Down to Earth

By FRANCE 24 English

Down to Earth episodes

June 02, 2023 Olympic cleanup: Swimming in the Seine
Swimming in the Seine has long been forbidden but taking a dip in the iconic river could soon become a reality. Just in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Paris has embarked on its most ambitious bid yet to clean up one the world’s busiest waterways.
13 min
May 19, 2023 Microplastic invasion: Oceans, soil and food?
With microplastic pollution invading our oceans and the soil, few places have been spared. Could it also enter the food chain? Scientists in the Netherlands are beginning to uncover the tip of the iceberg – so far, with more questions than answers.
12 min
May 05, 2023 Recycling ahoy! New life for old boats
It could almost be the scene of a picture postcard: old boats dotted around the French coastline, moving with the tide. But their environmental impact is a lot less charming. Most boats are made of fibreglass, plastics and resins, making them difficult to recycle. But is there another way? Can sustainable boating set sail? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
12 min
April 21, 2023 PFAS chemicals: Everlasting pollution
They can be found on raincoats, non-stick pans and plastic packaging. In the last 50 years, PFAS – short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – have made their way into many of our everyday objects. Dubbed "forever chemicals", they're extremely persistent and can stay in the air, water and soil for decades, harming the environment and ultimately our health. Is PFAS pollution irreversible? And what can we do to protect ourselves? We take a closer look in the edition of Down to Earth.
14 min
March 24, 2023 Bird flu: The next pandemic?
It has ravaged farms, decimated wild birds and spilled onto mammals. Could avian flu spark the next human pandemic? The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
13 min
March 10, 2023 Nurdle pollution turns Spanish beach into 'plastic soup'
Billions of tiny plastic beads, known as nurdles, have been washing up on beaches in the north of Spain and along France’s Atlantic coast. This is the result of industrial pollution on a massive scale. To understand how this form of pollution has gone undetected for so long, the Down to Earth team traveled to Tarragona, Spain, where massive nurdle spills have been reported.
13 min
February 24, 2023 Lost at sea: The hidden cost of ghost gear
If you think fishing nets are made of natural rope, think again — they're made of plastic. Every year, some 80,000 km² of nets are lost and abandoned at sea. As they drift aimlessly, these so-called "ghost nets" litter the ocean floor and trap nearly everything in their path. We take a closer look in this Edition of Down to Earth.
13 min
February 10, 2023 Lithium: Europe joins the white gold rush
Lithium has become a vital component for the batteries that power electric cars. But with neither mines nor refineries on its soil, can Europe break its dependence on foreign imports? The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
12 min
January 27, 2023 Superpredator: Can humans and wolves coexist?
Wolves were once the stuff of myths. But decades of conservation efforts have gradually brought them back to life, with the predator reclaiming lost territory across Europe. Their return, though, has sparked tensions within rural communities and questions over how man and wolf can peacefully coexist. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
13 min
January 13, 2023 Wind turbines are getting old. What happens to the ageing fleet?
Modern wind turbines are growing taller, bigger and more powerful. They offer the potential for reliable, abundant energy. But what happens to the ageing fleet? The industry is now scrambling to avoid a waste problem, giving old turbines a second lease of life. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.
12 min