Down to Earth

By FRANCE 24 English

Down to Earth episodes

February 22, 2019 Arsenic pollution: A toxic legacy of France's gold rush (part 2)
In October 2018, the equivalent of three months of rainfall was dumped on southwest France in just a few hours, swelling rivers and flooding fields and towns. The raging torrents reignited fears that arsenic pollution, already present in the waterways after decades of gold and arsenic mining, could be spread more widely over the Orbiel valley. The Down to Earth team went to take a closer look.
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February 15, 2019 Arsenic pollution: A toxic legacy of France's gold rush
The town of Salsigne, in southwest France, was once home to the largest gold mine in Europe and the largest arsenic mine in the world. The mine closed in 2004 but left in its wake one of the most polluted sites in France. The Down to Earth team went to take a closer look.
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February 01, 2019 Colombia's coffee crisis: Is your latte ethical?
Never has so much coffee been consumed around the world - more than two billion cups per day. The market has exploded in value and is now worth $200 billion. But as the coffee business becomes increasingly lucrative, farmers in Colombia are struggling to make ends meet.
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January 18, 2019 Could going child-free be the answer to our climate crisis?
A child born today will inevitably add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere throughout his or her life. But what might surprise you is that having a child could be one of the most carbon-intensive decisions you'll make in your whole life. In this edition of Down To Earth, we ask whether going child-free could help save the planet.
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January 04, 2019 Can we afford to suck carbon dioxide out of the air?
Carbon dioxide is the number one cause of global warming. Last year, CO2 emissions reached a record high of 32 gigatons. If the world continues on the same path, temperatures will rise by at least three degrees Celsius.
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December 07, 2018 Oysters are dying: Who's the culprit?
Since 2008, oyster populations have been decimated by a deadly virus. Today, between 30 to 75 percent of oysters don't survive. A herpes epidemic has been identified as the main culprit. Although humans can't contract the virus from eating contaminated shellfish, the disease can kill both wild and farmed oysters, especially baby oysters known as spat.
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November 09, 2018 Malta's quest to quench its thirst
Malta is surrounded by water, and yet it is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. The small Mediterranean island has no permanent rivers or lakes and gets an average of only 60 rainy days per year. Malta’s only source of freshwater can be found below the Earth's surface, in the aquifer.
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October 26, 2018 Deforestation: The hidden soy on your plate
It’s the main ingredient in tofu, plant-based milk and veggie burgers. Today the popularity of soy foods is booming, especially among vegetarians. Except meat eaters unwittingly consume a lot of soybean. We take a closer look.
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October 12, 2018 Can citizen action stop climate change?
When it comes to the environment, a growing number of citizens are taking matters into their own hands. Whether it's becoming a vegetarian, cycling to work or buying groceries in bulk, being eco-friendly is slowly becoming the norm in urban areas. But is it a green fad, or can ordinary people have a real impact?
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September 28, 2018 Balkan dam boom: Saving the Blue Heart of Europe
Nearly 3,000 hydropower projects are planned across the Balkan Peninsula, threatening some of Europe’s most pristine ecosystems. This region is nicknamed the "Blue Heart of Europe" and is home to the continent's last wild rivers. From the Greek-Albanian border to the Adriatic Sea, the Vjosa River flows freely for 270 kilometres. While more than 30,000 dams have been built in Europe, the Vjosa remains intact - for now.
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