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] Investor Note As environmental monitoring becomes mandatory, automatic sprinkler systems with built-in traceability and real-time water use reports will capture new funding, insurance, and incentive streams globally. Farmonaut
• [New] Environmental, social and security-driven rules will expand further in 2026. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• [New] Thermal Microgrids: Just as Earth-based buildings use central HVAC systems, lunar thermal hubs will manage heat for multiple users. Space Settlement Progress
• [New] In Southeast Asia, Earth Observation alone could unlock USD 100 billion in GDP by 2030, and satellite connectivity is central to reaching underserved communities. Access Partnership
• [New] Manufacturing satellites or components on the lunar surface and launching them from there could be significantly cheaper than Earth-based production due to lower gravity. GIC
• [New] Human Expansion: Mars represents the next frontier for human expansion, offering a potential safeguard against extinction-level events on Earth. Earth
• [New] Japan's Martian Moons eXploration mission, slated to launch in late 2026, will travel to Mars, spend three years studying both of its small, potato-shaped moons - Phobos and Deimos - and collect a surface sample from Phobos to bring back to Earth by 2031. The Conversation
• [New] Companies are planning to place thousands of new satellites in low Earth orbit which will vastly increase the risk of conjunctions and generate further debris. NHSJS
• [New] By 2027, manufacturers will have built AI-driven sustainability systems that monitor, report, and optimize environmental impact in real time, as environmental compliance becomes an operational imperative. IFs
• [New] Again, the risks of inaction have become clear - decline in water availability and increase in water pollution could put up to 9% of global GDP at risk. Forbes
• [New] The buildup of space debris in low Earth orbit is accelerating at a rate that threatens long-term space operations. Science Times
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it plans to regulate dozens of specific uses of five common phthalate chemicals after completing a new round of risk evaluations that found unreasonable risks to workers and the environment. The Driller
• [New] New York plans on loosening environmental rules to speed up home production. Reason.com
• [New] Stronger landfill standards could slash methane pollution 46% by 2050. Fingerlakes1.com
• [New] In an environment of persistent global instability, political risk insurance is not only a protective tool, but also an enabler of investment, resilience and more efficient capital allocation. ReinsuranceNe.ws
• [New] With the integration of AI and machine learning, automated irrigation will keep evolving, further enhancing precision, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship in the face of climate change and global agricultural demands in 2026 and beyond. Farmonaut
• [New] Worrying health trends and environmental concerns are nudging Australians towards nutrition-focused food and drink, creating opportunities for brands to develop healthier options with sustainable packaging. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Despite the rhetoric in Brussels, London and Washington over the need to wean industries off China, Beijing will hold the rare earth cards for years to come. The Guardian
• [New] Rising sea levels will flood facilities handling sewage, toxic waste, oil and gas, and other industrial pollutants if heat-trapping pollution continues unchecked. UCLA
• [New] Greenland rare earth minerals have emerged as a critical frontier that could reshape global supply chains. Discovery Alert
• [New] 2026 will be a consequential year for anyone communicating on climate and environmental solutions. Greenhouse Communications
• [New] Coastal erosion is a complex and multifaceted environmental issue that threatens the stability and resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities worldwide. Omics International
• [New] The organic potato segment is predicted to witness the highest CAGR of 9.3% from 2025 to 2033 owing to the deepening consumer awareness about health, environmental sustainability, and food transparency. Market Data Forecast

Last updated: 17 January 2026