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] Sustained funding will empower New Mexico to grow the research, partnerships, and workforce needed to create a vibrant quantum ecosystem that will define the technologies of the next century. UNM UCAM Newsroom
• [New] Canada's breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems are integral to its national identity, underscoring the urgency of preserving biodiversity and addressing threats like aquatic invasive species. SeafoodNews
• [New] Reversing the continued loss of forests and natural ecosystems while continuing to meet the daily needs of people around the world requires sustained transformation of production and sourcing of forest-risk commodities. Walmart Policies and Guidelines
• [New] The Intergovernmental Panel on Nature ranks invasive species among the most serious threats to global biodiversity. SciTechDaily
• [New] Without adequate adaptation, land for coffee farming may decrease by 50% by 2050, Climate Central reported. WDIV ClickOnDetroit
• [New] Spotted lanternflies, an invasive species that first came to the U.S. from Asia about a decade ago, post a serious threat to vineyards, orchards and forests, where their voracious feeding weakens grapevines, stresses hardwood trees and harms a wide range of crops. Cleveland
• [New] The Commission will step up its support to build a stronger drone ecosystem, fostering closer ties between governments and industry through the Drone Alliance with Ukraine. European Commission Representation in Cyprus
• [New] Recent research suggests that by 2050, between 10% and 50% of the Amazon rainforest could face compound disturbances capable of triggering ecosystem transitions with climate feedback effects. AL DIA News
• [New] Egypt plans to mobilize USD1bn over five years under a new startup charter to support startups and venture capital ecosystems. Nasser Saidi & Associates
• [New] The Nature Restoration Regulation, now in force, is translating one of the EU's key biodiversity targets into concrete action - restoring ecosystems to improve water and food security, protect communities from climate risks and support Europe's long-term resilience and prosperity. Environment
• [New] Hong Kong's regulators are trying to encourage growth in the local digital asset ecosystem, unveiling a framework for perpetual contracts and saying that stablecoin licenses will be announced in the coming month. CoinDesk
• [New] Without urgent action to stabilise and reduce GHG emissions, global heating will dramatically accelerate, making extreme weather events and unnatural disasters more intense and more likely, with grave human rights implications for billions of people and the critical ecosystems on which we all rely. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] In a world of climate disruption, the cheapest cocoa is not necessarily the best bargain if it comes at the expense of farmers' livelihoods or the ecosystems that keep cocoa viable in the years to come. Al Jazeera
• [New] The industrial agricultural system that dominates Western food and fiber supply chains incentivizes practices that promote soil erosion at a rate of 10 to 100 times higher than soil formation ... and monocropping adds threats to local biodiversity, including critical pollinators. Yahoo Life
• [New] Environmental risks continue to dominate the long-term outlook, with extreme weather, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse and critical change to earth systems remaining the top three risks over the next decade. Climate Matters
• [New] We do need a de-extinction toolkit because we are going to lose up to 50% of all biodiversity between now and 2050. Euronews
• [New] Recent research has shed new light on the growing threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza bird flu to wildlife in some of the world's most remote ecosystems, while also pointing toward promising new tools for conservation. The Pandora Report
• [New] By 2050, 50% of current Arabica-suitable land may become unsuitable for cultivation. Ember Coffee Co.
• [New] Research published in PLOS ONE confirms that 50% of land currently suitable for Arabica production will no longer be suitable by 2050. Ember Coffee Co.
• [New] Low streamflows will have an affect on water availability, ecosystem health, and water quality across Delaware if conditions persist into winter and early spring. Delaware Climate Office
• [New] Alaska's North Slope is likely a model for what is taking place across Arctic tundra ecosystems, and we can expect wildfires to worsen if warming continues. Live Science
• [New] The loss of summer sea ice estimated to occur in the coming decades will worsen impacts to ecosystems, Arctic people, and global climate. Ocean Visions
• [New] U.S. food retailers face $219 billion in financial, climate, and biodiversity risks over the next 30 years from pesticide use in producing soy, corn, apples, and almonds. Global Warming Is Real

Last updated: 22 February 2026