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] Biodiversity loss could amplify vulnerabilities in global supply chains by affecting soil fertility, crop pollination, and pest control services. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Climate change's role as a driver of biodiversity loss is expected to intensify, potentially overtaking land use change beyond 2050 as the dominant factor (AXA IM, 2026). Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Despite hundreds of corporations pledging zero deforestation by 2030, investments in sustainable supply chains remain minimal, undermining progress toward ecosystem protection. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] One weak but notable signal is the rediscovery of a species considered extinct: a Bolivian killifish, found alive amid a critical biodiversity hotspot threatened by deforestation. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss, long overshadowed by more immediate climate concerns, is now increasingly recognized as an independent and accelerating risk driven by habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change itself (AXA IM, 2026). Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss is emerging as a silent but accelerating threat that could disrupt industries, supply chains, and livelihoods worldwide. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse rank among the most severe long-term global risks, with impacts spanning ecological, economic, and social domains. Shaping Tomorrow
• [New] Dust emitted from major sources in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia could be transported thousands of kilometers, affecting air quality, weather, climate, ecosystems, transportation, agriculture, and public health. UNOG
• [New] Life on Earth has adapted to survive in the most hostile and unusual habitats [but] as pressures on biodiversity mount across the planet, even the creatures with the most ingenious survival strategies are under threat. The Guardian
• [New] More than half of global GDP depends on healthy ecosystems, yet nature continues to decline at a staggering rate, putting economic stability, climate progress and long-term prosperity at risk. Innovation Zero 2025
• [New] By 2050, the combined effects of land subsidence and sea-level rise could expose an additional ~222 km2 of land in the GBA to coastal flooding. Springer Nature
• [New] The Cambodia Environmental Diplomacy Strategy 2026-2030 aims to strengthen Cambodia's response to climate change, while promoting ecosystem conservation and environmental protection, amid warnings that global climate change and ecosystem degradation have reached a dangerous red line. Phnom Penh Post
• [New] The Great Green Wall initiative, launched by the African Union, aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon and create 10 million green jobs by 2030 in the Sahel. UNCCD
• [New] Globally, up to 40% of the Earth's land is degraded, affecting nearly half of humanity and threatening food security, biodiversity and economic development. UNCCD
• [New] 6-4 The Scottish Government Scottish Biodiversity Strategy commits to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030. NatureScot
• [New] Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 which sets targets for halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and restoring Scotland's biodiversity. NatureScot
• [New] Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan which sets out how Scottish Government will move to a net-zero, climate-resilient economy by 2045, whilst ensuring fair process and creating green jobs, particularly in high-emission sectors. NatureScot
• [New] Canada's forests are being sold for firewood Imagine for a moment that you would burn wood to make energy. Unpublished
• [New] Strengthening taxonomic research, digital documentation, and ecosystem protection will be crucial for preserving India's rich natural heritage and achieving long-term environmental sustainability. National Defence Institute
• [New] Since operations began in mid-2018, Project Masam has cleared 572,332 explosive threats and made more than 82.3 million square metres of land safe, supporting safer returns, livelihoods and humanitarian access across Yemen. Project Masam
• [New] The Antelope Reef, the site of Beijing's latest land reclamation activities, could become the largest military outpost in Paracels and could accommodate a 2.7-kilometer runway alongside expanded port facilities capable of supporting CCG, maritime militia, and possibly naval vessels. Acled
• [New] Countries could seek to align their policies on land swaps, Israeli settlements, and borders. The Washington Institute
• [New] The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is funding civil society organizations to improve the conservation status of Madagascar's threatened tree species. Impact Funding

Last updated: 19 July 2026