Global Scans · 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] Scientists may be able to reliably forecast Antarctic ice loss through the middle of this century, offering governments a vital head start on sea level rise. ScienceDaily
• [New] Globally, the IEA predicts that by 2050 over 300 GW of marine energy capacity will be installed - resulting in $35 billion of investment, 680,000 direct jobs, and a reduction of 500 million tons of CO2 per year. National Hydropower Association
• [New] A number of US companies will be deploying their next generation marine energy systems in US waters over the next 12-18 months, dramatically lowering the delivered cost of electricity and in many cases, providing the lowest cost electricity solution for their customers. National Hydropower Association
• [New] Demonstration projects and research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy confirm that marine energy technologies offer meaningful benefits to the electric system - and open significant opportunities for off-grid and mission-critical applications. National Hydropower Association
• [New] Oxygen is disappearing from oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters at an alarming rate, threatening aquatic life and weakening the natural processes that help regulate Earth's climate. ScienceDaily
• [New] The Russian Ministry of Agriculture claimed that the situation in the Sea of Azov will not affect the domestic food supply or Russia's agricultural export capacity. Critical Threats
• [New] Red Sea disruptions forced significant diversification of Mediterranean routes, boosting throughput at Valencia and Piraeus by 12% and 15%, respectively, as transshipment patterns shifted. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By the end of 2029, the Humboldt Bay Harbour, Recreation & Conservation District plans to complete Phase 1 of the proposed Humboldt offshore wind heavy lift marine terminal project. North Coast Offshore
• [New] Hurricane Fausto is 780 miles (1,255 km) west-southwest of Baja California and poses no threat of landfall - and it is already killing people who enter the ocean. Tech Times
• [New] Sea-levels are set to rise by between 0.4 and 0.6 meters across UK coastlines by 2100, resulting in a 13% increase in areas classified as at risk of coastal flooding. University of Bristol
• [New] The research considers a 'reasonable worst-case scenario' for sea-level rise that includes controversial ice sheet instability processes, which would see more than 15 m of sea-level rise across the UK by 2300. University of Bristol
• [New] The Ocean of Peace alliance, which will in the future be open to other Pacific nations to join, aims to bolster regional security and limit China's influence. The Week
• [New] Scientists have uncovered an unexpected source of food in the deep ocean that could change how researchers understand both marine ecosystems and Earth's carbon cycle. ScienceDaily
• [New] Dynamical models now assign a 90% chance of the 2026-2027 El Nino being an all-time record event, sending temperatures in the Pacific Ocean up to around 3.6 degrees Celsius (6.5 degrees Fahrenheit) above average. Live Science
• [New] By 2050, there will likely be more plastic in the ocean than fish. SDCC
• [New] The European Union and Italy have supported the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrants at sea and return them to Libya, despite ongoing conflict and danger in that country. Migration Policy Institute
• [New] If current conditions remain unchanged and water demand continues to outweigh the shrinking supply base of the Colorado River, households and businesses in the American West will experience further water shortages combined with higher water prices. The Conference Board
• [New] The UN urged all countries to bolster early warning systems after confirming the onset of El Nino, warning that the Pacific Ocean-warming phenomenon will bring above-average temperatures nearly everywhere and fuel more extreme weather. UNifeed
• [New] In Tajikistan, the Ministry of Transport warned of heavy rains, mudslides, and dust storms due to high temps and glacier melt across Sughd and Khatlon provinces, with the Panj, Vakhsh, Varzob, and Zeravshan rivers running high through early July. ISCIENCES
• [New] One of the greatest risks is the impact on the Parana and Uruguay river basins, where rains in southern Brazil could increase flows and cause seasonal rises until March or April, even after El Nino begins to weaken. Noticias Ambientales
• [New] Russia continues to jam AIS transponder signals, as it has been doing since prior to the most recent Ukrainian strikes against ships in the Sea of Azov, possibly as a precaution against the enduring threat of Ukrainian drone strikes. Critical Threats
• [New] Ethiopia's efforts to diversify its access to Red Sea ports will increase competition for Djibouti, despite Djibouti's considerable head start in maritime logistics infrastructure compared to its neighbours. BTI 2026

Last updated: 26 July 2026