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Today

World leaders to rally in support of climate action before COP30 summit

The heads of state of about 50 countries are expected in the Amazonian city of Belem for a summit on Thursday and Friday, before the annual UN Conference of Parties (COP) climate negotiations that open next week. Almost every nation is participating asid

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Yesterday

'Health is the face of climate change': how can cities mitigate the impact of global warming

A Lancet report released last week found that since the 1990s, heat-related deaths have increased 23% to 546,000 annually as global temperatures rise. We speak with Emilia Carrera, Director of the Health Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation, about ho

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Solar-powered cooking gains popularity in Mexico

In Mexico, a grassroots environmental initiative to use solar power to cook is increasing in popularity. Environmental activist Lorena Harp set up "Cocineras Solares", or Solar Cooks, in the state of Oaxaca. It promotes clean energy, health, and environm

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EU agrees on new emissions targets before global climate summit in Brazil

The European Union said on November 5 it would slash carbon emissions by 90% by 2040, in an agreement widely seen as a weakening of the 27-nation bloc's previous climate goals, after an overnight debate ahead of the U.N. climate conference in Brazil. Amo

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Tuesday, november 4, 2025

Shein takes Paris by storm: Does Chinese e-commerce giant threaten French fashion?

Protesters are fuming at Chinese e-commerce giant Shein electing the French capital as its debut point for a physical in-shop presence. We ask about behemoths that churn out clothes faster than we can scroll, Shein's choice of the iconic Right Bank depar

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World on course for catastrophic warming despite climate-fighting plans, UN warns

Despite a wave of new climate pledges, the world remains on course for up to 2.5°C of warming this century, the UN said Tuesday, with scientists widely agreeing that exceeding 1.5°C of warming over pre-industrial levels risks catastrophic consequences.

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Typhoon flooding kills more than 40, displaces hundreds of thousands in Philippines

More than 40 people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced as Typhoon Kalmaegi pummeled the central Philippines on Tuesday. The storm flooded entire towns on the island of Cebu, sweeping away cars, trucks, and even shipping containers.

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EU ministers in final push to seal emissions targets ahead of COP30 in Brazil

EU environment ministers will meet Tuesday for a final push to agree on 2035 and 2040 emissions targets before the UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil. “To come empty-handed… would really undermine the EU’s credibility,” an EU diplomat said, as negotiatio

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Monday, november 3, 2025

Is Bill Gates right? Call to put climate resilience before rising temperatures

Is too much effort devoted to the planet's warming and not enough to helping humans adapt to the new normal? The Microsoft co-founder-cum-billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is turning the heat up on activists traveling to the COP30, the annual UN clim

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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 material that gives whisky its signature smoky flavour. But those same peat bogs are also vital carbon sinks, storing

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Saturday, november 1, 2025

Aid workers struggle to reach communities cut off by Hurricane Melissa

Rescuers and aid workers across Jamaica on Saturday were struggling to reach communities still isolated four days after Hurricane Melissa hit the island. Melissa has left devastation in its wake, snapping power lines and toppling buildings, disrupting fo

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White House says it will not send any high-level officials to COP30 climate talks

A White House official on Saturday said that the United States will not send any top officials to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil later this month, as President Donald Trump instead works to boost fossil fuels. Brazil said Friday that fewer than 60 wor

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Friday, october 31, 2025

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 Saint-Jean-le-Thomas coastline has receded by 300 metres. Many residents say the question is no longer if

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Hurricane Melissa's death toll nears 50 after storm batters the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa's death toll neared 50 on Thursday after the storm tore through the northern Caribbean, officials said. Jamaica’s information minister said at least 19 people were confirmed dead as authorities continued search and rescue operations acr

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EU has a 'moral obligation' to developing countries on emissions: Sweden's ex-environment minister

The EU Council insists that the EU must leave next month's COP30 climate summit in Brazil with a clear path forward to keeping a lid on 1.5°C of warming. But is that target already out of reach? Our guest says that the world is actually on course for 2.9

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Thursday, october 30, 2025

Jamaica: IFRC launches emergency appeal in response to Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa smashed into Jamaica as a ferocious top-level storm, with sustained winds peaking at nearly 300 km per hour while drenching the nation with torrential rain. Melissa tied the 1935 record for the most intense storm ever to make landfall,

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Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba assess the devastation left by Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa left a trail of death and destruction after tearing through the Caribbean nations of Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba, cutting power, ripping the roofs off thousands of homes and, in some places, sweeping children away.

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Wednesday, october 29, 2025

Africa holds large portion of green energy potential, countries are choosing renewables, experts say

The UN estimated Tuesday that nations' carbon-cutting pledges imply a far-from-sufficient 10-percent emissions cut by 2035, cautioning that it was unable to provide a robust global overview after most countries failed to submit their plans on time. FRANC

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Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa pummels the island with historic power

On Tuesday, hurricane Melissa ripped a path of destruction across Jamaica, which authorities have designated a "disaster area." It is now grinding across Cuba, after downgrading from a Category 5 to a Category 2 storm.

