Environment

Global light pollution rises but falls sharply in France, study finds

Findings highlight the impact of French street lighting policies on biodiversity, sleep and energy use

Do helicopters drop snakes? Old rumour shapes French environmental debate

Bizarre rumour first spread in 1970s

French honey explained: why local honey varies by region and flower

Artisanal French honey is high quality and strictly controlled

practical

Is France’s buzzard population at risk?

All native birds of prey are protected in the country

New stretch of contested A69 motorway in south-west France opens

Entire road should be fully operational by mid-October

Garden hose watering plants, with a red car and a backyard swimming pool shown in adjacent panels.

Water restrictions imposed across parts of France

Officials warn that conditions could worsen in the coming weeks

Where can I find an Asian hornet trap in France if my mairie will not give me one?

When local support is unavailable, there are still practical alternatives

Explore the new ‘Tour de Haute-Garonne’ cycle route

The scenic 665km cycle route in Occitanie features 13 stages and stunning beauty hotspots like the Canal du Midi and the Pyrénéen foothills

Why France still has millions of nightingales while UK numbers fall

The rossignol returns in spring - here is where to listen for it

French wildlife prospers from darker streets – but debate over public safety remains

Some areas are rethinking lighting changes introduced in 2022

Sewing machine repairs, toad rescue and crematorium heat recycling

Green news stories from around France

A view of a woman walking her dog on a lead in a forest

France forest walks – what to do and what to avoid

Authorities stress that access depends on responsible behaviour

French E-bike ‘van’ is eco answer for door-to-door deliveries

The Midipile, which can carry a 300kg load, is a hybrid of an electric bicycle and covered vehicle

New outbreak of electric ants in the south of France sparks concern

Invasive species may gain foothold if containment fails

‘It’s becoming intolerable’: homeowners in France move north to escape the heat

Heatwaves becoming more regular and intense

A view of a woman plugging in an electric car

More than a quarter of new car registrations in France are electric

EV sales hit new record in November 2025

Veggie burgers and plant-based sausages: French farmers and consumers react to name ruling delay

The EU failed to reach final agreement to draft rules governing plant-based naming

Hydroelectric conversions boost demand for historic French watermills

Laws on restoring rivers mean many are now threatened with removal

A view of shelves of glass Perrier bottles

Millions of Perrier bottles blocked in south of France over bacteria concerns

Anomalies found at plant in Gard

More French cities clamp down on electric scooters

Enforcement of tougher controls proposed on the increasingly popular mode of transport

Law proposal: commercial flights banned at night in Toulouse

Initiative seeks to reduce local noise pollution

Lynx warnings appear on road signs in French Alps

Purpose is to reduce collisions with the endangered species

A view of a woman filling up a glass with tap water

French state sued over contaminated tap water

VCM contamination comes from PVC pipes installed in the 1970s and 1980s - with Dordogne the most affected department

Why hundreds of road signs across France have had flames added to them

Signs in at least two dozen departments have been targeted in recent days

La Poste offers drop-off points for used frying pans and saucepans

National recycling scheme organised in partnership kitchenware manufacturer

Historic Jacques Cousteau vessel to be restored by Florida non-profit

‘Cousteau showed the beauty of the ocean… now it’s our turn to protect it’

French mushrooms poisoned my friend - learn to be careful

Columnist Sue Adams gives advice on sourcing wild champignons

Map: How French groundwater levels are faring in November

Replenishing begins but remains below 2024 levels

Water restrictions extended in southern French department as drought continues

Pyrénées-Orientales remains in a state of drought as groundwater levels continue to fall

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Map: check the quality of your tap water in France

We explain how to use the free and interactive online tool

Electric bike success in Toulouse

The city has extended its self-service network to surrounding areas

Bin charges soar in many areas of France

One commune has seen fees rise by 90% in five years

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What you need to know when collecting rainwater in France

The rules are complex and depend on what you plan to do with it

Plan to recycle unused medicines in France could save €1.5 billion a year

Products returned to pharmacies to be repackaged then resold under health minister's plan

France set to require amateur sea fishers to declare key catches

Recreational fishers who go into set zones in a boat would need to register specific catches in bid to protect fish numbers

Man dies from hornet attack whilst gardening in north of France

The 54-year-old went into fatal anaphylactic shock following multiple stings - we explain what to do if you discover a nest near your home

A stag in a forest. Listen: ‘Stag bellowing’ season continues in French forests

Listen: Stag bellowing season to begin in French forests

Every year, nature-lovers gather to listen out for the sound and even compete to imitate it best. A 500-hour livestream is available of the bellowing season on TV this year

