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] Around the world, communities are grappling with increasing risks to water availability, threatening not only ecosystems and livelihoods but also peace. WaterBlog@KTH: Reflect, Rethink, Refill
• [New] As the world rapidly warms, levels of tropospheric ozone are projected to increase in all business-as-usual scenarios, exacerbating the most damaging impacts of climate change and harming health, agriculture and ecosystems. Clean Air Fund
• [New] Reintroducing some recently extinct species to their old habitats might improve biodiversity locally, but government-funded conservation for 11 focal extinct species in New Zealand would sacrifice conservation for nearly three times as many (31) extant species. UQ News
• [New] Positioned as a cornerstone of India's evolving delivery ecosystem, Skye Air's initiatives unlock opportunities and transform lives for millions of Indians. Web3Wire
• [New] In a 2015-2050 scenario of strong land use and climate change mitigation globally, rates of biodiversity loss would decrease but biodiversity would continue to decline. Nature
• [New] Addressing key challenges in improving the quality, accessibility, and availability of risk data for investments in EMDEs will help mobilise greater volumes of private investment to finance the global development, climate, and biodiversity goals. Environmental Finance
• [New] The proposed Land Use Framework for England could provide an effective basis for a policy and incentive landscape that optimises the use of land to deliver on a wide range of objectives such as climate mitigation and adaptation, food security and nature. Climate Change Committee
• [New] Collaboration between government, industry, and civil society, will be key to staying ahead of evolving threats and restoring trust in India's digital financial ecosystem. Lawful Legal
• [New] Farage condemned the use of agricultural land for solar farms, calling them biodiversity deserts, and argued that the centre-Right could reframe environmentalism without the CO2 obsession, predicting that public disillusionment with net zero could shift voter support toward Reform UK. Marcellus Drilling News
• [New] Due to the temporal dominance Iran held in the initial 48-hour post-strike window, it is likely that the false narrative will continue circulating in digital ecosystems that do not have access to or literacy in satellite image interpretation. The Cyber Shafarat - Membership only site
• [New] The United States, together with India, launched a joint land invasion of Iran in March, 2026, with aerial support from Israel, as well as logistical support from Saudi Arabia. Future
• [New] In a significant push to strengthen country's artificial intelligence ecosystem, Google has partnered with the state of Maharashtra to empower its AI startups, offering them with global opportunities. Storyboard18
• [New] Critics have argued that SpaceX's so-called fail fast, learn faster approach poses risks to both safety and the environment, especially when testing near populated areas or delicate ecosystems. Digital Trends
• [New] India, with its large education and skilling ecosystem, has the potential to emerge as a Global Gig Hub for new-collar skills, which will power the future global economy. The Hindu
• [New] First up, the UK government has launched a call for evidence from businesses and financial institutions on how to scale private investment in nature restoration, aiming to close a major funding gap and support its goals, including protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030. We Mean Business Coalition
• [New] Invasive alien species, including insects, are a major threat to native plants and animals in Europe and are one of the five major causes of biodiversity loss. Yahoo News
• [New] The European Green Deal emphasizes the goal of minimizing air, water, and soil pollution to levels that support health and ecosystems by 2050. AntiPollutionPlan.com
• [New] The Forest Survey of India has identified degraded forests over the last 15-20 years as offering the greatest potential for creating additional carbon sinks. TOne Academy
• [New] Many creatures could find new homes in parts of the North Sea predicted to become biodiversity hotspots in the next 50 years, although the disruption from climate change could also have negative knock-on effects on the marine ecosystem. BBC News
• Dubai may offer one of the strongest ecosystems for entrepreneurs, but without simple and affordable ways to retain customers, many SMEs risk losing the people they worked so hard to gain. HiDubai Focus
• Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are among the most severe consequences of broader systemic failures and are emerging as one of the fastest deteriorating global risks of the coming decade. Sweco United Kingdom
• Park Royal sits within a key London Availability Zone where there is little competing land supply and limited power capacity, so is expected to present a very attractive proposition for global hyperscalers looking to grow their capacity in one of Europe's largest data center markets. Data Centre & Network News

Last updated: 29 June 2025