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/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:55:22 GMTDown to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20251219-from-trash-to-fine-dining-the-french-startup-recycling-oysters-into-porcelain Oysters are a Christmas staple in France, but thousands of empty shells are bound for trash bins once the festivities are over. One French company is rescuing waste shells and using them to make porcelain and paving stones. Our Down to Earth team reports. e8d015f4-dcbd-11f0-9a1c-75780a534d86Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:16:13 GMTValérie DEKIMPEhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20251217-iran-a-blood-rain-in-the-persian-gulf Heavy #rains washed iron-oxide-rich soil and rocks across an “Iranian island, creating this intense, almost unreal red. Seen in the Persian Gulf on December 16, the phenomenon was nicknamed ‘blood rain’ by visitors, despite having nothing to do with biology. 22755744-db63-11f0-90d1-d7c071d1927eWed, 17 Dec 2025 16:20:09 GMTFRANCE24Businesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251216-eu-rolls-back-2035-internal-combustion-engine-ban The European Union has proposed changes to a 2023 law that effectively banned the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035. Instead of cutting CO2 emissions by 100 percent from 2021 levels, carmakers would be required to reduce them by 90 percent, meaning small-scale production of petrol or hybrid cars could continue. The auto industry and some member states had been lobbying hard to get the rules relaxed in the face of slow market growth for EVs.  a8c221a4-daca-11f0-b70b-816cde53061aTue, 16 Dec 2025 22:08:29 GMTYuka ROYERDown to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20251216-shipping-is-one-of-the-world-s-dirtiest-industries-could-sailing-cargo-ships-be-the-answer International shipping accounts for 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. But a new path is emerging: starting in 2026, sailing cargo ships will set off from France to the United States, some flying the French flag. The big question is whether this innovation can succeed in convincing industry giants. Our France 2 colleagues report. ce07553e-da65-11f0-9967-0115113bbd9fTue, 16 Dec 2025 11:07:53 GMTFRANCE 2Europehttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251216-eu-set-to-scrap-2035-combustion-engine-ban-in-car-industry-boost The EU on Tuesday walked back a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars seen as a milestone in the fight against climate change, as the bloc pivots to bolstering its crisis-hit auto sector.  ec5eee60-da2a-11f0-a739-f7daa6c8dc2eTue, 16 Dec 2025 02:57:12 GMT© Jens Schlueter, AFP archivesFRANCE 24Africahttps://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251214-deadly-flash-floods-in-moroccan-coastal-town-of-safi-after-heavy-rainfall Flash-flooding caused by sudden rain storms killed at least 37 people in the Moroccan coastal town of Safi on Sunday, local authorities said, doubling an earlier toll. The downpour in Safi province, around 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of the capital Rabat, caused fierce flooding that damaged around 70 houses and shops in the town, said officials. 90520b48-d944-11f0-a3d3-41997c3e2cc5Sun, 14 Dec 2025 23:28:14 GMTAP - Abderrazak GouachFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251213-first-climate-migrants-from-tuvalu-arrive-in-australia The first group of climate migrants from the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu has arrived in Australia under a landmark visa scheme, as rising sea levels threaten to make parts of the low-lying country uninhabitable and force long-term relocation. 1b46bc42-d839-11f0-9760-bfc3ad9c19cfSat, 13 Dec 2025 16:45:29 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251211-winter-storm-rips-through-gaza-exposing-failure-to-deliver-enough-aid-to-territory Winter storm Byron drenched Gaza’s tent camps on December 12, flooding shelters and deepening the humanitarian crisis despite two months of ceasefire. Families saw their belongings and food soaked, children waded through knee-deep muddy water, and overflowing sewage and garbage worsened already dire living conditions in the war-damaged territory. 8b699d90-d6a5-11f0-931a-7bcf866168ffThu, 11 Dec 2025 15:49:53 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251211-gaza-heavy-rains-flood-the-tents-of-displaced-people Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza have faced severe flooding in recent days, with heavy rain, strong winds and flash floods expected to continue. Meanwhile, Israel is still heavily restricting humanitarian aid, including shelter supplies, in violation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreed more than two months ago. b20c5da8-d686-11f0-8056-7f0cb93ba1d9Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:44:04 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251210-megaquake-japan-issues-warning-after-7-5-magnitude-tremor The alert of a ‘megaquake’ comes