Our Scans · (LF.12) 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] The East Midlands will help manufacturers scale up clean energy and advanced production technologies, while East Yorkshire, Hull, and Tees Valley will support a joint clean energy and industrial decarbonization programme. UKAuthority
• [New] Only about one fifth of insurers expect to have agentic AI solutions in production by the end of 2026 (Celent), which reflects a pragmatic understanding of what must come first: data quality, model governance, control frameworks, and organizational trust. Tokio Marine Holdings
• [New] By the end of 2026, a lot of production deployments will use fine-tuned open-source models instead of costly proprietary APIs. Barchart.com
• [New] By the end of 2026, 71% of businesses will have a lot of AI agents working in production. Barchart.com
• [New] Scaling SAF production to meet national goals could generate more than 70,000 jobs through 2030. Alliance for Aviation Across America
• [New] Sustainable food, fiber, forest, and mineral production in 2026 and beyond will rely on the principles of organic farming - and on cutting-edge technology and transparent management tools to ensure real, lasting environmental benefits. Farmonaut
• [New] The conflict in the Middle East has produced the largest energy disruption in history, with 20% of global oil trade being disrupted and more than 10% of oil production now shut in. Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• [New] Apple foldable iPhone delay threatens mass production and forces suppliers to shift schedules, pressuring shares and raising short-term volatility. InsiderFinance
• [New] Platform Hondo is expected to resume production by the end of the second quarter of 2026 and produce over 10,000 barrels of oil per day added Sable Offshore. News Channel 3-12
• [New] Steel production capacity of almost 7 million net tons will be added in the U.S. in the next three years. Railway Age
• [New] EPA has indicated that it may revisit the import feedstock policy in future rulemakings, potentially introducing new incentives for domestic production beginning in 2028. Biocycle
• [New] Meeting the new biomass-based diesel obligations will require more than a 60% increase in production from 2025 levels, a development that is projected to strengthen demand for U.S. agricultural feedstocks and boost investment in greater fuel processing capacity. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] While EPA raised cellulosic volumes above proposed levels, RNG and biogas groups argue the final D3 targets still undershoot feasible production and could constrain sector growth. / USA Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] EPA's final 2026-2027 RFS rule establishes the highest renewable volume obligations ever and raises volumes above the 2025 proposal, underscoring strong administration support for domestic biofuels, agricultural feedstocks, and renewable fuel production. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] Cobalt mining reserves are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, accounting for approximately 70% of global cobalt production, creating significant supply chain vulnerability that recycling can help mitigate. Discovery Alert
• [New] Water consumption for cooling AI data centers is predicted to double or even quadruple by 2028 compared to 2023. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] AI electricity consumption could account for up to 12% of all U.S. power by 2028. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] The Italian CAP Strategic Plan makes access to subsidies conditional on participation in systems such as ClassyFarm, which monitors risk levels and antibiotic consumption on farms. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Asia Pacific is projected to rival North America by share due to rapid urbanization, government support, and scaling production capabilities. openpr
• [New] The upcoming Kemiex Feed Consumption Report which analyses feed demand across more than 100 countries through 2031, projects approximately 1.5% annual growth over the coming 5 years, as the world needs to be fed. All About Feed
• With growing production and EoL supply of LFP, solely using EoL LFP EV batteries in second use applications is sufficient to meet the annual stationary energy storage demand in California by 2050. PubMed Central (PMC)
• On the other hand, the secondary battery supply (made up of solely EoL battery supply, as production scrap enters recycling) substantially exceeds the battery demand for stationary energy storage in California by 2050. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 13 April 2026