enFollow FRANCE 24’s coverage of global environmental issues including climate change, population, floods and wildfires but also the technological innovations that might help us avoid the worst and the renewable energy sources that could redefine the future. https://www.france24.com/en/environment/Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:34:24 GMThttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260917-climate-change-glacier-loss-and-dry-rivers-threaten-water-security The world's rivers experienced one of their driest years in more than three decades in 2025, while glaciers continued to retreat and freshwater reserves kept declining, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The agency warns that climate change and growing water use are making the global water cycle more erratic, increasing the risk of both droughts and floods. a0e4a4c4-b2b1-11f1-a274-1b2c56fb7208Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:10:02 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/space-being-weaponised-a-purely-civilian-system-can-be-repurposed-for-military-capabilities933fa17a-b266-11f1-8da2-59627ea4d0c7Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:25:39 GMTFRANCE24Europehttps://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260916-live-eu-chief-ursula-von-der-leyen-gives-state-of-the-union-address EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for the creation of a "European Security Council", with countries including Britain and Ukraine, in her State of the European Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Addressing this year's special guest, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, von der Leyen said she wants to open the door for Canada to become the bloc's first associate member. f9d5ff98-b13e-11f1-be36-99ae0684f658Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:20:56 GMT© Yves Herman, ReutersFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/lack-of-enforcement-of-eu-laws-consumer-products-contain-illegal-levels-of-restricted-chemicals Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome Hélène Duguy, Senior Environmental Lawyer at ClientEarth. PFAS pollution is widespread, these highly persistent chemicals have been detected in water and soil, food and consumer products, and even the human body. The risks are increasingly well documented, alternatives now exist for many uses, and there is an extensive regulatory framework that is in place. Duguy argues that the central problem is therefore not simply a lack of scientific knowledge or legislation, but rather weak enforcement, slow regulation and corporate resistance. And so hazardous chemicals remain in circulation even when restrictions exist.  675edb1a-b0c3-11f1-a424-7561ae3caee9Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:28:12 GMTFRANCE24Down to Earthhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20260914-countries-turn-to-coal-to-avoid-shipping-disruptions-in-the-strait-of-hormuz The US-Israel war on Iran has shaken global energy markets and coal is no exception. Countries around the world are turning to the highly polluting source of power in a bid to avoid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, global coal demand is forecast to rise by ​1.2% this year to a record 8.94 billion ‌tonnes. FRANCE 24’s Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe has the details in this edition. 9fd17a0a-b043-11f1-a369-f12786c09526Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:08:22 GMTValérie DEKIMPEFocushttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20260914-climate-catastrophe-leaves-nepal-mourning-while-the-search-for-the-missing-continues The himalayan flash flood that devastated northern Nepal on August 26 was an unprecedented disaster. The death toll continues to rise, with nearly 1,400 people now confirmed dead and 5,130 still missing, including around 600 foreign nationals from 35 countries.   dc556a7a-ae01-11f1-84db-3d527545dca5Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:43:12 GMTShahzaib WAHLAHAccess Asiahttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/access-asia/20260911-my-feed-my-way-australia-takes-on-the-algorithm Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for minors, is planning to crack down on Big Tech further. The government introduced new legislation to force social media firms to allow users to opt out of algorithms. The proposed laws also aim to strengthen online child protection. Opposition lawmakers say such measures would amount to government censorship.   