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] A consortium led by Abilene Christian University, Natura Resources, and several other university partners is developing the MSR-1 molten salt research reactor, with a goal to operate by late 2026. GovExperts
• [New] OpenAI will use the cloud computing resources for ChatGPT, while Anthropic will get access to up to one million of Google's custom TPUs, which is gaining momentum as a viable alternative that challenges Nvidia's dominance. Moneycontrol
• [New] Internationally, new allocations of $4.2 million over three years beginning in 2027-28 and $1.4 million annually will strengthen Natural Resources Canada's ability to promote nuclear exports and strategic partnerships, with particular emphasis on fast-growing Asian markets. Canadian Nuclear Association
• [New] Further privatization of Canada's healthcare system will siphon talent and resources away from Canada's already overstretched public health system. COPE Ontario
• [New] Artificial intelligence and telemedicine will play an even more important part in clinical decision-making worldwide and will help to deliver the best care to locations that currently lack expertise and resources. UC News
• [New] Utility-scale batteries are in the early stages of deployment in New Zealand and penetration remains low, but greater uptake is expected post-2025 due to falling technology costs, increased electrification and the need for firming resources. Simpson Grierson
• [New] Extending transmission to the Yukon can power the North and has the potential to unlock additional resources. Prime Minister of Canada
• [New] Planners are turning to demand-side management programs and behind-the-meter resources such as rooftop solar and battery storage, which can be deployed quickly and could supply more than 10% of demand by 2030. Yahoo News
• With CTV advertising providing tangible opportunities for growth and targeted engagement, advertisers are sure to continue investing resources into ad fraud detection and/or protection services to ensure its long-term sustainability in the global marketplace. Statista
• Restoring capital flows is a once-in-a-generation opportunity: it will allow Africa to harness its natural resources to lift millions out of energy poverty, drive industrialization and secure its energy future, all while strengthening global energy security. Pan African Visions
• A Green Innovation Fund, jointly managed by the ministries of energy, finance, environment, and research, could pool resources for pilot projects in renewable energy, smart grids, and decentralized systems. OBSERVER - the latest information about Indonesian new
• A sustainable bioeconomy model - one that focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources - could generate enormous opportunities, with projections for it to reach USD 30 trillion by 2050. SDG Action
• SAF production will become a major global industry, creating millions of jobs and contributing significantly to economic development in regions with abundant renewable resources and sustainable feedstocks. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• While communities in every region of the world are facing growing threats from climate change, disadvantaged communities have fewer resources and less recourse, so are disproportionately impacted by climate-driven heatwaves, extreme weather, and infectious disease outbreaks. The Global Climate and Health Alliance
• The emergence of decentralized training frameworks suggests a potential inflection point by mid-2026, enabling smaller organizations to develop specialized foundation models without hyperscaler-level resources. AGI Agent
• One study in Resources, Conservation and Recycling estimates that by 2050, approximately 43 million metric tons of wind turbine blades will need to be disposed of globally. Energetica India Magazine, India Energy News, Renewable Energy News, Conventional Power Generation, Companies Guide...
• Measures to block criminals' access to resources remain largely unimplemented, sustaining an environment where phishers can operate devastating, widespread attacks with minimal risk, low costs, and high rewards. Nathan Sharma
• Critical minerals: The federal government is proposing the provision of $2 billion over five years (beginning in 2026-2027) to enable Natural Resources Canada to establish the Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
• Challenges remain, including high upfront costs for new infrastructure, the substantial energy and water demand of AI (which could strain grids and water resources by 2027-2030), intellectual property hurdles, and the need for scalable infrastructure adaptation and a skilled workforce. The Daily Press
• Climate change could reduce property values by more than $600 billion nationwide, while also placing additional pressure on water resources, infrastructure, and public health systems. Insurance Business
• Total assets under management in alternatives - including private equity, hedge funds, real estate, venture capital, infrastructure, natural resources and private credit - are forecast to increase by 60% over the next five years. CNBC

Last updated: 03 December 2025