Global Scans · 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] The challenges we face - the relentless grip of climate change, unpredictable rainfall patterns, increasing water scarcity, and a rapidly rising demand for global food production-make efficient irrigation systems a critical pillar for sustainable farming. Farmonaut
• [New] Australian lithium production is projected to exceed 330,000 tonnes by 2026, supporting 60% of global battery demand. Farmonaut
• [New] Africa could significantly boost pharmaceutical production, such as vaccines and treatments, with more agile regulations for moving scientific materials across borders. News-Medical
• [New] Strategic Supply Chain Note: The estimated +300% production increase in lithium Wyoming deposits by 2026 will be a pillar for domestic EV battery manufacturing and renewable energy storage systems-securing America's position in the clean energy race. Farmonaut
• [New] Direct lithium extraction is expected to increase production by over 300% in the next two years. / USA Farmonaut
• [New] India has tripled its consumption of modern bioenergy since 2020 and could double deployment again by 2030 if policy implementation is strengthened. https://www.indianchemicalnews.com/
• [New] Solvay said it will convert other silica production sites worldwide to use ISCC Plus certified raw materials by 2026, with each site leveraging local industrial waste streams. Automotive World
• [New] UK vehicle production is expected to return to growth in 2026, with output forecast to rise by more than 10% to around 790,000 units. AM-online
• [New] Growth is expected to continue in 2026, supported by the start of next-generation volume electric car production in Sunderland and the planned launch of seven new EV models across the UK. AM-online
• [New] The SMMT believes in 2026 will be better, with car output expected to rise by 10% as production of new models ramps up. BBC News
• [New] Production of cars and vans could exceed 1 million by 2027. BBC News
• [New] Tesla aims to reach a production capacity of one million Optimus units per year at the Fremont factory, achieve significant production volume by the end of 2026, and begin selling them in 2027. New Atlas
• [New] The creation of the $2 b Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund and First and Last Mile Fund will invest in getting near-term critical minerals projects to production. EY
• [New] The capital expenditures planned for 2026 - more than double last year's outlay and almost twice as much as Wall Street was expecting - will go to ramping up production of cars, batteries and robots across half a dozen plants. Los Angeles Times
• [New] By 2026, over 85% of global media consumption will occur via connected TV, mobile-first, and hybrid OTT platforms. TO THE NEW
• [New] With indigenous technology - including initiatives such as the IIT Madras seed programme - India could reduce production costs by 20-30% over the next two years, making lab-grown diamonds more affordable globally while strengthening exports and job creation. The Times Of India
• [New] In the upcoming Budget, continued policy stability, expanded R&D incentives and easier access to financing for manufacturers will be critical to helping India become the world's largest hub for sustainable diamond production. The Times Of India
• [New] Global renewable diesel production capacity is expected to register a sharp growth during the period 2020 to 2030, potentially increasing from 3,210 million gallons a year in 2020 to 10,225 mgy in 2030. Offshore Technology
• [New] Among countries, the US is expected to witness the highest renewable diesel production capacity of 778 mgy from upcoming projects by 2030. Offshore Technology
• [New] The European Union's Energy Efficiency Directive mandates an 11.7% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 compared to 2020 projections, driving unprecedented adoption of demand response infrastructure. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Indonesia anticipates 5.1% growth, supported by domestic consumption and strategic positioning in AI-era mineral supply chains. The Economy
• [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

Last updated: 02 February 2026