Environment

News updates on environmental issues affecting life in France, from green transport initiatives to being eco-friendly at home.

French eco-villages find way to combat depopulation

Imagination, commitment and hard work can help rebuild rural life as these three villages in Dordogne and Limousin show

French MPs approve bill to speed up development of renewables

France aims to multiply solar energy production by 10 and increase both off and onshore wind farms

French rural residents ‘must be protected from pesticides’

The Conseil d’Etat has ruled that minimum distances between homes and pesticide-approved agricultural land insufficient

French golf clubs’ plea to relax rules on reusing wastewater

Golf courses were criticised for watering greens during last year’s heatwave - but using treated wastewater comes with ‘onerous’ restrictions

Algae farm windows help French flats go green

The initiative allows firms to make money from harvesting the crop while at the same time reducing energy consumption in the building

Cart horses collect Christmas trees and ‘bring joy’ across France

Around 200 towns use horse-drawn carts to collect recycling, take children to school or senior citizens to market

The steam train in France which runs on coal – and olives

A steam train in the south of France, which has been running for more than 100 years, has begun experimenting with using olives as fuel

Recycling, repairs, receipts: Environmental changes in France in 2023

We look at Europe’s first waste water recycling system in Sables-d’Olonne, the growing list of items you can get money to repair and more

Green news France: hydrogen city bus, solar panel threat to trees

French-made hydrogen minibus has been showcased to mayors, opposition to tree felling for solar panel park and vote for most beautiful tree

French wind turbine blades to get a second life as car body panels

Previously virtually impossible to recycle, the carbon fibre blades can now be saved from landfill and re-formed

Green news France: 5% return on solar, recycled Route du Rhum boat

Locals invest in solar park with guaranteed returns, sailor used eco-boat to complete Route du Rhum, Toulouse tower on hold

How will weather be in my French town in 2050? New tool helps find out

The Météo France platform aims to help country adapt to climate change, warning of natural, health and agricultural risks in all areas

Explainer: What is a ZAD land zone and where are they in France?

We look at France’s ‘Zones à défendre’ environmental protest sites (present and past) and their aims

‘Electric’ sting fire ants found in France for first time

The invasive species from South America can sting the eyes of domestic pets, causing blindness

Green news France: Nantes’ new ‘living’ bridge, Limoges city potagers

A ‘vegetalised’ bridge claimed to be first in the world, edible plants replacing flower beds could feed residents

France aims to overcome local discontent in wind farm push

Emmanuel Macron has inaugurated France’s first offshore wind farm, after revealing measures aimed at increasing local support for renewable energy projects

12-year project to rewild French river a success

Local authorities aimed to return the site in southern France to its natural state to mitigate the effects of climate change

French journalists pledge more responsible reporting on climate issues

More than 1,000 journalists and media organisations, including The Connexion, have signed a charter which aims to encourage rigorous reporting on the climate emergency

Call for ‘energy sobriety’ in France shows gap between rich and poor

Companies are committing to energy-saving as part of a new ‘sobriété énergétique’ but experts say not everyone can afford to change their lifestyle

Green news France: Art fights cigarette butts, retrofit Solex mopeds

A giant cigarette packet full of butts installed on Nice’s Promenade des Anglais by France’s answer to Banksy

Climate protestors let down tyres of SUVs in southwest France

Activists in Toulouse are the latest to join the global movement, saying that government action on the more polluting vehicles has been ineffective so far

Climate change: ‘We need greener fuels, not jet bans, in France’

France has dozens of small airports which rely on private business flights or accommodate emergency services