after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck late Monday off the Pacific coast of Aomori, raising the likelihood of another quake of equal or greater strength in the same area. 30caa134-d5da-11f0-a9c1-f32ed506f71cWed, 10 Dec 2025 15:09:13 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251209-dozens-hurt-in-japan-7-5-strong-earthquake A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan late Monday, triggering evacuation orders for roughly 90,000 people and prompting tsunami warnings that were later reduced to advisories. The Japan Meteorological Agency had initially cautioned that waves up to 3 metres could reach the region’s coast after the quake hit offshore at 11:15 PM. Oliver Farry tells us more. 573ce5ba-d4ff-11f0-bc5f-65554a9573fcTue, 09 Dec 2025 13:15:36 GMTFRANCE24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20251208-french-american-chemist-makes-major-breakthrough-in-recycling-of-rare-earths 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. 5a66e9ca-d437-11f0-93d7-d56e8d301c29Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:05:37 GMTValérie DEKIMPEA week in Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/a-week-in-france/20251206-french-food-safety-agency-finds-pfas-in-more-than-90-percent-of-tap-water France's food safety agency, the ANSES, has found that 92 percent of the country's drinking water contains forever chemicals known as PFAS. The report analysed more than 600 tap water samples and an equal number of untreated water samples over a two-year period. Meanwhile, another study has found that breakfast cereals and bread here in Europe are also heavily contaminated with PFAS. We speak to François Veillerette, director of the NGO Generations Futures and former president of Greenpeace France. cc5444f2-d2bf-11f0-acc0-01f0c3364240Sat, 06 Dec 2025 16:55:19 GMTCatherine VIETTEhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20251206-starvation-fears-mount-in-indonesia-after-catastrophic-floods Ruinous floods and landslides have killed more than 900 people on Indonesia's island of Sumatra, the country's disaster management agency said Saturday, with fears that starvation could send the toll even higher. Story by Eliza Herbert. 0968519c-d2b3-11f0-bc0d-ed715e621ae3Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:02:57 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251205-asia-flood-death-toll-exceeds-1-500-deforestation-blamed-for-the-disaster The death toll from the past month's catastrophic floods and landslides in parts of Asia surged past 1,500 Thursday as rescue teams raced to reach survivors isolated by the disaster with hundreds of people still unaccounted for across the region. The tragedy was compounded by warnings that decades of deforestation caused by unchecked development, mining and palm oil plantations may have worsened the devastation. Story by France 2 and Laurent Berstecher. 2961d308-d1df-11f0-9ae9-bdafc3e7898eFri, 05 Dec 2025 13:58:47 GMTFRANCE24Focushttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20251205-rhino-renaissance-campaign-south-africa-steps-up-fight-against-poachers Every year, hundreds of rhinos are killed for their horns, which are trafficked mainly to Asia for use in traditional medicine. As part of the "G20 Heritage Projects", a large-scale campaign was launched in mid-July in South Africa to help save the rhino from extinction. The "Rhino Renaissance Campaign" brings together advanced surveillance technology, the involvement of local communities and radical conservation measures – including dehorning – to combat poaching. FRANCE 24's Eunice Stoltz-Masson and Caroline Dumay report. 000a7188-d13d-11f0-bd79-63e453fb3e0eFri, 05 Dec 2025 12:40:09 GMTEunice MassonEnvironmenthttps://www.france24.com/en/environment/20251204-thursday-s-supermoon-will-be-the-last-of-2025-this-is-how-to-spot-it The moon is set to look 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual on Thursday night as the Earth's largest satellite swings closer to the planet, marking the last supermoon of 2025.  e392bd9e-d132-11f0-9953-c30d7e81a1ceThu, 04 Dec 2025 17:33:35 GMT© Thein Zaw, APFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251203-deforestation-fuels-indonesia-floods Indonesia is recovering from deadly floods that killed over 700 people, with experts blaming widespread deforestation for worsening the disaster. Forest loss, driven by timber extraction and palm oil farming, left land unstable and prone to erosion. 99a8b2e4-d063-11f0-8dc8-f72fb98002ebWed, 03 Dec 2025 17:02:38 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251202-flood-rescue-efforts-intensify-in-asia Hundreds of thousands of people stranded by the violent floods that have swept through in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia were on Tuesday facing increasingly alarming shortages of food and fuel. More than 1,300 have been killed in the torrents triggered by monsoon rains and cyclones. Antonia Kerrigan reports. 