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] Cosmo 6 U cubesat of University of Colorado Boulder will measure the Earth magnetic field, and QuantX Labs of Australia will send a key component of its atomic clock. Space Calendar - The First Space Calendar on the Moon
• [New] At current rates, just under 10% of the world's oceans will be protected by 2030 - a far cry from what scientists say is needed to stop the loss of marine biodiversity, stem the climate crisis, and protect communities that rely on oceans for food and livelihoods. Conservation International
• [New] Threatened mammals fared best, with populations showing signs of stabilization in recent years, likely reflecting a combination of good rainfall and the measurable benefits of predator control and habitat restoration. EurekAlert!
• [New] Germany envisages 100 low-Earth-orbit satellites exclusively for military communications, while the EU project, which aims to deploy 290 satellites by 2029, is designed to establish a unified, space-based communication system. Just Security
• [New] A likely El Nino return in late 2026, layered on record-warm oceans, is raising concerns over flight disruption, coastal tourism risks, and fragile travel hotspots. The Traveler
• [New] This year's theme - Investable Resilience - explores emerging opportunities in climate adaptation, nature-based infrastructure and the decarbonization of complex global value chains, as investors and policymakers increasingly recognise resilience as a major frontier for long-term capital deployment. Climate & Impact Summit
• [New] The intersection of economic opportunity, environmental risk, and sovereignty claims is likely to shape policy debates in the coming years. The Milli Chronicle
• [New] In the EU, the European Commission's roadmap towards nature credits aims to reward measurable positive outcomes for ecosystems and mobilise private finance for restoration with work progressing through an expert group and pilot projects, with early results expected in the coming months. Osborne Clarke
• [New] In 2026, human space exploration will take historic strides beyond low Earth orbit. SciFiction - All Things Science Fiction & Beyond
• [New] Rare Earth Exchanges has highlighted China's dual dominance in drone manufacturing and rare-earth magnets as a structural vulnerability for Western commercial and defense-adjacent drone ecosystems. Rare Earth Exchanges
• [New] Any Falcon 9 could carry astronauts into Earth orbit. NextBigFuture.com
• [New] We enable non-invasive, satellite-driven mineral detection across the globe, reducing cost, improving accuracy, and minimizing local environmental disruption-helping companies explore lithium and other strategic minerals faster and more sustainably. Farmonaut
• [New] The National Institutes of Health plans to invest more than $150 million to help accelerate the development of human-based research methods that could reduce reliance on animal models. The Real Economy Blog
• [New] By 2026, 70% of new mining equipment is projected to incorporate circularity strategies for reduced environmental impact. Farmonaut
• [New] Green building materials are expected to hold the largest revenue share, reaching 55% in 2026, encompassing recycled-content products, rapidly renewable materials, locally sourced components, and materials with environmental product declarations documenting lifecycle impacts. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The US metals industry will once again collaborate with the US Environmental Protection Agency in setting recommended criteria for limiting potentially harmful metal pollution in waterways. American Chemical Society
• [New] Turkey has unveiled a sweeping 10-year national water strategy that will shape how rivers flowing into the Middle East are managed, as Ankara moves to reduce domestic consumption while strengthening control over water resources that originate within its borders. Nordic Monitor
• [New] Surface mining-long associated with massive earth-moving and disruption - is rapidly aligning with innovations that minimize overburden, optimize land restoration, and support a symbiotic relationship with agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure. Farmonaut
• [New] As pressure on marine and coastal systems intensifies, converging forces are reshaping ocean governance: accelerating Earth-system change, emerging risks, and rising expectations that decisions be demonstrably fair and inclusive. One Ocean
• [New] The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which predates the GBF, aligns closely with its targets and adds EU-specific requirements including legally binding nature restoration targets (the Nature Restoration Law adopted in 2024). Gray Group International
• [New] The Satellite Mobilization for Biodiversity Action initiative will help address the 2030 Nature Strategy (Halting and Reversing Biodiversity Loss in Canada) as part of Canada's Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commitment. Canadian Space Agency
• We have seen the impact of animal diseases become more prevalent in recent years, with ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza and blue tongue in the UK and risks such as cases of foot and mouth in Europe. Mirage News

Last updated: 28 March 2026