Dive into Septembers top environmental stories: new instagram filter helps you to keep a save distance from wildlife, next steps of the international court of justice could set new landmarks for global climate change obligations, the hidden lacke in Sicily that could alleviate the islands severe drought crisis and more.
Are you too close to wildlife?
The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board has introduced a new Instagram filter, “Selfie Control,” designed to help visitors maintain a safe distance while photographing wildlife in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This innovative tool ensures that photographers, both amateur and professional, can easily gauge the proper distance from animals like bison, bears, and moose. By aligning the animal’s outline with an on-screen icon, users can determine if they are too close and adjust accordingly. Open-sourced for use by other destinations, the filter aims to reduce wildlife-related accidents while promoting stunning, safe wildlife photography. Learn more about this new instagram filter here!
International Court of Justice to Hold Landmark Hearings on Global Climate Obligations
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has scheduled public hearings starting on December 2nd, which could significantly impact future climate-related legal cases. The UN’s top court will address crucial questions about countries’ legal obligations under international law to combat climate change and the consequences of failing to act. This landmark case, initiated by the UN General Assembly, seeks a non-binding advisory opinion that could shape global climate policies. Although the ICJ’s ruling will not be legally binding, it is expected to influence climate litigation worldwide, particularly for vulnerable small island nations and future generations. Find all the details about the upcoming hearings here. For more legal achievements to tackle our climate problem check out our blog about the EU nature restoration law.
Hidden beneath Sicily's Iblei Mountains, a vast freshwater reserve could be the key to alleviating the island's severe drought crisis.
A massive freshwater reserve containing around 17 billion cubic metres of water has been discovered beneath Sicily’s Iblei Mountains, potentially offering a solution to the island’s severe drought. The reserve, located 700 to 2,500 metres below the surface, was identified by researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology and the Universities of Malta and Rome Tre. While the discovery could provide much-needed water for drinking, agriculture, and livestock, experts caution that accessing it could be geologically risky and require extensive feasibility studies. The reserve dates back roughly six million years and could be crucial in addressing Sicily’s drought crisis if deemed viable. Find out more.
EU LIFE Programme Delivers Tenfold Return, Sparking Calls for Increased Environmental Funding
The European Commission’s cost-benefit analysis revealed that the LIFE programme, the EU’s primary environmental protection scheme, delivered a tenfold return on the €3.46 billion invested from 2014 to 2020. This program improved the conservation status of 435 species, reduced greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides, and saved energy equivalent to the consumption of nearly a million households. Despite these successes, environmental groups argue for significantly increasing funding, especially in light of the newly adopted Nature Restoration Law and the inclusion of Ukraine in the program. They propose creating a new Nature Restoration Fund to address the substantial funding gap for biodiversity conservation by 2030. Read more about the EU life project and its return here.
