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] Sustainability and ethical sourcing continue to be top priorities for F & B companies, and Vitafoods Europe 2026 will spotlight how companies are using sustainable ingredients and production methods to appeal to the eco-conscious consumer. CNS Media
• [New] Urban agriculture could contribute 5-10% of global vegetable production. CNS Media
• [New] Urban agriculture could produce up to 28% (20 million metric tons) of vegetables annually, potentially fulfilling nearly one-third of Europe's current vegetable production, scientists in the Netherlands and Germany estimate. CNS Media
• [New] Research has found that it will be impossible to reach global emission reduction targets - even if radical cuts are made to fossil fuels - without major cuts to global livestock consumption. Inside Climate News
• [New] By 2040, the majority of steel production needs to meet Progress Level 3, with most sites achieving Progress Level 4 by 2050. ResponsibleSteel
• [New] Supply chain disruptions and uncertainty around US tariffs have put pressure on alcohol companies already dealing with declining consumption after the COVID-19 pandemic-era peaks. CNS Media
• [New] In the United States, there is a bipartisan consensus on the need to reduce defence and economic vulnerabilities arising from the concentration of semiconductor production in East Asia. Atlantic Council
• [New] Substrate availability will constrain AI chip production through at least 2027. SupplyICs
• [New] Global data-centre electricity use will more than double by 2030-equal to roughly the current electricity consumption of Japan. Quillette
• [New] Well-documented AI use cases have the potential to save over 13 exajoules of energy by 2035, equivalent to 3% of global final energy consumption, if barriers to wider uptake are overcome. IEA
• [New] At the EU level, it includes large scale policy instruments such as the €800 billion Readiness 2030 plan, designed to mobilize public and private capital for defence production. Yahoo News
• [New] Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU raised its target for the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption from 32% by 2030 to 42.5%. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• [New] Consumption and demand patterns will shift considerably over the next decade as populations age, new consumption centers emerge, and younger generations increasingly dominate the consumer market. Yahoo Finance
• [New] UBTECH plans a production capacity of 10,000 units in 2026, while Boston Dynamics plans a 30,000 unit capacity in 2028 for its Atlas robot. Technocracy News
• [New] Tesla plans to build a 1m unit Optimus robot production line with production starting at end-2026. Technocracy News
• [New] Europe's beer and beverage industries face a CO2 crisis, as ammonia plant shutdowns and rising energy costs threaten production and pricing stability. CNS Media
• [New] Demand destruction has already begun in gas markets, while fertilizer shortages will impact food production and prices for much of the rest of the year and beyond. financialpost
• [New] Rather than relying on a single global supply chain optimised for cost, firms increasingly consider the strategic risks associated with concentrated production in particular countries. The Daily Star

Last updated: 04 May 2026