Down to Earth

This summer could be one of the hottest ever recorded on Earth, marked by early heatwaves, droughts and storms. As the weather grows more unpredictable, wildlife is under pressure to adapt or disappear. In France, scientists have discovered that roe deer are struggling. Spring arrives too early and many fawns miss the peak of their food supply. As a result, some turn to farmland in search of food, but this is extremely risky and sometimes deadly. Down to Earth's Aurore Cloé Dupuis, Juliette Alfano and Elodie Radenac report. 

Every year, more than 60,000 tonnes of clothes are shipped to northern Chile from Europe, the US and Asia. Whether they're brand new, unsold or second hand, many of these items are abandoned or burned in Chile's Atacama desert – releasing toxic fumes, affecting people's health and scarring the landscape. A recycling plant is set to open soon, with more than 3,000 tonnes of clothes already waiting. The local community is calling for stricter global regulations, as residents suffer the consequences of the fast fashion industry. The Down to Earth team takes a closer look.

On the French archipelago of Guadeloupe, thousands of snorkellers visit the Pigeon Islands every year, putting the reef under huge stress. Despite warnings not to touch or stand on the coral, many corals are bleaching and dying due to rising sea temperatures and overtourism. Despite limited rangers and amid growing environmental pressure, diving clubs and new regulations are hoping to protect this fragile ecosystem. 

As the UN Ocean Conference kicks off in Nice, we're focusing on seagrass meadows: vital climate allies that are among the least protected ecosystems on Earth. They store more CO2 per hectare than land forests and are home to vulnerable species like seahorses. Yet nearly 30 percent of these underwater plants have already disappeared worldwide due to pollution, rising temperatures and harmful fishing techniques.   

Shipping containers usually last 15 to 18 years at sea. Their durability and structure make them ideal for transformation. Around the world, these big boxes are being adapted into social housing, restaurants and even shopping centres. In the French region of Normandy, we meet Tony, who repurposes old shipping containers into unique spaces like chip shops, coworking hubs and laundromats. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Catherine Viette.

Faced with widespread chemical pollution and a dramatic collapse in biodiversity, farmers and scientists in western France have been testing a revolutionary farming model for over 30 years. No pesticides, no synthetic fertilisers – just nature. And it works: steady yields, stable incomes, and a thriving ecosystem. A one-of-a-kind collaboration in Europe.

Fed up with pesticide pollution and bland produce, Steve Salim is teaming up with farmers in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe to bring back healthy, local food. With clean, tested soil and old-school farming methods, they’ve set out to prove that local tastes better and costs less than imports.  

Once on the brink of extinction in Scandinavia, the Arctic fox is slowly returning. Threatened by hunting and climate change, the animals' population had dropped to just a few dozen individuals in the 2000s. Today, thanks to a long-term reintroduction programme, their numbers have grown to 550. Researchers are now hoping to see the Arctic fox population double within the next 25 years. Down to Earth and our France 2 colleagues follow the journey of these snow-white survivors. 

Beer is Europe's most consumed alcoholic beverage – but what happens to the waste it creates? In France alone, breweries generate over 600,000 tons of spent grain every year. 

Indonesia leads the world in nickel production, fuelling the global shift to electric cars. But this rapid growth comes at a steep environmental cost. Nickel mining is driving deforestation, polluting rivers and endangering local communities. Our France 2 colleagues have been to Weda Bay, at the heart of Indonesia's mining boom. They bring us this report, with FRANCE 24's Jennifer Ben Brahim.