Global Scans · Resources · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The world is depleting its natural resources at an alarming rate due to population growth and over consumption. Increased competition for ever-diminishing food and water resources may amplify socio-economically motivated armed conflicts and causing quests for more efficient resources on and beyond Planet Earth.

• [New] Australia Post has launched its 2030 Sustainability Framework, setting new targets to reduce carbon emissions and keep resources in use across its fleet, properties and operations over the next five years. International Post Corporation
• [New] Paired with the CRA's published tax-gap reduction strategy, which commits additional resources to corporate tax audits in Canada and cross-border enforcement, the proposals signal that audit activity will increase materially for fiscal years 2026 and beyond. Global Law Experts
• [New] One standout story is Planview's launch of Agent Resource Management, designed to optimize human and AI resources in an era where Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will leverage AI agents by 2027. Coaio Limited
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Geothermal has announced a funding opportunity of $171.5 million to support next-generation geothermal field tests for electricity generation as well as characterization and confirmation drilling for next-generation and hydrothermal resources. Energy.gov
• [New] New World Resources Institute analysis, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, reveals that every $1 invested in preparing for climate-caused health risks can yield up to $68 in benefits for communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Brockman stated in court that OpenAI plans to spend $50 billion on computing resources in 2026. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] The growing global water scarcity makes the rational use of water resources a matter of national policy level, placing it at the core of the Uzbekistan 2030 strategy, which sets 10 concrete targets to be achieved by 2030. World Bank Live
• [New] If the United States stays bogged down in Iran, there will be fewer U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military resources to strengthen the overall U.S. position in the Indo-Pacific. Perry World House
• [New] By 2040, average health spending across OECD countries, funded by public resources, will increase to between 11.2% and 11.8% of GDP, up from 8.8% in 2018, outpacing both the overall economy and government revenues. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] With roughly one-third of all outstanding corporate bond debt maturing by 2027, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and potentially needing to be refinanced at materially higher rates, CEOs are prioritizing cost management to free up resources to drive growth. Oliver Wyman Forum
• [New] Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, OpenAI, Reflection and SpaceX will provide their resources to help augment warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments. Antelope Valley Press
• [New] By 2030, the United States will need to add enough new resources to serve approximately 200 GW of peak demand. Energy.gov
• [New] With a large and competitive resource base, the UAE will continue working with partners to develop resources, supporting economic growth and diversification. tradearabia
• [New] Experts emphasized the importance of continuing to develop all types of energy resources in Texas, particularly given legislative proposals that could hinder solar and wind power expansion. KLIF 570 News & Info | KLIF-AM
• [New] While the resources sector is broadly flat, there will be targeted growth in mining for metals and minerals critical for the energy transition, such as copper, lithium and rare earths, where annual spending will rise 1.4 times to US$ 128 billion in 2050. PwC
• [New] The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of 88,000 mental health counselors and 114,000 addiction counselors by 2037, with demand growing at four and a half times the rate of supply. Mental Health Meets AI
• [New] Russia will reap windfall oil profits and convert them into the resources needed to sustain combat operations on the Russian-Ukrainian front. |
• [New] New Mexico's water resources are too precious to risk polluting with potentially toxic oil and gas waste. WildEarth Guardians
• As geopolitical shocks continue to disrupt global fertilizer markets, AMW 2026 will provide a timely platform for stakeholders to explore how Africa can leverage its vast phosphate resources to strengthen fertilizer supply security. African Mining Week 2025
• The Arctic and the Far East are no longer Russia's edge, but its new core, concentrating resources, transport routes, and strategic opportunities. Valdai Club
• Superhot rock geothermal could supply 63 terawatts of firm, carbon-free power by tapping just 1% of the world's SHR resources - more than eight times current global electricity generation. Space War
• Adding to the downside risk, a resolution of industrial tensions between China Mineral Resources Group and BHP has removed a source of temporary support. Westpac IQ

Last updated: 13 May 2026