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] Land use near biodiversity risk zones: Near is now defined as 100 meters. / Mexico Watershed
• [New] The AfCFTA's 40% African content threshold will disproportionately benefit countries with mature automotive ecosystems, with South Africa and Morocco positioned as the primary near-term winners. Fitch Solutions
• [New] Southeast Asia's combination of biodiversity, urbanization, and climate vulnerability increases the risk of emergence of zoonotic diseases. Alliance magazine
• [New] Global demand for animal-based foods is projected to increase by nearly 70% by 2050 due to population growth and rising incomes, placing immense pressure on land and water resources. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Improved forest management has the potential to sequester an additional 267 million tonnes CO2e in forests of the United States, second only to reforestation among natural climate solutions. ACR
• [New] Forests and other nature-based solutions to climate change have the potential to sequester one-third of global emissions annually. ACR
• [New] In northwestern Ontario is Athena's Forester project, a 4,900-hectare land package located less than 30 km southeast of Orla Mining's Musselwhite Gold Mine, with historical drill intercepts showing strong potential for both high-grade, narrow-vein and low-grade, bulk-tonnage gold mineralization. TMX Newsfile
• [New] In the UK, 70% of land area is used for agriculture and declines in pollinators and other beneficial invertebrates that control crop pests (such as beetles, wasps and spiders) pose risks to crop yields. GOV.UK
• [New] Warmer climates are linked to the spread of pests and diseases that threaten yields making formerly productive land less reliable for food cultivation and increasing systemic risks to global food supply chains. GOV.UK
• [New] Climate and environmental pressures are expected to intensify, reshaping how and where goods are produced, the reliability of global transport systems, and the resilience of ecosystems that underpin supply chains. GOV.UK
• [New] The UN's global framework has led to an unprecedented level of commitment worldwide to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. EurekAlert!
• [New] The crisis of marine plastic pollution has precipitated a multifaceted global emergency, incrementally degrading marine ecosystems, endangering human health, and inflicting devastating socioeconomic costs. IHR
• [New] 64 MILLION bacteria-infected mosquitoes are set to be released into Florida and California - potentially causing irreversible ecosystem disruptions. Snopes
• [New] Freshwater ecosystems are among the most biologically diverse yet highly threatened ecosystems on Earth. Frontiers
• [New] 40,000 acres of powered land - nearly 2 billion square feet - will be needed globally over the next five years. Hines
• [New] The coming decade is decisive: without rapid, coordinated global action, ocean health will continue to decline, threatening climate stability, biodiversity resilience, food security, livelihoods and the wellbeing of billions. The United Nations Office at Geneva
• [New] AI-related water consumption could equal the basic annual domestic needs of 1.3 billion people by the end of the decade, while its land footprint may exceed 14,500 square kilometers - roughly twice the size of the Jakarta metropolitan area. UN News
• [New] Mangrove forests, long considered among the world's most threatened ecosystems, are now showing signs of global rebound, a new study reports. Live Science
• [New] A new study finds mangrove forests are no longer shrinking worldwide, offering hope for coastal protection and climate resilience. Live Science

Last updated: 21 June 2026