enFollow FRANCE 24’s coverage of global environmental issues including climate change, population, floods and wildfires but also the technological innovations that might help us avoid the worst and the renewable energy sources that could redefine the future. https://www.france24.com/en/environment/Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:20:09 GMThttps://www.france24.com/en/scientists-dive-beneath-arctic-ice-to-study-threatened-ecosystems Scientists trained in Finland to dive beneath Arctic ice, studying fragile polar ecosystems threatened by climate change. The course gives rare, hands-on skills to explore underwater habitats robots cannot safely survey, as instructors warn of the urgent need for more research to protect these vanishing environment 751f09ca-2aa2-11f1-a57d-01732e7aa6eeSat, 28 Mar 2026 12:37:33 GMTFRANCE24Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260325-french-population-overexposed-to-cadmium-though-food-health-agency-says The French population is overexposed to cadmium through food sources, according to a comprehensive report published Wednesday by the national environmental health agency. Cadmium is a toxic metal that is ubiquitous in the environment and can contaminate soil, water and air. d777b650-2857-11f1-adf2-8315e4cc367dWed, 25 Mar 2026 15:27:02 GMT© Joel Saget, AFPFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/in-nairobi-residents-blame-flood-devastation-on-inadequate-infrastructure At least 21 Kenyan counties have been affected by floods since their start in March, raising concerns over public safety, infrastructure damage and growing humanitarian needs. According to authorities, over 34,000 people have been displaced. The capital, Nairobi, has been particularly hit. Although the governor has urgently launched operations to clear drainage systems, residents say the severe flooding is partly due to a city that is growing too quickly. FRANCE 24's team went to Nairobi to learn more. fc848d08-2855-11f1-9263-8710e9bc8a25Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:58:59 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/us-and-french-totalenergies-reach-1-billion-deal-to-end-wind-farm-project French energy giant Total is abandoning its plans to build offshore wind farms, a move critics call a massive backsliding for the planet. In a billion-dollar deal signed in Houston, the company is pivoting back to fossil fuels, leaving the public to wonder, who actually benefits from this reversal? a475ecb0-2788-11f1-b08b-275dbee7d026Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:11:39 GMTFRANCE24Europehttps://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260324-thousands-flock-see-greece-pink-veil-of-peach-blossoms Visitors from across Greece but increasingly from across Europe as well are flocking to see the blossoming peach trees in the Veria region, located roughly 72km west of the country's second city Thessaloniki. The growing popularity of the annual spring celebrations organised around the blooms is proving to be a boon for local farmers and the tourism industry. 4eb702da-2780-11f1-9771-d354b752acaaTue, 24 Mar 2026 13:09:28 GMT© Giannis Papanikos, APFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/wmo-warns-ocean-warming-at-record-levels-will-continue-for-hundreds-if-not-thousands-of-years Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Claire Ransom, coordinator of the WMO's State of the Global Climate 2025 report. Ransom warns that the planet is not only warming, but entering a state of energy imbalance. Driven by record concentrations of greenhouse gases, climate change is intensifying across interconnected systems: oceans, cryosphere, and atmosphere. At the heart of this shift is the ocean, now absorbing the vast majority of excess heat. This process is not only accelerating sea-level rise, but committing the Earth to centuries, even millennia, of a planetary shift. c6fa13f2-276e-11f1-b2a0-27ebfba081c9Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:13:07 GMTFRANCE24Americashttps://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260323-us-signs-nearly-1-billion-deal-with-france-s-totalenergies-to-end-offshore-wind-projects The United States and TotalEnergies signed an agreement on Monday to end the French company's offshore US wind farm projects and redirect those funds towards fossil fuel production, with the US interior secretary saying the deal was worth nearly $1 billion. 7a02bdf6-26d3-11f1-8255-037777ecf5fcMon, 23 Mar 2026 16:15:14 GMT© RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFPFRANCE 24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260323-planet-is-storing-more-heat-than-it-can-release-un-warns 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 called El Niño could soon bring further heat records. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe explains.  9dcfbb7c-26c8-11f1-b62b-753e5f50c0b9Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:14:28 GMTValérie DEKIMPEEnvironmenthttps://www.france24.com/en/environment/20260323-earth-heat-record-2025-un-warns-warming-thousands-years Earth’s heat-trapping levels hit a record in 2025, with impacts expected to persist for thousands of years, the United Nations warned on Monday. The World Meteorological Organisation said the 11 warmest years on record occurred between 2015 and 2025, underscoring global warming in its State of the Global Climate report. 