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] Marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly at risk, acidifying faster than the global average. Defence Industry and Space
• [New] Ukraine bit back asymmetrically: SBU's Sea Baby drones torched Tambov depot, flames leaping 50 meters, halting Druzhba flows-50% 2026 revenue hit, Moscow estimates. Tension and War Index (TWI)
• [New] A marine heatwave known as a blob was especially severe this year in the north-western and central Pacific Ocean, which could lead in the coming months to increased flooding in the US Pacific north-west and especially wintery weather in eastern North America. Climate Impacts Group
• [New] The waters bordering North America could soon be inhospitable to critical marine creatures if the Northeastern Pacific Ocean continues to acidify at the current rate, a new study shows. UW News
• [New] A gradual return to the Red Sea route after long detours around the Cape of Good Hope is the key thing to watch for in container shipping in 2026. Seeking Alpha
• [New] The Red Sea crisis, necessitating prolonged diversions around the Cape of Good Hope, is projected to persist well into 2026, adding significant transit times and costs to international shipping. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] The research is important for predicting how reefs around the world will change as ocean acidification increases this century and beyond. New Atlas
• [New] A potential attack from the sea could result in a crisis, affecting maritime trade, which accounts for about 7% of Singapore's gross domestic product. ST
• [New] Beijing argues that external powers - chiefly the U.S. - are encroaching on its security perimeter, threatening critical sea lines of communication, and seeking to contain its rise. Eurasia Review
• [New] Driven by the converging forces of climate imperatives, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical shifts, the coming decades will redefine what it means to move goods across the oceans. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] There's a risk of triggering tipping points for irreversible changes, such as drying out the Amazon rainforest, melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica and maybe even shutting down the entire Atlantic ocean current system. Yahoo News Singapore
• [New] As Southeast Asia's key economies (SEA-6: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) expand, private consumption is projected to grow by 8% annually to nearly USD $5 trillion by 2035, potentially surpassing North America. Bain
• [New] As reported by Sustainable Views, a new report issued by the ratings agency Moody's has warned of the financial risks presented by rapidly declining ocean health. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] Environmental groups and some vessel operators have criticized the Executive Order, warning it could cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems and undermine international efforts to regulate DSM responsibly. Passle
• [New] In addition to inland consumption, LNG use in the marine transport sector, which includes both LNG carriers and commercial vessels powered by LNG, is expected to increase by 15 bcm / yr to 2030. IEA
• [New] While the ocean plays a critical role in regulating our climate and supporting biodiversity and the livelihoods of billions of people on the planet, the blue economy is still lacking in investment to reach its full potential. COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion 2025 (3-21 November)
• [New] Deep-sea mining regulatory frameworks under development by the International Seabed Authority could unlock polymetallic nodule deposits containing 21 billion tonnes of manganese, 5.7 billion tonnes of iron, and substantial quantities of nickel and cobalt. Discovery Alert
• [New] The Devastation Bill directly threatens the Brazilian coastal zone - a region already extremely vulnerable to erosion, rising sea levels, and pressure on traditional fishing territories. Instituto Socioambiental - ISA
• [New] The world's oceans are expected to play a key part in drawing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere to help slow dangerous climate warming. ScienceDaily
• [New] Oceans may help capture carbon in the future, but experts warn the world must proceed cautiously and prioritize cutting emissions now. ScienceDaily
• [New] Marine parks such as Gorgona contribute to the 30 x30 global agreement to conserve 30% of land, water and ocean by 2030, as outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Guardian
• [New] If glaciers of greater size experience comparable events, the impact on global sea level rise could be significant. SciTechDaily
• [New] Antarctica's Hektoria Glacier collapsed at record speed, revealing how quickly ice loss could drive sea level rise. SciTechDaily

Last updated: 07 December 2025