Down to Earth

How can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions? In the wake of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, attention is turning to cattle. A single cow produces between 154 to 264 pounds of methane gas per year. So could genetics lessen their impact? Our France 2 colleagues report on what's being called the "cow of tomorrow", with FRANCE 24's Charlotte Lam.

The COP30 climate summit came to an end this weekend with a weak compromise deal that skips over most countries' key demands. The agreement pledges to provide more funding to help vulnerable nations adapt to global warming, but doesn’t explicitly mention fossil fuels – the root cause of the climate crisis. It also falls short in demanding that countries strengthen their emissions-cutting plans, which are deemed too weak. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense. According to recent estimates, climate inaction is on track to cost the global economy $38 trillion per year in damages within the next 25 years. Survivors of climate disasters are also calling for the human cost of the crisis to be considered. In Belgium, our Down to Earth team met Ben, whose friend Rosa was killed in the 2021 flash floods in the Wallonia region. He hasn't missed a single climate march since.

In Scotland, whisky production is facing growing criticism over its environmental impact.
Many distilleries still burn peat, a soil-like material that gives whisky its signature smoky flavour. But those same peat bogs are also vital carbon sinks, storing huge amounts of CO₂ and helping fight climate change. Our Down to Earth team reports from the Scottish Highlands.

In the bay of France's famed Mont-Saint-Michel, postcard-perfect villages are slowly being swallowed by the sea. In the space of just 70 years, the Saint-Jean-le-Thomas coastline has receded by 300 metres. Many residents say the question is no longer if the sea will advance, but when. So what can they do about it? Our France 2 colleagues report from Normandy.

New Delhi could see artificial rain fall over the Indian capital for the first time later this week. The regional government is trialling a cloud-seeding experiment to induce artificial rain in a bid to bring the city's severe air pollution under control. New Delhi is regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals. Last week, after days of fireworks to celebrate Diwali, particulate matter levels rose to more than 56 times the safe limit. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valérie Dekimpe tells us more.

Are winegrowers forever doomed to use pesticides? Some French scientists say no. A team of researchers and a burgeoning startup are working to bring microalgae-based fungicides to market. They would save vineyards from mildew and other harmful fungi, with no synthetic chemicals. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Caroline Baum.

For the past two years, the share of organic farmland has dropped drastically in France, with many farmers abandoning organic methods and reverting back to industrial farming. It means that now just over 10 percent of France's total farmland is organic, compared to a target of 21 percent in 2030 and a wider EU target of 25 percent. Organic farmers are now accusing the French government of leaving them to fend for themselves. But there could be positive signs on the horizon. FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar tells us more.

In some parts of Europe, the number of hedgehogs has halved️. Animal activists warn that these tiny, spiky creatures could disappear by 2050. In France and the UK, rescue centres are racing to save them – with the help of new technology. Our France 2 colleagues report.

Today, more and more people are rethinking their way of life: what they eat, what they buy and how they move around, all in the name of environmental concerns. Some have turned to so-called eco-villages – small communities designed to have a minimal use of resources and impact on the environment. Our Down to Earth team travelled to Scotland, home to one of the world's first eco-villages, to find out more.