Global Scans · Environment · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT:? Our natural environment is under ever-increasing threat. Landscape and ocean adaptation plus stabilizing biodiversity strategies will play an important role in maintaining global food productivity as climate changes. Evidence is mounting that any economic strategy that ignores carbon pollution will impose tremendous costs on the global economy and will result in fewer jobs and less economic growth over the long term. The global market for commercial "Earth observation" data is expected to hit $3.5 billion by 2024. Battles over environmental regulation could become particularly pointed in the coming years.

• [New] The latest Emissions Gap Report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that new national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement have only slightly lowered projected temperature rise this century - leaving the world on track for around 2.3-2.5 °C of warming. Greenpeace International
• [New] AI will continue to improve and thus will open up even more opportunities to solve the most complicated environmental challenges of the planet in a precise, creative, and purposeful way. TheNewzAI
• [New] Microsoft has pledged to become carbon negative by 2030 as part of its effort to use AI as a tool to address environmental issues. TheNewzAI
• [New] Scientists have issued alerts for approaching solar or geomagnetic storms, which are set to hit Earth this week and will produce bright, stunning displays of light known as auroras over parts of the United States, Canada and Europe, while also temporarily disrupting some communications. Al Jazeera
• [New] Despite environmental lawsuits and technical uncertainty, CTR's IPO signals growing confidence that California's lithium ambitions could soon rival Arkansas's in the race to build a domestic battery supply chain. SME Studios - Jobs of Tomorrow
• [New] Italy is hoping its first sand battery plant could be a game-changer for decarbonizing industrial heat, but the are environmental costs must be considered. Yahoo News Canada
• [New] Low Earth orbit is likely to become only more crowded, as SpaceX has announced plans to add up to 40,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, and China plans to add tens of thousands more satellites in low Earth orbit through its Guowang and Qianfan satellite megaconstellations. Yahoo News UK
• [New] Natural Resources Canada will cut environmental programs, notably the Green Homes Program and the previous government's program to plant two billion carbon-absorbing trees. rabble.ca
• [New] The global plastics treaty, a United Nations initiative aiming to reduce plastic pollution worldwide, could commit countries to legally binding limits on virgin plastic production and enforce stronger requirements for reuse and refill systems. The Conversation
• [New] China produces approximately 85% of rare earth elements globally, creating strategic supply vulnerabilities for renewable energy expansion. Discovery Alert
• [New] The full supply chain emissions footprint of Project One could reach 3.8m tonnes of CO2e each year, around five times higher than stated in Ineos's environmental impact assessment. The Guardian
• [New] Earth has entered the tipping point era, where multiple systems, from the Amazon to Atlantic circulation, risk triggering cascading feedbacks. One Ocean
• [New] Clusters of around 80 solar-powered satellites could be positioned roughly 400 miles (644 kilometers) above Earth, equipped with advanced processors to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence. ANews
• [New] Rare Earth Elements (REEs), including neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium, account for 20% (USD 66 billion) and are expected to double by 2032 due to magnets used in EVs and wind turbines. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Space food tech using proteins and CO2 recycling could enable sustainable food in harsh climates on Earth. CNS Media
• [New] Industry partnerships drive innovation to adapt texturized proteins and freeze-dried technology that could also support sustainable food production on Earth. CNS Media
• [New] India is gearing up for the 2026 All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), the world's largest wildlife survey, aimed at counting tigers and assessing ecosystem health, prey density, habitat quality, and human-wildlife interactions. Adda247
• [New] The WHO urges the phase-out of fossil fuels, which are major contributors to both climate change and air pollution (a major health hazard). Risk Prevention Mitigation and Management Forum
• [New] The Shenzhou-20 crew will return to Earth on board the Shenzhou-21 return module, which will be replaced by another spacecraft that CMSA keeps on standby. Live Science
• [New] Environmental regulations, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, are reshaping trade flows and incentivizing lower-emission production methods, which will continue to influence iron ore sourcing and steelmaking processes globally. FinancialContent
• [New] The European Central Bank hit Spanish lender ABANCA with a €187,650 (US$217,024) penalty for failing to meet climate - and environment-related risk requirements, marking a significant escalation in its climate risk oversight. Climate Proof
• [New] By 2070, nearly half of all people on Earth may be African. Modern Diplomacy

Last updated: 15 November 2025