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.

• Melting Arctic ice, especially the Greenland ice sheet, can raise global sea levels by up to six meters, threatening coastal regions worldwide. Vajiram & Ravi
• The Arctic Ocean could experience its first ice-free day-defined as less than one million square kilometers of sea ice - by 2030 or earlier, driven by unprecedented greenhouse gas emissions. Vajiram & Ravi
• Romania holds a critical position on NATO's Eastern Flank, serving as a strategic buffer against potential threats from Russia and acting as a key ally in securing the Black Sea region. Foreign Policy Research Institute
• Japan will give $10.6 million, small boats, and radars to the Philippines to strengthen the Philippines' capabilities in the South China Sea and the Luzon Strait. Institute for the Study of War
• While Yemen's Houthi movement continued to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden throughout the year, the threat of conflict across the Middle East bringing in major powers largely subsided. Ship & Bunker
• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s latest projections, sea levels along the U.S. coastlines are projected to rise, on average, around 10 to 12 inches by 2050. ClimateRealism
• Recent events in the Black Sea and Red Sea show the role of maritime chokepoints in catalysing global supply chain disruptions. GOV.UK
• A new map highlights the areas of Florida that are most at risk from rising sea levels and more frequent floods as a result of climate change. Florida Insider
• Japan will supply defence equipment to the Philippine Navy under a new cooperation framework, supporting Manila amid its territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. Steptoe LLP
• Russia has leveraged its Tartus naval base to project power in the Mediterranean Sea, threaten NATO's southern flank, and link its Black Sea assets to the Mediterranean Sea. Institute for the Study of War
• If Ukrainian routes are bypassed, the Northern and Baltic Routes could handle 1-2 million barrels daily, while the Black Sea and Bosporus routes are limited to one million barrels daily due to tanker and port constraints. The Astana Times
• A growing body of scientific evidence has underscored the urgent need for swift and substantial action, as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and shifting ecosystems threaten communities and economies across the globe. Crypto News Flash
• Normal and/or variable temperatures are expected in both the east and west coasts of the U.S. Canada, the Great Lakes, and New England are all expected to receive increased amounts of snow heading into 2025. ADM Investor Services
• On earth sea creatures metabolised Calcium carbonate to create protective shells, in a similar way the shrouded could evolve hides of metal. Fantasy-Hive
• In terms of piracy, the Indian Ocean is a particularly dangerous part of the world with Somali pirates alone being a key threat to global shipping and estimated to cost the global economy USD 7 billion per year. - JURIST - Commentary - Legal News & Commentary
• The U.S. has warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, a treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under attack in the South China Sea. ABC News
• The Royal United Services Institute assessed that a naval base in Sudan would also help position Russia as a bulwark against maritime security threats in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean and serve as a logistics hub for its activity in Sudan. Critical Threats
• In the coming decades, the Arctic Ocean will become a vital shipping route between Europe and Asia, while vast stores of natural resources become increasingly accessible. GAC
• Multifaceted Security Threats: The IndoMed Quad nations face diverse security challenges, from Houthi missile strikes threatening commercial vessels in the Red Sea to piracy along key energy routes near Somalia. Foreign Policy Research Institute
• Oceans sustain life on our blue planet - but they are under threat from climate change, industrial fishing, plastic pollution, and the looming threat of deep sea mining. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• Main Drivers of Economic Losses: Sea Level Rise: Coastal flooding threatens up to 300 million individuals by 2070, with projected annual damages potentially reaching USD 3 trillion. EDUREV.IN
• The deep sea is little understood by science, and disturbances to the seabed ecosystems and the marine environment caused by DSM could be harmful and have unpredictable effects. Reed Smith LLP
• New research has shown that the first summer in which 'practically all' Arctic sea ice will melt could occur as early as 2027, an event that would significantly impact the Earth's ecosystem and climate by changing weather patterns. Geographical

Last updated: 29 December 2024