Global Scans · Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] Without coordinated international action, plastic production could increase by 70% between 2020 and 2040, surpassing 700 million tonnes annually. ScienceDaily
• [New] The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) plant will use magnetic confinement fusion, in which two forms of hydrogen are heated to extreme temperatures and fused to create helium and release energy. Nottinghamshire Live
• [New] Europe will be one of the priority markets for Saudi Arabia as it ramps up green hydrogen production. ArabNews
• [New] Saudi Arabia could use its vast experience in project management and execution in the traditional energy sector to become a leader in green hydrogen production. ArabNews
• [New] Within a decade it says it will be producing enough lithium carbonate, a key material used in the production of rechargeable batteries, to supply about 250,000 electric vehicles a year. The Guardian
• [New] Even if no direct customer data is accessible, the combination of inference access, quota consumption, and possible integration with broader Google Cloud resources creates a risk profile that is materially different from the original billing-identifier model developers relied upon. The Hacker News
• [New] Major pharmaceutical manufacturers are dramatically expanding U.S. production, signaling a sustained reshoring wave that could reshape the chemical supply chain and elevate the role of experienced third-party logistics providers. WSI
• [New] Ingredients giant Dohler has started commercial production in Europe of SB1, a high-protein postbiotic ingredient from biomass fermentation startup Superbrewed Food that will support product launches in the US in 2026. AgFunderNews
• [New] Cultured meat represents a transformative innovation with the potential to reshape global protein production, but its success depends on interdisciplinary strategies that balance sustainability, safety, ethics, and public trust. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] A more dynamic global and European economic environment than anticipated could lead to a recovery in order books and support production. FXStreet
• [New] Q100T targets a 100-physical-qubit processor with production-readiness by 2027. Quantum Zeitgeist
• [New] For the United States, the central challenge is whether it will use its growing role as a Plus - One recipient to relocate control, resilience, and long-term competitiveness, or merely host China-dependent production under a different flag. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• [New] Support could take the form of time-limited subsidies to offset the costs of relocating production, rebuilding process capacity, reconstituting supply chains, and retraining talent in the United States. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• [New] Some multinationals are shifting production to the United States as part of their China Plus One strategies due to Chinese regulatory, competition, and statecraft risks, plus U.S. reshoring incentives, tariffs, and government pressure. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• [New] Many multinationals implement China-Plus-One or China-Plus-Many strategies to reduce risk by maintaining production capacity in China while shifting or adding production in at least one other country. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• [New] Supply disruptions, China's past export restrictions and growing geopolitical tensions have exposed the risks of concentrated production and long development timelines, prompting efforts to diversify supply chains and expand domestic and allied production. East Asia Forum
• [New] Global consumption reached 406 million tons in 2024, valued at $36.3 billion, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of +2.6% in volume and +3.6% in value through 2035. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Global electricity consumption by data centers will double to roughly 945 TWh by 2030, underscoring the premium on stable energy infrastructure that FM's physical risk scores attempt to capture. Insurance Business
• [New] There is not a possible painless route-fossil-fuel production and use must be reduced by half by 2030. Canadian Association for the Club of Rome
• [New] Climate change should be the big story of 2026 Fossil-fuel production and use must be reduced by half by 2030. Canadian Association for the Club of Rome
• [New] As outlined in Metafuels' recently published white paper, Clearing the Runway for SAF, global SAF production must increase by more than 150-fold by 2050 to meet projected aviation demand. Hydrogen Central
• [New] Global sustainable aviation fuel production must increase more than 150-fold by 2050 to meet projected aviation demand - a scale that bio-based fuels alone cannot deliver. Hydrogen Central
• [New] The proposed CCS project was first announced in 2021 as part of plans to decarbonize Canada's oilsands production and achieve net-zero emissions from operations by 2050. financialpost

Last updated: 02 March 2026