Global Scans · Politics · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Break up of traditional political structures is on the cards in many parts of the world as technology brings challenges to slow and bureaucratic decision-making. New forms of more agile democratic structures are likely to emerge.

• [New] Compared to developed countries, China as a developing country with a population of 1.4 billion, is facing greater challenges in achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, as energy demand will keep rising and the time from peak to zero emission is much shorter. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] If all the national energy and climate targets made by governments are met in full and on time, as in the Announced Pledges Scenario, two-thirds of all vehicles sold in 2035 could be electric, avoiding around 12 mb/d of oil. IEA
• [New] Green-Morgan went on to say the UK government will be aware of the need to protect the UK's national and economic security by taking immediate action to establish a reliable supply of critical minerals. Metal Tech News
• [New] Although the UK government is aware of the need to establish a secure supply of critical minerals to achieve its economic, net zero and defence ambitions, it will need to refine its approach to change the geopolitical status quo in the near term. Metal Tech News
• [New] SAP growth will be strongest in developing nations in Asia but will be much more moderate in mainland China as population growth moderates. S&P Global
• [New] Geopolitical factors continue to cloud the picture for global trade and could well weaken projected growth in the coming 18 months. British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia
• [New] Undoing the damage caused by Labour will take time, but today's numbers reinforce that the coalition Government's plan to get New Zealand back on track is the right one. The Beehive
• [New] All things considered, the unpredictable nature of geopolitical tensions increases the risk of investing in Chinese stocks, an asset class that many were already avoiding due to regulatory uncertainties and a slowing economy. financialpost
• [New] Geopolitical Risks: The IMF highlights geopolitical risks such as conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine that could disrupt aggregate supply chains and lead to increased prices. EDUREV.IN
• [New] The Victory electoral bloc will likely allow the Kremlin to focus on a unified political effort in Moldova instead of maintaining relations with multiple pro-Russian Moldovan actors and parties, as it has done recently. Critical Threats
• [New] Further geopolitical tensions - including a possible reescalation of the war in Ukraine - could constrain cross-border flows of food, fuel, and fertilizer, causing additional price volatility and undermining business and consumer sentiment. IMF eLibrary
• [New] Geopolitical uncertainty: First of all, Latin America is today seen as a safe haven while there is war in Ukraine and in the Middle East and high risk of growing conflicts in Asia. Seeking Alpha
• [New] Innovation optimists argue that, with the world's population expected to reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050, technologies like AI are humanity's best hope for surviving without destroying the planet. phys.org
• [New] Scotland would instead follow the UK and Welsh governments in setting five-yearly carbon budgets in an effort to meet its zero emissions target date of 2045. The Guardian
• [New] Given that the world's population is expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, technologies such as AI are humanity's best hope for survival without destroying the planet. Tico Times - Costa Rica News
• [New] There are concerns among Western governments that a world war could be triggered within the next three to four years if China invades Taiwan. iNews
• [New] The UK and other Western governments need to urgently devise an effective strategy to deal with a co-ordinated and assertive axis of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea - or World War Three will be inevitable, MPs and insiders warn. iNews
• [New] Influential industry groups are urging governments to push adoption of the legal entity identifier (LEI) system, arguing wider uptake could cut trade costs by US$100bn and widen access to financing for smaller companies. Global Trade Review (GTR)
• [New] China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will work with relevant parties to regulate crude steel production, with a focus on energy saving and reducing carbon emissions. FastMarkets
• [New] D9+ Ministers will liaise with the B9+ group, the national business organizations from the D9+ countries and currently led by Ibec on digital policy priorities for the next 5-year term of the European Commission. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• [New] There are other tricks possible, like keeping Chinese cars out by considering their internet connection a national security risk, it risks making EVs more expensive in the U.S. compared to elsewhere. Seeking Alpha
• [New] As a recommendation to Member States it will now be for representatives of Member State governments to agree whether they wish to pursue a mobility agreement with the UK and if they do, agree the negotiating mandate to give to the European Commission. SPICe Spotlight | Solas air SPICe

Last updated: 24 April 2024