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PODCAST

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.

science & medicine

All Episodes

00:11:18

To peat, or not to peat? Scotch whisky's iconic...

Down to Earth ·

2025/11/03

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.

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00:02:59

Could this French village disappear? Erosion eats...

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/31

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.

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00:06:18

Make it rain: New Delhi trials cloud seeding to...

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/27

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

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00:01:55

These algae could save vineyards from pesticides

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/27

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.

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00:05:39

France's organic sector in crisis: Is the end in sight?

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/20

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

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00:02:24

Hedgehogs at risk of extinction: Spiky animals could...

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/17

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.

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00:10:17

Pioneering Scottish eco-village masters art of...

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/08

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.

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00:05:13

Illegal trade in rare insects on the rise

Down to Earth ·

2025/10/03

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.

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00:10:48

Eggs, zoos and tech at the heart of France's food...

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/29

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.

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00:04:30

Earth's oldest living organisms survive in Europe's...

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/26

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.

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00:05:07

Road to COP30: What are the climate targets?

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/22

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.

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00:05:42

Au revoir, imported red roses: France's flower...

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/15

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".

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00:07:00

Unstoppable predator: Lionfish take hold in Greek waters

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/08

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

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00:07:37

Is the Mediterranean turning into plastic soup?

Down to Earth ·

2025/09/01

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.

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00:03:04

The Bright Side: Morocco turns fog into drinking water

Down to Earth ·

2025/07/24

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

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00:05:03

Want to shrink your carbon footprint this summer? Try...

Down to Earth ·

2025/07/14

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.

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00:02:58

Green activism or public threat? UK cracks down on...

Down to Earth ·

2025/07/10

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

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00:09:23

Early springs are killing Bambi

Down to Earth ·

2025/06/30

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

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00:09:00

Fast fashion: From your wardrobe to Chile's Atacama...

Down to Earth ·

2025/06/23

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

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00:07:54

Diving: Can coral reefs survive mass tourism?

Down to Earth ·

2025/06/16

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.

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67 results

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