Global Scans · Life on Land · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss,

• [New] Climate change could reshape forests across Mexico, the United States and Canada over the coming decades. EurekAlert!
• [New] More than 75 new scholarships will boost philanthropic leadership nationwide through The Giving Academy - Australia's flagship learning program for the philanthropic ecosystem. Centre for social impact
• [New] New Mexico, like many other states, is experiencing what experts describe as a startling decline of bugs, a shift that poses critical threats to ecosystems. Source New Mexico
• [New] Growth Potential in Asia-Pacific Manufacturing Hubs Asia-Pacific presents strong growth opportunities due to large-scale textile production capabilities and expanding electronics manufacturing ecosystems. openpr
• [New] Asia-Pacific is projected to register the fastest growth due to large-scale textile manufacturing ecosystems and increasing smart wearable demand in China, Japan, South Korea, and India. openpr
• [New] The United Nations is warning of a global sand deficit caused by over-dredging, threatening water quality, infrastructure, and biodiversity. Circle of Blue
• [New] Environmental and ecosystem losses tied to plastics may already exceed $600 billion globally, while healthcare-related impacts could add another $250 billion annually. GlobeNewswire
• [New] By 2035, the most advanced payment ecosystems will not wait for a customer to initiate a transaction. Daniel Burrus
• [New] Forests are facing increasing durability risks due to climate change. earth.com
• [New] Starship V3's maiden voyage to space will be a big test for SpaceX, which wants to land humans on the moon for NASA in 2028 and hopes to avoid the kind of spectacular explosions that have plagued some previous Starship tests. Live Science
• [New] Known as the Land of Opportunity and Natural Wonders, the U.S. attracts wellness travelers seeking yoga retreats, meditation, spa therapies, detox programs, outdoor wellness, and nature-based rejuvenation. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] By 2040, hospitality businesses will likely operate as fully connected intelligent ecosystems. Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute
• [New] By 2050, hospitality leaders will manage augmented ecosystems. Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute
• [New] The India Semiconductor Mission is backed by a Rs76,000 crore Production Linked Incentive framework and aims to build India's domestic semiconductor ecosystem from chip design through fabrication to final packaging and testing by 2030. MCQ Orbit
• [New] Plastic pollution is found nearly everywhere on Earth and threatens ecosystems, wildlife, and potentially human health. CNW Group
• [New] 5G communications technologies will transform entire industries around the world and are already a core element of the mobile communications and automotive ecosystems. Cambridge Core
• [New] By strengthening links between science, regulation and policy, they enhance Europe's capacity to manage chemical risks in an integrated, transparent and sustainable manner, reinforcing PARC's role as a cornerstone of the European chemical safety ecosystem. PARC
• [New] Across the East Coast of Florida, temperatures will remain slightly warmer because the wind has to travel over land, which makes the air warmer and the temperatures warmer. Jacksonville Today
• [New] Plastic pollution will become more abundant by cumulative mass than all life on Earth, with a plethora of potential negative consequences across scales of biological organization, from molecular and cellular to population and ecosystem level. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Proposed changes in the water rights system in the American West, as well as other longstanding resource allocation mechanisms could qualify as transformative, although associated land uses might change very little at first. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Climate change, pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction are threatening ecosystems across the globe at an alarming rate. observanceguide.com
• [New] Desertification threatens vulnerable areas around the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America. Beyond Borders
• [New] A recent study by Aviva found that one in nine new homes in England are being built on land at risk of flooding - often entirely within planning rules. The Guardian

Last updated: 31 May 2026