Global Scans · Nature · Weekly Summary

WHAT''S NEXT?: Oceans, animals, and land are all under threat from climate change and human activities. The effective and efficient conservation of agricultural biodiversity is vital to meeting the global challenges of food and nutritional security for an expanding world population. But, the signs are of continued degradation of our global natural resources and environment.

• [New] Seven of the nine planetary boundaries (the limits that make Earth habitable) are now in danger zones. ImpactAlpha
• [New] All investors will eventually have to wake up to the notion that the future of returns lies in investing like nature would, in regenerative and circular technologies that rethink how we produce and consume on planet Earth. ImpactAlpha
• [New] The circular economy presents opportunities given global resource depletion, supply chain vulnerabilities, and environmental stressors. Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• [New] The global demand for animal-derived protein is anticipated to double by 2050, raising concerns about sustainability and food security. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Establishing a permanent human presence on Mars will inevitably ripple back to Earth, accelerating technologies and expanding our understanding of human adaptability. Smart.DHgate - Trusted Buying Guides for Global Shopper
• [New] Colonizing Mars offers an opportunity to explore new frontiers, innovate in space technology, and establish self-sufficient habitats that could eventually sustain human life independently of Earth. Smart.DHgate - Trusted Buying Guides for Global Shopper
• [New] The fact that the U.S. relies on China for 80% of its rare earth supply remains a structural vulnerability. Kusak ve Yol
• [New] AI-discovered magnetic materials could break China's stranglehold on rare earth minerals, reshaping global supply chains and geopolitics. Hushflow AI Now
• [New] The continuous absorption of carbon dioxide by oceans is causing ocean acidification, which severely threatens marine ecosystems and food security globally. Risk Prevention Mitigation and Management Forum
• [New] Over the past decade, a growing body of research has linked environmental threats like extreme heat and wildfire smoke to an uptick in stillbirths, premature births and low-birth weights. Reasons to be Cheerful
• [New] Vulnerabilities are starkly illustrated by current global dependencies: China accounts for ~60% of rare earth production. Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• [New] The forestry industry in northern NSW is considering new financial opportunities in eco-forestry and environmental markets. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] More than 3,500 animal species are at risk of extinction because of factors including habitat alterations, natural resources being overexploited, and climate change. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] Life on Earth is not subject to a variety of existential risks. Scientific American
• [New] Research into geoengineering, science that could actually cool the earth and oceans, deserves increased funding. Home & Away
• [New] The environmental benefits will be undeniable - the World Economic Forum estimates cultivated meat could reduce land use by 95% and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to conventional meat production. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Driven by the converging forces of climate imperatives, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical shifts, the coming decades will redefine what it means to move goods across the oceans. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Humans are causing extensive changes to Earth's natural systems, pushing them to extremes beyond which we cannot predict how Earth will respond. MR Online
• [New] The loss of life in Brazil and Turkey underscores the unpredictable nature of disasters and the importance of safety measures. Disaster & Public Health Journal
• [New] The OECD's work on climate-risk and insurance further shows how supporting nature-based solutions and offering risk-reduction incentives can lower long-term losses. Forbes
• [New] Nature is a powerful ally - a recent study has shown that solutions beneficial to nature and biodiversity can unlock US$ 4.3 trillion of business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific, and create more than 230 million jobs. ST
• [New] Earth has entered the tipping point era, where multiple systems, from the Amazon to Atlantic circulation, risk triggering cascading feedbacks. One Ocean

Last updated: 22 November 2025