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] The rediscovery of the Bolivian killifish is a case in point: the survival of certain species indicates pockets of critical ecosystem service value that, if lost, might trigger rapid collapse. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Insects are facing a multitude of anthropogenic stressors, and the recent decline in their biodiversity is threatening ecosystems and economies across the globe. Beyond Pesticides
• [New] Transboundary impacts of pesticide use in food production Approximately 3.7 Tg of pesticides are used annually in global crop production to help protect yield, but pesticides pose risks to ecosystem and human health. Beyond Pesticides
• [New] The cost of losses to biodiversity might amount to more than $1.1 billion annually. Beyond Pesticides
• [New] By making subnet tokens available on a major centralized exchange, Kraken's integration could significantly improve liquidity, price discovery, and accessibility across the rapidly expanding Bittensor ecosystem. MEXC
• [New] For the Iranian people, that their land and lives might be preserved, and that they might have respite from targets both external and internal. I'm Listening
• [New] The area of high-quality farmland in England and Wales is projected to collapse by 75% in the next two decades without adaptation, all while supply chains are disrupted by biodiversity collapse abroad, as a government security assessment recently warned. The Guardian
• [New] The fragmentation of land borders and seaport deployment presents expansion opportunities for ABC solution providers targeting underserved infrastructure segments. Persistence Market Research
• [New] While ABC e-gates have achieved significant deployment penetration at major international airports, seaports, and land borders represent an emerging high-growth opportunity with substantially lower current infrastructure penetration. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The world population is expected to grow by nearly 2 billion people over the next three decades, which is placing immense pressure on existing arable land. Market Data Forecast
• [New] An extra £5bn will be spent on drones that operate on land, sea and air, but some military experts are still questioning whether it is enough. The Guardian
• [New] Biodiversity loss could amplify vulnerabilities in global supply chains by affecting soil fertility, crop pollination, and pest control services. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Climate change's role as a driver of biodiversity loss is expected to intensify, potentially overtaking land use change beyond 2050 as the dominant factor (AXA IM, 2026). Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Despite hundreds of corporations pledging zero deforestation by 2030, investments in sustainable supply chains remain minimal, undermining progress toward ecosystem protection. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] One weak but notable signal is the rediscovery of a species considered extinct: a Bolivian killifish, found alive amid a critical biodiversity hotspot threatened by deforestation. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss, long overshadowed by more immediate climate concerns, is now increasingly recognized as an independent and accelerating risk driven by habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change itself (AXA IM, 2026). Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss is emerging as a silent but accelerating threat that could disrupt industries, supply chains, and livelihoods worldwide. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse rank among the most severe long-term global risks, with impacts spanning ecological, economic, and social domains. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Dust emitted from major sources in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia could be transported thousands of kilometers, affecting air quality, weather, climate, ecosystems, transportation, agriculture, and public health. UNOG
• [New] Life on Earth has adapted to survive in the most hostile and unusual habitats [but] as pressures on biodiversity mount across the planet, even the creatures with the most ingenious survival strategies are under threat. The Guardian
• [New] More than half of global GDP depends on healthy ecosystems, yet nature continues to decline at a staggering rate, putting economic stability, climate progress and long-term prosperity at risk. Innovation Zero 2025
• [New] By 2050, the combined effects of land subsidence and sea-level rise could expose an additional ~222 km2 of land in the GBA to coastal flooding. Springer Nature

Last updated: 26 July 2026