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Dozens dead as Caribbean reels from 'unprecedented' hurricane destruction

Hurricane Melissa continued to cut across the Caribbean Wednesday, leaving at least 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and laying waste to Cuba's east. Climate scientists warn that rising sea temperatures are making seasonal tropical storms more intense.

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Climate change is causing millions of preventable deaths each year, report warns

An influential new Lancet report has warned that climate change is taking a devastating toll on global health, with policy failures contributing to millions of avoidable deaths annually. The study urges world leaders to act swiftly to protect lives as ex

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Tuesday, october 28, 2025

Public concern for climate change drops amid war and conflict

A new survey shows a sharp slide in public concern for climate change, with war and conflict now dominating public worries. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council, who tells her that de

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Jamaica: Up to 1.5 million people could be affected by category 5 Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa is approaching Jamaica, with authorities on high alert as the island braces for impact. While the country is no stranger to extreme weather, officials are taking extra precautions to minimize damage and ensure public safety. As FRANCE 2

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UN warns of climate crisis as most countries fail to update carbon plans

A recent UN report reveals that most countries have failed to update their carbon-cutting plans as part of the Paris Agreement, and even those that have, will only reduce emissions by 10% by 2035, far short of the 1.5°C target. While progress is being ma

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Former Vietnamese imperial city of Hue flooded after record rainfall

The former imperial city of Hue found itself flooded after record rainfall in #Vietnam. Nearly two metres of water fell in just 24 hours - a record that had been standing since 1999. Scientists say human-driven #climatechange is making extreme weather ev

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The Bright Side: Kenyan conservation areas adapt to help Maasai and wildlife coexist

Kenya’s Nashulai conservancy is pioneering a new approach to conservation, allowing Maasai communities to remain on their ancestral land alongside the wildlife that draws tourists from across the world. The conservancy funds itself through a college that

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Japanese governor calls for military help amid spike in bear attacks

The governor of the northern Japanese Akita prefecture on Tuesday appealed for military help to deal with a surge of bear attacks that have killed a record 10 people this year. The animals have been increasingly encroaching on towns due to a combination

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Monday, october 27, 2025

Hurricane Melissa reaches Cuba after weakening to category 3 storm

Hurricane Melissa weakened to a category 3 storm on Wednesday after ripping through Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. The storm was forecast to cross through Cuba during the morning and head to the Bahamas later in the da

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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-seeding experiment to induce artificial rain in a bid to bring the city's severe air pollution under control

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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 microalgae-based fungicides to market. They would save vineyards from mildew and other harmful fungi, wit

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Caribbean on alert as hurricane Melissa threatens devastation

Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 4 storm, is threatening a direct hit on Jamaica after already causing fatalities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Authorities warn of widespread damage, prolonged power outages, and isolated communities, with tr

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Sunday, october 26, 2025

What’s at stake as Brazil welcomes the COP30 climate change summit

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) will be held in Belem, Brazil, from November 12-16, with issues like deforestation and financing climate action in developing countries expected to loom large.

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Saturday, october 25, 2025

From menace to fertiliser: The women fighting back against Cape Verde's seaweed surge

Cape Verde’s once-turquoise coastline has taken on a reddish hue in recent years, as warming waters fuel the spread of invasive seaweed. But rather than stand by, local women have decided to act. Each day they gather the seaweed from the shore, lay it ou

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Friday, october 24, 2025

EU leaders push for 10-year carbon-cut deal ahead of UN climate summit

EU leaders launched a final push Thursday to agree on a 10-year carbon-cutting target ahead of a key UN climate summit, balancing climate ambitions with industrial concerns. Meeting in Brussels, the 27 leaders sought a deal that supports struggling busin

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Thursday, october 23, 2025

French court rules TotalEnergies misled consumers in greenwashing trial

A French court on Thursday ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by overstating its climate pledges in the first decision applying France's greenwashing law to an energy company.

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Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms the country

Iceland has been one of the few places on Earth blissfully free of mosquitoes, but three specimens have now been discovered in the Island nation, in what could be a warning sign of a warming world. Yinka Oyetade has more.

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King Charles, Pope Leo pray together at Sistine Chapel in historic first

Britain's King Charles III on Thursday prayed publicly with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, marking the first joint prayer meeting between the heads of the English and Roman Catholic Churches since English monarch Henry VIII broke with Rome in 1534.

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Bialowieza Forest at threat from military tensions along the Poland-Belarus border

Poland’s militarisation of the border zone with Belarus is threatening the exceptional biodiversity of Europe’s last primeval forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Human relationships with nature may also be impacted by the fortification of th

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Wednesday, october 22, 2025

Lithium: Can Bolivia’s new president revive the country's 'white gold’ dream?

Bolivia’s president-elect Rodrigo Paz inherits a country mired in economic crisis after his victory in Sunday’s vote. Paz wants to make lithium – a strategic resource in the renewable energy transition – an engine for economic recovery. But between renew

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Mosquitoes appear in Iceland as country warms at record pace

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, October 22: Papers discuss the cancellation of the Trump-Putin summit. The Moscow Times looks at the current state of the Russian army. Next, an investigation reveals that NATO is involved in a million-dollar corruption scandal.

