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] 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
• [New] The 15th United Nations Biodiversity Conference obligates all countries to reduce pesticide risks by 50% by 2030. PubMed
• [New] Persistent and widespread environmental populations of mirror bacteria would expose humans, animals and plants to an ongoing risk of infection - a serious threat to humans and to global ecosystems. Michigan State University
• [New] In order to reduce drift, minimize volatility, and protect ecosystems, the EPA has brought in a number of measures, including that the maximum application rate will be cut in half, reducing the amount of the chemical released into the atmosphere and environment. Newsweek
• [New] Mass-scale expansion of agriculture driven by global population growth risks sacrificing sustainability: forests cleared for farmland, pesticides polluting waterways, and ecosystems pushed beyond recovery accelerating biodiversity loss. The Guardian
• [New] More than half of global agricultural land is now moderately or severely degraded, increasing the risks of desertification. Just Two Things
• [New] Thinning can reduce the risk of severe wildfires in some forests (such as some pine forests in the United States). The Conversation
• [New] Applicants should develop proposals that increase forest management activities and reduce wildfire risk to ultimately promote healthy forests, increase timber productivity and protect American prosperity. SCDRP
• [New] Half of the global risks we will face will be environmental - three of which top the list: extreme weather events, biodiversity loss/ecosystem collapse, and critical changes to Earth's life-sustaining systems. WEA Mission Commission
• [New] Global nature loss poses a direct threat to national security and prosperity, citing cascading risks including conflict, migration, competition for resources, and potential impacts on food security through reliance on at-risk ecosystems. Greenhouse Communications
• [New] Kazakhstan Association for Biodiversity Conservation chooses the Bird of the Year to highlight the challenges and opportunities in protecting avifauna. The Astana Times
• [New] Microplastics are a growing global concern, with documented effects on marine ecosystems and potential risks to human health. ScienceDaily
• [New] SpaceX is deeply involved in Artemis, having been awarded a contract to develop a lunar lander variant of Starship for the Artemis III mission, which will land the first humans near the lunar South Pole. The Boreal Times
• [New] Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem, built over decades, could not simply be relocated. CNBC
• [New] In a new study from scientists in China and the University of California, Irvine, researchers warn that the increasing presence of non-native snails, clams, and other shellfish is already damaging ecosystems. Yahoo News
• [New] For investors, the next wave of mobility growth will not only come from global platforms, but from the ecosystems built around them and the local operators they cannot replace. Market Realist
• [New] Beijing will advance the ecosystem for industries including clean energy technology, new energy vehicles, robotics and commercial aerospace. chinadailyhk
• [New] The residential segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 16.8% from 2025 to 2033 with the growing consumer appetite for convenience and intelligent kitchen ecosystems. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The widespread use of agricultural pesticides is a growing threat to global biodiversity. Mirage News
• [New] At the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada, in 2022, nations committed to reducing the risks associated with pesticide use in agriculture by 50% by 2030. Mirage News
• [New] Latin America and the Caribbean, home to more than 25% of the world's marine biodiversity, have a unique potential to lead the sustainable blue economy. CAF
• [New] From dugong loss in Thailand to global water stress, biodiversity and water are emerging as central risks shaping strategy, adaptation, and long-term value. Altiorem

Last updated: 15 February 2026