MPs push to remove low emission driving zones in France Critics say the zones penalise lower-income households, but the government has warned abolishing them could cost billions
Plastic in bottled water: these brands identified in France as least affected A new consumer study claims four popular brands offer the safest water to drink
City in south of France will not penalise ZFE breaches until 2027 Local authorities have hailed the decision as a ‘political victory’
news Farm pesticides: Map claims to show the French areas most and least exposed The north and west of France are particularly affected while Corsica performs well
Crit’Air 3 vehicles to be allowed limited access to Paris in 2025 The new 12-day rule will affect 422,000 private vehicles and 59,000 commercial vehicles in Greater Paris
More charges brought against bottled water firms supplying France ‘A financial settlement must not put an end to investigations into fraud’, says NGO Foodwatch
Chemical anomalies found in French tap water in study 43% of samples in the study were found to contain PFAS ‘forever chemicals’
Paris mayor confirms plans to reduce speed limit to 50km/h on city ring road The reduction from 70 km/h is not supported by the government but the mairie says it is needed to reduce pollution on the périphérique
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
MAP: Air pollution in France, the worst - and best - areas Cities and the countryside face different threats
Air pollution improvement: Three French cities can ease car ban rules One local council said it would not bring in ban regardless of the government’s decision
Where do I need a Crit’Air sticker for my French car? Vehicles in some parts of France require stickers to show pollution levels
Foul smell in Nice leads to vomiting, authorities baffled Five hundred complaints have been made to the local authorities. Residents also report suffering headaches and muscle pains
Paris reviews banning motorbikes and scooters at night to limit noise ‘One combustion scooter alone can wake up several thousand Parisians’, says the councillor behind the plan
Paris plans to reduce speed limit on outer ring road from 70 to 50km/h The move aims to reduce environmental and noise pollution
Driving in France: Where must you have a Crit'Air pollution sticker? As Clermont-Ferrand becomes the latest city to require them, we look at the situation elsewhere in France
Second sewage leak cancelled another try at Olympic trials in Seine Investigations are underway into how this occurred - and how to stop it happening again ahead of the 2024 Paris Games
South France: Heat sparks pollution alert, public transport made free Motorway speeds are also being limited and some cruiseship stopovers are banned in a bid to reduce air pollution
Dirty air could speed up the ageing of eyes says new French study It found there was a possible increased risk of glaucoma for people who live in high-pollution areas
Driving in France: Is it time to switch to an electric car? We look at the pros and cons, the financial help available for going electric, and the charging options
Where in France are low-emission zone restrictions being eased? Only five French cities will be required to stick to the current timetable of restricting vehicles based on their pollution ranking
Is this the beginning of the end for France’s low-emission zones? The French government says it will ease restrictions in some of France’s low-emission zones, but critics say it will kill them off
Which beaches should you avoid in France this summer? The water quality at the vast majority of French beaches is deemed excellent. But there is still a small number to steer clear of
Map: Where are France’s worst industrial sites for CO2 emissions? Industry in France accounts for 20% of the country’s carbon dioxide pollution
Do not minimise electric car CO2 emissions, says French association A leading consumer association says CO2 produced during a car’s manufacturing is not taken into account when deciding how eco-friendly a vehicle is
Environment news round up in France this May Rennes bans grass clippings at tips, Lyon bans polluting fireplaces and more
Reduce flights and impose curfews at French airports, urge campaigners More than 70 campaign groups signed an open letter calling for a stop to the ‘mad growth of air traffic’
Drivers challenge UK firm’s right to access French data over fines France-based motorists are waiting for an explanation as to how a UK debt collector was able to send them fines for entering London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone
Potentially toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are poorly monitored in France Scientists fear the chemicals can cause cancer, liver damage, hormonal dysfunction and a weaker immune system. But, so far, there has been little conclusive research
‘Swimming in the Seine will be fitting legacy for Paris Olympics’ Paris 2024 money means we will soon be able to swim past the Eiffel Tower, writes columnist Nabila Ramdani
Can bailiffs enforce London ULEZ fines for French residents? After many people in France have received penalty charge notices for driving in London’s Low and Ultra Low Emission Zones, we look at how these are being enforced
Car and stove restrictions launch to ease pollution in French cities The measures are in addition to the growing number of general limits being imposed on vehicles
How do I check if a house in France is on polluted land? The onus is on the seller to provide details if there is significant risk, but you can do your own homework too
Pollution: Complaint lodged over plastic microbeads on French coast The beads are used in plastic production industries and can cause severe, invasive pollution to nature. It is thought an industrial accident may be the cause
How do I get a French Crit’Air sticker for foreign classic car? We look at the urban driving restrictions for the most polluting vehicles and how cars over 30 years old can avoid them
French drivers plan legal challenge to ‘massive’ London zone penalties Drivers of French-registered cars report shock at receiving fines – in some cases for thousands of euros – for having entered the city’s low emission zones
How to avoid driving in French low-emissions zones More and more French towns require cars to have a Crit’Air emissions certificate, but there are ways to ensure you avoid passing through these zones
Buses in southern France use rapeseed oil to lower pollution and costs The company has retrofitted 20% of its vehicle fleet to use the fuel
