Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 2 Secember 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The International Court of Justice will today begin hearings in a landmark climate change case. The case centres around what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact. The United Nations General Assembly asked the ICJ last year for an opinion on the obligations of states concerning climate change. Lawyers and representatives from more than 100 countries and organisations will make submissions before the court until next Friday.  

# More than 170 top environmental groups have filed a legal petition, demanding that the US Environmental Protection Agency begin monitoring microplastics in drinking water. Microplastics are microscopic bits of plastics that are either intentionally added to products or shed from larger products containing plastic, from clothing to cookware. Independent testing has found microplastics in virtually all drinking water samples tested. The petition pushes the agency to begin monitoring microplastics as an emerging contaminant under the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2026.

# And finally: The Labia Theatre in Cape Town celebrated the Great African Seaforest, a marine ecosystem spanning over one-thousand kilometres from South Africa to Namibia. Organised by the Save Our Seas Foundation, the event showcased biodiversity and conservation efforts, featuring ocean storytellers and conservationists. Prominent figures like Thomas Peschak and Pippa Ehrlich shared their insights, with a focus on the Seaforest Species Initiative, aimed at protecting this vital underwater wonderland. The event aimed to inspire action and empower future conservation storytellers.

Stay tuned for more news………….