Environment

French village implements temporary road closures to protect frogs

The initiative aims to save up to 50 amphibians per night from being crushed

People with gardens urged to spot and report this common but dangerous pest via French ministry site

How to report sightings and avoid a reaction to pine and oak caterpillars

83 bears live in the Pyrenees show latest data - should we be scared of them?

Critics say bears threaten livestock but proponents call for better co-existence and advise what to do if you come across one

news

Action against mosquitoes already launched in several areas of France

The anti-larvae campaign starts earlier this year due to high humidity

Inquiry gives its support to Nice airport expansion, recommends environmental checks

The airport wants to increase capacity to over 18 million – currently around 14.5 million – and is constructing a 25,000m² extension to one of its terminals

Why pampas grass is forbidden in French gardens

There are sanctions for offences including introducing the plant into the wild or even owning one

Row after people in France told to save energy by washing clothes less

The advice to ‘wear the same T-shirt for four or five days’ did not wash well with everyone

Drought alerts raised in France: where is impacted?

A lack of rainfall means some water tables are at low levels, see any restrictions in your area

Wolf presence confirmed in Normandy: What to do if you see one

The confirmation comes after sheep attacks in Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime, and Calvados

What is an eco-friendly way to get rid of old clothes in France?

Some items in a good state can be sold on dedicated websites

PHOTOS: Migrating cranes fill skies in south-west France

The majestic birds are already passing through the Dordogne on their way north

Plans for a new natural park in the south of France are taking shape

If approved, the park will cover 1,728 km2 and include the largest mimosa forest in Europe

VIDEO: First otter for nearly a century captured on Normandy camera

The sighting astounded researchers as ecological management encourages a resurgence of otter numbers in several French regions

Lyon building will be the first in France to achieve sustainable temperature control

Innovative design promises optimal temperatures year-round without traditional heating or cooling systems

PHOTOS: The new French train that also runs on roads

It will take at least three years before these trains are implemented

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

Environmentalists condemn Paris-Toulouse train route preparations

Around 150 large trees were cut down as part of work on the highly controversial LGV service

Anger as another area of France decides to return to 90 km/h on many roads

The measure is ‘anti-environmental’ and would worsen road safety, a campaign group says

My life on the road in France living in a self-built tiny house

Geoffrey Celard, 30, explains why he prefers the simple life

When and why are French farmers threatening new national protests

Not all unions are in agreement with proposed action

Earn money for cleaning up in south of France - and get paid in new local currency

Monnaie Sauvage coins are made from recycled plastic and can be spent in businesses around Marseille

Bordeaux-Toulouse rail project: Prefecture bans weekend protests

Environmental protesters say the demonstrations against the high-speed train projects will still take place

Listen: Stag bellowing season underway in French forests

Every year, nature-lovers gather to listen out for the sound and even compete to imitate it best

Make frequent fliers pay more not less, French association says

Plane tickets should increase in price the more passengers travel, to shift the ‘climate penalty’ to those who ‘can afford it’, a new report states

Overdraft fees, pay, ecology: three French banks criticised in new report

Three major banks scored poorly on social and environmental factors including investing in tax havens and deforestation projects, and large staff pay gaps

Chemical anomalies found in French tap water in study

43% of samples in the study were found to contain PFAS ‘forever chemicals’

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

Letters: Don’t forget that climate change hits French farmers too

Connexion reader highlights the uphill struggle against drought, flooding and varying temperatures

Nantes wins award for its work on biodiversity in city

The city was recognised in its category for initiatives including the ‘greening’ of tarmacked areas and environmental education in schools

Letters: We too have seen a huge drop in biodiversity in French countryside

Connexion reader says that the number of animals visiting her home has plummeted in recent years

Protest in France over detention of American-Canadian environmental activist Paul Watson

Japan has requested his expedition over a number of incidents

France boosts electric boat conversion budget

River authority doubles funding to electrify tourist boats, aiming for a greener future in the industry

Workers find 650 protected species bats in Dordogne church

The dark church eaves have become a nursery for the rare species

Dogs banned from French city water spaces after pet dies

The municipality of Lille issued the order after a dog was found to have died from blue-green algae poisoning

Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Brittany; Calls for ban on cruise ships grow in France

Ecologists say the massive ships are an ‘absurdity’ and argue their economic windfalls are overstated

Hundreds of eels wash up on Brittany beach: area closed off

Around 200 have been estimated to have washed up in the past two days alone

Endurance swimmer forced to end Mediterranean record attempt after 100km

He spent two days and two nights in the water without stopping

French national park hails success of introducing visitor quotas

One area restricted to a daily limit of just 400 people has seen particular success when it comes to flora and fauna recovery

