Eco-solutions: Ukrainians unveil “real reality glasses” at International Climate Conference

At the UN climate conference (COP29), Ukrainian organizations showcased a 3D installation featuring "real reality glasses" depicting the impact of Russian environmental crimes on Ukraine and the world.

UAnimals reported that.

What is the problem?

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, due to Russia's aggression, the Ukrainian environment suffered losses of almost 2.5 trillion hryvnias. The number of recorded crimes by Russians against nature exceeds 5,500.

The full-scale war in Ukraine has resulted in severe environmental damage. As of February 2024:

• over 40% of forest fires have been attributed to Russian shelling;
• approximately 67.5 million tons of harmful emissions have been released into the atmosphere;
• 1,600 tons of pollutants have entered Ukraine's waterways;
• the most significant environmental disaster in recent decades took place — the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam;
• at least 20% of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine was affected.
• 600 species of fauna and 750 species of flora are threatened with destruction due to war.

According to the organizers, Russia's war against Ukraine will have a widespread impact on the environment, extending beyond Ukraine's borders. Despite the global effort to combat climate change over several decades, Russian aggression will negate these efforts in just one day of war. For instance, in 2023, the European Union dedicated 116 million euros towards environmental conservation, while one day of war will result in the loss of 102 million euros for the Ukrainian environment.

"Even when the hostilities stop, the shells and rockets stop exploding; humanity will still feel the consequences of Russian crimes against nature. UAnimals has been pushing for ecocide to be recognized as a crime since the beginning of the full-scale war and calls on the world to act now. Reality is not created by artificial intelligence but by people, and how we will live in the future depends on us. For now, our reality is a world where Russia destroys everything around with impunity," Oleksandr Todorchuk, founder of UAnimals, says.

What is the solution?

Ukrainian organizations UAnimals and Save Dnipro presented the installation at the annual UN climate conference (COP) on November 11-22, 2024, with the support of the international foundation "Renaissance" and the CEO Club. Along with 197 countries and the European Union, they sought solutions to combat climate change. Thanks to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, these Ukrainian organizations were able to represent Ukraine officially at SOR29. Mriya Production Studio was responsible for creating the VR content.

How does it work?

Wearing "reality glasses" at the conference, guests could witness the true impact of the war on the environment. This included the death of dolphins in the Black Sea, forest fires, animal casualties, the demolition of the Kakhovka HPP dam, attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, and the looming danger of a nuclear explosion at the NPP.

This installation utilizes 360⁰ technologies, VR glasses, and stereo sound to create an immersive experience. Its purpose is to allow viewers to witness the daily disasters caused by Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Additionally, the installation should invite actors worldwide to participate in COP29 and support Ukraine in accurately evaluating the environmental impact, obtaining reparations from the offending country, and repairing the devastated environment. This call aligns with paragraph 8 of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's Peace Formula.

"SOR29 is an international platform where Ukraine should be heard. But when you talk about the catastrophic impact of war on the environment for the third year in a row, the world, unfortunately, gets used to it. That's why we – SaveDnipro and UAnimals – turned to immersive technologies that literally immerse the viewer in the reality of war-mutilated nature.

We believe that the guests of the Ukrainian pavilion who will experience such a dive will heed our calls to punish the aggressor for crimes against the environment, force the Russians to compensate for the damage caused, and contribute to the restoration of destroyed ecosystems," says Iryna Chernysh, head, and co-founder of the SaveDnipro NGO.

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It should be noted that this year's 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP) will take place in Baku from November 11 to 22. Ukraine's pavilion will showcase the theme of restoration, featuring walls made of eco-friendly paper with live seeds. Once the conference concludes, sections of these walls will be planted in Ukraine's partner countries to symbolize collective efforts and growth toward the future.