188eb954-266e-11f1-bcc2-8311964e8ceaMon, 23 Mar 2026 04:14:58 GMT© Richard Gill, AFPFRANCE 24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260320-flights-petrol-cars-and-cruise-ships-amsterdam-bans-fossil-fuel-ads Cities around the world are clearing their billboards of ads for flights, cruise ships and petrol cars in an effort to reduce planet-warming gases. Amsterdam is the latest city to join the movement, becoming the first capital in the world to approve a legal ban on fossil fuel advertising. Dutch activists are now calling for restrictions to be enforced on a national level. Our Down to Earth team reports.  8aaefb7c-2478-11f1-bab6-31cae5ed64c9Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:14:39 GMTValérie DEKIMPEFocushttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20260320-with-its-wind-farms-danish-island-of-sams%C3%B8-shows-path-forward-during-energy-crisis The US-Israeli war against Iran has once again underlined the vulnerability of the world's oil and gas supplies. Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices and threatened global economic stability. This comes at a time when wind farms and solar panels are providing real value. The wind-powered Danish island of Samsø is showing the way forward. FRANCE 24's Malcolm Brabant reports.    a3bebb5a-23b7-11f1-9cba-b7a7c5f00d16Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:35:24 GMTMalcolm BRABANTDown to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260318-scientists-discover-entire-ecosystem-hidden-under-ice-of-antarctica An Antarctic mission is shining a light into the depths of the waters of the South Pole. Conservation group Under the Pole have been conducting marine research and raising awareness for almost 20 years. They've recently made some stunning discoveries by diving deep under the ice. Our France 2 colleagues report. f0c41cae-22b5-11f1-a938-d1ba2e725ccfWed, 18 Mar 2026 12:22:44 GMTValérie DEKIMPEhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260317-kyrgyzstan-white-yak-herders-hope-for-recognition-amid-agricultural-revival High up in the mountains of #Kyrgyzstan, a white yak has been bred over three generations of #herders. The family hopes to patent its breed as yaks are being presented by the #government as a sustainable solution for the agricultural nation in the face of #climate change. 4c2f3514-220d-11f1-b66a-dfb48b5171b7Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:26:32 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260316-lava-flows-reach-indian-ocean-on-france-s-r%C3%A9union-island One month after the Piton de la Fournaise volcano began erupting on Réunion Island, lava continues to flow and has reached the ocean for the first time in 19 years. Two lava flows have also cut the national road linking the southern and eastern parts of the French island in the Indian Ocean. 0b716aa0-214b-11f1-ad5e-4ba6b0505f32Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:20:47 GMTFRANCE24Africahttps://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260314-shark-nets-%E2%82%AC100-million-club-med-resort-threaten-south-african-endangered-species-scientists-warn Scientists warn that proposed shark nets for protecting swimmers near a new €100 million Club Med resort in South Africa could threaten a host of endangered species, calling for a full environmental impact assessment to prevent endangered marine life from becoming casualties of the luxury resort project, on track to open in July.  a4401674-1641-11f1-8415-951d33a4e0fbSat, 14 Mar 2026 09:56:09 GMT© Dave SavidesEunice MASSONFrancehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260313-the-race-for-paris-why-france-s-capital-has-likely-gone-green-for-good With France preparing to vote in the first round of the municipal elections on Sunday, Paris has become a battleground between left- and right-wing forces fighting to shape the capital’s future. But while conservatives once fought tooth and nail against the left’s dream of a city of more trees and less traffic, a look through the rival programmes suggests a greener capital is here to stay.  4577fc4e-1ef5-11f1-a52e-bb93aff5df34Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:43:57 GMT© Emma da Silva, AFPPaul MILLARThe Observershttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-observers/20260312-israeli-aircraft-spray-herbicides-syrian-farmers-fields Footage from January and February 2026 captures Israeli aircraft spraying herbicides over agricultural land in southern Syria. The FRANCE 24 Observers team spoke to a farmer who described the significant losses resulting from these spraying operations. 45614cda-1ba1-11f1-82e2-5ff23cec1365Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:09:05 GMTThe FRANCE 24 ObserversSpotlighthttps://www.france24.com/en/global-development-our-first-line-of-defence-marcos-neto-warns-multilateral-system-under-strain-175bf26cc-1cb4-11f1-8874-37937ce1ca2fWed, 11 Mar 2026 04:41:34 GMTFrançois PICARDDown to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260309-tehran-shrouded-in-toxic-cloud-after-us-israeli-strikes-on-oil-deposits Huge fires broke out in Tehran after Israeli strikes targeted Iranian oil infrastructure. Residents reported the smell of burning lingering in the air, with many saying the sky remained dark even as the sun rose and rain fell over the city. FRANCE 24's Valérie Dekimpe tells us more about the strikes and their consequences for the population. fa9b870c-1bcc-11f1-816d-53c8da458497Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:37:23 GMTValérie DEKIMPEThe Observershttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-observers/20260309-venezuela-night-east-brighter-caracas-gas-flaring Venezuela continues to burn natural gas produced as a byproduct of oil extraction in a process called gas flaring, which wastes a valuable resource and also has negative consequences for the environment and poses health risks. We spoke to people in Venezuela with knowledge of gas flaring and its effects in the northeast of the country, where the practice is particularly prominent.  