Global Scans · Environment · Weekly Summary

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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] A satellite-to-phone service using Globalstar's low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites is expected to be available in Thailand at the end of 2026. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] PM2.5 is an important environmental risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and poses a threat to global health. PubMed
• [New] A court-mandated environmental study by the FERC will likely delay NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG and Glenfarne Energy Transition LLC's Texas LNG plants. Oil & Gas Journal
• [New] The northern lights and southern lights could receive a considerable boost again tonight as Earth braces for impact from a powerful coronal mass ejection hurled from the sun during yesterday's M7.4 solar flare. Space
• [New] India adds nearly 10 million new urban residents each year, heightening risks from heatwaves, pollution, and floods. Drishti IAS
• [New] Germany has the most to lose from China's rare-earth controls, which pose a threat to its plans to rebuild its military after decades of neglect. gmfus
• [New] Sustainable construction can help mitigate risks and also reduce heat-trapping air pollution, which contributes to Earth's rising temperatures and leads to more severe natural disasters. Yahoo News
• [New] Low Earth orbit is crowded with debris, threatening the atmosphere and future exploration. Courthouse News Service
• [New] Europe's Arianespace will launch the Sentinel-1D Earth-observation satellite, part of the E.U.'s Copernicus programme, from the Guiana Space Centre. Observer
• [New] All of the top five global risks in terms of likelihood are related to climate change and environmental issues. Artemis.bm - The Catastrophe Bond, Insurance Linked Sec
• [New] Global trends like biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and the rise in invasive species are putting humans, plants and animals at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases. Conservation International
• [New] Leonardo is establishing a new Earth observation satellite constellation that will deliver high-resolution radar and optical data from low-Earth orbit. Space War
• [New] As we look to 2026 and beyond, hydroponic indoor garden systems stand at the forefront of food technology, offering efficient, innovative, and scalable solutions to address global food security and environmental challenges. Farmonaut
• [New] By unlocking the ocean's mineral potential responsibly, we can support the evolving needs of humanity-while securing a healthier, more balanced future for marine ecosystems and all life on earth. Farmonaut
• [New] 2026 and beyond will witness evolving regulatory environments aimed at ensuring the balance between economic opportunity and environmental stewardship across ocean jasper mining and ocean lithium mining projects. Farmonaut
• [New] Climate Alignment: Lithium from renewable-powered, low-impact ocean operations could underpin global carbon footprint reduction goals if environmental impacts are managed. Farmonaut
• [New] The mining sector's dedication to innovation, sustainability, and transparent environmental stewardship will define its global success from 2025 through 2026 and beyond. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2025, over 60% of rare earth mining companies will implement AI-driven sustainability practices for efficient extraction. Farmonaut
• [New] The United States faces a critical vulnerability that threatens both economic prosperity and national security: an overwhelming dependence on foreign nations for essential rare earth elements and critical minerals. Discovery Alert
• [New] Electric vehicle adoption drives unprecedented demand for rare earth permanent magnets, with global EV sales projected to exceed 30 million units annually by 2030. Discovery Alert
• [New] With cutting-edge mining and environmental platforms maturing rapidly in 2026, satellite-based insights are transforming sustainable operations at mines like Greenbushes. Farmonaut
• [New] If we implemented the rescue plan in full, ocean life would become healthier, more abundant, and better able to cope with big global threats like climate change and plastic pollution. Greenpeace International

Last updated: 08 November 2025