Global Scans · Environment · Weekly Summary

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] Incentives for Rare Earths: Government plans Rs5,000 crore PLI scheme to boost magnet production capacity and reduce overdependence on China (which controls 90% of global supply). Legacy IAS Academy
• [New] With the world facing increasingly frequent outbreaks, rising antimicrobial resistance, and growing challenges from climate change, environmental degradation and geopolitical instability, the EU is taking proactive steps to protect people from health threats. Public Health
• [New] Avian influenza A is circulating in wild birds, poultry and some mammals around the world, and occasional human infections following exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur. FluTrackers News and Information
• [New] The Environmental Sustainability Reporting Standards, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, and the Global Reporting Initiative all emphasize the importance of focusing on habitat changes, particularly nationally threatened species. Nature
• [New] Climate neutrality by 2050 means achieving net zero GHG emissions for EU Member States as a whole, mainly by cutting emissions, investing in clean technologies, and protecting the environment. Climate Action
• [New] China's move to issue short-term export licences for rare earth magnets reduces the risk of near-term supply disruption and is likely to have a global policy response focused on expanding production capacity rather than constraining exports. Yahoo
• [New] A: Asteroid mining could provide access to valuable resources like water, metals, and minerals, which could be used to fuel space missions, build habitats, and potentially even benefit Earth. archyde
• [New] Beyond 1.5 °C of warming, we face an escalating risk of triggering self-perpetuating changes to vital Earth systems that could push the global climate into a less habitable state. The Good Men Project
• [New] China's retaliatory measures include export restrictions on rare earth elements, forcing European auto parts plants to suspend production and highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities. Gainesville Coins
• [New] Climate change is the primary threat to mangrove ecosystems, affecting 33% globally, followed by deforestation, development, pollution, and dam construction. EDUREV.IN
• [New] Pakistan must create an environment where businesses feel secure that their capital and effort will not be swept away by political and economic tsunamis. The News International
• [New] Looking further ahead, space holds transformative potential: orbital geoengineering could cool the planet, and resource mining beyond Earth could ease pressure on terrestrial ecosystems. Cosmoterra
• [New] The ongoing innovation in thermal power generation technologies will help meet the world's growing energy needs while reducing the environmental impact of power production, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. EMS Power Machines - Steam Turbines, ORC Turbines, Wood
• [New] As governments around the world tighten regulations around energy use and emissions, industries will face greater incentives to invest in technologies that improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. EMS Power Machines - Steam Turbines, ORC Turbines, Wood
• [New] As the global demand for energy grows and the need to mitigate the environmental impact of power generation intensifies, waste heat recovery will play a critical role in reshaping the way energy is produced and consumed. EMS Power Machines - Steam Turbines, ORC Turbines, Wood
• [New] Innovations in heat exchanger technologies will continue to drive the energy transition, helping to reduce costs, improve system efficiency, and lower the environmental impact of power generation worldwide. EMS Power Machines - Steam Turbines, ORC Turbines, Wood
• [New] Even after an apocalyptic event, Earth could still provide shelter for survivors and the possibility of life to regenerate, unlike Mars, where any failure of life-support systems would result in immediate death. ARGunners Magazine
• [New] The urgency of addressing climate change has never been more pressing, as record greenhouse gas emissions threaten to deplete Earth's carbon budget in just three years. Sustainability Times
• [New] The scientific evidence demonstrates that current warming trends, if continued, will result in irreversible changes to Earth's climate system that will fundamentally alter human civilization's relationship with the natural environment for generations to come. Hot Topics
• [New] Climate change has emerged as the defining environmental and political challenge of 2025, with scientific evidence demonstrating that the planet is experiencing unprecedented warming patterns that threaten to fundamentally alter global ecosystems, economic systems, and human civilization itself. Hot Topics
• [New] As smart farming systems gain traction worldwide, the integration of artificial intelligence, IoT, and satellite analytics will guide decision-making, minimize environmental impact, and empower EVERY farmer to thrive. Farmonaut

Last updated: 12 July 2025