1573ca6c-cf92-11f0-96a9-ef456a83ff05Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:41:31 GMTFRANCE24Focushttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20251202-tehran-residents-film-their-daily-lives-as-iran-faces-devastating-drought Dried-up lakes, recurrent water cuts and undrinkable water: residents of the Iranian capital Tehran are suffering the consequences of an unprecedented drought. For this report, they agreed to film their daily lives. To combat the water shortage, the authorities are organising prayers for rain. President Masoud Pezeshkian has even said he is considering moving the capital from Tehran. However, not everyone supports the idea. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain. 41890a38-cedc-11f0-9b5d-bd6a25356508Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:40:19 GMTFRANCE 2https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251202-more-than-1-200-dead-from-floods-in-indonesia-sri-lanka-and-thailand-as-rescue-efforts-intensify Hundreds of thousands of people stranded by the violent floods that have swept through in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia were on Tuesday facing increasingly alarming shortages of food and fuel. Nearly 1,200 have been killed in the torrents triggered by monsoon rains and cyclones.     e6a4b246-cf4b-11f0-afc9-5107d4ceabb7Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:21:51 GMTFRANCE24Asia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251202-race-to-get-aid-to-asia-flood-survivors-as-toll-nears-1-200 Hundreds of thousands of people stranded by the violent floods that have swept through in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia were on Tuesday facing increasingly alarming shortages of food and fuel. More than 1,300 have been killed in the torrents triggered by monsoon rains and cyclones.     a27c4a08-cf36-11f0-b46a-97d00cc7887dTue, 02 Dec 2025 04:23:20 GMT© AFPFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251201-asia-floods-death-toll-tops-1-160-as-troops-aid-survivors The toll in deadly flooding and landslides across parts of Asia climbed past 1,160 on Monday as hardest-hit Sri Lanka and Indonesia deployed military personnel to help survivors. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, says that 'the focus has to shift from talking about climate change to really dealing with it on the ground and keep people away from vulnerable areas'. 2b1c7e34-cef9-11f0-897c-4b0941ea577dMon, 01 Dec 2025 21:07:14 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251201-southeast-asia-at-least-1-000-dead-from-flooding-and-landslides Sri Lanka and Indonesia deployed troops on Monday to assist survivors of severe flooding that has killed more than 1,000 people across four Asian countries. f6ed4a54-cea7-11f0-9c0e-8b2db251101cMon, 01 Dec 2025 11:22:04 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251201-asia-floods-death-toll-tops-1-000-as-military-aid-survivors Sri Lanka and Indonesia deployed military personnel on Monday to help victims of devastating flooding that has killed nearly 1,000 people across four countries in Asia in recent days. Separate weather systems brought torrential, extended rainfall to the entire island of Sri Lanka and large parts of Indonesia's Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week. df62b7a6-ce9e-11f0-9ff9-192d098c9981Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:26:44 GMTFRANCE24Asia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251129-thailand-indonesia-begin-clean-up-after-massive-floods-kill-hundreds The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides across Southeast Asia soared past 350 on Saturday, as rescue teams raced to reach stranded communities in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia and begin clearing the devastation left by a week of relentless monsoon rain. 362cb46c-ccea-11f0-bda4-f53eaddc7ff9Sat, 29 Nov 2025 06:11:14 GMT© Chaideer Mahyuddin, AFP FRANCE 24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20251128-the-cow-of-the-future-france-introduces-smaller-low-emission-livestock 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. 6ca4184a-cc73-11f0-a204-6bd90975cc2dFri, 28 Nov 2025 16:45:39 GMTFRANCE 2Asia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251128-dozens-dead-as-floods-ravage-southeast-asia The death toll from days of flooding in Southeast Asia rose to 250 on Friday, according to authorities, with 145 people killed in southern Thailand and at least 111 dead in Indonesia.  4da448ae-cc1c-11f0-87aa-99e5fe32dc1bFri, 28 Nov 2025 05:37:17 GMT© YT Hariono, AFPFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20251124-nestl%C3%A9-on-trial-over-plastic-dumps-in-france Nestlé Waters is on trial over illegal plastic dumps in France’s Vosges region, where buried waste has caused massive microplastic pollution and raised fears for local water sources. 91c303b2-c948-11f0-acb6-415be22ba339Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:21:06 GMTFRANCE24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20251124-what-are-the-key-takeaways-from-the-cop30-climate-summit 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. 9ac6efde-c946-11f0-9011-7dc2684153feMon, 24 Nov 2025 15:17:41 GMTValérie DEKIMPE