Climate activists deflate tyres of 90 SUVs in Toulouse The environmental activists struck again this week, in another attack on SUV tyres to denounce what they call a lack of action on climate change against more polluting vehicles
Climate protestors let down tyres of SUVs in southwest France Activists in Toulouse are the latest to join the global movement, saying that government action on the more polluting vehicles has been ineffective so far
Charging cables to be standardised in European Union from 2024 The European Parliament has adopted a law requiring all portable devices sold in the bloc - such as phones - to have a USB-C port. Laptops will be included from 2026
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
Zero-emission electric riverboat in Paris makes 800 deliveries per day The riverboat works as a ‘floating warehouse’ and enables cycling delivery drivers to fulfil orders without adding to the city’s combustion pollution
‘Zero particulate’ ferry begins sailing between Marseille and Corsica The boat, which is the first of its kind, has filters designed to capture sulphur oxides and particulates
‘Zero particulate’ ferry begins sailing between Marseille and Corsica The boat, which is the first of its kind, has filters designed to capture sulphur oxides and particulates
Calls for private jet ban in France to fight climate change It comes after one French businessman took three flights that emitted the same CO2 as one French person’s average emissions over seven years
Marseille mayor in row over giant ‘polluting’ cruise ships He is calling for new measures to limit the pollution emitted by ships that come to dock, saying current levels are ‘unacceptable’
Explosion at Dordogne chemical factory: low pollution risk for locals Authorities responding at the Bergerac site have said that there was greater risk ‘in the explosion itself than the pollution it could create’
Architecture of France: fake Paris façades cover up pollution secret The Parisien 'fausses façades' look clever but actually hide engineering infrastructure emitting unsafe levels of fine particles says environmental group
EU votes to ban new petrol and diesel cars in Europe from 2035 Proponents call the decision ‘historic and revolutionary’, but some have said it is hypocritical, and the bloc still needs to negotiate the finer points
Phones, cameras, tablets: A universal charger system voted in by EU It will require devices – including Apple products – to have USB-C ports and will save waste amounting in weight to that of the Eiffel Tower every year, says one campaign group
France’s electric car for €100/month scheme: who is eligible? The leasing scheme is designed to help lower-income households
Confusion over low-emission driving zones in France The majority of people in France still feel unsure about how low-emission zones work, as they continue to be rolled out nationwide
France to offer €30,000 loans to help buy hybrid or electric vehicles The zero-interest loan will be available to people who live and work in certain low-emission zones from next January
France’s new patio heater ban: Can I still use one in my garden? These heaters, often found on cafe or restaurant terraces, are no longer allowed in public settings as they are deemed to be too polluting
Polluting outdoor restaurant terrace heaters now banned in France The ban is expected to save 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year but some restaurateurs fear that it will affect their business
Crit’Air: Paris limits access of certain cars as pollution spikes Higher-polluting vehicles are temporarily banned from the city from today, with an air pollution episode expected to last for several more days
Air pollution alert raised to red for Var and Bouches-du-Rhône Everyone in these departments should take steps to mitigate the effect of the pollution. We look at what residents are recommended to do
Do cars with foreign number plates need a French Crit’Air sticker? A Crit’Air certificate is a pollution rating which must be displayed on car windscreens in a growing number of French cities
Nice, Cannes and nearby towns bring in Crit'Air pollution car stickers Six communes of the Alpes-Maritimes join other parts of the country imposing traffic restrictions based on mandatory Crit'Air certificates for all vehicles
French government fined record €10m for inaction on air pollution Climate change NGOs have hailed the fine ‘historic’, and say it shows ‘the key role that courts can play in the fight against climate change’
Solar bins crush rubbish in Nice to end overflowing waste on streets Three bins have been placed on the Promenade des Anglais where street rubbish has the added problem of attracting seagulls
Noise pollution in France costs €156billion per year, study finds Noise pollution has a serious impact on physical and mental health as well as the economy. Over two thirds is created by transport
16km slick off Brittany coast after ship accidentally dumps oil in sea The ship was working as part of a new offshore wind farm project when the accident happened. Authorities are now working to prevent the oil washing up on the Breton coast
France plans to boost greener home wood burners with extra grants A target of a 50% reduction in fine particle carbon emissions by 2030 has been set. Theses emissions account for up to 8% of deaths in heavily polluted areas
Sahara sand in France can lead to health issues studies show Weather patterns that cause the desert sand particles to blow over Europe can spread pathogens, viruses, and pollution as they travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres
France ramps up local air pollution restrictions Seven new low-emission areas created in France, taking the total number of zones to 10
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 introduces new ‘ecocide’ offence with €4.5m fine The new offence, which was proposed by the Citizens’ Climate Change Convention last year, will be punishable by up to €4.5million in fines and up to 10 years in jail
Air pollution: More car bans coming in urban France An European rules get tighter, 11 urban low emission zones are planned for 2021 in France, with an extra 35 by 2025
Protestors deflate tyres of 220 SUVs in Bordeaux The vehicles were targeted as part of a protest against greenhouse gas pollution
France to tax polluting vehicles that weigh over 1,800 kg The tax will apply to vehicles such as SUVs, but will not apply to electric or hybrid models
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.
Paris: Swimming in the Seine on track for 2024 An initial review shows work to improve water quality in the river Seine has been successful, and it should be safe to swim in the river by 2024.
