Down to Earth

The world will pump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in 2017 than in any other year in recorded history. With doomsday scenarios on the horizon, there's growing pressure on fossil fuel companies to act - or be seen to act - in the fight against climate change. But are they truly ready to alter the way they do business?

Marine parasites known as sea lice are threatening the world's salmon supply. Today we eat three times more of the high-protein fish than in the 1980s, but the proliferation of sea lice is hitting farms hard - including those in Norway, the world's number one producer of Atlantic salmon.

France has found a €25 billion solution to the unanswerable question of what to do with its high-level nuclear waste - bury it deep underground.

China may be the world's champion of renewable energy, but its actions abroad are not always in line with a country truly committed to fighting climate change. With the United States planning to quit the Paris climate deal, all eyes have been looking to China - the world's biggest polluter - to step up as climate leader. Although the Chinese have announced a raft of measures to combat emissions at home, overseas projects paint a different picture.

China may be the world's champion of renewable energy, but its actions abroad are not always in line with a country truly committed to fighting climate change. With the United States planning to quit the Paris climate deal, all eyes have been looking to China - the world's biggest polluter - to step up as climate leader. Although the Chinese have announced a raft of measures to combat emissions at home, overseas projects paint a different picture. Today, China is the world's largest exporter of coal equipment and is involved in the construction of more than 100 foreign coal power plants, including some in countries with huge solar energy potential. So is China exporting its pollution? The team from Down to Earth investigates.

The threat of a biological terrorist attack is now longer merely science fiction. From anthrax to smallpox and Ebola, scientists worry terrorists could turn biological agents into weapons of mass destruction. For now, only governments have the expertise to stage a mass bioterrorist attack, but this could soon change as scientific information becomes more accessible. How big is the risk and how are countries preparing for a potential attack? We take a closer look.

After promising signs that Brazil's Amazon was recovering from a devastating period of deforestation, alarm bells have been set off again. The number of hectares of felled forest is on the rise and fingers are being pointed directly at the country's leadership. To stay in power, President Michel Temer needs the support of a bloc known as ruralistas, which represent powerful, wealthy agribusiness interests. In general, the ruralistas oppose environmental laws that protect the forest.

As cannabis enjoys unprecedented acceptance in parts of the United States, many are asking whether this budding industry has considered its environmental impact. Growing just four marijuana plants indoors requires as much electricity as 29 refrigerators. We take a look at how legalising marijuana could help reduce its carbon footprint and whether it will ever be possible to grow weed that is truly green.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been hailed as a climate hero. He was quick to allocate funds to green initiatives and presided over Canada’s signing of the Paris climate deal back in 2015. But the young leader has also supported the construction of several pipeline projects, including the controversial Keystone XL. His opponents accuse him of being a hypocrite on environmental issues. So is Trudeau a friend or foe of the environment? We take a closer look.

The Arctic and Antarctica are warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, with the amount of sea ice lost equal to the size of Mexico (when we compare what we have today to previous averages). The consequences are devastating, ranging from rising sea levels to endangering local ecosystems. But as the polar ice caps melt, they also make it easier to extract a raft of resources, including gold, silver and copper, as well as oil and coal. They’re our newest frontiers and money-hungry industries are itching to get their hands on them.

This week Down to Earth explores whether it’s possible to exploit the North and South Poles without damaging them. Even if it is feasible, should it be pursued?