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] Demand for water, driven by hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage technologies, will rise sharply by 2050. Mirage News
• [New] Lactips has raised EUR 16 million to date and now plans to scale up its industrial production capacity and expand into markets across Europe, the Americas and Japan. office-china
• [New] Asturias is set for a renewable methanol production plant worth €250 million, while Galicia will gain a facility projected to add €190 million. RUSSPAIN.COM
• [New] In Valencia, construction has already begun on a battery production plant in Sagunto, projected to contribute €10 billion to the regional economy. RUSSPAIN.COM
• [New] Central Asia has considerable opportunities for green hydrogen production, with several countries already initiating hydrogen projects with foreign partners. Caspianpost.com
• [New] Kazakhstan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in electricity production to 50% by 2050. Caspianpost.com
• [New] Sustainable practices could increase global food production by up to 70% by 2050. 2026 Best Agricultural Chemicals for Sustainable Farmin
• [New] Modern energy production has become cleaner and more efficient, and the CWA must be updated to meet the needs of today, as current estimates for load growth could reach as high as 40% by 2040. National Hydropower Association
• [New] By 2035, owning a small, powerful 3D printer at home might be as common as owning a smartphone, empowering a global culture of rapid self-production. Futurist Keynote Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Wo
• [New] With core Personal Consumption Expenditures projected to average between 2.4% and 2.7% for the 2026 fiscal year, the era of ultra-low inflation appears to have been replaced by a new, more expensive normal that threatens to delay interest rate cuts indefinitely. FinancialContent
• [New] Organizations that invest now in controlling AI behaviour in production will not only be prepared for the new policy realities of 2026, but will also be better positioned for the next wave of AI regulation. Technology Solutions That Drive Government
• [New] Infrastructure costs will skyrocket: Global AI infrastructure demands require $6.70 trillion investment by 2030, with data center power consumption growing 19-22% annually, forcing hybrid compute strategies. Netguru
• [New] The two main greenfield projects advancing toward production - Ivanhoe Mines' Platreef and Wesizwe's Bakubung in South Africa - are expected to contribute a combined 150000 oz of platinum and 100000 oz of palladium in 2026, the bank reports. Mining Weekly
• [New] While natural graphite mining is diversifying into Africa and other regions, the biggest vulnerability lies in spherical graphite purification and the energy-intensive production of synthetic graphite. Informachine Private Limited
• [New] The International Energy Agency forecasts a potential surplus of up to 3.8 million bpd for 2026, driven by rising production in the U.S., Brazil, and Guyana. Vindobona
• [New] Production outside the broader OPEC + alliance will increase by 610,000 barrels a day in 2027, led by Brazil, Canada, Qatar and Argentina, a marginal dip from 2026's expected gains. Baton Rouge Business Report
• [New] The rapid production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones will begin this month, boosting Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian drone attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. GOV.UK
• [New] Trial production by late 2027 will test Vietnam's ability to transition from ATP dominance (8-9% global share by 2032) to strategic compute power builder. Ainvest
• [New] Manufacturing satellites or components on the lunar surface and launching them from there could be significantly cheaper than Earth-based production due to lower gravity. GIC
• By embracing digital transformation, infrastructure advancements, and international trade opportunities, countries and businesses can ensure that agriculture remains a valuable necessity in production and trade-supporting livelihoods, protecting the environment, and driving the world forward. Farmonaut
• More than doubling Venezuela's current oil production likely would take until 2030 and cost $110 billion, according to research firm Rystad Energy, while tripling back to levels from 2000 would take well over a decade and cost closer to $185 billion. Fortune

Last updated: 19 January 2026