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The UN's annual climate change summit, known as COP31, opens this Monday in Turkey amid deep concern following deadly heatwaves in Europe and deadly floods in Nepal. A "super El Niño" in the Pacific is also expected to drive more extreme weather events. In response, COP31 host Turkey is set to launch a global initiative aiming to electrify a third of the world economy. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

Humans have caused irreversible changes to our planet in their time on Earth, pollution that continues even in death. Cremation relies heavily on fossil fuels, while traditional burials take up land. So is there a more eco-friendly way to honour our loved ones? French scientists are exploring the possibility of composting human bodies, a process that returns those who have died to the earth. Our Down to Earth team reports.

Climate activists in Brazil and beyond are celebrating President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's election victory as good news for the Amazon rainforest. His last four years in power saw a record decrease in deforestation in the world's largest rainforest, appropriately nicknamed the planet's lungs. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

Fires in Indonesia have burned through more than 1.9 million hectares of land, according to new data, as the country battles its worst wildfire season in a decade. The blazes have sent toxic smoke across much of Southeast Asia, forcing schools to close and fuelling a rise in respiratory illnesses. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.

We all have that one pair of old jeans in the back of our wardrobe – don’t throw them out! A French company says denim fibres make for great insulation against the cold and heat. Millions of jeans are already being recycled in a factory in north of the country. Their insulating panels have even found their way into some of France's most iconic buildings. Our Down to Earth team reports.

Once known as "The Land of a Million Elephants", only an estimated 800 elephants remain in Laos, as deforestation and exploitation push the species closer than ever to the brink of extinction. Despite the dwindling numbers, a Frenchwoman has made it her mission to give ageing elephants a new home, buying them from their abusive owners. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar.

In recent years, the Catholic Church has taken a growing stance in favour of climate action, culminating with the Vatican's signing of the landmark Paris climate agreement in 2022. As Pope Leo wraps up his four-day visit to France, FRANCE 24's Valerie Dekimpe looks at where religion and the environment meet.

In the south of France, climate change is reshaping the region’s fruit production. Rather than fighting against it, a growing number of farmers are learning how to work with it – turning to tropical crops, now well-suited to the local climate. Bananas, papaya and even dragon fruit are being grown in greenhouses but also in open fields, without heating or pesticides. Our Down to Earth team reports.

The US-Israel war on Iran has shaken global energy markets and coal is no exception. Countries around the world are turning to the highly polluting source of power in a bid to avoid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, global coal demand is forecast to rise by ​1.2% this year to a record 8.94 billion ‌tonnes. FRANCE 24’s Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe has the details in this edition.

In France, a handful of wealthy entrepreneurs are buying up hundreds of hectares of land with the goal of letting nature reclaim its rightful place. Among them is Rodolphe Landemaine, an artisan baker at the helm of 30 bakeries in France and Japan. He routinely opens the doors to his Normandy estate to other business leaders in hopes that they, too, will put their money to good use.

While most of France suffered from last week's heatwave, a certain number of Montpellier residents were in total comfort in their apartments – without air conditioning.  From Middle Eastern-inspired latticework maximising ventilation to curved facades acting as giant sunshades, everything has been designed to keep the heat at bay.  And it works: indoor temperatures rarely rise above 25°C. In this edition, we look at the design keeping people cool in the heat.

Your ripped clothes deserve better than the bottom of your closet or – worse – the trash can. The French government is now paying people to get them repaired, in a bid to extend the life of clothing and avoid waste. Under the Repair Bonus scheme, consumers can get a discount worth up to €25 per item. Since its launch in 2023, more than 1 million repairs have been subsidised. Our Down to Earth team reports.

Many people assume that organic agriculture is expensive and hard to produce on a massive scale. But a group of 10 farmers in France's western Vendée region want to prove that chemical-free farming can feed a whole country. Their co-operative is 100 percent organic and local. Their vegetables are sold to schools, supermarkets and restaurants. The co-op's yields are on par with those of conventional farming. Our Down to Earth team reports.

France is seeing a second consecutive heatwave in less than a month. Half the country is now under red alert as temperatures are expected to rise to 43°C in the southwestern city of Bordeaux and 39°C in the capital Paris. According to weather service Méteo-France, out of 51 heatwaves recorded nationwide since 1947, two-thirds have occurred since 2000 and about half of those episodes in the last 15 years.

The 2026 World Cup is bringing excitement to football fans around the world, but it will also come at a cost for the environment. The 2026 edition is officially projected to be the most polluting sporting event in history, with a total carbon footprint of 9 million tonnes of CO2, nearly double the average of the last four tournaments. FRANCE 24's Environment Editor Valerie Dekimpe tells us more.