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] A new class of entrepreneurs could stimulate job creation, expand India's startup ecosystem, spur innovation, and promote youth participation. Times of Oman
• [New] The introduction of harmful aquatic organisms to new environments by ships has been identified as a major threat to the world's oceans and to the conservation of biodiversity. Witherbys
• [New] Maldives has a total land area of 20,130 square km (formed by 1190 islands) situated in 974,000 square km of the Indian Ocean that needs constant watch against internal and external threats. The Diplomat
• [New] Climate change is already a major threat to biodiversity and is expected to become a primary and immediate driver of biodiversity loss in the coming decades. BioMed Central
• [New] Settlers reportedly established at least two new illegal outposts this week near Palestinian communities which have been repeatedly attacked by settlers in the past months and are at imminent risk of being forcibly transferred from their homes and land. HuffPost
• [New] Settlers established at least two new outposts in the past two days in the Jordan Valley and South Hebron Hills, near Palestinian communities that have been attacked repeatedly by settlers in the past months and are at imminent risk of being forcibly transferred from their homes and land. The Guardian
• [New] U.S. economic growth is emerging as a key prop for an ongoing global expansion, but spillovers from persistently high inflation and tight monetary policy could pose new risks to an expected soft landing around the world. MarketScreener
• [New] Apr. 13-Solar panels could pop up on about 30 acres of vacant land in the Eldorado area within a year, an outcome of state leaders' push for renewable energy. Yahoo News
• [New] The Biden administration on Friday finalized a landmark rule that will require oil companies to pay at least 10 times more to drill on federal lands. Washington Post
• [New] The combined threats of climate change and biodiversity loss are a global public health emergency requiring urgent attention. The BMJ
• [New] For the decade ahead, half of the top 10 risks is concerned with effects stemming from climate - and nature-related challenges such as extreme weather events, climate tipping points, biodiversity loss, water and food shortages, and pollution. Roland Berger
• [New] The requirements for land dedicated to solar and wind are remarkable, with roughly 40,000 km2 needed by 2060; more than 11 times the amount of land converted by 2015 (about 3500 km2). Nature
• [New] Another goal is to increase the amount of land set aside for conservation from 20 mn hectares to 34 mn hectares by 2040, while enabling primarily Black communities to benefit economically. BizNews.com
• The expansion of irrigated lands and increased rice productivity, facilitated by Japan-supported irrigation infrastructure, mitigated the risks of harvest failure due to droughts and floods. Taylor & Francis
• Environmental crimes like land grabbing, illegal deforestation, and poaching hinder climate action, deter investment in sustainable practices, and threaten biodiversity across major biomes worldwide. Mongabay Environmental News
• By constructing new, higher land, and implementing science-based coastal protection, TCAP aims to safeguard communities and infrastructure in Funafuti, potentially becoming the only habitable area of land by 2100 - or even 2050 based on intensified climate models. Inter Press Service
• While challenges and risks exist, ongoing developments in technology and regulatory frameworks point toward a future where asset tokenization becomes an integral part of the global financial ecosystem, bridging the gap between traditional and decentralized finance. Deadline News
• International organizations such as the UNEP and the IUCN and financial institutions will have a key role to play in promoting environmentally sustainable wind energy projects, recognizing that development can only be considered sustainable if it addresses both the biodiversity and climate crises. OUP Academic
• From a longer-term perspective, Vietnam's growth potential faces a confluence of structural challenges, including the slow development of a manufacturing ecosystem, a shortage of skilled labour, and rapid population ageing. https://vir.com.vn/
• Much of the boreal forest, the Earth's northernmost forests and most significant provider of carbon storage and clean water, could be seriously impacted, along with tundra regions, treeless shrublands north of the boreal forest that play a significant role in regulating the Earth's climate. phys.org
• Europe has experienced an increasing number of severe weather-related natural hazards, including droughts, forest fires, heatwaves, storms and heavy rain, over the past decade. FoodNavigator.com
• There is untapped potential for Africa's vast agricultural land and the risks posed by climate change to its biodiversity. Cryptopolitan
• As much as climate change is a threat to the future of life on the planet so is the reduction of biodiversity. PetaPixel

Last updated: 21 April 2024