LIFITV Episode 4: Chris Packham on why we’re not acting fast enough

It’s easy to feel like the climate crisis is too big to do anything about. The headlines get worse, the warnings get louder, and it can feel like nothing we do will make any difference.

On Thursday 8 October, Chris Packham CBE hosted The planet hasn’t stopped burning in the Quarry Theatre at Leeds Playhouse, with environmental activist Dr Mya-Rose Craig and industrialist Juergen Maier CBE. Chris didn’t sugar-coat it: “We’re in deep, deep trouble.” His point was that we already have a portfolio of tools to address it. The problem is that we’re not rolling them out broadly or quickly enough.

Chris sat down with Larry Budd for Episode 4 of LIFITV, to talk about where we are, why your actions matter and, inevitably, Robert Smith.

What is LIFITV?

LIFITV is our behind-the-scenes series from Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2026, filmed in a pop-up studio at Leeds Playhouse throughout festival week. They’re short, unpolished conversations with our speakers and hosts, often moments after they’ve come off stage.

Episode 4 is out now on the LIFI YouTube channel, with more episodes to come over the next few weeks.