Climate change

Farming couple must move, first people displaced in Normandy by climate change

The couple are the first in the region to be forcibly displaced by encroaching sea levels

Drought, floods: French communes find insurance contracts cancelled

Climate change claims are rising, but local authorities say that without insurance, ‘society is undermined’

Switzerland to change border with France due to melting glaciers

It comes after the glaciers were found to have lost 4% volume in 2023

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Floods, fires, and drought: ‘Shock’ France climate change report

The report warns that coastal cities could disappear and major cities could be uninhabitable in summer

‘Climate change should interest more people than it does’

France’s go-to expert on global warming and bestselling author, Jean-Marc Jancovici, talks to us about the future of our planet

Second-home owners in France could soon face insurance surcharge

Government report recommends creating a prevention fund with insurance sector at risk of collapse over natural disaster payouts

Hot weather to continue in France as more temperature records broken

Sunny skies and no rain is predicted for the days ahead

Trees in France bloom like in spring as weather disrupts nature cycles

Ecosystems, already fragile from previous temperature anomalies, are not following seasonal patterns, impacting their survival

35.9C: hottest ever October in France, now a drop before rise again

Rainfall now brings a reprieve in many areas but it is not expected to last

Why peanuts and pistachios are the future of French farming

Farmers must grow completely different crops adapted to extreme weather, says scientist

Winemakers face new problems each year due to climate change in France

Vigneron Jonathan Hesford explains the unprecedented impact of extreme weather on his work in the vineyard

Southern France on heatwave alert after temperature records broken

Wednesday could see the mercury hit 40C in Provence, Corsica and Occitanie

French business graduate finds the tools to tackle climate crisis

Thibaud Morthelier created his traditional hand tool business in 2021 after growing disillusioned with corporate life in Lyon

‘Face the reality’: France ‘must prepare’ for +4C global warming

It comes after Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Béchu urged France ‘to come out of denial’ over climate change

Bank ATMs vandalised across France by climate campaigners

Activists spread glue in protest at what it called BNP Paribas surcharges and fossil fuel involvement

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

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

MAP: See where France’s 148 main airports are

France has around one airport for every 400,000 people, but they are not all used for commercial flights.

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

Marmots at risk from rising temperatures in France

Researchers have noticed a fall in reproduction among marmots – also known as groundhogs – in the Pyrenees

French PM urges big business to return purchasing power to the public

Élisabeth Borne said that ‘everyone should be responsible’ and that she ‘would be paying attention to what large companies do’ with massive profits

Stop lit-up advert screens and private jets, urge French campaigners

A new decree states that advertising screens must be turned off between the hours of 01:00 and 06:00 but environmental organisations say this is not enough

Global warming: popular Pyrenees mountain glacier disappears entirely

A French glacier expert has warned that all of the mountain ranges’ glaciers will be gone by 2050

Heatwave: Record temperatures expected in France tomorrow

The current hot weather is forecast to peak tomorrow (Monday, July 18), with the southwest and western side of the country set to be most affected

French TV predicted hot weather for 2050…but we’re almost there now

A forecaster has said it is ‘frightening’ that the 2050 predictions made eight years ago are coming true now, almost three decades earlier – as the mercury tips 40C

Ukraine, energy, pensions: Key points of Macron’s July 14 interview

The French president discussed the issues which will play an important role in his second term in office

France’s official average temperature rises by 0.4C after review

The new figure from Météo France come as storms are set to hit south-east France, following a week of hailstone damage across the country

France must act or drought will hurt power stations, crops and tourism

Former UN climate official adds France has plenty of space to build wind and solar power plants but must do it now

Drought alerts now expected for almost all departments in France

While climate experts say it is not too late to act for the future and are encouraged by first meetings with new Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne

Water recycling plant in west France first of its kind in Europe

The new plant is set to be trialled for a year, and if successful will eventually recycle eight million cubic metres of water, supplying a much-needed extra source in an area at risk of drought

