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] Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region globally in 2026 with a share of 29.7%, as television and streaming audiences continue to expand alongside rising internet access, smart TV adoption, and digital media consumption. Persistence Market Research
• [New] US data centers alone are expected to triple electricity consumption by 2030, from around 220 to 600 TWh. investing.com
• [New] Power demand from datacenters will more than double by 2030 to about 945 terawatt-hours, more than the energy consumption of Japan. The Guardian
• [New] The federal PV tender local component procurement ratio stands at 50% in 2026, rising incrementally to 60% by 2030, driving global PV manufacturers to build domestic U.S. production bases - the core driver of overseas factory investment in the U.S. from 2026 to 2030. Solar Panel Production Equipment and Machinery-Lithium
• [New] The European Chips Act is further accelerating semiconductor investments aimed at expanding Europe's share in global semiconductor production by 2030, which is expected to strengthen local DSP manufacturing and reduce supply chain dependence on Asian suppliers. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Another focus is putting AI at the center of scientific research and instituting more aggressive national goals, such as recent pledges to deploy a powerful quantum computer by 2028 and have 10 new large nuclear reactors under construction by 2030 to boost electricity production. Mimir's Well
• [New] Mitsubishi Motors plans a 16 billion baht investment by 2030 in Thailand to support electric vehicle technology and production, focusing on pickups and electric SUVs. ST
• [New] Oil Majors are repositioning their production networks and are expected to increase sales from the US, China, and the Middle East to consuming regions.
• [New] China's growth is expected to slow to 4.6% in 2026 on higher oil prices and structural headwinds, while India remains among the fastest-growing major economies at 6.4%, driven by strong private consumption and services activity. Khaleej Times
• [New] Global hydrogen demand is projected to quadruple from 125 million tons in 2030 to over 500 million tons by 2050, driven primarily by steel production, chemical manufacturing, and heavy-duty transportation requiring high-energy-density fuels. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Africa targets 1.5-2.0 million tons of renewable hydrogen exports to the EU, Australia aims for 3 million tons / year by 2030, and Latin America benefits from production costs nearing US$ 0.50/kg, supported by US$ 11 trillion in global shipping infrastructure investments through 2050. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region at a 6% CAGR through 2032, driven by rapid urbanization, rising consumption, and strong office, logistics, and data center demand across expanding economies. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Aquaculture is set to increase its contribution to seafood production, rising from 60% of production value in 2023-24 to 64% by 2028-29, with the overall real value of aquaculture reaching USD 2.21 billion by 2028-29. Claight Corporation (Expert Market Research Au)
• [New] The United States produces approximately 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, creating significant opportunities for blue hydrogen production and catalyst deployment. Straits Research
• [New] Global agricultural and fish production is projected to expand by 14% over the next decade. Persistence Market Research
• [New] UK automotive production is forecast to return to growth in 2026, with output expected to expand by 3.5% following a sharp decline of 11.1% last year. atradius
• [New] The Japanese automotive sector's medium-term outlook will depend on the success of new investment programmes targeting next-generation EV production and whether OEMs can reposition their export strategies in order to grow sales in emerging markets. atradius
• [New] US automotive output is forecast to decrease by 2.8% in 2026 after a 1.3% contraction last year, as ongoing trade uncertainty and tariff-related disruptions weigh on both production and demand. atradius
• [New] In 2027, we expect global automotive production to grow by 1.7%, mainly due to a recovery in the Americas, particularly the US. atradius
• [New] As of 2026, roughly two-thirds of organizations use generative AI in at least one business function, and over 80% are expected to have a genAI-enabled application in production by year's end. Masai School
• [New] The IEA highlights that 22 Mt of potential production could miss any chance of operating by 2030 if investment decisions on announced projects are not taken by early 2027. Green Hydrogen Organisation
• [New] Low-emissions hydrogen production reached almost 1 Mt in 2025 and is expected to register record growth in 2026, accounting for more than 1% of global production, strongly concentrated in China, Europe and North America. IEA
• [New] One of the key findings: at higher production volumes, hydrogen pipelines become significantly more cost-effective than conventional transmission lines - with up to 28% lower specific CAPEX per ton of green ammonia by 2050. ILF.com

Last updated: 27 July 2026