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‘The flood of the century’: How well prepared is Paris for a natural disaster?

It has been more than 100 years since Paris’s last great flood, meaning the city is well overdue another mammoth deluge that authorities predict could leave hundreds of thousands of people without water or electricity. How prepared is the French capital

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Ivory Coast seeks to protect endangered pygmy hippos

He's small, cute and viral: the baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng, housed in a Thai zoo, has become the star of millions of posts, memes and videos around the world. But in the wild, the pygmy hippopotamus is on the brink of extinction. Of the 2,500 remaining sp

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Wednesday, january 29, 2025

With organic cotton, India bets on textile industry's green transition

India is the world's leading organic cotton producer, controlling 51 percent of global production. The country has set its sights on becoming a major player in the textile industry's green transition – a market that's projected to grow 10 percent by 2026

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EU unveils plan to 'reignite' innovation in response to pressure from China, Trump

The EU outlined plans to simplify business regulations on Wednesday amid tariff threats from US President Donald Trump and concerns over China's ascent in the digital sector. Laws on corporate sustainability reporting and supply-chain standards will be s

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Climate change made LA wildfires worse, says study

Climate change was a major factor behind the hot, dry weather that led to ferocious wildfires in LA in January, a scientific study has confirmed. Global warming made the blazes 35 percent more likely, according to the study.

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Tuesday, january 28, 2025

Would you live in a cardboard house?

The construction industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world, consuming half of the planet’s natural resources, 40 percent of its energy and 16 percent of its water, as well as generating greenhouse gas emissions and waste. But here in France,

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Saturday, january 25, 2025

World Education Day : 234M children are missing school due to conflicts and climate change

A new report reveals staggering figures on education : 234 million children miss education, mainly because of conflicts and climate change. That is 35 million more than 3 years ago. Half of them are in Africa. Analysis by Yasmine Sherif, Executive Direct

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Friday, january 24, 2025

France asks EU to delay 'burden' of new environmental, human rights rules for businesses

Paris asked the European Union on Friday to indefinitely suspend new regulations requiring large corporations to identify and address environmental or human rights impacts in their supply chains.

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Firefighters slow spread of fire north of LA, while new fires erupt in Southern California

Tens of thousands of people were allowed to return to their homes as authorities lifted an evacuation order on Thursday, with firefighters, aided by water-dropping helicopters, finding some success in restraining a fire in the mountains north of Los Ange

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Tens of thousands without power as Storm Eowyn's record winds lash Ireland

Tens of thousands of homes in Ireland lost power on Friday as winds of 183 kilometres per hour lashed the country's western coast. Météo France has warned that Storm Eowyn will cause heavy rainfall and flooding in the northwest region of Brittany.

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World's biggest iceberg risks collision with 'ecologically rich' British island

A23a, an iceberg 33 times the size of Paris, is bearing down on the remote British overseas territory of South Georgia almost four decades after having broken off from its Antarctic ice shelf.

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World's biggest iceberg en route for collision with remote British island

A trillion-tonne iceberg 33 times the size of Paris is making its relentless way towards the remote overseas British territory of South Georgia. The world's largest iceberg, which split off from an Antarctic ice shelf 38 years ago before becoming stuck i

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Los Angeles firefighters up against perfect storm: Climate change and dry, gusty weather conditions

The L.A. fires have overall caused at least $28 billion in insured damage. All the while, California Republicans are expressing disbelief over suggestions by President Donald Trump & House Speaker Mike Johnson that federal disaster aid for victims of wil

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Firefighters slow spread of wildfire north of Los Angeles, allowing thousands to return home

Tens of thousands of people were allowed to return to their homes as authorities lifted an evacuation order on Thursday, with firefighters, aided by water-dropping helicopters, finding some success in restraining a fire in the mountains north of Los Ange

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Thursday, january 23, 2025

Bloomberg to fund UN climate agency after US exit from Paris accord

Billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday that his foundation would fund the UN climate change agency after President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement. Bloomberg’s pledge will cover the 22 percent of

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EU produced more solar power than coal for the first time in 2024

The European Union produced more energy from solar power than from coal for the first time in 2024, with renewables counting for almost half the bloc's energy and fossil-fuel power falling to a "historic low", according to a report released Thursday.

