Down to Earth

As world temperatures soar, Bordeaux wine could be in danger, threatening more than 14,000 winegrowers and the production of 600 million litres of the world-famous French wine.

Cargo shipping drives global trade - but at a steep environmental cost, generating three percent of global CO2 emissions. It may not seem like a lot, but if shipping were a country it would be the world’s sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter.

Join us on Down To Earth as we return to the scene of Portugal's deadliest wildfires. Last year, 115 people were killed and 500,000 hectares of land scorched. The poor emergency response was largely to blame. But so, too, were eucalyptus trees. We take a closer look.

Menstruation is a natural part of every woman's life. The average woman will use some 10,000 single-use pads and tampons in her lifetime. They may be disposable, but they’re not sustainable. Conventional sanitary products can take up to 800 years to decompose. Down To Earth explores the best ways for women to make their periods more eco-friendly.

It's an environmental issue that's become a thorny political problem. Iran has been experiencing severe drought for several years. A growing population, increased water consumption and government mismanagement are all to blame. Scientists warn that if nothing is done, Iran could reach a state of extreme water stress by 2040. So will Iran's drought be a catalyst for change? The Down To Earth team takes a closer look.

Across France, fields have gone quiet… In 20 years, one-third of the country’s birds have disappeared. Meadow Pipits and Partridges have nearly been wiped out. It’s a biodiversity crisis triggered by intensive agriculture. The Down To Earth team met with ecologists and bird watchers who are sounding the alarm and working to help bird populations take flight once again.

In the remote town of Longyearbyen, in Norway’s Arctic region, the ground is permanently frozen. As temperatures rise, the thawing permafrost could open a Pandora's box, with unpredictable consequences. The Down to Earth team reports.

It's probably part of your daily life, even if you don’t notice it. And yet, it kills an estimated seven million people each year. Around the world, countries are waking up and taking steps to tackle air pollution. Governments are cutting back on diesel fuel, getting cars off the street and people onto public transport. But what if all this actually made global warming worse?

France is Europe's top agricultural producer and also its top consumer of glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in history. Each year, nearly 8,000 tons of it are used in French fields and vineyards. The chemical is cheap and effective but critics, including the World Health Organization, have sounded the alarm over its dangers.

France is Europe's top agricultural producer and also its top consumer of glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in history. Each year, nearly 8,000 tons of it are used in French fields and vineyards. The chemical is cheap and effective but critics, including the World Health Organization, have sounded the alarm over its dangers. The EU recently - and controversially - extended glyphosate's licence in Europe for five years. France was opposed to that decision, and says it wants to ban it in the next three years. But can French farmers kick their addiction to the chemical? Down to Earth went to the fields to find out.