c6511344-ade5-11f1-ba2f-adfa7604dfc4Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:04:33 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260910-record-heat-and-drought-make-this-year-s-champagne-stronger For the first time, French champagne producers are allowed to sell their bubbly with more than 13% alcohol, as record heatwaves and drought have resulted in grapes containing unusually high levels of sugar. They fear that climate change may eventually force them to permanently rewrite the rules governing winemaking.  Also in the segment, the European Central Bank raised interest rates for the second time this year amid higher energy costs, as a potential new gas crisis looms over Europe.  e8c5856e-ad53-11f1-8464-5f4441d89969Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:12:35 GMTYuka ROYERhttps://www.france24.com/en/french-firefighters-on-six-week-strike-after-record-summer-blazes Firefighters in France are on strike over a lack of funding for essential emergency services. Their dedication was pushed to the limit in the recent wild fire episodes south of Paris and near Bordeaux. Short comings in the current system were highlighted by these extreme cases. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Yael Lecras, Vice-President of the National Union of Professional Firefighters. 48e07360-ad4e-11f1-9b94-03c44d95fcfaThu, 10 Sep 2026 19:41:24 GMTFRANCE24Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260909-france-s-record-heatwave-pushes-champagne-alcohol-levels-to-historic-high France’s record-breaking summer heat has forced champagne producers to contend with unusually high sugar levels in grapes, forcing authorities to allow alcohol content of up to 15 percent in the region’s sparkling wine for the first time. Champagne is usually capped at 13 percent.  23098826-ac53-11f1-8297-f1b686a1dfecWed, 09 Sep 2026 13:49:48 GMT© Jean-Christophe Verhaegen, AFP archivesFRANCE 24Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260907-scorching-summer-pushes-french-wine-harvest-to-new-historic-low French wine production is expected to suffer its worst harvest in some 70 years with the agriculture ministry on Monday forecasting a 6 percent drop in output after a summer of scorching temperatures, heatwaves and drought. France last week announced more than €1 billion in emergency support for farmers. 4694cc16-aab3-11f1-81c9-ff9d54eec782Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:57:17 GMT© Sebastien Salom-Gomis, AFPFRANCE 24Environmenthttps://www.france24.com/en/environment/20260907-wildfires-heatwaves-global-air-quality-health-un Wildfires and heatwaves are threatening global efforts to improve air quality and protect human health, the World Meteorological Organisation said on Monday. The UN agency warned that increasingly severe fires are raising exposure to toxic PM2.5 pollution, even as regulations have reduced industrial and transport emissions in Europe and North America. defdeaa6-aa71-11f1-b57c-ff8ca91ee9cdMon, 07 Sep 2026 04:16:48 GMT© Uros Arsic, AFPFRANCE 24Asia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260905-i-dont-know-if-im-dreaming-rebuilding-lives-after-nepal-devastating-floods With thousands of people driven from their homes by a massive flash flood that swept entire villages away, FRANCE 24 visits a school in Nepal's remote Rasuwa district that has been converted to a temporary shelter for the dispossessed.  61d66626-a90d-11f1-9655-456b2dea8570Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:16:34 GMT© FRANCE 24 screen captureShahzaib WAHLAHhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260904-france-announces-%E2%82%AC1-billion-aid-for-farmers-after-climate-hit-summer France has recorded its hottest summer on record this year as the country battled heatwaves, drought and massive wildfires. The extreme weather has continued into September, with France's national weather service placing five departments on orange alert for several days. Temperatures are expected to reach 40°C in some areas. France's agriculture minister also announced a plan to unlock over 1 billion euros in aid to the agriculture sector, which has been severely affected by the extreme weather. 7ee70464-a86d-11f1-bd50-fb41f6dfc750Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:12:29 GMTFRANCE24Access Asiahttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/access-asia/20260904-rebuilding-after-nepal-flash-floods-expert-says-risk-management-is-key-in-himalayas Following devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, Access Asia takes a closer look at the fragile state of the Himalayan mountains. Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an expert on the environment and risk management in the Himalayas, explains why it's so difficult to detect glacier movements in advance and says that the tragedy could serve as an opportunity to improve the way nations develop infrastructure in the resource-rich region.  