Down to Earth

Fires in Indonesia have burned through more than 1.9 million hectares of land, according to new data, as the country battles its worst wildfire season in a decade. The blazes have sent toxic smoke across much of Southeast Asia, forcing schools to close and fuelling a rise in respiratory illnesses. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

We all have that one pair of old jeans in the back of our wardrobe – don’t throw them out! A French company says denim fibres make for great insulation against the cold and heat. Millions of jeans are already being recycled in a factory in north of the country. Their insulating panels have even found their way into some of France's most iconic buildings. Our Down to Earth team reports.

Once known as "The Land of a Million Elephants", only an estimated 800 elephants remain in Laos, as deforestation and exploitation push the species closer than ever to the brink of extinction. Despite the dwindling numbers, a Frenchwoman has made it her mission to give ageing elephants a new home, buying them from their abusive owners. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Andrew Hillia...

In recent years, the Catholic Church has taken a growing stance in favour of climate action, culminating with the Vatican's signing of the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2022. As Pope Leo wraps up his four-day visit to France, FRANCE 24's Valerie Dekimpe looks at where religion and the environment meet. 

In the south of France, climate change is reshaping the region’s fruit production. Rather than fighting against it, a growing number of farmers are learning how to work with it – turning to tropical crops, now well-suited to the local climate. Bananas, papaya and even dragon fruit are being grown in greenhouses but also in open fields, without heating or pesticides. Our Down to Earth team reports.

The US-Israel war on Iran has shaken global energy markets and coal is no exception. Countries around the world are turning to the highly polluting source of power in a bid to avoid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, global coal demand is forecast to rise by ​1.2% this year to a record 8.94 billion ‌tonnes. FRANCE 24’s Environment Editor Val...

In France, a handful of wealthy entrepreneurs are buying up hundreds of hectares of land with the goal of letting nature reclaim its rightful place. Among them is Rodolphe Landemaine, an artisan baker at the helm of 30 bakeries in France and Japan. He routinely opens the doors to his Normandy estate to other business leaders in hopes that they, too, will put their money to good use.

While most of France suffered from last week's heatwave, a certain number of Montpellier residents were in total comfort in their apartments – without air conditioning.  From Middle Eastern-inspired latticework maximising ventilation to curved facades acting as giant sunshades, everything has been designed to keep the heat at bay.  And it works: indoor temperatures rarely rise above 25°C. In this...

Your ripped clothes deserve better than the bottom of your closet or – worse – the trash can. The French government is now paying people to get them repaired, in a bid to extend the life of clothing and avoid waste. Under the Repair Bonus scheme, consumers can get a discount worth up to €25 per item. Since its launch in 2023, more than 1 million repairs have been subsidised. Our Down to Earth team...

Many people assume that organic agriculture is expensive and hard to produce on a massive scale. But a group of 10 farmers in France's western Vendée region want to prove that chemical-free farming can feed a whole country. Their co-operative is 100 percent organic and local. Their vegetables are sold to schools, supermarkets and restaurants. The co-op's yields are on par with those of conventiona...

France is seeing a second consecutive heatwave in less than a month. Half the country is now under red alert as temperatures are expected to rise to 43°C in the southwestern city of Bordeaux and 39°C in the capital Paris. According to weather service Méteo-France, out of 51 heatwaves recorded nationwide since 1947, two-thirds have occurred since 2000 and about half of those episodes in the last 15...

The 2026 World Cup is bringing excitement to football fans around the world, but it will also come at a cost for the environment. The 2026 edition is officially projected to be the most polluting sporting event in history, with a total carbon footprint of 9 million tonnes of CO2, nearly double the average of the last four tournaments. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more. 

Residents in the town of Escourse, France, pay 30 percent less for their electricity bills than elsewhere in the country. Their secret? Renewable energy. Since 2011, the town has invested more than €1.2 million in solar panels. Homeowners, local businesses and associations now use solar-powered energy. Home to some 800 people, Escourse now produces 60 percent of its own energy, and aims to become...

June 8 marks World Oceans Day, a global event held every year to raise awareness of the impact of human actions on the ocean. Illegal fishing is one of them, threatening entire marine ecosystems. An investigation published by the non-profit Environmental Justice Foundation reveals widespread environmental destruction and human rights abuses across the global squid industry. Our Environment Editor...

Pesticides, microplastics and so-called forever chemicals: that’s the cocktail of substances millions of French people are exposed to simply from drinking tap water. According to France's National Association of Health professionals, representing private practice doctors, at least 30 percent of the population was exposed to contaminated water at least once in 2024. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor V...

Scientists need your help! French researchers are calling on car drivers to help them measure the decline of insect populations – thanks to an app dubbed "Bugs Matter". The citizen science project was launched in April by France's National Museum of Natural History. It will become the country's first ever comprehensive assessment of insect populations. Our Down to Earth team reports.

In France alone, nearly 4,000 tonnes of hair end up landfilled or incinerated every year. Yet human hair has unique properties: it is not only highly resistant, it can also absorb hydrocarbons and protect forests from hungry deer. French recycling company Capillum is seeking to give our wasted locks a second chance, collecting cuttings across several European countries and transforming them into a...

Rates of cancer, birth defects and cognitive disorders are on the rise among French children. The use of pesticides has been recognised as a major risk to mothers and their babies, including in utero. Since 2020, victims of pesticides can request compensation from a government fund for their illness. But families say authorities are not doing enough to protect the most vulnerable. Our Down to Eart...

Three people have died and three others are ill ⁠after a Netherlands-based cruise ship in the Atlantic was hit by a suspected outbreak of hantavirus. The virus is transmitted to humans through infected wild rodents, such as mice or rats, which shed the virus in their saliva, urine and droppings. In rare cases, it can also spread from human to human. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe t...

Some 60 countries are gathering in the coastal city of Santa Marta in Colombia to tackle an issue that has deadlocked UN climate talks: how to exist fossil fuels. It's the first global conference of its kind, bringing together nations that want to accelerate a fossil fuel phaseout, despite a decades-long stalemate at the UN-level COP summits. Our Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more. 

Timmy, a humpback whale, first became stuck off Germany's Baltic coast in late March. The animal’s plight has since gripped the public and raised questions about whether humans should intervene to save wild animals. While a rescue mission funded by two German millionaires is underway, marine biologists warn the whale has no chance of survival and are urging the public to reflect on humanity's role...

An Italian fisherman has come up with an innovative way to protect the seabed from industrial fishing. He has created an underwater museum featuring 49 marble sculptures, designed to deter illegal trawling vessels. As a result, fish are returning to the area, and marine biodiversity is beginning to thrive once again.

What do beavers have to do with preventing flooding? The aquatic rodents have become a source of inspiration for engineers looking to flood–proof rural areas. Beaver dams are one of the nature-based solutions being considered by the European Union in a €15 million project. The Lèze valley in the south of France is putting them to the test.

Periods of intense heat followed by extreme rainfall could cause structural damage to 12 million homes across France, or one in two detached houses, according to the French environment ministry. As homes deteriorate, some owners can lean on insurance for expensive repairs, but many are left with hefty bills. Our France 2 colleagues report.

The amount of heat trapped by the Earth has reached record levels. According to the UN's annual State of the Climate report, published this Monday, the last 11 years have been the warmest ever recorded. For the first time, the World Meteorological Organization is warning of a growing "energy imbalance", driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists also fear that a natural warming phase ca...