Environment and the General Election

With the general election now two weeks away, Helen Czerski and Tom Heap take a look at how the environment is featuring on the political agenda. They are joined by a panel of guests: energy and climate commentator Sepi Golzari-Munro; senior policy editor at the independent climate news website Carbon Brief, Simon Evans; Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trusts, Craig Bennett; and environment correspondent for BBC News, Matt McGrath.

Together they take a look through the manifestos of the main political parties, exploring their policies and pledges when it comes to the environment and wildlife. They ask whether green issues are taking a back seat in this general election compared with previous ones - and if so, why? They examine how the parties are talking about the environment in their campaigning, including the language they're using and how they're positioning environmental concerns in relation to other issues such as healthcare and the cost of living. Do politicians see environmental promises as a vote-winner or a vote-loser? We also hear from the polling organisation YouGov, which has carried out research assessing which issues are most important to voters.

Producer: Sarah Swadling

Rare Earth is a BBC Audio Wales and West production in conjunction with the Open University.