1.5cm hole in leg: Teenager bitten by ‘violin’ spider in south of France

The spiders are not thought to be aggressive. We look at where they are in France and the possible complications of a bite

Comment: Recycling cannot solve plastic pollution problem alone

How one organisation is calling for less waste in a bid to fight pollution

Green power line attracts protests from French environmentalists

Row over high-voltage electricity line set to link green projects in Fos-sur-Mer

France way behind on reaching recycling targets, report shows

A 2012 target to recycle 75% of household packaging has still not been met

Our interview with the creator of France's summer stargazing extravaganza

Popular scientist and environmental lobbyist Hubert Reeves was a key public face of ecology in France. We spoke exclusively to him on a wide range of subjects, from astrophysics to airports, in 2018

Which are the most dangerous animals in France and where are they?

Hornets, ticks, snakes, fish…and sharks? Move over Australia, France has danger too…

Comment: The Paris Olympics are bad for planet and we must scale down

Columnist Nick Inman says that the event 100 years ago was more in tune with modern environmental concerns

French inventors convert food waste into biodegradable plastic

Former university friends develop a sustainable alternative packaging and secure millions to help their firm grow

‘We will continue’: Up to 10,000 at mega-reservoir protest in France

Some clashes broke out but activists are hailing the movement a ‘success’. It comes as emerging science states that the reservoirs are a ‘maladaptive’ solution to climate change

French watchdog publishes map of beaches where swimmers risk illness

Find your nearest beach: the interactive map lets you search and zoom in, and shows a colour-coded legend of whether to avoid a beach or not

What to expect from this weekend’s ‘mega-reservoir’ protests in France

See what protests are planned and where, and why authorities are on such high alert

French eco-firm has chance to win €50 million prize from Elon Musk

NetZero is one of 20 global firms competing for a major environmental award for transforming agricultural waste into biochar

France wrestles with its fly-tipping, littering and plastics problem

'Businesses like to blame individuals, while individuals refuse to make the effort if businesses are polluting on such a large scale', says association

Protesters stop cruise ship from accessing Brittany port of Finistère

‘We think cruise ships are an ecological absurdity and a symbol of social inequality’, said protesters

French Mediterranean water is cleaner than it has been for 40 years

Better wastewater treatment and stricter laws have improved biodiversity, study says

VIDEO: Curious Dordogne river well back after rainiest May since 1981

The mesmerising ‘well’ is still somewhat of a mystery

Why household water bills are set to soar in France

Costs could rise by as much as 50% over the next five to 10 years, say water firms. There could also be a crackdown on people with wells and boreholes

Hunters threaten ‘to strike’ and stop boar hunts in south-west France

They claim a reinstated ban on the use of nets and cages to catch birds is an attack on rural traditions

May 2024 MAP: Where are water restrictions in place in France?

One department is on crisis level and three others have areas on high alert

Take part in France's garden bird-counting weekend

Home owners are being urged to count and identify birds in their garden for an hour at the end of May to help protect avian wildlife in France

These plants are endangered in France and should not be picked

More than 400 plants are protected in France – but more must be done to educate the public about them

Thousands march against new motorway project in south-west France

The protest was the latest opposition movement against the controversial project

MAP: where are France’s nuclear reactors and what is planned for more?

President Macron wants to triple atomic energy production by 2050

‘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

Gold prospecting firm to target four communes in Brittany

Canadian firm's CEO believes valuable reserves have been overlooked

French court removes approval for new road - a year after it is built

The road runs through woodland that is home to some 45 protected species

Strong public support for new TGV lines in south-west France

More than three quarters (78%) of people polled nationally support the Toulouse-Bordeaux and Bordeaux-Dax lines despite considerable local opposition

Coastal erosion: Hundreds of French homes risk becoming uninhabitable

More than 1,000 buildings are at risk by 2028, including many second homes, says government report

Brown bear numbers in France rise for first time in 30 years

Some 83 brown bears and 16 bear cubs were recorded in the Pyrenees last year

Grass cuttings are no longer accepted at some public tips in France

Increasing numbers of public déchetteries are asking you to take care of your cuttings at home

‘Highly damaging’ fruit-eating fly at risk of spreading in France

Damage could range from 20-100% of harvests, experts have warned

French hotels charge less if guests take shorter showers

The ‘water saving’ option enables guests to limit their water usage and save resources

‘Ponds in rural France are beautifully maintained but no longer used’

Columnist Peter Wyeth laments that these large, impressive sites, once the fresh-aired setting for family picnics, barbecues and fun, now fail to attract people

Tiger mosquitoes now in Normandy, last region of France to escape them

The tiny insects were first detected in France in 2004

PHOTOS: Study shows greenest and healthiest places in live in France

The number of green spaces was a major criteria considered in new health ranking which also looked at healthy food shops, bathing areas and hiking trails

PHOTOS: High tides make Mont Saint-Michel an island again

The phenomenon only happens for a few days each year

Be aware of caterpillars when walking your dog in France

Certain caterpillars can cause necrosis of the tongue in dogs and are appearing earlier each year

Environment

French village implements temporary road closures to protect frogs

People with gardens urged to spot and report this common but dangerous pest via French ministry site

83 bears live in the Pyrenees show latest data - should we be scared of them?

