Every day, the signs of a planetary imbalance become more visible. Record fires, prolonged drought, melting glaciers, accelerating species extinction… The ecological crisis is no longer an abstract threat: it’s already here. Faced with this reality, the question arises: what do we really know about the state of our environment? And even more: how can science help us to understand, anticipate and better protect the environment and living things?

Researchers around the world are deploying powerful tools to read the Earth’s signals. They decipher its dynamics and rethink our relationship with the natural world. Here’s what their work reveals.

Planetary limits that must not be crossed

In 2009, an international group of scientists proposed a new grid for assessing the planet’s health: the “planetary limits”. This framework identifies nine key processes (climate, biodiversity, nitrogen cycle, ocean acidification, etc.). Exceeding them could lead to abrupt, sometimes irreversible changes.

Today, several thresholds have already been crossed, notably those linked to the loss of biodiversity and the carbon cycle. This weakens the ability of ecosystems to regulate themselves naturally. The risk of global tipping is increasing. Understanding these limits lays the scientific foundation for any environmental protection strategy.

Decoding the mechanisms of the ecological crisis

Protecting the environment means first and foremost understanding how it works. Ecosystems – whether terrestrial, aquatic or marine – rely on subtle balances: energy exchange, nutrient recycling, interactions between species. They perform vital functions such as pollination, water filtration and climate regulation.

But human activities disrupt these mechanisms. Soil transformation, chemical pollution, overexploitation of resources, invasive species… All of these profoundly alter the structure and functioning of natural environments.

Scientists measure these impacts, identify sensitive areas and monitor the evolution of species. These data can be used to target protection actions. They also reveal the extent of the links between environmental, health, economic and social issues.

Observe, model, anticipate

In a rapidly changing world, observation becomes strategic. Thanks to satellites, measuring stations and ecological imaging technologies, science now has an unprecedented amount of data on forests, oceans, the atmosphere and soils.

In addition to measurements, researchers are also creating predictive models. They explore different scenarios: what will happen if temperatures rise by 2°C? What will happen to wetlands if pressure on land continues? What choices can still be made to preserve coral reefs?

These projections are not certainties. They serve as a decision-making tool, helping to clarify the choices to be made today to protect the balance of tomorrow.

Knowledge as a lever for transformation

What science reveals is sometimes disturbing, often complex, but always essential. Protecting the environment is more than the sum of individual actions. What’s needed is a systemic transformation.

This means rethinking our economic models, our infrastructures, our use of energy and our relationship with the living world. Research plays a key role here. It documents the effects of public policies, analyzes social behavior and explores the conditions for large-scale change.

Today, environmental protection is at the crossroads of natural, social and technological sciences. It is based on shared, evolving and rigorous knowledge. And on a collective will: to build a future that is habitable for all forms of life.

To understand is to protect. Each scientific advance brings us closer to a way of living on Earth that is no longer against it, but with it.

When environmental inequalities worsen health

Faced with the impact of climate change and environmental degradation, we are not all equal. Pollution, extreme heat and exposure to certain health risks hit certain populations hardest. Environmental health enables us to analyze these inequalities and understand how environmental factors influence the health of populations.

In Montpellier, researchers at the One Science Foundation are analyzing these inequalities at the interface between environmental health, public health and the social sciences.

Environmental exposures very unevenly distributed

Breathing polluted air, living near industries or enduring repeated heatwaves do not affect all citizens in the same way. “Working-class neighborhoods, often dense and sparsely vegetated, accumulate a number of nuisances,” explains Sarah Carminati, a sociologist specializing in environmental inequalities. “They also have fewer resources to cope: housing, access to information or healthcare.”

In Montpellier, several studies show a correlation between social vulnerability and exposure to environmental risk factors. The researchers identify “cumulative areas of vulnerability”, where risks add up: air pollution, urban heat islands, lack of green spaces and fuel poverty.

Extreme heat reveals environmental inequalities

Heat waves, amplified by climate change, particularly affect vulnerable populations. “They affect the elderly, children, the isolated and those with reduced mobility – often from disadvantaged backgrounds – most severely,” stresses climatologist Hugo Merlet.

In some deprived neighborhoods, poorly insulated housing and the absence of trees exacerbate the feeling of heat. Researchers use satellite data, field measurements and social surveys to identify priority areas for adaptation. This work helps communities to better target their health and planning policies.

Interdisciplinary research for environmental justice

To meet these challenges, we need to bring together urban planning, sociology, medicine, ecology and climatology. The One Science Foundation federates researchers from different disciplines around common projects.