Climate: France hits ‘Overshoot Day’ on natural resources use today

The metric shows when France exceeds naturally renewable resources. If the whole world used resources in the same way, we would need 2.9 Earths

Extinction Rebellion mount ‘civil disobedience’ protests in Paris

The eco movement occupied several major boulevards in the capital in a bid to call on the forthcoming new government to take stronger action against climate change

French lottery winner uses €200m fortune to fight climate change

The man, identified only as ‘Guy,’ has set up a foundation to help fight global warming and also to support exhausted hospital carers

Climate change in France: People ‘do not understand what’s coming’

A leading scientist warns that the country is at high risk of drought and lacks ‘food resilience’, and calls for greater action from the presidential election candidates

Around 150 ‘look up’ climate rallies to take place in France today

The demonstration name is a reference to last year’s US climate disaster denial film, Don’t Look Up

Greenpeace France: Tackling climate change is our priority

‘France is one of the very rare countries with a long coastline which does not yet have even one offshore wind turbine,’ the head of the association in France tells The Connexion

Floods, heatwaves: New report predicts global warming effect on France

'The extent and magnitude of climate change impacts are greater than estimated in previous reports'

French beekeepers experiment with indoor hives in bid to save bees

Bee colonies are heavily impacted by parasites and are struggling to survive warmer winters. A retired scientist and former professional beekeeper is trying keeping them inside

1,400 experts say French presidential candidates must address climate

A new open letter calls on them to stop the “discourse of inaction”, stating that voters have the right to know what measures they will take to tackle the crisis

France’s Citizens’ climate body explained

The Convention Citoyenne pour le Climat is made up of 150 volunteers randomly selected from the public to brainstorm ideas to tackle climate change

More than 200,000 trees being planted for future forest outside Paris

New woodland, which will eventually contain one million trees, is being created to help fight against atmospheric pollution and climate change

Why are death rates rising among hedgehogs in France?

A variety of strange symptoms have been reported in the small mammals including respiratory problems, genetic defects and weakened immune systems

COP26: What has France agreed at the climate summit?

As the global climate change event wraps up in Glasgow after two weeks, we look at the pledges made by France, including an end to financing foreign fossil fuel production by the end of 2022

COP26: New map shows 20% of French coast at risk from erosion

Regions with sandy coasts are most at risk, data shows, with estimates suggesting that by 2100, as many as 47,000 homes could be affected

Online map shows which French cities may be submerged by sea in future

The tool calculates the effects of climate change on the environment and shows areas of cities such as Calais, Dunkirk, Bordeaux and Nice under water

Are extreme weather alerts becoming more common in France?

Climate change is said to be creating the ideal conditions for sudden episodes of heavy rainfall, as have hit southern regions recently - but new categories of alerts have also been added

Paris facing extreme floods and longer heatwaves, says mairie study

The report forecasts serious risks to health and infrastructure as climate challenges increase

Octopus invasion threatens lobster and livelihoods in Brittany

The rising numbers are due to climate change, conservationists have said, with some fishmongers now aiming to boost octopus demand in France

Rare wild tortoises treated for burns in wake of south of France fire

A local rescue centre estimates that 60% of the tortoises found so far had survived the flames, although the death toll may rise as the rescue operation continues

New wildfires hit south of France, one death reported in Var blaze

Strong winds are making it difficult to quell two fires in Aude, while in Vaucluse 130 people have been evacuated and firefighting is affecting the drinking water supply; a death and a missing person are reported in the Var

How climate change will affect major cities in France by 2050

Experts have projected the areas that will experience more extreme heat, drought, rain and wildfires with Grenoble, Marseille, Bordeaux and Avignon among those most affected

Hotter, drier summers ‘will be the new normal in France’

Climate report says ‘soil drought’ will become a regular concern in the decades to come

