Global Scans · Nature · Weekly Summary

WHAT''S NEXT?: Oceans, animals, and land are all under threat from climate change and human activities. The effective and efficient conservation of agricultural biodiversity is vital to meeting the global challenges of food and nutritional security for an expanding world population. But, the signs are of continued degradation of our global natural resources and environment.

• [New] Investor Note As environmental monitoring becomes mandatory, automatic sprinkler systems with built-in traceability and real-time water use reports will capture new funding, insurance, and incentive streams globally. Farmonaut
• [New] Subtler and lesser-known environmental factors will significantly affect how people travel in 2026. Islands
• [New] In Southeast Asia, Earth Observation alone could unlock USD 100 billion in GDP by 2030, and satellite connectivity is central to reaching underserved communities. Access Partnership
• [New] The NLC region has many habitats facing major threats from feral animals, weeds, and saltwater intrusion in wetland ecosystems. Mirage News
• [New] With the integration of AI and machine learning, automated irrigation will keep evolving, further enhancing precision, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship in the face of climate change and global agricultural demands in 2026 and beyond. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2027, manufacturers will have built AI-driven sustainability systems that monitor, report, and optimize environmental impact in real time, as environmental compliance becomes an operational imperative. IFs
• [New] More than 56% identified climate change and environmental degradation as the greatest threat to the world; personally, 51% cited inflation and instability as their greatest worry, while 41% identified climate change as the second most significant threat to their lives. The Week
• [New] The buildup of space debris in low Earth orbit is accelerating at a rate that threatens long-term space operations. Science Times
• [New] By 2026, more plants are expected to route operational data into analytics and AI tools that can identify patterns in rejects, process parameter changes, or environmental conditions before they escalate into scrap, downtime, or rework. Food Logistics
• [New] The December near miss will strengthen calls for more binding transparency in low Earth orbit operations. Thaihut.org
• [New] Earth observation, weather forecasting, navigation systems, military surveillance, and scientific missions would all face increased risk and potentially unaffordable insurance premiums. Thaihut.org
• [New] Far from launch pads and press conferences, a near miss between two satellites has revived fears that the most strategic region above Earth is drifting toward chaos, technically and diplomatically. Thaihut.org
• [New] If future missions can extract water from water-altered asteroids, that resource could reduce dependence on launches from Earth and support longer stays on the Moon or Mars. AOL
• [New] Climate Vulnerability: About 44% of islands studied lost over 10 sq km to erosion, worsening habitat loss and disaster risk (Climate Action Network South Asia). PMF IAS
• [New] Greenland rare earth minerals have emerged as a critical frontier that could reshape global supply chains. Discovery Alert
• [New] In 2026, we expect leading organizations to take a more holistic approach to managing the social and environmental footprint of digital infrastructure, recognising that trust in technology is closely linked to trust in how it is built and operated. GoodCorporation
• [New] Habitat degradation could directly impact bird populations. Hindustan Times
• The organic potato segment is predicted to witness the highest CAGR of 9.3% from 2025 to 2033 owing to the deepening consumer awareness about health, environmental sustainability, and food transparency. Market Data Forecast
• Asia will take the lead on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation in 2026, with bills in play in Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand. JD Supra
• With biodiversity loss increasingly recognized as a systemic risk to the global economy, more financial institutions are beginning to address the nature-related risks and opportunities associated with their financing activities. sustainalytics.com
• GETF strategically fosters private sector engagement in Malawi's green economy by reducing investment risk and supporting scalable, inclusive solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability and economic growth. Impact Funding
• Development of environmental and safety regulations in China Additional inspections or stricter rules for domestic mines could further dampen local supply - which would have a positive effect on international iron ore prices. GOLDINVEST.de

Last updated: 17 January 2026