He worked for nearly twenty years for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), starting in the World Service newsroom and following this with stints reporting from Algeria, Egypt and other parts of the Islamic world. From 1987 to 1996, he was environment correspondent for BBC News, working in both radio and television. He then changed to cover religious affairs, before leaving the BBC in 1998 to develop his freelance career. This includes work as environment correspondent for BBC News Online; providing training in media skills to companies, universities and non-governmental organisations; and lecturing, writing and broadcasting. He is presenter of BBC Radio Four�s environment series, Costing the Earth. He has no scientific education, and is convinced that the widespread distrust and misunderstanding of scientists in industrial societies is a threat to human development.