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Tuesday, october 21, 2025

Tornado kills one, injures four near French capital

A tornado tore through districts north of Paris on Monday, toppling three construction cranes that killed one person and left four others with critical injuries, authorities said. The town of Ermont, about 20 kilometers northeast of Paris was worst hit b

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The Bright Side: One of the world's rarest whales grows in population

The endangered North Atlantic right whale, which number just 384 across the world's oceans, are showing a promising trend of population growth after having been hunted to the edge of extinction during the commercial whaling era.

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France: Residents in shock after mini tornado hits north of Paris

A sudden mini #tornado struck towns north of #Paris on October 20, causing #damage, injuries, and leaving residents in shock.

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Monday, october 20, 2025

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 back to industrial farming. It means that now just over 10 percent of France's total farmland is organic,

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Sunday, october 19, 2025

Flora and fauna also victims in Gaza, threatening ecological balance

A preliminary assessment by the UN Environment Programme this year found that the destruction of Gaza is causing new risks to human health & the environment. The war has exposed the Palestinian population to severe soil, water & air pollution as well as

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Saturday, october 18, 2025

Tunisia: Violence erupts during anti-pollution protest as anger boils

Police rained tear gas on crowds and several demonstrators and riot police were injured in the southern Tunisian city of Gabes as thousands of people marched Wednesday to protest worsening air pollution from a phosphate-processing plant. The protest desc

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Friday, october 17, 2025

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 France and the UK, rescue centres are racing to save them – with the help of new technology. Our France 2 col

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Renewable energy output overtakes coal, with China leading the way

This week, we take a look at the renewable energy sector, specifically in China at a time when solar and wind power have surpassed coal in global electricity generation, according to a report by climate think tank Ember. Charles Pellegrin speaks to Malgo

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US sinks international plan to cut shipping emmissions

An international vote to approve a global plan to cut maritime emissions was postponed for a year Friday, marking a win for the United States, which opposed the carbon-cutting scheme amid sharp divisions among member countries.

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Thursday, october 16, 2025

Tunisians rally for closure of chemical factory blamed for spike in poisonings

Several thousand people in the city of Gabes in southern Tunisia called for for the closure of an ageing phosphate processing plant run by the Tunisian Chemical Group, which local residents say is responsible for a host of poisonings and other health iss

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Wednesday, october 15, 2025

Record annual rise in atmospheric CO2 levels alarms UN climate body

The United Nations warned Wednesday that CO2 levels in the atmosphere saw their biggest annual jump on record in 2024, driven by fossil fuel emissions, wildfires and weakening natural absorption by land and oceans. The findings come ahead of November’s C

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Tuesday, october 14, 2025

Coral reefs cross survival threshold in Earth’s first major climate tipping point

FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Professor Tim Lenton, founding director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter, and lead author of the Global Tipping Points report, which has revealed that the world’s coral reefs now in an alm

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Coral reefs cross survival limit, in Earth's first catastrophic climate tipping point

FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Professor Tim Lenton, Founding Director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter, and lead author of the Global Tipping Points reports, which has revealed that the world’s coral reefs now in an al

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Gold rush in western Kenya: Miners risk health and safety in Kakamega county

Miners in Kenya risk their lives every day to extract gold 30 meters below the Earth's surface. With the recent gold rush in the country, artisanal mining is raising concerns over negative environmental consequences and poor labor conditions. Our colleag

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Coral reefs under threat due to surge in global temperatures

A new report released October 13, 2025 is warning that ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, are pushing coral reefs past a critical tipping point. It's a worrying conclusion as reefs support a quarter of all marine species and protect coastlines

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Brazil set to host COP30 with climate wins on deforestation, indigenous reserves

As Brazil prepares to host the UN COP30 climate summit in the Amazon next month, the country's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has clocked impressive climate wins on curbing deforestation, legalising indigenous land reserves and securing conservation

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Thursday, october 9, 2025

Afghanistan hit by worst drought in 30 years

Afghanistan is enduring its worst drought in 30 years, having recorded less than half of its usual rainfall this past winter. As the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change globally, Afghanistan's drought poses a direct threat to farming and food

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Wednesday, october 8, 2025

Man arrested over deadly January fire in Los Angeles

Authorities investigating the deadly Palisades Fire that tore through an affluent Los Angeles suburb in January said Wednesday they had arrested a man who they believe started the blaze. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was taken into custody in Florida, on su

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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 concerns. Some have turned to so-called eco-villages – small communities designed to have a minimal use

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Monday, october 6, 2025

India: Landslides kill at least 24 in Darjeeling region, rescuers search for missing

Rescuers were scouring India's northeastern tea-growing hill district of Darjeeling on Monday for those reported missing a day after landslides triggered by heavy downpours killed at least 24 people. Story by Laurent Berstecher and Nicolas Chamontin.

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