't have the luxury to care about the environment'
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in western Germany, environmental issues had never really played a role for brothers Adnan and Burak Arslan...
How can we save our dying forests?
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change and severe droughts have weakened forests around the globe. In Germany, where many forests are planted monocultures, about 80% of trees...
How young and old see the climate crisis
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's demographic setup favors the older generation in this year's crunch election. More than half the eligible voters are above the age of 50 and...
'The new people's car will be a small electric vehicle'
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Engineering professor Günther Schuh claims to have developed one of the most sustainable e-cars in the world. But can he prevail on Germany's super c...
The benefits of a car-free future
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most urban centers around the world are designed for cars, with significant chunks of space dedicated to roads and parking spaces. But what if our inf...
E-cars and the new lithium gold rush
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lithium is a critical component of e-car batteries. But what does this mean for the environment and just how far can we get with the world's identifie...
Is Germany ready for climate-friendly cars?
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are 1.5 billion cars in the world today. Replacing these with lower-emission alternatives is going to be a huge challenge. Are electric cars rea...
Is eco-guilt changing the way we travel?
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Humans have long been driven by a desire to explore the planet and visit faraway places. But with tourism's toll on the environment now calling our gl...
What does a green hotel look like?
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The accommodation you book as a tourist has a major impact on how eco-friendly your holiday is. A Bavarian hotel owner in one of Germany's most popula...
Saving a Thai beach paradise from mass tourism
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The iconic cove from "The Beach" movie is slowly starting to recover from the onslaught of mass tourism. Thai authorities had sealed it off to the pub...
Does air travel have a green future?
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Flying is one of the most polluting and privileged forms of travel. The aviation industry is facing growing pressure to wean itself off fossil fuels t...
Cruising to a low-carbon future?
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cruises are a dirty and wasteful form of travel. But thanks to large profit margins this sector is also a testing ground for new technologies and alte...