Global Scans · Resources · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The world is depleting its natural resources at an alarming rate due to population growth and over consumption. Increased competition for ever-diminishing food and water resources may amplify socio-economically motivated armed conflicts and causing quests for more efficient resources on and beyond Planet Earth.

• [New] 99% of respondents expect reallocating resources from privacy budgets to AI budgets in 2025-2026. Secure Privacy
• [New] As the workforce remains stretched, 2026 will see more companies integrating mental health resources into safety and HR programs. CONEXPO-CON/AGG
• [New] Sustainable initiatives, such as carbon-neutral tours, eco-friendly hotels, and low-impact travel options, will ensure that Scotland continues to attract a global audience while protecting its natural resources and cultural identity. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The risk is that without international support, heavily indebted countries such as Jamaica become trapped, with resources that ought to be directed towards green energy and future-proofing being spent instead on coping with disasters. The Guardian
• [New] By providing a standardized, well-documented library backed by Google's engineering resources, LiteRT could accelerate edge AI deployment similarly to how TensorFlow accelerated general AI development. Educational Technology and Change Journal
• [New] The emergence of specialized maritime infrastructure designed for extreme polar conditions represents a paradigm shift that could redefine how nations access and control energy resources in the world's most challenging environments. Discovery Alert
• [New] Flagship investments include Vulcan's lithium extraction project in Germany, supported by a €250 million European Investment Bank commitment, and Greenland Resources' molybdenum project, which could supply up to 25% of EU demand. New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Newsletter
• [New] As Carney's large-scale projects continue to unfold, the Canadian Arctic will require more resources to meet civil and military infrastructure needs and effectively project power into the north. Atlantic Council
• [New] A super-agent meant to integrate an agentic network across IT, human resources and operations is expected to roll out in 2026. Retail Dive
• [New] One in five marketers cite limited budgets and resources as their biggest challenge for 2026, and more than half say measurement is now their top investment priority, closely followed by performance media and omnichannel media. Modern Restaurant Management
• [New] Automated AI irrigation systems ensure only the right amount of water is applied, conserving precious resources and supporting compliance with global sustainability standards - especially critical in regions facing severe droughts and water shortages by 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] Africa is a renewable energy superpower, holding 60% of the world's best solar resources and vast, untapped geothermal potential. CIO Africa
• [New] China is seen as the long-term threat, while Russia is the problem of today - the acute and powerful threat that requires significant resources and cooperation to tackle. The Register
• [New] Insurers across Asia-Pacific expect to run portfolios with higher risk over the next two years while at the same time indicating a need for more resources in risk, compliance, and data functions. Insurance Business
• [New] Circular economy initiatives could recover 7-8% of global electronic material demand annually by reducing reliance on virgin resources. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The core of 'flexible realism' is recognising that Russia - possessed of enormous natural and military resources - is too valuable a potential asset to alienate or to risk falling permanently into the orbit of the Chinese. E-International Relations
• [New] Washington State has secured a $1.4 million federal grant to expand mental-health resources, bolster community programs, and strengthen crisis-intervention support for veterans at risk of suicide. DisabledVeterans.Org
• [New] Data center electricity use could double by 2030, driven largely by AI training and inference tasks that require immense computational resources. WebProNews
• [New] The United States will provide resources to combat terrorism while avoiding long-term commitments and, even more so, a sustained military presence. Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies
• The UAE's ADNOC has become the backbone of the international upstream sector following several years of increased investments in the only viable, large-scale energy resources that the world has relied on for generations, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Energies Media
• In the context of CIMIC, joint climate action could be a game-changer, fostering trust, optimizing resources, and building safer, more resilient communities worldwide. CIMIC COE
• The European Green Deal envisions Europe as a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, emphasizing in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, reducing reliance on resources, and ensuring that all regions benefit equally from the decarbonization actions. SpringerOpen
• The Malaysian financial group expects the Thai government to launch consumer subsidies in the fourth quarter by using carried-over fiscal resources to lift household spending, resulting in GDP growth of 1.2% in the final quarter of 2025. https://www.bangkokpost.com

Last updated: 31 December 2025