What They Really Mean for You

Cars are an essential part of life for many of us. But new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale in 2030 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Electric cars are selling fast, but are not without controversy. Justin Rowlatt, the BBC’s climate editor, explores if the UK is on track to hit the government’s targets to stop emitting greenhouse gases by 2050. He investigates electric cars to see if they are good enough to replace petrol. He meets an ex-petrolhead who converts classic cars to electric for a living. Justin puts a converted VW Beetle to the test in the glorious Welsh countryside and heads to Ford’s Dagenham plant to see what the change to electric means for the UK’s car industry.

How we heat our homes is set to radically change as the government phases out gas boilers. But can changing the technology we use every day help us reduce greenhouse gases and stop climate change? BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt, presenter Michelle Ackerley and environment scientist Dr Tara Shine investigate if it’s possible to heat our homes by replacing oil and gas boilers with new green alternatives, whether the country is ready to build an entirely low-carbon electricity network, and if we can do it all before the government’s net zero target of 2050.