Down to Earth

FRANCE 24 English

We meet the people behind fascinating environmental, health and technological innovations in a bid for sustainable solutions to our changing world. 

  1. 3 dgn geleden ·  Video

    2026 World Cup set to be 'most polluting' sporting event in history

    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.

    6 min.

  2. 10 jun ·  Video

    They pay 30% less for electricity. Their secret? Solar panels

    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 90 percent self-sufficient by 2032.

    3 min.

  3. 8 jun ·  Video

    Squid fleets exposed: Investigation reveals illegal fishing and forced labour

    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 Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

    6 min.

  4. 1 jun ·  Video

    French doctors sound alarm over drinking water pollution

    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 Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

    7 min.

  5. 26 mei ·  Video

    Count the dead bugs on your windshield and contribute to science

    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.

    5 min.

  6. 12 mei ·  Video

    Human hair protects French forests from hungry deer

    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 biodegradable material. Our Down to Earth team reports.

    4 min.

  7. 5 mei ·  Video

    'We've been poisoned': Babies exposed to pesticides in the womb

    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 Earth team reports.

    6 min.

  8. 4 mei ·  Video

    What is hantavirus and how does it spread?

    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 tells us more.

    5 min.
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We meet the people behind fascinating environmental, health and technological innovations in a bid for sustainable solutions to our changing world. 

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    FRANCE 24 English
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    FRANCE 24 English
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    2015 - 2026
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