This work makes it possible to :

The aim is twofold: to understand how environmental inequalities are created, and to propose concrete, scientifically-based solutions.

Towards more equitable cities in the face of environmental risks

In Montpellier, the One Science Foundation is helping to make environmental health an issue of social justice. By documenting the mechanisms of inequality, producing reliable data and developing decision-making tools, it contributes to the development of fairer, more effective public policies.

Faced with environmental challenges, knowledge is not enough. It must be shared and geared towards equity. Research at Montpellier aims to ensure that the ecological transition leaves no one behind.

The One Health approach at the heart of Montpellier research

For several decades now, health crises linked to environment-related infectious diseases have been multiplying. Zika, Ebola, Covid-19… These diseases often emerge as a result of our interactions with a disturbed environment. In Montpellier, researchers at the One Science Foundation are analyzing how ecological changes are favoring these diseases and, above all, how they can be prevented.

+250% increase in animal-borne diseases

Infectious diseases of animal origin (zoonoses) are on the rise, accounting for over 60% of human infections. This progression is fuelled by several environmental factors:

Researchers at Montpellier are studying these dynamics using the One Health approach, which links human health, animal health and ecosystem health.

Observing weak signals, modeling risks

In Montpellier, biologists, epidemiologists, veterinarians, climatologists and ecologists work together to anticipate crises. They detect signals of disease emergence, for example by tracking the circulation of viruses in certain animal species or the evolution of mosquito breeding areas.

“We are developing models to assess the risk of transmission according to ecological context, climatic data, biodiversity and human practices,” explains Dr. G. B. B., Chairman of the Board of Directors. Pierre Menant. These tools target surveillance on critical areas and guide prevention campaigns.

Studying animal reservoirs to prevent the next pandemic

Analyzing the circulation of viruses in animals is essential for crisis prevention. The Montpellier teams are working on wildlife (bats, rodents, migratory birds) and domestic animals, which are often intermediaries in transmission.

By studying the interactions between species, environment and humans, researchers are able to identify areas at risk. They combine field data, laboratory analysis and sociological approaches to understand the local practices (breeding, hunting, live markets) that influence infectious dynamics.

Montpellier, a recognized center for research on infectious risks

The Montpellier region is a reference site for research into infectious diseases linked to the environment. Several laboratories collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, sometimes on an international scale. Its geographical location, between the Mediterranean, agricultural zones, urban areas and natural spaces, makes it an ideal field of study.

The One Science Montpellier Foundation fosters collaboration and raises the profile of local research. This integrated approach is essential in a world where health crises are increasingly linked to ecological disruption.

Anticipating rather than reacting: a forward-looking science

Preventing epidemics means rethinking our relationship with the environment. Thanks to the One Health approach, research in Montpellier is developing a global vision of health, integrating climate, biodiversity and human behavior.

The aim of this work is not only to understand past crises, but also to devise resilience strategies for the years to come, based on solid data, predictive tools and close cooperation between disciplines.

Faced with accelerating soil degradation worldwide, scientists are increasingly interested in agroecological practices capable of reversing the trend. In Montpellier, teams from the One Science Foundation are testing and analyzing, in the field, concrete ways of improving soil health while ensuring the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Restoring the soil’s ecological functions

Erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, pollution… Soils are subject to multiple pressures that reduce their fertility and their ability to regulate natural cycles. Restoring these ecological functions requires more than simply reducing inputs: it means reintroducing into farming systems the biological and physical dynamics capable of rebuilding a living soil.

In Montpellier, researchers combine agronomy, soil biology and functional ecology to scientifically assess the impact of several agroecological practices on soil quality, in different pedoclimatic contexts.

Scientifically tested solutions

1. Agroforestry
Planting trees in agricultural plots combats erosion, improves water infiltration, fixes carbon and diversifies soil fauna. Researchers are studying the effects of tree density, species and arrangement on soil structure and organic matter dynamics.
The result: measured gains in structural stability, biological activity and carbon storage, even after just a few years.

2. Composts and organic soil improvers
The addition of organic matter is crucial to reactivating soil life. But not all composts have the same effect. In Montpellier, teams are analyzing their composition, biodegradability and impact on soil microbial communities.
Certain formulations can restore fertility to severely depleted soils, by promoting the development of beneficial bacteria and fungi.