French hunting season 2025-2026 dates by department and species

Organised hunts are set locally and Sundays tend to be the busiest day

10% of France’s green energy wasted in first half of 2025

Problem attributed to the intermittent nature of solar and wind power

New climate school for Paris

First European school to offer a degree dedicated to the ecological transition

Toulouse recycles supercomputer heat to power its neighborhood

Project embraces a virtuous circular economy with sustainable energy use

Water filters not working well in France, says consumer report

Pollutants can still be traced in water samples after filtration

Revolutionary bottle-washing plant cuts carbon footprint of French wine

Eco in Pack leads the way in reusing wine bottles, cutting costs and emissions

The best fruit trees to plant in your French garden

Columnist Sue Adams outlines the perks of growing your own

France green news: cigarette recycling, water reserves and ski resort closure

A startup harvests cellulose from cigarette filters, quarries in Brittany are repurposed for water storage, and an Alpine village votes to shut its ski resort amid financial and climate pressures.

Are the volcanoes in central France still active?

Volcanoes shadow major city in central France

Wasps, mosquitoes, hornets, ants: how to deal with summer insects in France

Natural repellents can keep some pests away

Ban on barbecues in Finistère in bid to limit wildfires

Restrictions in place in dozens of communes as authorities work to prevent repeat of 2022 blazes

Map: groundwater situation worsens in France, with 39% of levels already below normal

Water basins are seeing levels drop as summer heat continues

Hydrogen project in Lorraine offers hope for cleaner transport

Underground hydrogen was discovered in the area in 2023

Why French gardeners prune and plant trees differently

Columnist Sue Adams reveals the role of history in France's relationship with its trees

Tourism hosts, French golf courses and ski resorts asked to reduce water consumption

25 industry players will receive government funding to reduce consumption

French state partially responsible for jogger’s death from green algae on Brittany beach

Green algae can be toxic and has also been linked to the deaths of several animals near to the beach

A view of a woman looking at mobile phones in a tech shop

Sticker to appear on (almost) all new phones and tablets in France - this is what it means

The ‘eco’ energy label should help customers make informed purchases

Pollution alerts raised in France: how to check if your area is affected and what to do

High temperatures are contributing to the deterioration of air quality across the country

Red air pollution alerts raised in Brittany

Increasingly warm weather means air quality across the whole region will be ‘poor’ tomorrow (June 20)

What happens to France’s nuclear waste and where is new waste 'mega site' planned?

The majority of France’s radioactive waste poses little threat

Where could there be water shortages in France?

The majority of groundwater sources are seeing levels fall as summer begins

French land agency reduces €1m field sale to €15,000

Intervention of rural land management agency causes massive price reduction in Brittany

Glass bottle return scheme offering refunds launches in French supermarkets

Trial will run for 18 months in north and west France with customers seeing 10c or 20c deposit returned for bringing back empty glass items

What to do with your unused or expired medicine in France

French people are becoming more eco-friendly when disposing of medical tablets, capsules, creams, sprays and more

Officials allowed to enter private land in Dordogne to record local flora

Around 20 villages are affected. Agents may cross walls, fences and other barriers if necessary

The Pont Neuf In Toulouse on a sunny summer day

French city to increase water price by 42% this summer to fight drought

It comes as the scheme was hailed a success in 2024, despite some resident criticism

New way to measure pesticide use in France angers green groups

Controversial formula will help French government achieve its target of reducing by half for 2030

A view of someone bivouacking in the mountains with one small tent

When and where is wild camping forbidden in France?

The rules vary dependent upon set-up, length of stay, what is nearby etc

Glass bottle and jar deposit scheme returns in France with large-scale trial

Shoppers who return products will receive between 10c and 20c per item

Almost 60% of people in France concerned about 'water scarcity'

Levels of stress hydrique vary across different French regions and age ranges

Why you may now see a large black and blue bee in your French garden

No, it’s not a basic bumblebee in a snazzy new jacket…

How long to receive French renovation grants - and why it is getting longer

Protestors accuse the scheme of ‘malfunctioning’, but the managing authority disputes this

Three eco stories from across France

Electric cars creating jobs, artistic marine upcycling, and a geothermal heating initiative

Only one-in-five returns packaging in French bid to cut waste

The supermarket-led project is struggling with low return rates

Wild boar increasingly present in French communes: What to do if you see one

There has been a sharp rise in the number of boar in recent years

Exemption from fees to register electric car to end across most of France from May

Applying for a carte grise will soon become more expensive

Boost for people doing home renovations in Dordogne

The plan aims to connect citizens with local public renovation services to modernise old housing stock

White storks make strong return in France via nest ‘platforms’ and clipped wings

The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux shares the conservation challenges in saving these birds from extinction