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] By 2026, global lithium production will be 42% higher than in 2024, with the US and Argentina seeing the fastest growth. Farmonaut
• [New] Global lithium production is projected to exceed 1 million metric tons by 2026, fueling rapid energy technology advancements. Farmonaut
• [New] The application of contemporary American technology and extraction methods is expected to restore dormant wells and initiate new production cycles within a matter of months. Mint
• [New] Up to 600,000 tons of lithium production per year could cover 40% of domestic U.S. requirements. Farmonaut
• [New] Geographic Distribution: Increased Southeast Asian production capacity reduces regional supply concentration and associated risks. Discovery Alert
• [New] Hybrid production strategies combining electrolysis, ammonia cracking, and renewable feedstocks are expected to emerge, allowing developers to maximize revenue across fragmented global markets. PUREPEBRIX
• [New] Green ammonia production could go far in decarbonizing agriculture produce ammonia electrochemically and onsite at farms, replacing the fossil-fuel-heavy Haber-Bosch process. AgFunderNews
• [New] By 2026, more than 40% of manufacturers with production scheduling systems will upgrade to AI-driven capabilities and begin enabling autonomous processes. Amiko Consulting
• [New] Addressing cost pressures arising from global price volatility in semiconductors, displays, and memory components will be important to ensure stable production and predictable pricing. The Indian Express
• [New] Global data-center electricity consumption is projected to nearly double between 2024 and 2030-far outpacing overall electricity demand growth - largely driven by AI workloads. SEMIVISION
• [New] Without intervention, annual plastic production could triple by 2060. ScienceDaily
• [New] In 2026, the ability to interpret how accelerating weather and climate volatility influences production will become a decisive competitive edge. Treefera
• [New] The greenhouse project is expected to play a key role in expanding year-round vegetable production, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting Kazakhstan's broader goals of agricultural modernization and food security. The Astana Times
• [New] The slowdown in drilling activity will outpace recent increases in drilling productivity that have bolstered U.S. crude oil production. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Slight production growth from the Federal Gulf of America and Alaska will be offset by declines in the Lower 48 United States in the next two years as low crude oil prices reduce operators' incentives to drill. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Parts of the freeze hitting Texas will likely slow down or shut off production. Barchart.com
• [New] Structural Supply Shortages and Global Demand Imbalances: Production outages, geopolitical supply disruptions, and chronic underinvestment in mining have constrained supply, while demand from electrification, renewable energy buildouts, and data center growth remain robust. Blakely Walters
• [New] Natural gas prices have surged more than 50% over the last two days on forecasts of Arctic weather invading the US, boosting heating demand and potentially threatening disruptions to US gas production as water freezes inside pipelines. Barchart.com
• [New] The combination of equity and debt financing supports faster development and production scaling, but execution risk persists in Japan's relatively small space industry. Cyclop SpaceTech
• Demand for water, driven by hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage technologies, will rise sharply by 2050. Mirage News

Last updated: 26 January 2026