Down to Earth

The planet may have found its newest and perhaps greatest ally: the law. In the past three years, the number of climate-related lawsuits across the world has tripled. In 2017, there were 900 cases in 24 countries, two thirds of them in the United States.

The planet may have found its newest and perhaps greatest ally: the law. In the past three years, the number of climate-related lawsuits across the world has tripled. In 2017, there were 900 cases in 24 countries, two thirds of them in the United States. The number one target of these lawsuits is big businesses, particularly the fossil fuel industry. Saúl Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is suing Europe’s biggest polluter, German energy giant RWE, for causing a glacier to melt near his home. In the US, cities and counties are leading the battle. New York City is the latest to join the fight, suing the world’s five largest oil companies. The idea is to hold them responsible for present and future damage to the city from climate change, demanding financial compensation for their loss.

But it’s not just a question of money. A green revolution is underway. Citizens are suing their own leaders in order to get them to implement real climate policy. The Urgenda case in the Netherlands has become a symbol of a growing movement. In 2015, 900 Dutch citizens got their government sentenced by a District Court in The Hague. According to the verdict, the Dutch government isn't doing enough to protect its citizens from severe but avoidable harm and must cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020.

In Germany, one of Europe’s largest coal mines is gaining ground, destroying dozens of villages in its path. Some 35,000 people have already been relocated and 24 new villages have been created to make way for the Garzweiler mine, spanning more than 30 square kilometers.

In Germany, one of Europe’s largest coal mines is gaining ground, destroying dozens of villages in its path. Some 35,000 people have already been relocated and 24 new villages have been created to make way for the Garzweiler mine, spanning more than 30 square kilometers. Officially, Germany is in the middle of an energy transition, replacing nuclear energy with renewables. But that doesn’t mean the country has kicked its addiction to coal, which remains its primary source of energy. Extracting more coal means having to relocate the people whose villages are being swallowed by the growing mines. The Down to Earth team travelled to Rhineland to meet those who have been displaced by coal mining, and forced to abandon their homes, shops, churches and even cemetaries.

When it comes to sorting and recycling plastic waste, France has some catching up to do. Less than 25% of plastic packaging is recycled, while the rest is incinerated or put in landfills. That's lower than in other European countries, where over 30% of plastic waste is recycled on average. So why is France lagging behind its neighbours? The Down to Earth team digs deep into the world of French trash to find out.

In the fight against climate change, more and more sectors are hopping on board the global movement to protect the planet. But one industry is an exception to the rule: the aviation industry. We take a closer look.

Gone are the days when it was just a currency for geeks. 2017 was without a doubt the year of the ubiquitous Bitcoin. In the past year, investors have flocked to the highly volatile currency seeking to make a fortune. It's attractive for several reasons: Bitcoin requires no central bank and is directly and anonymously traded from person to person. But its surge in popularity could have a real impact on the environment. We take a closer look.

In the last decade, more than seven billion smartphones of all makes have been produced in the world, almost as many people as there are on the planet. On average we upgrade our smartphone every two years and this replacement frenzy is often encouraged by the companies themselves. Critics call it a "Take, Make, Waste" model: extracting resources from the earth, transforming them through energy-intensive processes and discarding the product after a short lifespan.

In the last decade, more than seven billion smartphones of all makes have been produced in the world, almost as many people as there are on the planet. On average we upgrade our smartphone every two years and this replacement frenzy is often encouraged by the companies themselves. Critics call it a "Take, Make, Waste" model: extracting resources from the earth, transforming them through energy-intensive processes and discarding the product after a short lifespan. This model is also taking a toll on those who make our devices, as the precious raw materials found in a smartphone can be the cause of armed conflict. So how does one make a phone with minimal harm to people and the planet? Dutch company Fairphone says it has found the answer. We ask its CEO what makes their phone the fairest smartphone of them all.

Floods, droughts, hurricanes and wildfires: 2017 stood out for both the number and intensity of extreme weather events. But were the last twelve months more catastrophic for the environment than previous years?