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] Arctic ecosystems, dryland regions, small island developing nations and least developed countries could be hardest hit by the early manifestations of climate change. Climate Policy Lab
• [New] South-east Asia's long-stagnant private equity and venture capital ecosystem could get a much-needed boost, following the launch of the Asean Private Markets Council in September. The Business Times
• [New] A study by the University of California, Berkeley, highlights that Central American regions like Guatemala and Honduras could face drastic reductions in suitable land, pushing farmers toward alternative livelihoods. Climate Cosmos
• [New] Pollution, including from chemicals, is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss and is an increasingly relevant global risk. ShareAction
• [New] With more than half of the world's GDP highly or moderately dependent on nature and biodiversity, ecosystem losses pose a systemic risk to companies and their shareholders. ShareAction
• [New] Globally, the approved initiatives are expected to improve the management of about 1.2 million hectares of agricultural land and restore more than 314,000 hectares of degraded landscapes. Mexico Business
• [New] Changing climate patterns, unpredictable rainfall, and water scarcity are no longer hypothetical risks - they are reality for farmers and land managers worldwide. Farmonaut
• [New] What to watch for in 2026: Accelerated rollout of the 14 critical mineral projects already fast-tracked under the FAST-41 program, plus new mapping data unlocking domestic reserves across the Bureau of Land Management's 245 million acres of surface land and 700-million-acre mineral estate. FGS Global
• [New] New Jersey finalized updates to land use and development standards to protect communities and ecosystems from growing risks, particularly inland and coastal flooding. Governing
• [New] Using public data for conservation categories that could be included under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, the Association for Mineral for Mineral Exploration has calculated that OECMs protect up to 36.3% of land in B.C.. AME - Association for Mineral Exploration
• [New] The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework of the United Nation sets a reduction target of 50% for overall pesticide risks by 2030. Nature
• [New] Australia works very hard to protect the fragile nature of the land where we grow things and to really manage the risk of pests, diseases and weeds. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] A Brazilian initiative, known as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, is trying to raise $100bn, which will be used to compensate countries that leave their forests untouched. Al Jazeera
• [New] In Colombia, CAFOD is supporting human rights defenders and Indigenous communities in the unique ecosystem of the Siera Nevada de Santa Marta where they are at risk of physical and cultural survival due the ongoing armed conflict and the illicit economies that fuel it, as well as climate change. cafod.org.uk
• [New] By integrating technology innovation with financial ecosystems, VCI Global enables enterprises, governments, and institutions to capture opportunities in the evolving digital economy. GlobeNewswire
• [New] The US will soon begin strikes to intercept narcotics shipments making their way from Venezuela to the United States via land routes. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Nearly every warm-water coral would disappear, devastating undersea ecosystems and threatening fisheries around the world. United Nations Environment Programme
• [New] Because of the loss of ecosystems, the planet's mean species abundance - a single number that captures the diversity and distribution of life - is expected to drop 3%. United Nations Environment Programme
• [New] The world will lose 1 million square kilometers of forests, peatlands and other natural spaces. United Nations Environment Programme
• [New] The forest roadmap to be developed for COP 31 in Turkey could help drive stronger alignment and transparency across UN processes - from the UN Forum on Forests' 2017-2030 plan to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's 2030 target to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The Conversation
• [New] Tourism destinations around the world face increasing challenges from climate change, whether it's rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or disruptions to biodiversity. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The new and extended protected areas will help preserve some of Greece's most beautiful and ecologically significant mountain regions, offering a haven for biodiversity while also providing opportunities for travelers to experience nature at its best. Travel And Tour World

Last updated: 28 December 2025