France introduces “repairability index” to bring circularity to electronics
These days it’s all too common to have a drawer of discarded cell phones and other broken electronics in our homes, but if we want our economy to become truly circular, we will have to come up with innovative ways for these electronics to be repaired and reused when they get damaged. To achieve Read More...
Sounds and smells in the French countryside are now protected by law
From the crowing of roosters to the distinctive barnyard whiff, France’s countryside sounds and smells are now officially protected by law. The European country has recently passed a bill that protects the “sensory heritage” of its rural areas. The move came following an increasing number of Read More...
ONA is first vegan restaurant in France to receive Michelin star
In the culinary world, a Michelin star is the ultimate award for excellence in cooking. A vegan restaurant in southern France has claimed the honor of being the first plant-based restaurant to win the prestigious recognition. The restaurant’s name, ONA, stands for Origine Non Animale. Run by Read More...
Project to stop desertification in Sahara gets $14 billion cash injection
The area that is now the Sahara desert was once home to fertile land that supported the people who lived there, but creeping desertification has left the land all but inhabitable, plunging people into poverty and driving many to migrate. To address the problem, the African Union launched the Read More...
The world’s biggest insect factory farm is under construction in France
In a bid to lower the carbon footprint of the agricultural sector, a French insect farming startup by the name of Ÿnsect is building the world’s largest insect farm in Amiens, a small city north of Paris. As reported by TechCrunch, the facility will focus on raising mealworm beetles — Read More...
French law tightens regulations on keeping wild animals in captivity
Although it can be fascinating to see wild animals up close and personal, many animals kept for human viewing are not housed in humane conditions. In a big win for animals and their activists, France has passed a law gradually banning the use of wild animals in traveling circuses and the captivity Read More...
France is bringing back the freight train in a push to green the economy
Over the last couple of decades, trains have steadily lost ground to lorries to transport goods from one end to the other. And while trucks are more convenient, as they enable more flexible point-to-point operation, they are also significantly more carbon-polluting. In France though, the freight Read More...
Germany is offering generous subsidies to lure people to switch to EVs
If you’re looking to buy an electric vehicle in Germany, you’re in luck! Government subsidies aimed at boosting an electric kickstart to the auto industry means leasing the best-selling five-door Renault Zoe EV is now essentially free. Individuals and families who put off buying a new Read More...
Environmentalists just won big in France’s municipal elections
The municipal elections just took place in France, and the results show there is one big thing that voters have in mind: the environment. Several major cities across the country saw victories for environmentalists. The unprecedented showing for Europe Écologie Les Verts, a once minor political Read More...
These countries are using COVID-19 to tackle climate change
Although COVID-19 shut downs gave the environment a brief respite from emissions and pollution, the fight against climate change is far from resolved. As we move forward and begin to reopen our economies, we look at case studies in South Korea, France, and Italy where policy makers are taking Read More...