527ae756-1ba0-11f1-b171-5ff23cec1365Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:43:07 GMTThe FRANCE 24 ObserversAsia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260308-meet-the-philippines-cockroach-lord-standing-up-for-little-loved-bugs A rare cockroach expert who names new species after Tolkien's fictional creatures, Philippines scientist Christian Lucanas says the disease-bearing bugs deserve more study – and credit – for the crucial role they play in preserving the planet's ecosystem. 9f902fdc-1aa2-11f1-a8e9-016914303a34Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:55:17 GMT© Ted Aljibe, AFPFRANCE 24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260302-what-the-war-in-iran-means-for-global-energy-security Qatar's state-run energy firm says it has halted Liquefied Natural Gas production following Iranian attacks on facilities at two of its main gas processing bases. This is only the latest consequence of the Middle East conflict on global markets. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe looks at the ripple effects of a war that's igniting fears of a major energy crisis.  131ae94a-164f-11f1-806a-1355b1150651Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:04:58 GMTValérie DEKIMPEDown to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260227-can-surfboards-handbags-and-coffins-be-made-from-mushrooms Can mushrooms replace leather and plastic? Thanks to mycelium derived from fungi, companies can now make 100 percent biodegradable products such as shoes and furniture that look exactly like leather. Major brands are already trying to make the shift. Our France 2 colleagues report.  75d3c99a-13e7-11f1-aef2-25032a591ac7Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:32:04 GMTElitsa GADEVAhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260226-record-high-temperatures-in-france France experienced record-setting temperatures this week during an unseasonal spell of warm weather that affected the entire country. The soaring mercury pushes some to worry about the implications of such hot winter weather against a backdrop of a warming planet. 46212770-1328-11f1-9de3-95a885d56dc3Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:48:37 GMTFRANCE24Environmenthttps://www.france24.com/en/environment/20260226-un-approves-first-carbon-credit-to-myanmar-woodstove-project The UN on Thursday announced the approval of the first carbon credits to a South Korean company distributing efficient wood-burning cookstoves in Myanmar. The UN-run market, established under the Paris climate accord, allows companies and countries to offset their excess emissions by financing projects that cut greenhouse gases in other nations. 804ea314-12ec-11f1-89fa-074fc78ca5efThu, 26 Feb 2026 08:54:01 GMT© Peter Dejong, APFRANCE 24Entre Noushttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/entre-nous/20260224-holy-cow-paris-agriculture-fair-moo-ves-forward-without-the-bovine The Paris Agriculture Fair, or Salon de L'Agriculture, is an institution in France. It's a must for politicians, but its star attractions – the cows – are missing this year. In this edition, we dive into why they aren't there, why politicians flock to the event, and the weight of la vache, or the cow, in the French language and culture. 3548f198-118a-11f1-8bd6-7f58d7ac39c0Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:18:30 GMTSolange MOUGINhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260223-new-york-paralysed-by-a-historic-snowstorm The storm is affecting more than 40 million people in the north-east, from Maryland to Maine. Several states have declared a state of emergency and imposed travel bans during specific time periods. 1ff98b3c-10da-11f1-80d6-7db92de5cb32Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:07:23 GMTFRANCE24Culturehttps://www.france24.com/en/culture/20260222-the-week-in-pictures-prince-andrew-arrest-iftar-in-gaza-floods-in-france From the stunning arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, to the celebration of Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan amid the ruins of Gaza, to the glory of the Winter Olympics, FRANCE 24 looks back at the week's most striking images. 972d2bde-0ff7-11f1-a62b-abe9507986c0Sun, 22 Feb 2026 14:44:09 GMT© Phil Noble, ReutersFRANCE 24Americashttps://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260221-giant-tortoises-make-comeback-galapagos-island-floreana More than 150 giant tortoises have been reintroduced to Floreana Island in Ecuador's famed Galapagos archipelago where they disappeared more than a century ago, the environment ministry said Friday.  Floreana was once home to some 20,000 giant tortoises, but whaling, a devastating fire, and relentless human exploitation led to their complete extinction on the island. f6dc0072-0f03-11f1-b4d4-65f18c06e2a7Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:44:02 GMT© Handout via Ecuador's ministry of environment, AFPFRANCE 24