Down to Earth

By FRANCE 24 English

Down to Earth episodes

June 24, 2022 Bottom trawlers: Engines of marine destruction
Bottom trawling is often singled out by scientists and activists as one of the world's most destructive fishing techniques. It's prevalent in European waters. Nothing escapes the vast nets: fish, crustaceans, but also coral reefs and seagrass beds. Wherever trawlers go, the ocean floor turns into a desert. In this edition of Down to Earth we head to Spain, where bottom trawling is rife, even in marine protected areas.
12 min
June 10, 2022 Sand: Digging into a crisis?
The word sand usually conjures up images of a holiday on the beach. But the fine grains also happen to be a precious commodity. Humans extract 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel every year, making it the second most exploited resource on the planet. Can the world keep digging for more? The Down to Earth team investigates.
13 min
May 27, 2022 The dilemma of saving Venice: Lagoon or city?
Throughout history, Venetians have learned to live with high tides, known as acqua alta. But now, climate change is taking its toll on the ancient city, with flooding increasing in both frequency and intensity. Massive barriers, which temporarily separate the Venetian lagoon from the sea, have been designed to fend off the water. But they have also raised a difficult question: should Venice save itself or the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem?
13 min
May 13, 2022 Geothermal energy: A new, green lease of life for old coal mines
Coal mining has long polluted the natural environment, with devastating consequences. But today, could it be a source of renewable energy? Down to Earth travels to the UK where disused, flooded coal mines are now reservoirs of geothermal energy.
12 min
April 29, 2022 Can Europe afford to wean itself off Russian gas?
Europe is at a crossroads. Amid the war in Ukraine, can the continent wean itself off Russian gas? An energy transition is underway, but the alternatives could lock countries into dirty fossil fuels for years to come. We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
13 min
April 15, 2022 Dam busters: Tearing down concrete walls to save Atlantic salmon
Since the 20th century, European rivers have been dammed and diverted for the sake of generating renewable energy. But the concrete walls have left an indelible mark, upending entire ecosystems. Migratory fish species in particular are paying the price. Atlantic salmon can no longer find they way back to their home streams to spawn, pushing the species to the brink of extinction. Should dams be torn down in the name of biodiversity? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
12 min
April 01, 2022 Chemical pollution: Surfing in toxic waters
Scientists have issued a stark warning: chemical pollution has officially exceeded the limits safe for humans and the planet. The ocean, which has become a dumping ground for a cocktail of toxic pollutants, is bearing the brunt of this pollution. We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
7 min
March 18, 2022 Winter droughts: The new normal?
Parched soil and empty reservoirs aren't just warning signs of droughts in the summer, they’re also becoming the new normal in the early days of winter. Can science or nature help farmers endure future dry spells? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
13 min
February 18, 2022 Climate change: The end of skiing?
As climate change takes its toll, warm winter and unreliable snow are now the new reality. Will skiing become a relic of the past? Ski resorts can improvise and adapt, but can they survive? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
13 min
February 04, 2022 DNA: New home for world's data?
Nature has its very own information storage technology: DNA. For millions of years, the double helix has been the primary code for all living things. But could DNA also become the ultimate storage solution for our digital information? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.
7 min