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] Ukraine could receive a newly developed land-based launcher to strike Moscow and beyond. The New York Times
• [New] Shovel ready and fully developed land in Mexico refer to industrial or commercial parcels that are prepared for immediate construction, minimizing delays and risk for investors and developers. Discovery CRE
• [New] The world is nearing other irreversible tipping points that could trigger devastating consequences for people and ecosystems, including the melting of polar ice sheets, disruption of major ocean currents, and the collapse of the Amazon rainforest - where COP 30 will take place. ScienceDaily
• [New] Heat-related deaths are projected to rise, especially in northern regions, and Australia's ecosystems face major threats, with up to 70% of native plant species expected to be outside their current climate range. Hunter New Energy
• [New] The federal government has released Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment, mapping how worsening heat, fires, floods and sea level rise are expected to affect communities, infrastructure, industries and ecosystems, alongside a National Adaptation Plan to guide future action. Hunter New Energy
• [New] Greenpeace Brazil has projected messages to country delegates at the Pre-COP in Brasilia calling for urgent action to end forest destruction as a new Greenpeace International's poll showed nine out of 10 people surveyed want forests protected to fight climate change. Greenpeace International
• [New] Global forest health has plunged to dismal levels and threatens the wellbeing of humanity, warns a damning report that highlights how financial systems are pouring money into land clearance and undermining efforts to reduce destruction. The Guardian
• [New] By 2050, up to 70% of native plant species could face conditions outside their current climate range, risking widespread species loss and ecosystem collapse. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Armenia's IUCN membership supports its green transition goals, such as restoring forests across 12.9% of its territory by 2030 and protecting freshwater ecosystems. PendulumEdu
• [New] Space-based solar power could cut Europe's land-based renewable needs by 80% by 2050. oilprice.com
• [New] Urbanization in Nairobi is a threat, and urban sprawl is especially impactful on biodiversity. A-Z Animals
• [New] New Jersey and South Carolina enacted bills that require all land-use agreements to include resiliency clauses or climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessments that take into account the impacts of natural disasters on local communities and built infrastructure. KFF
• [New] Russia and China have fielded many hundreds of high-speed strike systems that today pose a dramatic threat to forward land and sea bases as well as to the US homeland. Atlantic Council
• [New] Land, maritime, and air-launched antiship and antisubmarine capabilities that will challenge US maritime dominance. Atlantic Council
• [New] The EU's transition to a circular economy is crucial for reducing pressure on natural resources, halting biodiversity loss, achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and building a more resilient and competitive Europe. Environment
• [New] For decades, the world has been fed a steady diet of apocalyptic predictions - rising seas, burning forests and collapsing ecosystems - designed to instil fear and compliance. Clintel
• [New] By 2050, over 60% of mining firms aim to achieve net-zero emissions or carbon neutrality, leading to wide-scale adoption of renewable energy, electrification of fleets, and precision mining techniques designed to reduce land disturbance and pollution. Mining.com
• [New] The LAND 400 Phase 3 Project will see 129 IFVs delivered to the Australian Army. Electro Optic Systems
• [New] The first set of Starships launched to Mars will be uncrewed and are intended to demonstrate the capability to successfully launch from Earth and land on Mars with human-scale lander systems. Forbes
• The private sector, with its ability to influence both farmers and consumers, will be central to ensuring a responsible and sustainable palm oil ecosystem in India. CSPO Watch
• Participants say they are well aware that they are nearing their 2030 deadlines for a slew of conservation goals, including the promise to halt biodiversity loss. The Christian Science Monitor
• In addition, 600 tons of clean energy a day will be produced by the world's largest clean hydrogen plant in NEOM by 2026 and 30% of Saudi Arabia's land and sea will be under protection by 2030, equal to the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf combined. Innovation Zero MENA Congress 2025
• The SGI's objectives of reducing carbon emissions by 278 mtpa by 2030, planting 10 billion trees over the coming decades equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land and protecting 30% of Saudi Arabia's land and sea by 2030 are ambitious targets but a good start has already been made. Innovation Zero MENA Congress 2025

Last updated: 19 October 2025