Our Scans · (LF.12) Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

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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] MIT researchers have developed a new fabrication method that could enable the production of more energy efficient electronics by stacking multiple functional components on top of one existing circuit. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] With continued research and improved extraction methods, natural hydrogen could transform energy production, reduce emissions, and support global energy needs for generations to come. Chemical Industry Digest
• [New] Approaches that enhance TMA production, whether through diet or medication, could help reduce insulin resistance and improve long-term health outcomes. ScienceDaily
• [New] Critical minerals are becoming increasingly vital - growing demand for green energy technologies could scale production by nearly 500% by 2050. Insurance Journal
• [New] Electricity's share of global energy consumption is going to double in the next decade alone. Engadget
• [New] As data centers in India continue to expand, their power consumption will rise sharply, creating a greater demand for energy generation. Trade Brains Money
• [New] Synopsis: The data center capacity in India is projected to increase drastically from last year's figure of 1.4 gigawatts to 9 GW in 2030, thereby consuming about 3% of India's power consumption in 2030, which is an increase from less than 1% at present. Trade Brains Money
• [New] Global production is expected to rise by 52% by 2040 - to 680m tonnes - outstripping the capacity of waste management systems around the world. The Guardian
• [New] U.S. spending comprises $10.5 billion overall, targeting production exceeding two million barrels of oil equivalent per day through high-return opportunities and efficiency gains. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] The global cocoa industry is currently facing major problems that will have an impact on production of goods like chocolate, and precision fermentation offers an alternative way to fill the gap between cocoa production and global demand. CNS Media
• [New] Post forecasts China's MY (marketing year) 25/26 soybean production at 19.9 MMT (million metric tons), while imports are projected at 106 MMT, down 1 MMT year-over-year as Beijing continues efforts to limit import growth. ADM Investor Services
• [New] Continued investment in research, bio based material development, and energy efficient production technologies will ensure that polyurethane dispersions remain a cornerstone of sustainable manufacturing in the coming decade. openpr
• [New] As the world's population and wealth continue to grow, there is a risk that the demand for meat and the negative environmental and climate impacts associated with meat production will continue to increase. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The global production of 460 million tonnes of plastic annually, with 20 million leaking into the environment, is expected to grow sharply by 2040, causing climate change and loss of biodiversity, and ecosystems. ET Edge Insights
• [New] Currently, Tesla offers its robotaxi rides in the un-modified Tesla Model Ys that roll off the Giga Texas production line - in the second quarter, however, it plans to introduce its purpose-built robotaxi, the Cybercab. Eleport
• [New] Joint R&D / production: Flagship projects include BrahMos cruise missile, licensed production of Su-30MKI and T-90, AK-203 assault rifles under Make in India, long-term military-technical cooperation programme 2021-31. INSIGHTS IAS - Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation
• [New] By 2025, industrial rooftop CAPEX is expected to fall in the range of Rs33,000 to Rs48,000 per kW, enabling attractive payback periods of 2.5 to 4 years depending on consumption patterns and state-specific policies. / India Soleos Solar Energy Private Limited
• [New] The math is brutally simple: AI computing workloads could consume around 500 terawatt-hours annually by 2027 - about twice the U.K.'s total electricity consumption in 2023. Morningstar, Inc.
• [New] The EIA anticipates production to rise from a record 13.2 million barrels per day in 2024 to approximately 13.6 million bpd in 2025. Energy Reporters
• [New] Saudi says it can reduce its budget deficit to 3.3% of GDP in 2026 (IMF forecast is 3.7%) after a year of elevated spending and heavy bond issuance to fund large infrastructure projects, supported by expectations of stronger non-oil revenue growth and higher oil production. MUFG Research
• [New] USDA left U.S. soybean supply, use, and price projections unchanged from the November WASDE report, which predicted soybean yields at 53 bushels per acre with total U.S. production pegged 4.3 billion bushels, resulting in season-average soybean price of $10.50 per bushel. Hoosier Ag Today
• In the case of plastic, a global scheme could require producers to hold allowances for each unit of primary polymer they produce, with the number of available allowances falling over time, in line with the targeted limit on production. The Pew Charitable Trusts

Last updated: 15 December 2025