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] Since PFNA is environmentally persistent and products containing PFNA are still in use and may be imported into the U.S., there is a substantial likelihood that environmental contamination of sources of drinking water will continue. Federal Register
• [New] Since PFHxS is environmentally persistent and products containing PFHxS are still in use and may be imported into the United States, the EPA anticipates environmental contamination to sources of drinking water will continue. Federal Register
• [New] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an adaptive and flexible National Primary Drinking Water Regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act to manage risks of per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. Federal Register
• [New] The European Commission is driving the development of legislation needed to tackle the potential threat of microplastics to people's health and the environment. EU Science Hub
• [New] More than 90 countries that allied as the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution warn about the alarming acceleration of primary plastic production globally and raise scientific concerns about the adverse health impacts related to plastics to toxic chemicals. Fortune
• [New] The environmental danger of unchecked mega constellations has the potential to impact sustainability on Earth, including the potential for satellites to damage the Earth's atmosphere upon reentry. Space Watch Africa
• [New] The pledge of achieving carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 is a strategic decision that responds to the inherent needs of China's sustainable and high-quality development, and is an important driving force for promoting China's ecological civilization constructions. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Universal access to clean energy could help end poverty for 180 million women by 2050 and result in 6.5 million fewer deaths from indoor pollution. IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin
• [New] Japan and the United States are expected to jointly submit a resolution in the near future to the U.N. Security Council calling for no nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction to be deployed in Earth's orbit. Kyodo News+
• [New] The UN is expected to agree a landmark treaty on plastics later in 2024 while more than 50 countries have called for an end to plastic pollution by 2040. Yahoo News
• [New] Aside from monitoring our changing planet, the GOES satellite series can monitor air quality, identify lightning strikes that might lead to wildfires, detect meteors entering Earth's atmosphere, and even give warning about space weather hazards. Space
• [New] Some member states have included fossil fuel company lobbyists in their delegations at a time when UNEP is warning that producers' responsibilities schemes are expected to be established to tackle plastic pollution at its source. The Earth & I
• [New] Building on the strong public support and given that wet wipes containing plastic are a source of plastic pollution and are often found in the environment, we will legislate to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic across the UK. GOV.UK
• [New] The combined group will have the financial and technical capability to not only build Toliara into one of the best critical mineral projects in the world, but also to develop an integrated value chain for the rare earth elements that are essential to the global energy transition. MarketScreener
• [New] To mobilise support, the EU is actively involved in the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, which includes 65 countries committed to aim high in the negotiations to end plastic pollution by 2040. Environment
• [New] The storm tank installation at Latchingdon will boost resilience to extreme weather caused by climate change, as well as protecting the environment from flooding and pollution. Maldon and Burnham Standard
• [New] There are rising fears the conflict that started in the desert of southern Israeli will continue spreading throughout the Middle East and engulf the earth in a Third World War. Metro.co.uk
• [New] Sony will continue to promote efforts to reduce the environmental impact through the development and adoption of environmentally conscious materials. Sony Corporation - Sony Global Headquarters
• [New] In the absence of regulatory convergence and more cooperation, the EU's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its imports could affect trade relations with Latin America. Elcano Royal Institute
• Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will work with provinces and territories to improve the functioning of carbon credit markets, in order to help unlock additional decarbonization projects throughout Canada. Friends of Science Calgary

Last updated: 27 April 2024