3. Cover crops and intermediate crops
Sown between two main crops, cover crops protect the soil from erosion, improve its structure, fix atmospheric nitrogen and feed underground fauna. Researchers are evaluating the performance of different species (legumes, crucifers, grasses), alone or in mixtures, under Mediterranean conditions.
These cover crops significantly increase root biomass, stabilize soil moisture and boost resilience to climatic hazards.

Assessing to support the transition

Not all these solutions are “miracles”. Their effectiveness depends on the context (climate, soil type, existing practices) and their coherent integration into production systems. This is why the scientists at the One Science Foundation favour a systems approach:

Knowledge to guide action

The results of this research are used to document soil restoration trajectories, to better understand the biological mechanisms at work, and to propose adaptation scenarios for agricultural areas. Today, this expertise is essential to support agro-ecological transitions on a local and global scale.

By combining scientific rigor and field experimentation, the One Science Montpellier Foundation is helping to turn soil from a resource in decline into a lever of resilience and innovation for tomorrow’s agriculture.

Soil degradation is a global issue, but how can we actually assess its condition? In Montpellier, researchers are developing and combining biological, chemical and physical indicators to diagnose soil health and guide its restoration. Precision expertise for agro-ecology.

A concept with many dimensions

Talking about “soil health” means asking a complex question: is soil capable of fulfilling its essential ecological functions? This includes its fertility for agriculture, its ability to filter and store water, absorb carbon and host abundant biodiversity.

But unlike a machine, a floor doesn’t have just one “good condition”. Its health depends on context – climate, use, soil type – and evolves over time. That’s why researchers are mobilizing a range of scientific indicators to characterize it in a rigorous and appropriate way.

Three main categories of indicators

In Montpellier, teams from the One Science Foundation are combining several disciplines to analyze the soil at depth, focusing on three main areas:

Field and laboratory methods

Scientists from Montpellier combine soil sampling, laboratory analysis and in situ measurements to assess these indicators. They also use long-term databases and agricultural experiments to monitor soil evolution in different climatic and usage contexts.

For example, by observing organic matter dynamics on a decadal scale, we can detect the cumulative effects of agricultural practices on the soil’s capacity to store carbon – a major challenge in the fight against climate change.

Tools for the agro-ecological transition

These indicators are not just for scientific diagnosis. They are also used to design decision-making tools for farmers, local authorities and institutions. At Montpellier, researchers are working to make this data accessible and operational, notably through simplified protocols and digital tools.

The aim: to steer agricultural policies and management practices towards solutions that restore soil quality while maintaining productivity. In this sense, measuring soil health becomes a strategic lever for the success of the agro-ecological transition.

Interdisciplinary expertise in Montpellier to better understand a major public health issue

Every day, 99% of the world’s population breathes polluted air. On a global scale, it is estimated that over 6 million deaths a year are directly linked to air pollution. Beyond these alarming figures, a detailed understanding of the biological mechanisms and social dynamics at play mobilizes a wide range of scientific disciplines. In Montpellier, teams from the One Science Foundation are studying this phenomenon in all its complexity, at the intersection of biology, environmental chemistry, medicine and the social sciences.

What pollution does to our bodies: the mechanisms involved

Fine particles (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone and other air pollutants directly affect our health, even at low concentrations. The Foundation’s partner biologists and doctors are studying the impact of these pollutants at cellular and molecular levels.

“When these particles are inhaled, they cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, but can also cross the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream,” explains Dr. Aurore Leblanc, cell biology researcher in Montpellier. “This contributes to the onset or aggravation of chronic diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

The researchers are also analyzing the long-term effects of chronic exposure, including neurodevelopmental disorders in children or effects on fertility. Using experimental models and cohort data, they are identifying early biomarkers of exposure to pollutants.

Invisible pollution, but socially highly unequal

Air pollution may be ubiquitous, but its impact is not evenly distributed. “People living near roads, in poorly insulated housing or in industrial zones are much more exposed,” notes Anne-Sophie Roux, a health sociologist. “And these are often the most socially vulnerable populations.”

The Foundation’s integrated research projects study these inequalities in exposure and their health consequences. In Montpellier, for example, several neighborhoods combine low incomes, high urban density and proximity to sources of pollution – a cocktail that is particularly harmful to health.

This cross-disciplinary approach enables us to better direct public policies towards targeted strategies: reducing emissions in sensitive areas, urban planning, access to environmental information, or adapting health policies.

When air chemistry and climate meet

Air pollution cannot be dissociated from climate issues. Some pollutants (such as ozone and soot carbon) are also major contributors to global warming. Conversely, heat waves exacerbated by climate change are worsening the effects of pollution, particularly in cities.

