Global Scans · Environment · Weekly Summary

• [New] Ending deforestation and forest degradation is an essential element of the 1.5 °C solution and it's now mission critical that we maximise synergies across a fragmented landscape of current climate, biodiversity and finance initiatives to secure an end to forest destruction by 2030. Greenpeace International
• [New] Energy engineers worldwide are working on various new technologies that could help to limit greenhouse gas emissions on Earth and address climate change. phys.org
• [New] Beyond environmental concerns, 2026 will see a heightened focus on the human element of sustainable fashion. BindasLook.in
• [New] A new report from the Climate Council, Clouded future: Managing risks of the data center boom, lands as Australia jostles to become one of the world's hottest destinations for data center investment, currently sitting second only to the United States. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] In a world where all motor vehicles were electric and an upstream carbon tax addressed the broader environmental burden of energy production, a weight-adjusted VMT tax might be the optimal solution. Southern California Law Review
• [New] A region of Alaskan permafrost the size of Wisconsin is thawing at an accelerating rate, releasing ancient stores of carbon into rivers and the ocean in ways that could permanently alter both the Arctic environment and the global climate. ArcticToday
• The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report states: If global emissions continue at current rates, the remaining carbon budget for keeping warming to 1.5 °C will likely be exhausted before 2030. ClimateCheck
• Two years ago, scientists at the Australian National University and University of Innsbruck used a new climate model - SkiSim2 - to see what greenhouse gas emissions could do to 11 of Australia's main ski resorts. The Guardian
• Europe could start invoicing climate-friendly products - such as decarbonised energy equipment, electric vehicles and commodities essential for electrification - in euro. European Central Bank
• Climate change is increasing risk to agricultural productivity, supply chains, and food security across Latin America and the Caribbean. GrowingIL
• Though the mass majority of Americans believe in climate change, and over half would support a carbon tax that could fund renewable energy programs and public transportation, only 23% would be willing to pay a mere $40 monthly fee to combat climate change. The Tufts Daily
• Green ammonia could be cost-competitive with VLSFO and LNG at current prices with moderate regulatory support, a finding that shifts the investment case from a purely environmental mandate toward commercial viability. European Maritime Finance
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new tailpipe emission rule that would effectively require half the new cars sold in 2032 to be electric. Southern California Law Review
• Russia's expansion of GPS spoofing capabilities around Kaliningrad represents a major escalation in the militarization of the electromagnetic environment in Europe and poses growing risks to civil aviation safety. Robert Lansing Institute
• Climate Hazards may destroy 167 million homes by 2040; housing alone accounts for 17-21% of global carbon emissions. PMF IAS
• Brazil occupies a pivotal position in the global climate agenda, combining significant transition risks with unique opportunities linked to its natural capital and emerging carbon markets. Industry Link
• CARB adopted the long-awaited California Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Climate Related Financial Risk Disclosure Initial Regulation implementing the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (SB 261). Fresh
• Investment in building energy efficiency must more than double - reaching US$ 5.9 trillion by 2030 - to keep climate goals within reach and deliver healthier, more resilient cities. United Nations Environment Programme
• Tighter fiscal positions have reduced the financial headroom for public climate investment, and the rapid growth of generative AI has simultaneously increased global energy demand and diverted capital from climate transition opportunities. OneStop ESG
• Climate risks continue accelerating infrastructure investment globally. Kalkine
• While carbon credit markets remain small compared to global needs for climate finance, they hold considerable potential for mobilizing private investment to achieve global climate and energy transition goals. Brookings

Last updated: 21 June 2026