Global Scans · Nature · Weekly Summary

WHAT''S NEXT?: Oceans, animals, and land are all under threat from climate change and human activities. The effective and efficient conservation of agricultural biodiversity is vital to meeting the global challenges of food and nutritional security for an expanding world population. But, the signs are of continued degradation of our global natural resources and environment.

• [New] Earth observation can help to support policies and practices that could reduce over 2 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year, making it an invaluable resource in the global sustainability field. IndustryARC
• [New] The strategic shift toward ocean floor minerals aligns with the broader objective of securing supply chains for the technologies that will define America's industrial and military capabilities in the coming decades. Discovery Alert
• [New] Many UK companies are already assessing and addressing their nature and climate-related risks and opportunities in an integrated way and are considering what the transition to being 'nature positive' could look like. GOV.UK
• [New] Greenpeace is demanding that governments, including Australia, ratify the Global Ocean Treaty and commit to the goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• [New] Attero plans a Rs100 crore investment to significantly scale its rare earth recycling capacity from 300 to 30,000 tonnes within 12-24 months, driven by rising demand and China's export restrictions. The Economic Times
• [New] Reduced emphasis on fiber means fixed wireless access and low earth orbiting satellites could play a larger role in rural America's broadband access and accelerate connectivity. CoBank
• [New] Sea level rise on both Pacific and Indian Ocean sides of Asia exceeded the global average, posing serious risks to low-lying coastal areas. kp ias academy
• [New] Climate change and habitat loss could cause more than 500 bird species to go extinct in the next 100 years. Mirage News
• [New] The idea, which ultimately failed, was to keep Europe's gas storage almost empty, making Europe as vulnerable as possible to the threat of Russia turning off the flow of natural gas in the midst of winter. Centre for European Reform
• [New] China's export restrictions on rare earth metals, crucial for audio electronics, threaten over 21,000 jobs in India. The Economic Times
• [New] Consistent with the state-centric nature of the IR of Asia, both the top and emerging spacefaring powers in Asia will seek to shape and balance the DCM trends in line with their own economic and political interests. World and New World Journal
• [New] Other downside risks include tighter global financial conditions, spillovers from weaker growth in major economies, higher geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters. Scribd
• [New] Europe, already dealing with elevated natural gas prices, could see renewed inflation if oil remains high and if any instability affects Middle East supply of goods. The Go-To Guy
• [New] Hydrogen represents an opportunity to diversify from the growing reliance on 'rare earth minerals', which are currently primarily controlled by China, and the mining of essential battery ingredients from less stable countries. John Cordell Driving Instructor
• [New] Travelers in 2025 will seek out local restaurants that use ingredients from nearby farms, easing any environmental impact. Rustic Pathways
• [New] Previous studies on the projected 21st century zonal mean precipitation patterns over the Indian Ocean show an enhanced wetting in the northwestern domain relative to the eastern Indian Ocean. Nature
• [New] Mondragon University, in the Basque Country, is the lead of a project that is being funded by the European Commission that will aim to manufacture four prototypes by the end of the year, all of which aim to be lighter, with more driving force and created with fewer rare earth minerals. Olive Press News Spain
• [New] India currently imports most of its lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions. IASbaba
• The constellation of small satellites will collect information on specific radio signals worldwide to provide high-precision radio frequency mapping and analytics from Low Earth orbit. RocketLaunch.org
• Bee populations worldwide are facing unprecedented threats, from habitat loss and pesticide use to climate change and disease. Beekeeper Corner
• The replacement of oil with natural gas and renewables for power generation in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, is expected to weigh on global oil demand growth in the coming years. IEA
• Science within the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area provides a critical advantage in addressing public safety, infrastructure, and security issues surrounding natural disasters and changing landscapes, strengthening America's ability to be a hazard ready Nation. USGS

Last updated: 28 June 2025