Down to Earth Podcast
1) 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 a shadow over the future of the Games. Like many ...Show More
2) 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 polluting our shores. Just a few weeks ago, beaches in...Show More
3) 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 end of the century. A French mountain climber is p...Show More
4) 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 ecological crisis. The country has been gripped by a severe...Show More
5) 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 speed. China is now home to nearly a third of the wor...Show More
6) 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 cheap, efficient and renewable heat stored in a s...Show More
7) 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 loss, the illegal killing of jaguars has pushed th...Show More
8) 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 rescuing waste shells and using them to make porce...Show More
From trash to fine dining: The French startup recycling oysters into porcelain
05:10 | Dec 19th, 2025
9) 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 off from France to the United States, some flying ...Show More
10) 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 unveiled a €3 billion plan to curb its dependence ...Show More
French-American chemist makes major breakthrough in recycling of rare earths
05:09 | Dec 8th, 2025