Rare earth elements, which are crucial for the defence, auto and electronic industries, have become a geopolitical battleground. On Wednesday, the EU unveiled a €3 billion plan to curb its dependence on China for rare earths, since Beijing controls 95 percent of the world's supply. But a young French-American scientist has developed a groundbreaking process for recovering rare earths from neon light bulbs and potentially other electronic appliances, paving the way for the recycling of these essential metals. Our Down to Earth team reports.
How can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? In the wake of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, attention is turning to cattle. A single cow produces between 154 to 264 pounds of methane gas per year. So could genetics lessen their impact? Our France 2 colleagues report on what's being called the "cow of tomorrow", with FRANCE 24's Charlotte Lam.
The COP30 climate summit came to an end this weekend with a weak compromise deal that skips over most countries' key demands. The agreement pledges to provide more funding to help vulnerable nations adapt to global warming, but doesn’t explicitly mention fossil fuels – the root cause of the climate crisis. It also falls short in demanding that countries strengthen their emissions-cutting plans, which are deemed too weak. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.
The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense. According to recent estimates, climate inaction is on track to cost the global economy $38 trillion per year in damages within the next 25 years. Survivors of climate disasters are also calling for the human cost of the crisis to be considered. In Belgium, our Down to Earth team met Ben, whose friend Rosa was killed in the 2021 flash floods in the Wallonia region. He hasn't missed a single climate march since.
In Scotland, whisky production is facing growing criticism over its environmental impact.Many distilleries still burn peat, a soil-like material that gives whisky its signature smoky flavour. But those same peat bogs are also vital carbon sinks, storing huge amounts of CO₂ and helping fight climate change. Our Down to Earth team reports from the Scottish Highlands.
In the bay of France's famed Mont-Saint-Michel, postcard-perfect villages are slowly being swallowed by the sea. In the space of just 70 years, the Saint-Jean-le-Thomas coastline has receded by 300 metres. Many residents say the question is no longer if the sea will advance, but when. So what can they do about it? Our France 2 colleagues report from Normandy.
New Delhi could see artificial rain fall over the Indian capital for the first time later this week. The regional government is trialling a cloud-seeding experiment to induce artificial rain in a bid to bring the city's severe air pollution under control. New Delhi is regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals. Last week, after days of fireworks to celebrate Diwali, particulate matter levels rose to more than 56 times the safe limit. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valérie Dekimpe tells us more.
Are winegrowers forever doomed to use pesticides? Some French scientists say no. A team of researchers and a burgeoning startup are working to bring microalgae-based fungicides to market. They would save vineyards from mildew and other harmful fungi, with no synthetic chemicals. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Caroline Baum.
For the past two years, the share of organic farmland has dropped drastically in France, with many farmers abandoning organic methods and reverting back to industrial farming. It means that now just over 10 percent of France's total farmland is organic, compared to a target of 21 percent in 2030 and a wider EU target of 25 percent. Organic farmers are now accusing the French government of leaving them to fend for themselves. But there could be positive signs on the horizon. FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar tells us more.
In some parts of Europe, the number of hedgehogs has halved️. Animal activists warn that these tiny, spiky creatures could disappear by 2050. In France and the UK, rescue centres are racing to save them – with the help of new technology. Our France 2 colleagues report.
Today, more and more people are rethinking their way of life: what they eat, what they buy and how they move around, all in the name of environmental concerns. Some have turned to so-called eco-villages – small communities designed to have a minimal use of resources and impact on the environment. Our Down to Earth team travelled to Scotland, home to one of the world's first eco-villages, to find out more.
The illegal trade in rare insects is booming across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Exotic ants, spiders and beetles are collected and sold as pets. Some species are worth a fortune on the global black market. But scientists are raising alarm bells, as many of these insects are vital to local ecosystems. Our France 2 colleagues report.
Every year, the world throws away 1 billion tonnes of food and households are responsible for 60 percent of it. As we mark the International Day of Awareness of Food Waste, FRANCE 24 is looking at solutions to curb the problem. Ordinary citizens, businesses and even zoos have found surprising ways to save food. We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
It’s a sacred sanctuary for bisons, wolves and countless birds. The Białowieża Forest is the last untouched forest in Europe. Not a single tree has ever been cut down there. Located between Poland and Belarus, it fascinates scientists and nature lovers alike. Our France 2 colleagues report.
