France on Thursday urged the United Nations top court to "clarify" international law relating to the fight against climate change, saying judges had a "unique opportunity" to provide a clear legal framework. "France is convinced that these advisory proceedings provide a unique opportunity for the court to contribute to identifying and clarifying international law in regard to the fight against climate change," said Diego Colas, the country's representative.
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Canada Environment has issued a snow squall warning for Sault Ste Marie and St Joseph Island through Thursday, expecting heavy snowfall and reduced visibility. Predicted snowfall could reach up to 40 centimetres by Thursday night, with gusting winds worsening conditions. Motorists are advised to exercise caution due to hazardous travel conditions.
The National Green Tribunal has asked the Forest Survey of India to submit a detailed report on the substantial loss of 23 lakh hectares of forest cover since 2000. This reduction, particularly severe in northeastern states, significantly impacts India's carbon balance and ranks the nation second globally in deforestation rates.
Reptiles have existed for millions of years, demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptations. The seven largest reptiles on Earth, including saltwater crocodiles, green anacondas, and Komodo dragons, play crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance. However, threats like global warming, pollution, and poaching jeopardize their survival, highlighting the need for intensified conservation efforts.
An American influencer sparked a global conversation on wildlife treatment by filming herself taking a baby wombat from its mother. Wombats, mainly herbivorous and known for unique cube-shaped scat, are burrowing marsupials in Australia, where their tunnels serve as shelters for many species, including during wildfires.
The world added the smallest amount of new coal capacity in two decades last year, a report said Thursday, but use of the fossil fuel is still surging in China and India. Last year also saw a record number of new coal proposals in India, the report warned.
Telangana's forests face a severe fire crisis, with incidents rising significantly to 13,497 in 2024. Mulugu and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts are among the top affected. Fires damage ecosystems, causing biodiversity loss and habitat destruction. Human activities, including negligent agricultural practices, are major contributors.
Kazakhstan said on Monday the northern part of the Aral Sea had nearly doubled in volume since 2008, a rare environmental success story in a region plagued by pollution. Since 2008, the volume of water in the northern, smaller part of the sea has "increased by 42 percent and reached 27 billion cubic metres (950 billion cubic feet)", the Central Asian republic's water resources ministry said.
In the newly designated Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, two rare caracals were photographed, marking the first sighting in over two decades in this region. Caracals, now critically endangered in India, face severe habitat loss, with their range shrinking significantly since 1948. Rajasthan has reported the highest sightings of caracals since 2001.
January this year was the warmest on record globally since 1850, with surface air temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Despite La Nina conditions, January temperatures remained exceptionally high. Arctic sea ice reached its lowest extent for January, with Antarctic sea ice also significantly below average, highlighting alarming climate trends.
Russian officials report that an oil leak from two old tankers has reached Crimea's beaches after encountering a storm last month. The cleanup involves over 10,000 people removing sand spoiled by heavy fuel oil. Ukraine blames Russia’s use of outdated vessels due to Western sanctions, leading to this significant environmental disaster.