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] Countries like Argentina are poised to fully leverage their resources, but it will be imperative for both foreign companies and local governments to collaborate closely to develop fair policies sustaining local communities and ecosystems. The Pinnacle Gazette
• [New] Landing a tech job in Greenland in 2025 comes with its own set of challenges and exciting possibilities. Nucamp
• [New] There is also limited land for what would be required: agricultural land would need to expand by over 600 million hectares, equivalent to an area of land nearly twice the size of India, to produce enough food for 2050 based on current dietary trends and at current productivity levels. GOV.UK
• [New] Plastics are part of a triple planetary threat of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. Inside Climate News
• [New] Strong demand growth is projected for Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 19% of the world's agricultural land and 14% of the global population, with crop yield growth to double from 8% to 16% over the next decade. Samsung C&T Newsroom
• [New] If Kiev can maintain the territorial integrity of the land it still controls, it would bolster NATO's strategic dominance for years, deterring Moscow from posing a credible threat to the transatlantic alliance. GIS Reports
• [New] Highland forests in Costa Rica could be seriously affected by future changes in climate, reducing the number of species in a region famous for its biodiversity. ScienceDaily
• [New] Namibia plans to develop an integrated renewable energy ecosystem encompassing energy generation, storage, green molecule manufacturing (including ammonia), port infrastructure development and upscaling, and supporting industries. Ammonia Energy Association
• [New] India has the potential to develop a homegrown device ecosystem for spatial computing, which could be very exciting. Moneycontrol
• [New] Resulting coastal inundation around the world would dramatically alter ecosystems directly and cause mass migrations of humans that could further threaten species. The Revelator
• [New] The next decade will be crucial in determining the planet's future, and experts are urging immediate action to accelerate the transition to a green economy, protect vulnerable populations, and preserve biodiversity. Crypto News Flash
• [New] Without security guarantees from the supporters of the new Syrian government, any routes for evacuating personnel and assets by land, air, or sea will be unavailable. Meduza
• [New] Foxconn seized the opportunity to highlight its leadership in next-generation space communications and its collaborations with key partners to establish a robust satellite ecosystem. Space Daily
• [New] While the effects of climate change are making catastrophic fires both more frequent and more intense, and affecting more regions of the planet, the effects of widespread urban growth have greatly extended the areas exposed to the risk of forest fires. Avignon University
• [New] With agriculture needing to produce 50% more food by 2050 - and up to 40% of lands already degraded - urgent action is needed to restore lands, protect ecosystems, and meet the demands of a growing population. IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin
• [New] A proprietary 5G modem could enable Apple to create unique features for its ecosystem of devices. 9meters
• [New] The aquarium trade has contributed to the introduction of many invasive alien plant species that threaten the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems around the world. SpringerLink
• [New] In response, Malaysia has implemented policies aimed at conserving its rich biodiversity and tackling global warming, which poses a significant threat to its natural heritage. International Partnerships
• [New] Coral reefs are some of the most susceptible ecosystems to climate change, with a projected catastrophic 70-90% decline globally at 1.5 °C of heating and over 99% decline at 2 °C, as global temperatures continue to rise. Nature
• [New] The direct impacts that human activity has on Arctic ecosystems could exceed or at least exacerbate the effects of climate change in the coming decades, the researchers estimate. ScienceDaily
• [New] Climate change significantly impacts insect populations and distributions, and it is anticipated to increasingly drive shifts in biodiversity and species geographic ranges in the coming decades. MDPI
• Demand for water will continue to rise across the globe as a result of climate change, increased demand from rising population, polluted supplies, land use and economic change. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 15 December 2024