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

• [New] Japan plans to deepen information-sharing efforts regarding maritime domain awareness (MDA) with Southeast Asian nations to protect sea lanes critical to trade. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] Sea-level rises in London up to 1.15 meters were forecast by the Met Office by 2100. Clintel
• [New] Russia is actively engaged in the international climate agenda, taking account of both the challenges and the economic opportunities emerging in its northern regions - including expanded access to the northern sea route and mineral resources in permafrost zones. The Guardian
• [New] The RV Reuben Lasker, the Noaa survey vessel Phillips will embark on, uses advanced sonar to map out the abundance of integral parts of the marine ecosystem, including organisms as small as krill and plankton. The Guardian
• [New] Due to the climate crisis, by 2050, annual adaptation costs could reach US$ 565 billion, coral reefs could virtually disappear, 90% of coastal cities could be hit by sea level rise, and up to 70 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be forced to migrate. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Governments must act fast - as the Arctic could be free of summer sea ice by 2035. Greenpeace International
• [New] The 7m UK properties at risk of flooding could increase by 40% by 2050, without action, and peak flow in rivers could be 45% higher. The Guardian
• [New] Areas of New York City could be flooded by several feet of water during strong storms with projected rates in sea level rise. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
• [New] Secure, carrier-grade 4G/5G connectivity on-board container vessels, delivering agentic AI-ready data, will improve cargo visibility and increase operational efficiency across the maritime industry, regardless of location on the world's oceans. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] By 2050, 92% of homes are likely to overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion liters per day. Climate Change Committee
• [New] The International Maritime Organization's 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas target has created an inescapable imperative: the fleet of approximately 55,000 ocean-going vessels that moves 90% of global trade must transition to fuels that produce no net carbon emissions. Jaysons Chemical Industries
• [New] Southeast Asia's (SEA) green economy is no longer a future opportunity - it is already scaling at pace. Bain & Company
• [New] Some forecasts project Pacific Ocean temperatures could rise close to 3 degrees Celsius above average by late 2026, potentially making it one of the strongest El Nino events on record. Boston.com
• [New] A potentially powerful El Nino is expected to develop in the Pacific Ocean, and forecasters say it could grow into a rare super El Nino later in 2026. Boston.com
• [New] The Marine Corps is advancing toward fielding a certified autonomous rotary-wing logistics platform capable of reducing human exposure in high-threat expeditionary resupply missions, likely correlating with broader USMC distributed maritime operations doctrine in contested Pacific environments. Drone Warfare
• [New] Seoul plans to leverage its world-leading shipbuilding expertise and geographic position to position itself as the Asian gateway for Arctic routes, anticipating that melting sea ice will make Northeast and Northwest passages commercially viable, especially as an alternative to the Suez Canal route. The Arctic Institute - Center for Circumpolar Security
• [New] Unmanned naval drones have become a real threat to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, with some ships sunk specifically by them. UNITED24 Media
• [New] Deep-sea mining could produce volumes of nickel and cobalt equivalent to the entire projected U.S. demand in 2040 - which explains why Washington is willing to risk conflict with ISA to move forward. CPG Click Oil and Gas
• By 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all of the ocean's fish. Conservation International
• The next five years will be pivotal in transforming marine drones from experimental prototypes into essential components of global ocean stewardship, with significant implications for environmental policy, corporate sustainability strategies, and technological innovation ecosystems. Verified Market Reports
• Emerging markets in Asia-Pacific and Africa will become critical growth nodes, driven by rapid urbanization and increasing marine pollution challenges. Verified Market Reports

Last updated: 25 May 2026