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Wednesday, january 22, 2025

New wildfire erupts near Los Angeles, prompting mass evacuations

A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday rapidly spread to more than 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) fuelled by strong winds and dry brush, forcing evacuation orders and warnings for more than 50,000 people.

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Can Europe rise to the challenge? Trump takes on traditional allies

Do they stand firm or bow to the pressure? Europe is facing a clear message: Donald Trump’s administration isn't just pushing liquefied natural gas exports. The US is demanding that the continent adjust to a new reality. From walking away from multilater

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France's Bay of Biscay fishing ban aims to save dolphins

A fishing ban begins this Wednesday off most of France's western coastline. The goal of the moratorium is to cut the number of dolphins that are killed in fishing nets at this time of year. In this edition of Entre Nous, we discuss how French fishermen a

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Tuesday, january 21, 2025

As US abandons green policy, environmentally engaged countries may exhibit more leadership globally

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed Europe's commitment to the Paris climate agreement as US President Donald Trump announces Washington's withdrawal from the accord on his first day in office. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on t

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'Militarising the US southern border, calling it an emergency, allows Trump to bypass Congress'

After a day of ceremony, Trump signed a series of executive actions to curb immigration and roll back environmental regulations and racial and gender diversity initiatives. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the sweeping executive orders,

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Monday, january 20, 2025

Trump withdraws US from Paris climate agreement for second time

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to once again withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, dealing a blow to global efforts to combat climate breakdown. The Paris pact aims to limit long-term global heating to 1.5 degrees

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Weary Los Angeles firefighters brace for return of dangerous winds

Exhausted firefighters in Los Angeles prepared for more dangerous gusts on Sunday as California battled wildfires that have claimed 27 lives. The state governor Gavin Newsom criticised "hurricane-force winds of misinformation". Two major fires, consuming

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Sunday, january 19, 2025

Israel grounds ambulances in Gaza; "green" charcoal to reduce firewood rape in Cameroon (7/12/2024)

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from France 24 Observers around the world - all checked by our staff here in Paris.

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Kenyan TikToker focuses on textile trade; Orthodox Jews in Côte d'Ivoire (9/11/2024)

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from France 24 Observers around the world - all checked by our staff here in Paris.

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Northern Gaza's "roundabout of death"; Jambo-Lab tackles climate change in DRC (2/11/2024)

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from France 24 Observers around the world - all checked by our staff here in Paris.

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Israeli strikes hit Gaza fishing industry; tracking Pakistan's exotic pet trade (1/6/2024)

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from France 24 Observers around the world - all checked by our staff here in Paris.

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Donald Trump’s pledge to ‘drill, baby, drill’ meets the reality of fracking in rural Pennsylvania

Promises made by Donald Trump to unleash the fracking industry played a vital role in his fight to win Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the 2024 US election. Despite the consequences the industry has had for the health of rural communities like

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Saturday, january 18, 2025

L.A. wildfires 'so intense, violent and brutal that recovery is problematic'

Two wildfires still burning in Los Angeles have torched more urban areas than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s. Experts say several factors could lead to wildfires reaching cities more often, inviting climate change and urban spra

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Thursday, january 16, 2025

'Too dangerous': LA fire evacuees told not to return for at least a week

Los Angeles evacuees fleeing wildfires were told Thursday they would not be able to return to their homes for at least a week due to hazardous conditions caused by toxic waste, downed gas and electricity lines and fears of mudslides.

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Tuesday, january 14, 2025

Los Angeles fires deal devastating blow to arts communities

The destructive Los Angeles fires have led to the loss of creative neighbourhoods and artworks, with many artists who have seen their homes and artworks destroyed. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney welcomes curator and writer Martha Kirszenbaum.

