What can whales tell us about climate change?

Whales are among the largest animals to have ever lived – and scientists are discovering they also play a big role in the climate system. From the food they eat to where their waste and bodies end up, whales help move carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, where it can be locked away for centuries. This week, Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar explore what whales can tell us about climate change – and how warming seas may be affecting them in return. They speak to Victoria Gill, BBC Science Correspondent, about new research analysing Antarctic seabed samples to trace how whale populations influence long-term carbon storage. They also hear from Helen Czerski, physicist, oceanographer and author of Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World, about one of the most surprising scientific records of all: whale earwax – and how it reveals stress levels in the changing oceans. Guests: Victoria Gill, BBC Science Correspondent Helen Czerski, Professor of the Environment and Society, University College London Hosts: Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar Production Team: Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, James Piper, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle Editor: Simon Watts Got a question or a comment? You can email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

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What can whales tell us about climate change? is an episode from The Climate Question by BBC.

This episode is 26:29 long.

This episode was published on Dec 28, 2025.

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