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] Startup Europe strengthens networking opportunities for deep tech scaleups and ecosystem builders to accelerate the growth of the European startup scene. Shaping Europe's digital future
• [New] The development of international frameworks such as the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures is expected to play a catalytic role. Nikko AM Hongkong Site
• [New] Bishop Alminaza will raise concerns about the expansion of liquefied natural gas and fossil gas operations in Verde Island Passage, often referred to as the Amazon of the Oceans, which is recognized as the most biodiverse marine habitat in the world. ICN
• [New] Of particular concern to Pakistan is India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, which can be launched from land, air, and sea platforms, providing India with precision strike capabilities that could target Pakistani military installations with minimal warning. Foreign Affairs Forum
• [New] MFS providers such as bKash have become important digital platforms and many have the potential to play a critical role in the development of the overall digital ecosystem in Bangladesh in the coming years. Future Startup
• [New] KMGBF promotes equitable IPLC participation and includes 30 by 30 target (protecting 30% of land and marine ecosystems by 2030). Legacy IAS Academy
• [New] Partnerships with FinTech companies, e-commerce platforms, or other digital service providers could create new digital marketing opportunities, allowing HDFC Bank to promote its services within other digital ecosystems or offer integrated financial solutions marketed digitally. Top-Rated Digital Marketing Training in Bangalore - Boo
• [New] The fluctuating value of the South African Rand can create opportunities for foreign investors looking at land for sale in South Africa, doubtlessly improving returns while values are converted again to other primary currencies. Own It Kenya
• [New] The restrictions placed on LUC 6 land pushes planting of trees to marginal or less productive land which will have an impact on future timber and fiber supply, jobs and forestry's ability to support New Zealand in meeting its climate change obligations. RNZ
• [New] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project specifications on satellite connectivity have opened up an exciting opportunity for terrestrial communication service providers (CSPs) to cooperate with satellite operators for mutual benefit to create a global non-terrestrial network ecosystem. Ericsson.com
• [New] The $4.1 billion all-stock deal will see the merged companies become a new kind of defence tech called AV that can build tech across all warfighting domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyber. TechCrunch
• [New] Written by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas) - Southern Energy has received the Argentine government's approval to export up to 134 million British thermal units of liquefied natural gas per year from 2027 to 2057. Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Annual investment in nature based-solutions must more than triple by 2030 and increase four-fold by 2050 if the world is to meet its climate crisis, biodiversity and land degradation targets. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Greenpeace is proposing that the Global Plastics Treaty establishes a target to reduce plastic production by at least 75% by 2040 (from a 2019 baseline), to ensure the best chance of meeting the 1.5 °C target, protect biodiversity and address the full life cycle impacts of plastic. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• [New] Growers did not want to lose efficiencies in their operations and needed to maintain productive land with minimal risk to ensure food security for Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] In the third stage, by 2035, a hydrogen energy industry system will be established, constructing a diverse hydrogen application ecosystem encompassing sectors such as transportation, energy storage, and industry. SpringerLink
• Rotterdam plans to cover 10 million square feet of rooftops in vegetation, a move aimed at combating urban heat, reducing air pollution, and increasing biodiversity. Constructive Voices
• Human activity is destroying 10 million hectares of forests a year and putting 40,000 species at risk of extinction, severely diminishing terrestrial ecosystems' capacity to sustain the planet. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• The Southwestern Region covers more than 20.6 million acres, boasting thousands of recreation opportunities spread across six national forests in Arizona, five national forests and a national grassland in New Mexico, and one national grassland each in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. Southwestern Region
• The fast-paced expansion of China's space efforts, including the recent completion of the Tiangong space station, continues to be closely monitored by the United States, especially with China's aspirations to achieve a crewed lunar landing by 2030. Devdiscourse
• A half-tonne Soviet space probe designed to endure landing on Venus will tumble back to the Earth in two weeks and may crash down hard like a meteorite, a tracker has warned. The Independent
• Climate change poses a major threat to UK biodiversity, at a time when it is degrading rapidly, as well as to the ability of land to sequester carbon - a key part of the UK's Net Zero pathway. Climate Change Committee

Last updated: 11 May 2025