Each year, a panel of conservation scientists, policymakers and practitioners work together to identify issues that could shape biodiversity action in the decade ahead. The 2026 Global Horizon Scan, now published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, highlights 15 emerging issues — from new AI tools and shifts in global food demand to changes in ocean dynamics and forest finance. UNEP-WCMC contributed to the process this year, building on our established engagement in this process. The exercise remains a testament to the long-standing leadership of Professor Bill Sutherland and Dr Ann Thornton, who continue to guide a thoughtful and rigorous approach to collective foresight.
The scan aims to spot early signals that may not yet be on policy agendas but could soon become important for nature and people. This kind of forward thinking is increasingly needed as environmental change, technology and global development pathways evolve together.
