Our Scans · (LF.14) Life Below Water · 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 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

• [New] By 2100, average sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15m. ST
• [New] Global sea levels are projected to rise by 0.29 to 0.59 meters by the end of the century, significantly heightening the risk of coastal flooding, particularly in low-lying regions. Natural Hazards
• [New] By 2100, coastal flooding due to increased sea level and storm surge is projected to impact approximately 360 million people worldwide. Natural Hazards
• [New] The World Risk Report consistently ranks Bangladesh among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, a reality underscored by rising sea levels that threaten to submerge vast tracts of land, erratic floods, and saline intrusion that destroys fertile soil. The Business Standard
• [New] The West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting at unprecedented rates, potentially raising sea levels by up to 1.9 meters by 2100. Scientific American
• [New] The polar sea ice that has long reflected sunlight back into space is quickly vanishing: Arctic sea ice is expected to be completely gone during summers in the 2030s, further heating the planet. Scientific American
• [New] Ocean heating could halve the global population of Prochlorococcus in the next 75 years. Foreign Exchanges
• [New] The ongoing changes in global shipping patterns, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions, are further complicating risk assessment for marine insurers. Insurance Business
• [New] The Arctic is warming at least three times faster than the rest of the planet, raising sea levels and increasing the risks of extreme weather in Europe. SKY
• [New] With limited arable land and freshwater, the world is turning to the oceans for additional food supply as the global population is projected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. NOAA
• [New] Besides landing on Taiwan's beaches or launching missile attacks, it could stage air and sea blockades, or sever undersea communication cables. Dictionary.com
• [New] The 3,300 km addition will, by 2028, connect Djibouti through Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa, opening a new high-speed corridor along the Indian Ocean shoreline ts2. TS2 Space
• [New] The joint venture - OneWeb India - will deliver secure low-latency LEO connectivity for customers on land, air and sea across India's borders and remote regions orbitaltoday.com. TS2 Space
• [New] The Bioceanic Bridge, a central point on the road corridor that will connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, passing through Paraguay, is nearly 80% complete. Ultimas Noticias de Foz do Iguacu e Regiao - H2FOZ
• [New] Water levels on the Amazon River, which flows through Peru, Colombia and Brazil, have continued to recede at a slower pace than expected. Manifold Times
• [New] The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commits governments to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030, mobilize $220 billion a year, and reform $500 billion in harmful subsidies. Forbes
• The National Climate Change Secretariat shared that 30% of Singapore is less than 5 meters above mean sea level, which means that even a moderate rise could put homes and infrastructure at risk. Yahoo News
• Singapore's sea levels are expected to rise by up to 1.15 meters by the year 2100. Yahoo News
• Under high-emission scenarios, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a key system of ocean currents that also includes the Gulf Stream, could shut down after the year 2100. ScienceDaily
• Cell-like compartments called vesicles could form naturally in the lakes of Saturn's moon Titan. ScienceDaily
• In Titan's freezing methane and ethane lakes, simple molecules could naturally arrange themselves into vesicles-tiny bubble-like structures that mimic the first steps toward life. ScienceDaily
• As CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere keep rising regardless of years of political intentions to limit emissions, the world's oceans are drowning in plastics, which threatens marine environments and ecosystems. ScienceDaily
• The reported 511 billion barrels of oil in the Weddell Sea, if verified, could potentially redefine global energy dynamics. Sustainability Times

Last updated: 15 September 2025