Global Scans · Life Below Water · 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 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

• [New] Scientists expect global sea level to rise another one to eight feet by 2100. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
• [New] The second half of 2026 will almost certainly see the start of El Nino, a natural climate phase when warm water expands across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, heating the entire planet. New Scientist
• [New] Following the recent dissipation of the weak La Nina, the World Meteorological Organization flagged the potential emergence of a super El Nino - an event that occurs roughly once a decade - later in 2026 could threaten water levels in Gatun Lake, a critical component of the Panama Canal system. BRS Shipbrokers
• [New] Enhancing measures to limit the increase in global temperatures could significantly progress toward many other SDGs, such as reducing poverty and hunger, increasing water availability, and protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Scientific Research Publishing
• [New] Discoveries of natural gas reserves and the planned Black Sea Submarine Cable could reduce Europe's dependencies if developed securely. Atlas Institute for International Affairs
• [New] By 2026, the South China Sea will undoubtedly remain a critical flashpoint, embodying the complex interplay of economic interdependence and strategic rivalry that defines the Indo-Pacific. The Grand Review
• [New] Any disruption in the South China Sea could have cascading effects on global shipping, impacting Pakistan's import and export costs. The Grand Review
• [New] By 2026, the South China Sea will be a focal point of US-China competition, forcing ASEAN nations into a precarious balancing act. The Grand Review
• [New] Singapore's average sea level is projected to rise by up to 1.15m by 2100. ST
• [New] Singapore will start its largest coastal protection study over the next months for the industry-heavy south-west, developing solutions against sea-level rise and floods. ST
• [New] There is still disagreement among weather models, but most show sea surface temperatures consistent with an El Nino could be in place by July. The Guardian
• [New] Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are rising rapidly, indicating a high likelihood that El Nino conditions could redevelop as early as May-July 2026. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sc
• [New] Marked warming of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific is being observed, which is expected to exert wide ranging influences on global temperatures and precipitation patterns. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sc
• [New] As global oceans continue to warm, the risks to ecosystems, economies and vulnerable communities are expected to intensify, underscoring the urgent need for climate action and adaptation strategies. Healthwise
• [New] Rising ocean temperatures have direct and indirect consequences for countries like Nigeria, including disruptions to rainfall patterns across West Africa, coastal flooding and sea-level rise, declining fisheries productivity, and more frequent extreme weather events. Healthwise
• [New] Small island nations are highly susceptible to climate change, with Tuvalu expected to be submerged by 2100 due to rising sea levels. WSLS 10
• [New] A new study published in Nature finds that many of the world's largest river deltas are subsiding more quickly than global sea levels are rising, putting hundreds of millions of people at potential risk. ScienceDaily
• [New] Atlantic Ocean currents that are vital for keeping Earth's climate in check will halve in strength by 2100 and may be closer to collapse than first thought, a new study finds. Live Science
• [New] 2026's El Nino will feed off the marine heat wave, but once formed, El Nino will in turn help the marine heat wave intensify and persist. Los Angeles Times
• [New] The warm ocean waters could increase the chances of hurricanes and tropical storms forming off the coast of Mexico. Los Angeles Times
• [New] The Getting to Zero Coalition, involving major shipping lines and port operators, has committed to deploying commercially viable zero-emission vessels by 2030, creating a structured, deadline-driven procurement pipeline for marine H2 - ICE systems. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 03 May 2026