Rising gas and oil prices have plunged Europe into its worst energy crisis in decades. France has been hit hard, but perhaps not for the reasons you would expect. Nuclear and hydroelectric power, the country's main sources of electricity, are both running out of steam. Has the French energy mix hit a breaking point? We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner, whose FDP party is losing ground in the polls, has once again raised the debate of fracking for natural gas. The proposal could crack the governing coalition, as well as the bedrock.

China's growing military strength has spurred Japan and Australia to step up security cooperation. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will also seek to shore up supplies of natural gas and coal on a two-day trip to Perth.

With energy prices in Europe and around the world rising, there are concerns that this winter in France will be tough. Consumption will need to be reduced, and in a worst-case scenario, cuts will be unavoidable. This is just one of the consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

As European countries turn to energy suppliers in Southeast Asia, driving up global prices, there are concerns that other developing countries are being forced to spend more on increasingly expensive LNG or coal.

The EU plans to replace the bulk of Russian gas imports by the end of the year. But despite its reserves filling up quickly, the bloc's chances of avoiding energy shortages could depend on the severity of the winter.

Nigeria Energy 2022's flagship conference brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria's energy sector, from government ministries and regulators to gas companies supplying fuel to grid-connected plants to independent power producers, distribution companies, and the bodies mandated to facilitate the development of renewable energy and off-grid solutions.

Amid soaring electricity prices, Paris is seeking to catch up with the goal of reducing energy consumption by 10% through an "energy sobriety" plan.

Nigeria Energy 2022's flagship conference will bring together key stakeholders from Nigeria's energy sector, from government ministries and regulators to gas companies supplying fuel to grid-connected plants to independent power producers, distribution companies and the bodies mandated to facilitate the development of renewable energy and off-grid solutions.

The windfall levy on energy companies that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is proposing could make billions of euros available to cushion the blow of soaring energy costs. That's likely to come as welcome news to many households.

France's Secretary of State for European Affairs Laurence Boone has outlined to FRANCE 24 the sacrifices necessary to continue putting pressure on Moscow, saying "it is a war against Russia for democracy, for freedom and supporting Ukraine. We are not asking horrible things. To put the temperature at 19 degrees, that has always been the unspoken rule."

Winter is coming and Germany is bracing for cold months with less Russian energy to heat homes and keep industry bustling. The center-left government coalition has unveiled a new plan to deal with potential shortages.