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] The global environment remains fragile, with growth projected to soften amid heightened trade tensions, geopolitical risks, and structural constraints such as limited fiscal space in many developing economies. South Africa
• [New] Moderate geomagnetic activity with minor storms expected, which may influence GPS accuracy and low Earth orbit satellite drag. KeepTrack
• [New] By 2026, environmental responsibility will transition from a PR line to a legal and consumer-driven mandate. Emerline
• [New] Thousands of spacecraft in similar altitude bands increase the probability of collisions and the creation of debris that could threaten not only communications constellations but also weather, navigation, and Earth-observation satellites. Programming Helper
• [New] Known as forever chemicals, PFAS compounds have been found widely in the environment, including thousands of groundwater sources throughout the U.S. PFAS compounds are currently the #1 emerging threat to water systems. RCAC
• [New] MENA's medium-term prospects will depend on sustaining reform momentum, accelerating diversification, and navigating an increasingly uncertain global and regional environment. MUFG Research
• [New] Air pollution is consistently identified as one of the leading risk factors for death worldwide, contributing to millions of premature deaths each year through cardiovascular and respiratory disease. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Businesses navigating today's evolving trade environment require solutions that support financial resilience and help manage risk effectively - working capital and resilience have never been more important. Financial IT
• [New] By 2035, China is projected to supply over 60% of refined lithium and cobalt, around 80% of battery-grade graphite and rare earth elements, and approximately 70% of battery-grade manganese. ODI: Think change
• [New] The Trump administration will take a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion deal covering a domestic mine and magnet facility (Reuters). New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Newsletter
• [New] A kinetic conflict in space would create debris fields that could render Low Earth Orbit unusable, crippling the global digital economy. Ronin's Grips
• [New] Environment and Climate Change Canada has released draft regulations that aim to drop oil and gas greenhouse emissions by 35% by 2030. Torys LLP
• [New] As ISRU matures, it will transform space mining from raw material extraction into a fully integrated, self-sustaining space industrial ecosystem supporting long duration missions and permanent off Earth infrastructure. SkyQuest Technology Consulting
• [New] Plastic pollution could double its harm to human health in the coming decades if current production trends continue. Deutsche Welle
• [New] Extreme weather events, identified as the top long-term risk in the WEF report, are the lived reality in Bangladesh and will continue to stress infrastructure, agriculture, water systems, and the urban environment. The Daily Star
• [New] The Global South will need to manage internal development challenges while navigating an increasingly competitive and fragmented external environment, with rising barriers to cooperation. The Daily Star
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to refine its enforcement priorities, focusing on core statutory violations while reshaping internal processes to align with broader federal objectives. Resource Options, Inc.
• [New] Until now, scientists have largely depended on radar to monitor objects in low Earth orbit and predict when and where they would reenter the atmosphere. ScienceDaily
• [New] Especially when the SpaceX Starship is operational, putting large amounts of mass in Earth orbit will be increasingly affordable. Reason Foundation
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released plans to regulate the use of five phthalate chemicals to reduce what it has determined to be unreasonable environmental and workplace exposure risks. WorkCare
• [New] Environment Canada expects 2026 to rank among the hottest years ever recorded. Hope Standard
• [New] As air pollution is a real, systemic risk connected to climate change, nature loss and human rights, addressing it is fundamental to protecting people and planet and building lasting value across portfolios. ShareAction

Last updated: 31 January 2026