Global Scans · Climate Action · 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 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• [New] Thailand accelerated its climate targets, committing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, 15 years ahead of its original goal. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] The urgency for climate adaptation in developing economies is staggering, with annual funding needs projected to hit $300 billion by 2030 to safeguard infrastructure, agriculture, and water systems from climate impacts. Council Fire
• [New] Once a big power starts cooling the planet on its own terms, every drought or flood elsewhere could spark accusations of climate warfare. Sophiabistro.com
• [New] Climate change is quietly rewriting that script, and new scientific projections suggest that by 2080, many regions will resemble distant climates that feel nothing like home today. Sophiabistro.com
• [New] Underwriters will need to navigate a tighter regulatory environment in 2026: climate risk must be acknowledged in underwriting strategies, and AI-driven processes will face new compliance checks. Markel
• [New] In 2026, there is a 12% chance global temperatures will exceed the Paris Agreement threshold of 1.5 degrees - an international benchmark aimed at limiting global carbon emissions to avoid the most extreme impacts of climate change. Prince Albert Daily Herald - Prince Albert's only local
• [New] The energy transition is likely to spur substantial global employment growth - one of the fastest expanding sectors globally - signalling economic opportunity alongside climate action. Responsible Asset Owners Global Symposium
• [New] Greenland's 10% global freshwater reserves, mostly frozen, represent strategic assets amid 40% demand-supply gap by 2030 and climate-induced scarcity. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] Climate-driven health risks could cost the global economy $1.5 trillion in lost productivity by 2050. AgFunderNews
• [New] In 2026, insurers will increasingly evaluate a property's risk using forward-looking climate data rather than historical trends. Tooher-Ferraris
• [New] Many AI climate tools are trained on data from wealthy geographies, making them less effective - or even counterproductive - in the Global South, where climate vulnerability is highest. Forbes
• [New] Ocean warming will continue until global greenhouse gas emissions reach net-zero, warning that delaying emissions reductions will lock in further impacts on oceans and climate systems. Food Tank
• [New] Coupled with early indicators of a new warm water pulse migrating eastward at depth, climate scientists now expect El Nino conditions to materialize by mid-2026. The Daily Galaxy - Great Discoveries Channel
• [New] In 2026, expect more AI sustainability startups to bring new solutions, and for companies to utilize existing AI for better weather forecasting, simpler reporting, and to democratize information on how to mitigate climate risks. ESG News
• [New] Climate change and environmental degradation remain the biggest threats facing the world over the next decade. Big3Africa.org
• [New] A plausible, severe combined climate and nature shock scenario could lead to a global economic contraction of between 15% and 20%. Pensions Expert
• [New] Policymakers and financial institutions are underestimating climate risks that could undermine the global financial system. Pensions Expert
• By 2050, up to half of the current coffee-growing land may no longer be viable due to a changing climate. Worth

Last updated: 25 January 2026