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St. Helena: "The world's most remote EV charging point"

The tiny British overseas territory of Saint Helena, where Napoleon was sent into exile, is now the proud owner of the world's most remote EV charging point. The South Atlantic island currently only has four electric cars, but is hoping to go all-electr

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Ready for the new normal? Los Angeles faces up to unprecedented wildfires

Force majeure is defined as an event that's above and beyond our control. That expression is borrowed by insurers from the French to describe what may otherwise be described as an act of God. Los Angeles's devastating wildfires certainly qualify as force

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Fire-scorched Los Angeles gets a reprieve as winds drop

Hurricane-force winds fanning wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of acres in Los Angeles dwindled on Wednesday, bringing a much-needed break to the devastated city. The deadly blazes, which flared up more than a week ago, have killed dozens a

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Los Angeles braces for strong winds as deadly wildfires continue to rage

Los Angeles faces critical wildfire threats as dry, dangerous Santa Ana winds were expected to exacerbate blazes that have destroyed neighbourhoods and claimed more than two dozen lives. A red flag warning was in effect as firefighters try to prevent con

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Los Angeles braces for strong winds as deadly wildfires continue to rage

Los Angeles faces critical wildfire threats as dry, dangerous Santa Ana winds were expected to exacerbate blazes that have destroyed neighbourhoods and claimed more than two dozen lives. A red flag warning was in effect as firefighters try to prevent con

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Monday, january 13, 2025

'Opportunity to really learn from disaster and start rebuilding better into a more resilient future'

After making some progress battling wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters are preparing for a return of dangerous winds that could again stoke the flames. For in-depth analysis and

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California wildfires death toll climbs, strong winds threaten to spread inferno

Wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed 24 lives, with officials warning of dangerous winds that could exacerbate the situation. The blazes, now in their sixth day, have devastated communities and left thousands homeless. Despite massive firefighting effor

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California wildfires death toll climbs, strong winds threaten to spread inferno

Wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed 24 lives, with officials warning of dangerous winds that could exacerbate the situation. The blazes, now in their sixth day, have devastated communities and left thousands homeless. Despite massive firefighting effor

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Friday, january 10, 2025

Celebrating Benin's Vodun heritage

For the second year in a row, the city of Ouidah in Benin is playing host to Vodun Days - a celebration of the region's long spiritual traditions. France 24's correspondent Lilaafa Amouzou visited the festival and found out about efforts to dismantle myt

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‘Overshoot’: As planet crosses 1.5°C global warming limit, can we still reverse course?

The past two years were the first to officially exceed the 1.5°C temperature threshold for global warming that countries in the Paris Agreement pledged to avoid. Could geoengineering provide a solution to reverse the trend and lower temperatures?

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From Trump to AI & climate change: What does 2025 have in store for the world economy?

The re-election of Donald Trump as US president has generated a climate of uncertainty over US economic policy for 2025, with Trump and his team vowing to increase tariffs on most imported goods. How will Trump's return impact the global economy? From th

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'We're keeping them safe': Scientists build 'Noah's Ark' for endangered corals

Coral reefs rank as some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Although they cover just 0.2 percent of oceans, reefs are home to a quarter of marine biodiversity. Scientists warn they could vanish in as little as a decade, unless we rapidly slow the rat

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French banks make millions from fossil fuel investments polluting the Amazon basin

French banking groups Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas and BPCE have been discreetly investing in the oil and gas industry accused of polluting the Amazon basin – despite their ecological pledges. An investigation by Disclose, in partnership with FRANCE 24 a

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Global temperatures surpassed 1.5C target in last two years, says EU monitor

Average global temperatures surpassed the internationally-agreed 1.5 degrees Celsius in the past two years, an EU monitor said on Friday, with the Earth recording its hottest year ever in 2024 as natural disasters increased in frequency and intensity acr

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Four French banks respond to Camisea project report

In its investigative report, “Amazonia, gas and French banks”, FRANCE 24, in partnership with Disclose and the Pulitzer Center's Rainforest Investigations Network, revealed the involvement of six French banks in a huge gas field in the heart of the Peruv

