https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As Mediterranean ports prepare to impose tight controls on cruise ships, France's second city is looking to go further to cut emissions. https://www.thelocal.fr/20221223/marseille-to-impose-tighter-restrictions-on-cruise-ships Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:14:34 +0100 marseille-to-impose-tighter-restrictions-on-cruise-ships In an effort to cut air pollution, one French local authority has announced that it will begin levying fines on drivers who leave their engines running while parked. https://www.thelocal.fr/20220819/french-city-to-fine-drivers-who-leave-engines-running Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:21:01 +0200 french-city-to-fine-drivers-who-leave-engines-running Paris authorities have been accused of failing to safeguard the health of people living near Notre-Dame cathedral due to lead pollution from a devastating fire two years ago. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210707/paris-faces-legal-claim-over-lead-pollution-from-notre-dame-fire Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:33:59 +0200 paris-faces-legal-claim-over-lead-pollution-from-notre-dame-fire As part of its strategy to reduce traffic in the French capital, the Paris city council has announced plans to introduce a 'low traffic zone' in the centre of the city by 2022. A consultation with residents was launched on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210513/central-paris-could-be-almost-car-free-by-2022 Thu, 13 May 2021 15:11:52 +0200 central-paris-could-be-almost-car-free-by-2022 Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced ambitious plans to pedestrianise the historic centre of Paris by next year - introducing a low traffic zone that would restrict most vehicles from entering the central arrondissements. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210514/no-more-noise-headaches-or-pollution-parisians-welcome-plan-to-pedestrianise-city-centre Fri, 14 May 2021 19:30:48 +0200 no-more-noise-headaches-or-pollution-parisians-welcome-plan-to-pedestrianise-city-centre Snuggling up in front of the fire or log burner with a glass of wine is one of the highlights of countryside living for many, but a proposed new environmental law aim to change their use in France. Here's what is happening. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210414/france-to-bring-in-new-environmental-rules-on-log-burners-and-open-fires Wed, 14 Apr 2021 19:02:55 +0200 france-to-bring-in-new-environmental-rules-on-log-burners-and-open-fires A French court on Wednesday held the state responsible for its alleged failure to take sufficient measures to halt climate change, handing NGOs victory in a landmark case backed by over two million citizens. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210203/paris-court-rules-french-state-liable-for-inaction-on-climate-change Wed, 03 Feb 2021 14:12:38 +0100 paris-court-rules-french-state-liable-for-inaction-on-climate-change Ed and Fred are two eco-activists who walked from Marseille to Paris picking up as many discarded face masks as they could, all to raise awareness of just how bad littering in France is. Join them on their epic journey. https://www.thelocal.fr/20201229/videofrench-british-duo-walk-880km-picking-up-face-mask-litter Tue, 29 Dec 2020 20:43:18 +0100 videofrench-british-duo-walk-880km-picking-up-face-mask-litter In the EU, 13 percent of deaths are linked to pollution, said a new report published on Tuesday by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which stressed the current pandemic put environmental health factors in the spotlight. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200908/pollution-linked-to-1-in-8-deaths-in-eu-countries Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:12:55 +0200 pollution-linked-to-1-in-8-deaths-in-eu-countries The slowdown of life in the capital following the coronavirus lockdown has seen pollution levels tumble, according to a new report. https://www.thelocal.fr/20200326/report-coronavirus-lockdown-causes-huge-dent-in-paris-pollution-levels Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:21:04 +0100 report-coronavirus-lockdown-causes-huge-dent-in-paris-pollution-levels How polluted is Paris? Paris City Hall is to launch an online map on Tuesday to reveal the every day levels of air pollution in the capital. Commuters who use the Metro regularly might think about an alternative form of transport. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190917/new-online-map-reveals-daily-air-pollution-levels-in-paris Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:34:09 +0200 new-online-map-reveals-daily-air-pollution-levels-in-paris The French government has launched an interactive map that tells people in real time about the levels of air pollution near their home. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190709/how-to-check-the-air-pollution-levels-near-you-in-france Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:16:00 +0200 how-to-check-the-air-pollution-levels-near-you-in-france France's sweltering heatwave is not over yet, and in Paris it's not just the temperatures that are high, with pollution levels set to peak in the French capital on Wednesday, forcing authorities to take action. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190626/paris-bans-most-polluting-cars-as-heatwave-leads-to-pollution-spike Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:09:15 +0200 paris-bans-most-polluting-cars-as-heatwave-leads-to-pollution-spike Air pollution levels, particularly in big cities, are a cause for concern across the globe, but what is the situation in France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20190626/is-france-doing-enough-to-tackle-air-pollution Wed, 26 Jun 2019 11:48:07 +0200 is-france-doing-enough-to-tackle-air-pollution Residents of Brittany and Normandy were warned this week that sand particles from the Sahara desert were adding to already high pollution levels in their regions. But where are the ten towns with the worst air pollution in France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20190424/what-ten-towns-with-worst-air-pollution-france Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:03:26 +0200 what-ten-towns-with-worst-air-pollution-france Outside the French Mediterranean port of Marseille, at Fos-sur-Mer, one of the largest industrial and port zones in Europe has been spewing a noxious cocktail of fumes for years. And few residents think EU pledges to clean up the continent will make a difference anytime soon. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190331/how-much-has-the-eu-done-to-combat-pollution-in-france Sun, 31 Mar 2019 10:50:54 +0200 how-much-has-the-eu-done-to-combat-pollution-in-france French environmental activists are trying to solve the riddle of the plastic phones modelled after the cartoon cat Garfield that wash up on Brittany beaches every year. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190327/the-riddle-of-the-garfield-phones-washing-ashore-on-french-beaches Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:41:44 +0100 the-riddle-of-the-garfield-phones-washing-ashore-on-french-beaches The most polluting vehicles were banned from Paris on Wednesday and lower speed limits were imposed around the country due to a spike in air pollution. https://www.thelocal.fr/20190227/speed-limits-cut-in-parts-of-france-as-pollution-spikes Wed, 27 Feb 2019 10:35:03 +0100 speed-limits-cut-in-parts-of-france-as-pollution-spikes Parts of France are taking measures to combat a rise in pollution seen in several areas of the country as a result of the scorching summer temperatures. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180726/parts-of-france-on-alert-for-pollution-spike-as-heatwave-continues Thu, 26 Jul 2018 12:04:56 +0200 parts-of-france-on-alert-for-pollution-spike-as-heatwave-continues For decades, plastic straws have been essential props for cocktail makers, smoothie lovers and fast food addicts. But that may be starting to change, thanks largely to vigorous environmental campaigning. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180701/war-on-plastic-leaves-manufacturers-clutching-at-straws Sun, 01 Jul 2018 15:55:20 +0200 war-on-plastic-leaves-manufacturers-clutching-at-straws