Down to Earth
ਚੈਨਲ ਵਿਸਥਾਰ
Down to Earth
We meet the people behind fascinating environmental, health and technological innovations in a bid for sustainable solutions to our changing world.
ਹਾਲੀਆ ਐਪੀਸੋਡ
63 ਐਪੀਸੋਡ
'We represent a new force': Nearly 60 nations push ahead with fossil fuel exit
Some 60 countries are gathering in the coastal city of Santa Marta in Colombia to tackle an issue that has deadlocked UN climate talks: how to exist f...
Scientists, authorities divided over fate of stranded whale in Baltic Sea
Timmy, a humpback whale, first became stuck off Germany's Baltic coast in late March. The animal’s plight has since gripped the public and raised ques...
Giant marble statues guard Italy’s seas from illegal fishing
An Italian fisherman has come up with an innovative way to protect the seabed from industrial fishing. He has created an underwater museum featuring 4...
Engineers are imitating beavers to prevent flooding
What do beavers have to do with preventing flooding? The aquatic rodents have become a source of inspiration for engineers looking to flood–proof rura...
Climate change is making homes shrink and crack
Periods of intense heat followed by extreme rainfall could cause structural damage to 12 million homes across France, or one in two detached houses, a...
Planet is storing more heat than it can release, UN warns
The amount of heat trapped by the Earth has reached record levels. According to the UN's annual State of the Climate report, published this Monday, th...
Flights, petrol cars and cruise ships: Amsterdam bans fossil fuel ads
Cities around the world are clearing their billboards of ads for flights, cruise ships and petrol cars in an effort to reduce planet-warming gases. Am...
Scientists discover entire ecosystem hidden under ice of Antarctica
An Antarctic mission is shining a light into the depths of the waters of the South Pole. Conservation group Under the Pole have been conducting marine...
Tehran shrouded in toxic cloud after US-Israeli strikes on oil deposits
Huge fires broke out in Tehran after Israeli strikes targeted Iranian oil infrastructure. Residents reported the smell of burning lingering in the air...
What the war in Iran means for global energy security
Qatar's state-run energy firm says it has halted Liquefied Natural Gas production following Iranian attacks on facilities at two of its main gas proce...
Can surfboards, handbags and coffins be made from mushrooms?
Can mushrooms replace leather and plastic? Thanks to mycelium derived from fungi, companies can now make 100 percent biodegradable products such as sh...
Can forest schools teach children how to care for the environment?
According to recent research, three-quarters of children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. Around the world, forest schools are gaining po...
Can the Winter Olympics survive the climate crisis?
This year, the Winter Olympics are taking place in the north of Italy, against a backdrop of climate change and rising temperatures, which are casting...
Lost shipping containers: Onions, plastic pellets and phones wash ashore
Every year, 250 million containers travel across the oceans. But some never make it to port. Many are lost in storms, falling off cargo ships and poll...
Frozen mysteries: The scientific race to document little-known glacial habitats
Glaciers are vital to Earth's water supplies, yet they are being pushed to the brink of collapse. Half of the world's glaciers could disappear by the...
Could ancient 'qanats' be the answer to Iran's water crisis?
Recent protests in Iran erupted over economic collapse and political repression. But beneath the discontent, analysts also point to a deeper ecologica...
Solar desert power: Inside China's mega farm
China may be the world's number one polluter in real time, but Beijing is also driving the world's most ambitious renewables rollout, at breakneck spe...
Freezing cold? This town in Finland is keeping warm with sand
Keeping warm in the winter isn't easy in Finland, one of Europe's coldest countries. But in one Finnish town, residents are kept toasty warm thanks to...
Predators under threat: Brazil's jaguars find shelter in nature reserve
In Brazil, where cattle ranching is a major industry, jaguars are seen as a threat and are hunted to prevent attacks on livestock. Along with habitat...
From trash to fine dining: The French startup recycling oysters into porcelain
Oysters are a Christmas staple in France, but thousands of empty shells are bound for trash bins once the festivities are over. One French company is...
Shipping is one of the world's dirtiest industries. Could sailing cargo ships be the answer?
International shipping accounts for 3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. But a new path is emerging: starting in 2026, sailing cargo ships will set...
French-American chemist makes major breakthrough in recycling of rare earths
Rare earth elements, which are crucial for the defence, auto and electronic industries, have become a geopolitical battleground. On Wednesday, the EU...
The cow of the future? France introduces smaller, low-emission livestock
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 produc...
What are the key takeaways from the COP30 climate summit?
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...
Climate change killed his friend. Now he's seeking justice
The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense. According to recent est...
To peat, or not to peat? Scotch whisky's iconic ingredient at heart of climate concerns
In Scotland, whisky production is facing growing criticism over its environmental impact.
Many distilleries still burn peat, a soil-like materia...
Could this French village disappear? Erosion eats away at Mont-Saint-Michel coastline
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 Sa...
Make it rain: New Delhi trials cloud seeding to combat deadly smog
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-seed...
These algae could save vineyards from pesticides
Are winegrowers forever doomed to use pesticides? Some French scientists say no. A team of researchers and a burgeoning startup are working to bring m...
France's organic sector in crisis: Is the end in sight?
For the past two years, the share of organic farmland has dropped drastically in France, with many farmers abandoning organic methods and reverting ba...
Hedgehogs at risk of extinction: Spiky animals could disappear by 2050
In some parts of Europe, the number of hedgehogs has halved️. Animal activists warn that these tiny, spiky creatures could disappear by 2050. In Franc...
Pioneering Scottish eco-village masters art of sustainable living
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...
Illegal trade in rare insects on the rise
The illegal trade in rare insects is booming across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Exotic ants, spiders and beetles are collected and sold as pets. S...
Eggs, zoos and tech at the heart of France's food waste revolution
Every year, the world throws away 1 billion tonnes of food and households are responsible for 60 percent of it. As we mark the International Day of Aw...
Earth's oldest living organisms survive in Europe's last wild forest
It’s a sacred sanctuary for bisons, wolves and countless birds. The Białowieża Forest is the last untouched forest in Europe. Not a single tree has ev...
Road to COP30: What are the climate targets?
World leaders will convene at a climate summit hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday in New York. Countries face mounting press...
Au revoir, imported red roses: France's flower industry bounces back
From carrot flowers to potting soil made of concrete waste – could local, organic and eco-friendly bouquets be the future of floristry? In France, nin...
Unstoppable predator: Lionfish take hold in Greek waters
As human-induced climate change intensifies, waters are warming and the sea life within is beginning to change its behaviour. For the past couple of y...
Is the Mediterranean turning into plastic soup?
The Mediterranean is thought to be the most polluted sea on Earth. The equivalent of 34,000 plastic bottles are dumped into it every minute. This unpr...
The Bright Side: Morocco turns fog into drinking water
For the past six years, Morocco has endured a severe drought that has drastically affected agriculture and water availability. Olive groves and vineya...