The Foundation’s chemists and climatologists model these complex interactions to better predict pollution peaks and their impact on health. They are also working to identify the main sources of pollution at local level, to guide reduction efforts.

Science in the service of prevention

The aim of the teams gathered in Montpellier is clear: to produce precise, interdisciplinary and actionable knowledge to better prevent the effects of air pollution. This involves modeling and monitoring, as well as education and dissemination of results to public health players.

Through this expertise, the One Science Montpellier Foundation is actively contributing to a better understanding of the links between environment and health, with the ambition of building a more equitable and resilient society in the face of environmental risks.

Invisible to the naked eye but essential to life on Earth, soil fauna plays a fundamental role in the fertility of agricultural land, the carbon cycle and ecosystem resilience. In Montpellier, researchers are exploring this underground world to better understand, protect and restore degraded soils.

A living world beneath our feet

Soil is not simply an inert support for crops. It’s a complex ecosystem, rich in biodiversity that’s often overlooked. A single gram of soil can contain several billion micro-organisms and hundreds of different species. These include bacteria, fungi, nematodes, springtails, mites, earthworms and burrowing insects. This underground fauna transforms organic matter, aerates the soil, regulates pathogens and helps store carbon. Without it, no soil could remain fertile over the long term.

Studying the invisible: a scientific challenge

In Montpellier, interdisciplinary teams of biologists, ecologists, agronomists and soil specialists are working together to better understand these underground communities. Thanks to cutting-edge tools – genetic analysis (metabarcoding), physical extraction of organisms, microscopic observation, digital modelling – researchers are drawing an increasingly accurate picture of soil biodiversity and its functions.

The studies carried out by the One Science Montpellier Foundation focus in particular on how agricultural practices (ploughing, inputs, cover crops, agroforestry, etc.) influence the structure and functioning of these communities. Certain key species, such as earthworms, have become veritable biological indicators of soil health.

Biodiversity threatened by soil degradation

Erosion, pollution, artificialization, deforestation: these phenomena profoundly alter the underground habitat. Impoverishment of the soil’s fauna leads to reduced fertility, less capacity for water regulation, and fragility in the face of disease or climate change.

Understanding how soil biodiversity reacts to environmental pressures enables us to anticipate impacts on agroecosystems and identify levers for restoring lost ecological functions. In Montpellier, research aims to link biological diversity to soil quality over the long term.

A key to soil restoration

Soil restoration is inconceivable without taking into account the living beings that make up the soil. By field-testing biodiversity-friendly farming practices – such as the use of composts, long rotations and agroforestry – researchers have shown that it is possible to trigger positive dynamics: increased biomass, improved soil structure, better water and carbon retention.

Through this work, the One Science Montpellier Foundation is contributing to a better understanding of the ecological processes at work in the soil. This expertise is invaluable at a time when soil health is recognized as a major challenge for food security and the ecological transition.

The increasing scarcity of water means we need to rethink the way we manage this essential resource. Far from being a simple technical issue, water is at the crossroads of multiple systems: natural, agricultural, urban and legal. In Montpellier, teams from the One Science Foundation are exploring a complex but necessary approach: integrated water management, thinking in terms of territories, uses and cycles.

Why integrated management?

For a long time, water was managed sector by sector: agriculture, industry, cities and the environment. But in a context of climate change, rapid urbanization and pressure on ecosystems, this compartmentalized approach is showing its limitations.

Integrated water management aims to coordinate all uses, preserve ecological balance and anticipate allocation conflicts. It is based on three fundamental principles:

Tools for understanding local dynamics

Researchers in Montpellier study the complexity of water cycles, combining hydrology, ecology, urban planning and social sciences. Thanks to coupled models and field monitoring, they can simulate :

These analyses enable us to identify the most effective levers for action to reconcile use and resource preservation.

Ecological sanitation and natural regeneration

At the heart of this approach, so-called “nature-based” solutions are becoming increasingly important. The Foundation’s teams are working on :

These innovations are based on in-depth knowledge of the environment and rigorous evaluation of their effectiveness in different contexts.

Building governance together

Integrated management is not just based on the science of flows. It also involves understanding the social, legal and political dynamics that structure access to water. In Montpellier, researchers in law, political science and economics analyze existing governance systems, their shortcomings and avenues for improvement.

How can we distribute resources fairly in times of crisis? Who decides on priority uses? What role for local consultation? These are the issues at the heart of research in Mediterranean watersheds and beyond.