Mini-tornado rips off roof as more extreme weather hits France

A 17-year-old is still missing after falling in a river in Oise, declarations of an official ‘catastrophe naturelle’ imminent - and more storms forecast across the centre-east

French senators suggest environmental charge for home parcel delivery

Senators are worried about the environmental impact as home deliveries have boomed during the health crisis

Shopping, driving, home: What France’s new climate law would change

The law has been voted through by MPs and will be examined by the Senate next month. We explain how - if passed - it will affect many areas of everyday life in France

France ordered to pay €1 compensation for ‘climate inaction’

The case has been hailed as ‘historic’ by climate change campaigners, after the court ordered the state to pay symbolic damages to four NGOs

Below usual cold spell expected to return this weekend

Last weekend, -26.2C was recorded overnight in the Jura. Next few days will be warmer but temperatures predicted to fall again soon

French study finds 5G increases risk to climate

Deployment of the new mobile internet technology is likely to cause a 'significant increase' in greenhouse gas emissions, an independent climate council has found

Macron: France proposes referendum on climate change laws

The President made the announcement before members of the Citizens' Convention on climate, but his words have been met with criticism by Greenpeace and WWF

France to plant 50 million trees to fight global warming

Almost €200million will be spent on the project to repopulate the nation's forests

60% of people in France are now at risk of climate disaster

The recent fatal floods in Alpes-Maritimes are a harsh example of how climate disaster is touching more and more of the French population

Protestors deflate tyres of 220 SUVs in Bordeaux

The vehicles were targeted as part of a protest against greenhouse gas pollution

Floating wind farm coming to French seas in 2022

A new floating wind farm in the French Mediterranean is one of many planned in French seas by 2030. Experts say the technology has “infinite potential”.

SUVs have ‘crushing’ impact on French climate goals says NGO

WWF France today (October 6) denounced the use of SUVs for their “crushing” impact on the environment, and suggested ways to reduce the damage.

Flying taxis to be tested in Paris in 2021

Plans are underway to unveil a flying taxi at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and RATP aims to sell tickets for public flights by 2030.

France opens first 'carpool' lane near Grenoble

The French city of Grenoble is to introduce a carpool lane on one of its main roads, which will be open to taxis, low emission cars and vehicles carrying more than one passenger from today (September 30).

Airbus unveils plans for zero-emission air travel by 2035

The French aircraft manufacturer is aiming to be the first company in the world to launch eco-friendly, hydrogen-fuelled aircraft.

Vehicle industry boss against ‘absurd’ French eco-tax

An eco-friendly proposal that suggests taxing vehicles according to how much they weigh has been rubbished by the president of a French automobile association.

Heatwaves 'will radically change the landscape of France’

The first half of 2020 was the hottest in France since records began, with temperatures averaging 1.8C higher than usual levels. If temperatures continue to rise, by 2050 France could be a very different country.

‘Help us’ French publicity pilots ask President Macron

Pilots who fly planes with advertising banners in France may see their profession banned under new climate regulations. They are appealing to the French President for help.

French vines ready early amid Covid and climate challenges

Vines in France are ready a month earlier than normal, with the harvesting date breaking the 2003 record for the year, due to a particularly warm spring - but climate change and Covid are still presenting some issues.

Heatwaves in France more frequent due to climate change

As France swelters in temperatures of 35-40°C and a red heatwave warning continues for 15 departments, weather experts have confirmed that heatwaves are becoming more frequent due to global warming.

What to do if your neighbours are burning garden waste

In our monthly column Legal Notes, reader questions are answered and explained.

France: Adverts to be more environmentally positive?

Advertisers need to re-imagine their sector as a force for environmental change, according to a proposed new law in France, with suggested measures giving local politicians more power to control advertising, and a ban on the promotion of “toxic” products.

Environmental news in France: July

In this month's round up of the environmental news making headlines in France, we talk air quality, beekeeping, and the new must-buy eco-friendly rosé from the Loire.