Action against mosquitoes already launched in several areas of France

Trending

How much do flats and houses rent for in your area of France? See official data

App to ease new EES border control checks is now ready - how it will work

French visas and residency card applications: Connexion readers share their experiences

Immigration chief replies to Connexion over French residency cards and ‘hard’ language tests

People with gardens urged to spot and report this common but dangerous pest via French ministry site

Learning French: what does c'est pas la peine mean and when should it be used?

Uber Ski connects French transport hubs to Alpine ski resorts

Inquiry gives its support to Nice airport expansion, recommends environmental checks

Why pampas grass is forbidden in French gardens

Row after people in France told to save energy by washing clothes less

Drought alerts raised in France: where is impacted?

Wolf presence confirmed in Normandy: What to do if you see one

What is an eco-friendly way to get rid of old clothes in France?

PHOTOS: Migrating cranes fill skies in south-west France

Plans for a new natural park in the south of France are taking shape

VIDEO: First otter for nearly a century captured on Normandy camera

Lyon building will be the first in France to achieve sustainable temperature control

What’s new in France in 2025 for environment and ecology

Tanker overturns on rural Normandy road spilling thousands of litres of fuel

Controversial new French motorway: Decision delayed on work suspension

PHOTOS: The new French train that also runs on roads

French town battles rat problem with the help of ferrets

Living off-grid in France: A couple’s 40-year plus success story

New bill aims to outlaw use of small water bottles in France

Controversial A69 motorway in doubt as court assesses environmental impact

Small increase in notaire fees for property buyers expected in France

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

Environmentalists condemn Paris-Toulouse train route preparations

Anger as another area of France decides to return to 90 km/h on many roads

My life on the road in France living in a self-built tiny house

When and why are French farmers threatening new national protests

Earn money for cleaning up in south of France - and get paid in new local currency

Bordeaux-Toulouse rail project: Prefecture bans weekend protests

Listen: Stag bellowing season underway in French forests

Make frequent fliers pay more not less, French association says

Overdraft fees, pay, ecology: three French banks criticised in new report

Chemical anomalies found in French tap water in study

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

Letters: Don’t forget that climate change hits French farmers too

Nantes wins award for its work on biodiversity in city

Letters: We too have seen a huge drop in biodiversity in French countryside

Protest in France over detention of American-Canadian environmental activist Paul Watson

France boosts electric boat conversion budget

Workers find 650 protected species bats in Dordogne church

Dogs banned from French city water spaces after pet dies

Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Brittany; Calls for ban on cruise ships grow in France

Hundreds of eels wash up on Brittany beach: area closed off

Endurance swimmer forced to end Mediterranean record attempt after 100km

French national park hails success of introducing visitor quotas

1.5cm hole in leg: Teenager bitten by ‘violin’ spider in south of France

Comment: Recycling cannot solve plastic pollution problem alone

Green power line attracts protests from French environmentalists

France way behind on reaching recycling targets, report shows

Our interview with the creator of France's summer stargazing extravaganza

Which are the most dangerous animals in France and where are they?

Comment: The Paris Olympics are bad for planet and we must scale down

French inventors convert food waste into biodegradable plastic

‘We will continue’: Up to 10,000 at mega-reservoir protest in France

French watchdog publishes map of beaches where swimmers risk illness

What to expect from this weekend’s ‘mega-reservoir’ protests in France

French eco-firm has chance to win €50 million prize from Elon Musk

France wrestles with its fly-tipping, littering and plastics problem

Protesters stop cruise ship from accessing Brittany port of Finistère

French Mediterranean water is cleaner than it has been for 40 years

VIDEO: Curious Dordogne river well back after rainiest May since 1981

Why household water bills are set to soar in France

Hunters threaten ‘to strike’ and stop boar hunts in south-west France

May 2024 MAP: Where are water restrictions in place in France?

Take part in France's garden bird-counting weekend

These plants are endangered in France and should not be picked

Thousands march against new motorway project in south-west France

MAP: where are France’s nuclear reactors and what is planned for more?

‘Climate change should interest more people than it does’

Gold prospecting firm to target four communes in Brittany