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] Healthy forests support wildlife, protect water quality, provide recreational opportunities and sustain the outdoor traditions that define much of Western New York. Post Journal
• [New] The State of Private Investment in Nature 2026 reports a significant increase in the deployment of blended finance models, where public capital is used to de-risk private investments in biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. QUE.com
• [New] A well-designed approach to space mining might someday help to take pressure off Earth's ecosystem by providing an alternative to dwindling resources, and space-borne manufacturing centers might alleviate pollution on Earth. EBSCO
• [New] The Trump administration said on Tuesday it plans to rescind the roadless rule that has protected old-growth forests in the United States for 25 years, potentially opening up almost 45 million acres of national forests to road construction, drilling, and logging. Earth Island Journal
• [New] Land Warfare is anticipated to capture 34% share in 2026 as armored platforms and tactical units adopt AI for route planning and threat warning. FactMr
• [New] The hospital of 2027 is likely to function more like an interconnected digital ecosystem. BMA
• [New] UN awards new World Restoration Flagships in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the Sahel, recognizing efforts to restore nearly 5 million hectares by 2030, boost food security, create jobs, strengthen climate resilience and combat land degradation. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Soil biodiversity is declining around the world, threatening agriculture, food security and the ability of ecosystems to function properly. ScienceDaily
• [New] Caribou and migratory birds face changes to migration routes and feeding grounds, while declining sea ice can force polar bears to spend more time on land, increasing the potential for human-bear encounters in some communities. GoGeomatics
• [New] The Indian Chandrayaan-3 will be a second attempt to land on the moon by the Indian Space Research Agency. DebateUS
• [New] The expert panellists highlighted the latest regulatory developments in Hong Kong, as well as the opportunities available for Hong Kong to take the lead in the global development of virtual assets, blockchain, and the broader Web 3.0 ecosystem. Web 3.0 in Hong Kong - from crypto to blockchain
• [New] The USA is a global leader in AI but lacks a government-backed robotic hardware strategy, which could ensure a symbiotic relationship with Japan's mature hardware ecosystem. Robohub
• [New] Given the persistent shortage of European defence capital, restricting US investment or transatlantic industrial partnerships could ultimately weaken the very ecosystem Europe seeks to strengthen. Hudson Institute
• [New] Europe fears losing control over strategic technologies, industrial assets, and defence innovation ecosystems to foreign capital-not only Chinese, but increasingly, American. Hudson Institute
• [New] Early-stage startups and SMEs with health-focused digital solutions that want healthcare stakeholder exposure, pilot or validation opportunities, clinical feedback, and visibility in Portugal's health innovation ecosystem. Startup Tools
• Heatwaves and wildfires are not just scorching forests, they are adding to the tipping point risks in the world's vast permafrost regions, which contain three times more carbon than all the living vegetation on Earth. The Guardian
• Dedicated volunteers and under-funded conservationists have been slowing the army of increasing threats, but experts fear that without urgent action and political courage, the biodiversity Australia says it loves is headed for a bloodbath. BBC News
• Invasive alien species are emerging as one of the fastest-growing threats to biodiversity across Europe, affecting ecosystems from rivers and wetlands to forests and marine habitats. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• Across Africa, organizations are navigating a rapidly changing landscape where climate risk, resource constraints, biodiversity loss, evolving regulations, investor expectations, technology and changing consumer demands are increasingly influencing how businesses operate, invest and grow. Engineering News

Last updated: 13 September 2026