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] Earth could be entering a period of unprecedented climate change on a one-way trajectory, in which processes such as ice-sheet collapse can continue even if the average global temperature is stabilized. Coyote Gulch
• [New] Over the longer-term, risks such as extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and critical Earth system changes continue to dominate, with respondents describing the environmental outlook as turbulent or stormy. Polycrisis
• [New] The emiss-ome framework could play an important role in guiding environmental policies and supporting global efforts to manage emerging contaminants in a rapidly evolving chemical landscape. Mirage News
• [New] By orbit, the Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) segment is expected to grow rapidly in the forecast period of 2026 to 2035. Precedence Research
• [New] Textile recycling is no longer merely an environmental project; by 2026, it will be a key part of the circular economy. Green City Recycler
• [New] Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth during the predicted timeframe and is expected to sustain as a leader in the upcoming period because of its huge consumer volume, strong digital environment, and early adoption of QR-based technologies in day-to-day life. Precedence Research
• [New] Africa stands out because it still combines geological potential with the prospect of large, commercially meaningful discoveries, particularly for operators looking to secure long-life resources in a tightening global supply environment. Splash247
• [New] Annual GHG emissions from new motor vehicles and engines contribute to the air pollution consisting of the total global concentrations of the six well-mixed GHGs previously identified as a danger to public health or welfare. Federal Register
• [New] Global warming must peak below 2 °C then return under 1.5 °C as quickly as possible to limit the risk of triggering tipping points in the Earth system. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
• [New] The world may be closer to a point of no return for global warming, risking a hothouse Earth with catastrophic impacts on humanity. ANews
• [New] The current trajectory risks making Earth far less habitable, and even 3 °C of warming carries deep risks for humanity and societies. ANews
• [New] In a hothouse Earth scenario, global temperatures could remain above even the worst current projections for thousands of years, causing massive sea-level rises that submerge coastal cities. ANews
• [New] SMRs may produce new environmental risks that could attract more review. Great Lakes Now
• [New] Scientists warn that as humans move more activities off-Earth, more debris will fall to Earth, polluting as it plummets. BBC News
• [New] Low Earth orbit could safely support up to 100,000 satellites before spacecraft would start uncontrollably crashing into one another, potentially leading to a worst-case domino-effect scenario known as the Kessler syndrome. Live Science
• [New] With more comprehensive tracking, scientists can measure trajectories sooner and, with enough lead time, potentially mount deflection missions that could steer dangerous objects away from Earth. The Times Of India
• [New] Rare earth elements represent the benchmark case for critical mineral supply chain vulnerability, with Chinese dominance spanning mining, processing, and manufacturing applications. Discovery Alert
• [New] Economic uncertainty and environmental risks are real challenges for Hendersonville and Western North Carolina. Frisbeerealestate.com
• [New] There are high hopes that artificial intelligence can help tackle some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Science Publishing Group
• [New] By integrating terrestrial towers with Low Earth Orbit satellites and high-altitude platforms (drones), 6G will provide 100% global coverage. GlobalLogic | Digital Product Engineering Services
• [New] The greatest potential to reduce species extinction risk in the Northern Sub-catchments of San Jose, Costa Rica, lies in addressing habitat loss and degradation due to livestock farming and ranching, urban expansion, and the spread of non-native invasive species. IUCN
• [New] About 15,000 spacecraft are currently in orbit, increasing the risk of collisions in low Earth orbit and the geosynchronous belt. Economic Times

Last updated: 28 February 2026