Nature Unheard

Are cities doomed to be grey and overheated, or can nature help them thrive? 

In the final episode of this season of Nature Unheard, Rachael Barza and Emma Bentley explore how nature-based solutions are transforming urban life. From persistent pigeons at London tube stations to flood-prone rivers in Moldova, and from mangrove forests in the Philippines to goose festivals in Hungary, this episode shows how working with nature can cool our streets, protect our homes and reconnect us with the wild, even in the middle of the city. 

Featuring Ingrid Coetzee of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and a special soundbite from the EBRD’s work on the River Bîc in Chișinău, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as part of our Green Cities programme.

From sudden downpours to extreme storms, the weather is changing fast. In this episode of Nature Unheard, hosts Rachael Barza and Emma Bentley look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping weather forecasting and ask why faster, smarter predictions matter for climate resilience, cities and nature.

This episode features insights from Carlo Buontempo of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, as well as looking at EBRD projects in Mongolia and showcasing the work of EBRD client Rainbow AI. 

The EBRD’s projects in Mongolia were supported by EBRD donors: Austria, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and Japan (through the EBRD’s Green Cities programme). And our client Rainbow AI has also received support from the European Union.

We drink it, swim in it and depend on it, yet we rarely think about it until something goes wrong.

In this episode of Nature Unheard, we’re joined by Katrina Charles, Professor of Environmental Health Risks at Oxford University, and Dr Saskia Nowicki, Senior Research Associate, to explore why clean freshwater is so easy to take for granted, and what it will take to protect it in a changing climate.

Supported by Czechia, Switzerland and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

As the year draws to a close, Nature Unheard unwraps a special end-of-year episode looking back at the conversations that shaped 2025, and ahead to what they could mean for 2026.

From breakthroughs in AI for climate action to major biodiversity milestones, advances in coral reef science and the rise of nature-tech start-ups, our hosts revisit the ideas, insights and moments that defined the year. 

And because it’s the festive season, there’s a twist. After a year of extraordinary guests and unforgettable “nature unheard” moments, Rachael and Adonai are put to the test by Emma. Were they really paying attention, or did some wisdom remain, well… unheard?

Next episode is coming up on 08 January 2026!

In a world racing to monitor forests, wildlife and climate impacts with cutting-edge technology, millions of people still lack the basic digital tools and connectivity needed to benefit from or contribute to these efforts.

This episode explores how digital exclusion affects communities, environmental data and the ability of countries to respond to climate change. Host Rachael Barza speaks to Reina Otsuka, Global Lead, Digital for Nature and Climate for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) about the “digital fault lines” shaping today’s climate and nature agenda, and what it will take to close them.

The episode also examines the new and creative tools emerging across the EBRD regions, including Palmear, a startup using acoustic technology to monitor tree health. While such tools offer powerful new ways to “listen” to nature, the episode explains how they can only create impact if digital infrastructure and inclusion keep pace.

This episode is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United States of America via the EBRD’s Star Venture programme.