9710a5ce-a85c-11f1-994b-6be82c255321Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:34:07 GMTYuka ROYERFrancehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260904-france-announces-%E2%82%AC1-billion-aid-for-farmers-recovering-from-drought-heatwaves France on Friday allocated more than €1 billion in aid to support farmers recovering from droughts after a brutal, record-breaking summer. The allocation includes €520 million for rapid payments to ‌help farmers deal with weather damage and a €235 million recovery ​fund to buy seeds, plants and ​animal feed, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said. a2b3c9e8-a85b-11f1-9e56-6be82c255321Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:44:54 GMT© Aurelien Morissard, APFRANCE 24Asia / Pacifichttps://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20260904-nepal-why-early-warning-signs-of-glacier-collapse-were-difficult-to-detect The glacier collapse that led to devastating flash floods across the Himalayan region of Nepal and its border with the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet on August 26 was preceded by early warning signs, experts say. But monitoring and emergency alert systems in the region are still insufficient to predict such disasters. d6e4aea6-a7b8-11f1-86d1-df5f1bac4863Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:24:28 GMT© Rajesh Kumar Singh, APSimon FEISTHAUER FOURNETBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260903-el-ni%C3%B1o-weather-phenomenon-set-to-deliver-massive-blow-to-global-economy The UN warns El Niño is a "supersized" phenomenon that will hit the global economy. Meanwhile, UK cider producers are feeling the impact of drought. Plus, Nvidia buys AI developer platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion.  1eeed936-a7cf-11f1-8c2a-c9b691556019Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:52:47 GMTCamille KNIGHThttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260903-glacier-melt-and-sea-level-rise-will-continue-we-cannot-leave-this-to-the-next-generation Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Her central argument is that decades of what she calls “carbon procrastination” have made exceeding 1.5°C unavoidable: the question is therefore no longer simply whether the world crosses 1.5°C, but by how much, for how long, and with what consequences for vulnerable societies and ecosystems. While mitigation remains essential, adaptation becomes equally important as sea-level rise and glacier loss, will continue even as emissions fall.  1484fef2-a799-11f1-9169-99a9c9db374fThu, 03 Sep 2026 14:45:30 GMTFRANCE24Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260903-france-recorded-hottest-summer-ever-in-2026-environment-minister-says The summer of 2026 was the hottest summer ever recorded since measurements began in 1990, French Environment Minister Monique Barbut said Thursday. 9576862e-a795-11f1-8cb4-4fae48bc564aThu, 03 Sep 2026 12:47:11 GMT© Christophe Ena, APFRANCE 24Francehttps://www.france24.com/en/france/20260903-china-lambasts-france-s-discriminatory-fast-fashion-law China on Thursday called on France to abandon a new law on ultra-fast fashion that would impose fees of up to almost €20 per garment, calling it "clearly discriminatory". The law, which targets major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein and Temu, aims to curb the industry's environmental and local economic impacts. aeae12b8-a774-11f1-8e50-61d24622b9c9Thu, 03 Sep 2026 09:21:51 GMT© Sarah Meyssonnier, ReutersFRANCE 24Americashttps://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260902-rare-train-of-pacific-cyclones-fueled-by-historic-el-nino Several storms, including Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Karina, moved through the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, fuelled by a historically strong El Nino that has already been linked to extreme weather around the globe and is expected to persist through to February.  7c2297fe-a708-11f1-9191-7df714f7ef0cWed, 02 Sep 2026 19:57:10 GMT© NOAA via AFPFRANCE 24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260902-search-continues-for-tunnel-workers-in-nepal-floods Nepali authorities believe that the dozens of workers trapped in hydropower tunnels could still be alive, as some of the tunnels have chambers with air supplies. But rescue teams are still struggling, with difficult weather and heavy rains worsening the situation, reports France 24's Shahzaib Wahlah. 