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Thursday, january 9, 2025

Exclusive: Top French banks and the dirty gas business in Peru’s Amazon

FRANCE 24 reveals, in partnership with investigative media outlet Disclose, RFI and the Pulitzer Center, that French banking group Crédit Agricole holds a €240 million stake in Repsol – a Spanish multinational responsible for gas extraction in the Peruvi

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Two Los Angeles wildfires rage on as residents start to sift through wreckage

Two massive wildfires in Los Angeles remained totally uncontained for a third day on Thursday, authorities said, as residents started to sift through the charred remains of their homes. The fires have killed five people, devastated whole neighbourhoods a

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Wednesday, january 8, 2025

Dutch cut flower industry in hot water over pesticides

The Netherlands is the world's leader in fresh flower production. Over the past decade, the sector has grown by a fifth. But NGOs have been warning about the high levels of pesticides in Dutch flowers. One study even showed that a third of the substances

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Tuesday, january 7, 2025

Thousands of Los Angeles residents forced to flee as winds stoke raging wildfires

Multiple wildfires sweeping across southern California remain uncontained and are growing, the Los Angeles fire chief said Wednesday. The fires have killed at least two people, caused a "significant number' of serious injures and burned more than 5,000 a

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In carbon-negative Bhutan, glaciers are threatened by climate change

The South Asian kingdom of Bhutan has become a champion of environmental protection. Its forests are protected by the constitution, environment classes are taught in school and its electricity is 100 percent hydroelectric. All of this has contributed to

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Sunday, january 5, 2025

Ivory Coast's Abidjan on edge as ship loaded with volatile cargo nears port

A vessel loaded with 20,000 tons of ammonium nitrate – the same chemical that left large parts of Beirut in ruins in an explosion in 2020 – is nearing the port of Abidjan. Campaigners have expressed concern about letting the ship unload its allegedly dam

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Friday, january 3, 2025

Bhopal gas tragedy, 40 years on: Indian authorities finish moving toxic waste from site

Forty years and one month after a deadly gas leak at a pesticide plant killed thousands in Bhopal, India, authorities say the last remaining toxic waste has been removed from the site. Activists say not enough measures are being taken to protect the envi

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Thursday, january 2, 2025

Last year was China’s hottest on record, weather agency says

China's average national temperature for 2024 was 1.03 degrees higher than average, making it "the warmest year since the start of full records in 1961", China Meteorological Administration said Wednesday night. The world's largest greenhouse gas emitter

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Tuesday, december 31, 2024

Rights, rhinos and Olympic revelry: Uplifting stories from 2024

It was another turbulent year from start to end, dominated by wars still raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. But 2024 also witnessed some breakthroughs in medical research, space exploration and human rights, while the Paris Games gave the host countr

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Saturday, december 28, 2024

2024 hotest year in history: A look at climate disasters across the globe

From tiny and impoverished Mayotte to oil-rich behemoth Saudi Arabia, prosperous European cities to overcrowded slums in Africa, nowhere was spared the devastating impact of supercharged climate disasters in 2024. This year is the hottest in history, wit

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Friday, december 27, 2024

2024 becomes the world's hottest year on record, fueling extreme weather events

In 2024, billions of people across the world faced climatic conditions that broke record after record: logging ever more highs for heat, floods, storms, fire and drought. As the year drew to a close, the conclusion was both blatant and bleak: 2024 was th

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Saturday, december 21, 2024

‘The most powerful weapon in the world is a camera,’ says anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

At 73, Paul Watson has spent decades sailing into danger to protect marine life. His activism has led to conflicts with multiple countries, several arrests, and Interpol red notices, the most recent issued by Japan, a nation with a long history of whalin

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‘The most powerful weapon in the world is a camera,’ says anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson arrived in France on Friday after spending five months in detention in Greenland based on an Interpol red notice requested by Japan. He spoke to FRANCE 24 about his time in detention and his plans for the future.

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‘The most powerful weapon in the world is a camera’, anti-whaling activist Paul Watson says

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson arrived in France on Friday after spending five months in detention in Greenland based on an extradition request filed by Japan. He spoke to FRANCE 24 about his time in detention and his plans for the future.

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