Global Scans · Environment · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT:? Our natural environment is under ever-increasing threat. Landscape and ocean adaptation plus stabilizing biodiversity strategies will play an important role in maintaining global food productivity as climate changes. Evidence is mounting that any economic strategy that ignores carbon pollution will impose tremendous costs on the global economy and will result in fewer jobs and less economic growth over the long term. The global market for commercial "Earth observation" data is expected to hit $3.5 billion by 2024. Battles over environmental regulation could become particularly pointed in the coming years.

• [New] As the world continues to grapple with environmental challenges, the potential for AI to drive sustainable development becomes increasingly evident. Ryz Labs
• [New] Indonesia is advancing regulatory frameworks with risk-sharing provisions in power purchase agreements, new ownership models, and policies that give value to carbon credits and other environmental attributes. Ember
• [New] The rise in US Treasury yields, a key driver for precious metals' retreat, underscores a global trend towards monetary tightening or at least a sustained higher interest rate environment than previously anticipated. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Satellites in low earth orbit will soon be providing humanity with ubiquitous connectivity, everywhere. DE-CIX - we make interconnection easy. Anywhere.
• [New] AI models will increasingly support real-time monitoring, adaptive simulations, and global-scale environmental assessments. Oxford Training Centre
• [New] Poor air quality remains the single biggest environmental threat to human health in the UK and is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths each year. IEEP UK
• [New] New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance works to advance environmental justice in New Jersey by supporting grassroots organizing, building coalitions, and advocating for policy changes that protect frontline communities from environmental hazards and climate impacts. Eventbrite
• [New] By the period from 2028 to 2030, greater regulatory clarity - coupled with evolving investor expectations and consumer pressures, and intensifying environmental and social risks - is expected to create a more stable and predictable environment for sustainability investments. Default
• [New] A recent study from APIB, the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, and the Indigenous Climate Change Committee found that expanding Brazil's Indigenous territories could prevent up to 20% of additional deforestation and cut carbon emissions by 26% by 2030. The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News |
• [New] By ending plastic exports, poorer countries will not be inundated with plastic waste, and the UK will be forced to take responsibility for its environmental impact. Impakter
• [New] The Chinese government has announced plans to ban all gasoline-powered vehicles from the capital city of Beijing by 2030 to reduce pollution and promote clean energy, resulting in a significant surge in demand for electric vehicles. UnivDatos
• [New] Planette, a long-range weather prediction platform that combines cutting-edge AI with decades of Earth system science, says it can predict long-range weather more accurately than others. Marcellus Drilling News
• [New] Arctic rare earth development could significantly impact global supply chain dynamics by providing Western-jurisdiction alternatives to existing production sources. Discovery Alert
• [New] US mining giant Alcoa will withdraw part of its plans to expand its mining operations in the world's only jarrah forests, following community concerns around water security and environmental impacts. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] 2026 will continue the shift in luxury hospitality towards cultural richness, environmental sensitivity, and experiences that will allow the modern luxury traveler to immerse themselves in their surroundings. The Manual
• [New] The new super-heavy rocket will be capable of carrying 70 metric tons to low Earth orbit. Gizmodo
• [New] Scientists warn that Earth is being pushed toward critical climate tipping points - thresholds beyond which self-reinforcing feedback loops (such as permafrost thaw, ice-sheet collapse, forest dieback) could trigger runaway changes, potentially irreversible on human timescales. Countercurrents
• [New] Quant Mutual Fund maintains a constructive outlook on Indian equities, supported by improving domestic macro indicators, anticipated policy benefits, strengthening liquidity, and a favourable global environment. Angel One
• [New] Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services are partnering up for a step toward a more open cloud environment with a jointly engineered multicloud networking solution that they claim will enable faster interoperability and interconnectivity. Silicon Republic
• [New] Environmental groups and some vessel operators have criticized the Executive Order, warning it could cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems and undermine international efforts to regulate DSM responsibly. Passle

Last updated: 06 December 2025