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] By 2100, coastal flooding due to increased sea level and storm surge is projected to impact approximately 360 million people worldwide. Natural Hazards
• [New] Global sea levels are projected to rise by 0.29 to 0.59 meters by the end of the century, significantly heightening the risk of coastal flooding, particularly in low-lying regions. Natural Hazards
• [New] Protecting 30% of the ocean could unlock $85 billion per year by 2050 in avoided costs and annual returns from just three key benefits alone: preserving natural coastal defences, avoiding carbon emissions from seagrass loss, and restoring overexploited fisheries. Campaign for Nature
• [New] As countries prioritize spending on initiatives that deliver clear benefits, investing in ocean protection offers a powerful opportunity to protect some of the most vulnerable communities in the world while also generating sustainable economic and social returns worldwide. Campaign for Nature
• [New] Repurposing fishing subsidies from just 10 countries could fully fund global ocean protection efforts. Campaign for Nature
• [New] Annual economic growth rates around the world could be two percentage points lower by 2060 thanks to rising sea levels, declining crop yields, and impaired labour productivity. gmfus
• [New] The National Climate Change Secretariat shared that 30% of Singapore is less than 5 meters above mean sea level, which means that even a moderate rise could put homes and infrastructure at risk. Yahoo News
• [New] Singapore's sea levels are expected to rise by up to 1.15 meters by the year 2100. Yahoo News
• [New] Ocean heating could halve the global population of Prochlorococcus in the next 75 years. Foreign Exchanges
• [New] The actions from governments in Nice could have a significant impact on other crucial multilateral processes to protect nature that are taking place in 2025 - the Plastics Treaty, the Global Ocean Treaty and International Seabed Authority. Greenpeace International
• [New] As CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere keep rising regardless of years of political intentions to limit emissions, the world's oceans are drowning in plastics, which threatens marine environments and ecosystems. ScienceDaily
• [New] Soon, many of Earth's marine ecosystems could be fundamentally and forever altered if pressures like climate change, overfishing, ocean acidification and coastal development continue unabated. The New York Times
• [New] While piracy may never be eradicated entirely, global collaboration and vigilance can significantly reduce risks, ensuring safer seas and more resilient global trade routes. Virtual Maritime Academy
• [New] In recent years, China has attempted to project its naval power by establishing no-go zones in its neighborhood, such as turning the South China Sea into its own fortified waters. Asia Times
• [New] If China follows suit and unleashes its massive, latent deep sea mining industrial capacity, it will be best positioned to be the dominant player in deep sea mineral extraction, refining and production. CNBC
• [New] A unilateral decision from the U.S. to conduct deep-sea mining in international waters would pose grave risks. CNBC
• [New] Potential risks According to the CSIS report, a unilateral move by the U.S. against UNCLOS would plunge its high seas mining regime into crisis, as it would discourage member states from waiting for ISA approval. CNBC
• [New] Residents of the tiny Indonesian island of Pari, threatened with disappearance by rising sea levels driven by climate change, have come to Switzerland to demand compensation from cement giant Holcim. Clean Energy Wire
• [New] Geopolitical flashpoints, from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Middle Eastern tensions and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, will continue to disrupt critical supply routes, driving up transportation costs and insurance premiums. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Without action the annual flow of plastic into the ocean will triple by 2040 to 29 million metric tonnes per year. Dictionary.com
• [New] Faster melting can increase the likelihood of glacial lake outburst floods, a growing threat in mountain regions worldwide as receding glaciers retreat in response to climate change. EurekAlert!
• Urban living will inexorably increase as a result of diminishing living space resulting inter alia from global warming-caused rising sea levels, increasing extreme weather events and wildfires, and reducing habitability of affected regions, coupled with growth in the world population. PubMed Central (PMC)
• 50 districts of 64 in Bangladesh were identified as vulnerable to hydrometeorological hazard risks: flooding and river erosion (23 districts); cyclones and storm surges (19 districts); and drought and groundwater depletion (8 districts). PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 14 September 2025