World leaders will convene at a climate summit hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday in New York. Countries face mounting pressure to set more ambitious emission reduction targets for 2035 ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Governments were invited to submit their updated pledges by February 2025. Of the 195 Paris Agreement signatories, only 13 countries have met the deadline, while a total of 37 have submitted new plans. FRANCE 24’s Valérie Dekimpe explains.
From carrot flowers to potting soil made of concrete waste – could local, organic and eco-friendly bouquets be the future of floristry? In France, nine out of 10 flowers are imported, but that's starting to change. After decades of being overshadowed by the Netherlands, fierce global competition and strict regulations, the country's flower industry is bouncing back. We met with French florists, farmers and scientists who are behind a blooming revolution to revive "les fleurs françaises".
As human-induced climate change intensifies, waters are warming and the sea life within is beginning to change its behaviour. For the past couple of years, the Mediterranean Sea – one of the fastest warming areas in the world – has been attracting a litany of invasive fish prone to more tropical climates, such as toadfish, rabbitfish and the extremely invasive Lionfish. In Greece, the Lionfish has become a headache for the local fishing industry. Researchers say it can eat up to six times its weight and reduce the number of native fish in its vicinity by 80 percent in just over a month. But a solution exists. With a bit of gastronomic ingenuity, it could become a new restaurant favourite. We take a closer look.
The Mediterranean is thought to be the most polluted sea on Earth. The equivalent of 34,000 plastic bottles are dumped into it every minute. This unprecedented level of pollution is devastating for both humans and marine life, half of which are found nowhere else on the planet. FRANCE 24's Down to Earth team met with volunteers and scientists fighting plastic waste on the island of Corsica, one of the worst affected locations in the world.
For the past six years, Morocco has endured a severe drought that has drastically affected agriculture and water availability. Olive groves and vineyards have withered, and wells in remote mountain villages are drying up. Accessing groundwater by drilling deeper is expensive and often out of reach for many communities. In response, scientists in southern Morocco have implemented a pioneering solution: large fog-harvesting nets installed at altitudes above 1,200 metres. These nets capture moisture from coastal fogs, collecting water droplets that flow into storage tanks.
Summer holidays are in full swing, but how can we travel without polluting? One option is sailing across the Mediterranean. A French cooperative is offering an alternative to flying or taking the ferry with a new sailboat route between mainland France and Corsica. It's a long, slow and expensive adventure, but it's the greenest way to get there. Aurore Cloé Dupuis and Alexandra Renard tested "slow travelling" for us in this edition of Down to Earth.
In the UK, an ongoing crackdown on environmental activists is becoming ever tighter. Those who cause "public nuisance" by sitting on a road to block it, or spraying paint on a building or work of art can now be punished not by a simple fine, but a prison sentence of up to 10 years. It's part of the 2022 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. Over the past three years, more than 3,000 members of Just Stop Oil and other groups have been arrested. The British government has justified this crackdown by saying that the groups' actions cost tens of millions of pounds in public spending every year. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
This summer could be one of the hottest ever recorded on Earth, marked by early heatwaves, droughts and storms. As the weather grows more unpredictable, wildlife is under pressure to adapt or disappear. In France, scientists have discovered that roe deer are struggling. Spring arrives too early and many fawns miss the peak of their food supply. As a result, some turn to farmland in search of food, but this is extremely risky and sometimes deadly. Down to Earth's Aurore Cloé Dupuis, Juliette Alfano and Elodie Radenac report.
Every year, more than 60,000 tonnes of clothes are shipped to northern Chile from Europe, the US and Asia. Whether they're brand new, unsold or second hand, many of these items are abandoned or burned in Chile's Atacama desert – releasing toxic fumes, affecting people's health and scarring the landscape. A recycling plant is set to open soon, with more than 3,000 tonnes of clothes already waiting. The local community is calling for stricter global regulations, as residents suffer the consequences of the fast fashion industry. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
On the French archipelago of Guadeloupe, thousands of snorkellers visit the Pigeon Islands every year, putting the reef under huge stress. Despite warnings not to touch or stand on the coral, many corals are bleaching and dying due to rising sea temperatures and overtourism. Despite limited rangers and amid growing environmental pressure, diving clubs and new regulations are hoping to protect this fragile ecosystem.
