Good morning!

Here’s today’s good climate and environment news.

⚖️ A game-changing case goes to court

Today, The Hague will hear the first arguments in the world’s biggest climate case, which centres on what UN states’ obligations are to future generations when it comes to halting greenhouse gas emissions. The case was brought by young people from small island states, many of which are at risk of disappearing completely as sea levels rise. 

After two weeks of testimony, the International Court of Justice will decide on the legal consequences that countries that have contributed the most to climate change should face, including whether they should pay reparations to states that bear the brunt of the crisis. However, the court’s decisions aren’t binding – in the past, they have both led to drastic changes, and gone ignored.

 💨 A new carbon-capturing powder

Half a pound of an innovative yellow powder can absorb as much carbon as a tree. And unlike other similar attempts at carbon capture technology, the powder can be reused hundreds of times, while the process doesn’t require an extremely high temperature to work. The creator believes that by next year, it’ll be manufactured in the tons.

Carbon capture in general is of secondary importance to drastically reducing the amount of greenhouse gases we’re putting out there in the first place. But if it works at scale, it could provide a backup option in the worst-case scenario that climate change rapidly exacerbates.

⛵️ The ships going back to basics

Good old-fashioned wind power is making a comeback as the shipping industry looks to cut its substantial carbon footprint. Ships half the size of a football pitch are bringing goods across the Atlantic solely using the wind in their sails. Even ships that run on fuel are installing sails to harness the wind for an extra boost, saving up to 8% of energy.