128287b6-a6de-11f1-ae1c-1118e1e87163Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:17:20 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/video/20260902-france-24-in-nepal-in-bharatpur-authorities-begin-burying-unidentified-bodies In Nepal, the death toll continues to rise. Every day, new bodies are recovered, but many remain unidentifiable. Several days after the devastating floods, some are already in an advanced state of decomposition. Faced with the influx of remains, authorities have begun burying them without formal identification, primarily to limit health risks and the strong odours. FRANCE 24's special correspondents traveled to Bharatpur, in southern Nepal, to one of these burial sites. d25e53b6-a6b7-11f1-b43e-c7c8f9905ae8Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:28:09 GMTFRANCE24A proposhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/a-propos/20260901-subtle-changes-pointing-to-consumer-fatigue-a-challenge-for-fast-fashion-retailers-expert-says A federation of European textile associations called on Tuesday for an import fee of €10 on fashion imports, the latest effort to stem the flood of ultra-cheap competition mainly from China. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Dr Sheng Lu, Professor at the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, says that it remains to be seen just "to what extent such measures would push groups like Shein to change their business model", adding that fast-fashion retailers may have to start to contend with "consumer fatigue". cf5f9ad6-a64d-11f1-b7a8-592be99a90dbTue, 01 Sep 2026 21:40:54 GMTSharon GAFFNEYhttps://www.france24.com/en/subtle-changes-pointing-to-consumer-fatigue-a-challenge-for-fast-fashion-retailers-expert-says A federation of European textile associations called on Tuesday for an import fee of €10 on fashion imports, the latest effort to stem the flood of ultra-cheap competition mainly from China. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Dr Sheng Lu, Professor at the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, says that it remains to be seen just "to what extent such measures would push groups like Shein to change their business model", adding that fast-fashion retailers may have to start to contend with "consumer fatigue". e631194a-a64a-11f1-b8c9-c9290005fc0eTue, 01 Sep 2026 21:37:08 GMTFRANCE24https://www.france24.com/en/mass-burials-held-in-nepal-as-bodies-wash-up-after-catastrophic-flooding Every day, new bodies are recovered in Nepal, but many remain unidentifiable. Several days after the disaster, some are already in an advanced state of decomposition. Morgues in the country's main cities are reaching capacity. Faced with the influx of remains, authorities have begun burying them without formal identification. France 24's special correspondents traveled to Bharatpur, in southern Nepal, to one of these burial sites. fca13ff0-a633-11f1-a97d-af91c05e98b9Tue, 01 Sep 2026 18:40:35 GMTFRANCE24Perspectivehttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/perspective/20260901-expert-warns-of-hotter-summers-more-wildfires-more-drought-and-more-floods One of the world's leading climate scientists has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the extreme heat events of this summer, and in the wake of the catastrophic flooding in Nepal, how other similar events are all but inevitable. Diana Ürge-Vorsatz is professor of environmental studies at the Central European University and vice-chair of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 5f62e1bc-a5e3-11f1-8f02-37353d2a8c86Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:24:19 GMTStuart NORVALhttps://www.france24.com/en/video/20260901-glaciers-in-himalayas-retreating-nepal-floods-triggered-by-glacier-collapse-massive-landslide Annette Young is pleased to welcome Joseph Shea, Glaciologist and Associate Professor at the University of Northern BC. Shea argues that the catastrophe should be understood as a compound event in which a glacier failure and a massive landslide occurred together. His analysis places the disaster within the broader, well-established transformation of the Himalayas under climate change. As warming changes high-mountain environments, scientists may increasingly need to identify subtle precursors to rare but potentially devastating cascading hazards. a7e7886e-a5cc-11f1-9d7d-71e2923d9923Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:26:44 GMTFRANCE24The Debatehttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20260831-melting-himalayas-nepal-disaster-exposes-growing-risk-of-glacial-flooding It may well be one of the tragic consequences of global warming. Scientists will tell us whether receding glaciers are to blame for last Wednesday’s ice shelf collapse that triggered a catastrophic flood, cascading down more than 3,000 metres from the Chinese border into Nepal. cd2dd5b4-a55a-11f1-a457-7f5203728eaaMon, 31 Aug 2026 23:35:52 GMTFrançois PICARD