Towards a shared water culture

Through this integrated approach, the One Science Foundation defends a vision of water as a common good, to be managed collectively, informed by scientific knowledge. Because preserving water is not just about protecting a resource: it’s also about rethinking our territories, our practices and our solidarity.

At a time when agriculture alone accounts for almost 70% of the world’s freshwater resources, it finds itself at a crossroads. Between climate pressure, water scarcity and the need to feed a growing population, the challenge is immense: how can we produce better with less water? In Montpellier, scientists from the One Science Foundation are exploring concrete solutions to make agricultural systems more sober and resilient.

Agricultural water under strain

In many regions, especially the Mediterranean, droughts are becoming longer and more frequent. Water stress has a direct impact on crop yields, modifies cropping calendars and weakens ecosystems. Irrigation, the mainstay of intensive production, is itself becoming uncertain, subject to resource availability, competition between uses and increasing regulations.

Researchers at Montpellier are studying this interaction between agriculture and hydrology using a systems approach, integrating climatic, ecological and socio-economic dimensions.

Towards less water-hungry crops

One of the key avenues of research is to develop cropping systems better adapted to dry conditions. This includes :

In Montpellier, trials under controlled conditions and in the field are used to test crop response to water stress and identify the most effective levers.

Innovative irrigation

In addition to crop selection, optimizing irrigation is a key area of research. Using sensor, remote sensing and modelling technologies, researchers are developing decision-support tools that enable irrigation to be carried out at the right time, with the right quantity.

Experiments carried out in the south of France have shown that it is possible to significantly reduce water consumption without compromising yields, by fine-tuning inputs to the plants’ actual needs.

Rethinking agricultural territories

The challenges are not just technical: they are also territorial. How can we reconcile the needs of farmers, towns and natural environments in a context of scarcity? The Foundation’s geography, economics and political science researchers analyze water management policies on a watershed scale. They also study inequalities in access to the resource and local governance mechanisms, in collaboration with local stakeholders.

A transition guided by science

Reducing agriculture’s dependence on water, without sacrificing its productivity or sustainability, requires a profound transformation of food systems. It is this transition that Montpellier’s scientific teams are supporting, by producing robust knowledge, operational tools and realistic adaptation scenarios.

In the face of water scarcity, agricultural innovation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Thanks to research rooted in local realities and open to global issues, the One Science Foundation is helping to build tomorrow’s resilient agriculture.

As tensions over freshwater intensify worldwide, anticipating shortages becomes a strategic necessity. In Montpellier, researchers at the One Science Foundation are mobilizing cutting-edge tools to understand and predict the future dynamics of water resources. Their ambition is to provide reliable projections to support political, agricultural and regional decisions.

Water, a changing climate variable

The data is clear: by 2050, the flow of many rivers could be reduced by 20% due to the combined effects of global warming, increased evapotranspiration and reduced rainfall in certain regions. The Mediterranean area, already subject to a hot, dry climate, is particularly vulnerable.

Scientists in Montpellier work with regional climate models (RCM) capable of simulating possible futures for the water cycle on different scales – from watershed to national territory. These models take into account greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP or SSP scenarios), changes in land use, and seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation.

From raw data to useful forecasts

To build these projections, researchers rely on a complex mesh of data: meteorological stations, hydrometric sensors, satellite images, piezometric readings… These data are integrated into numerical models capable of simulating the evolution of water tables, surface runoff and aquifer recharge.

In Montpellier, several teams specializing in hydrology, climatology and geoinformatics are working together to improve the accuracy and robustness of these tools. In particular, they are developing coupled models capable of linking climate dynamics to socio-economic behavior (agriculture, urbanization, domestic use).

Anticipation for better adaptation

These models are more than just theoretical exercises: they are invaluable decision aids for local authorities, water managers and farmers. By anticipating periods of drought and identifying areas at risk of water shortage or pollution, they enable us to adapt public policies, crops and infrastructures.

The One Science Foundation is also committed to making these tools accessible to decision-makers and the general public. Interactive maps, territorial dashboards and participatory simulations have been developed to enhance understanding of the issues and encourage collective management of the resource.

Science for the long term

Faced with a resource that is as variable as it is vital, scientific modeling plays a key role: it sheds light on the future to better prepare for it. Through their work, Montpellier researchers are taking part in an international drive to strengthen the resilience of territories, in a world where water is becoming one of the most strategic assets of the 21st century.