5. Critical minerals remain in focus, with copper standing apart
Supply-chain security remains central to the energy transition, but this year’s discussion pointed to a more specific challenge. The Transition Metals Outlook 2026, presented at the summit, shows that supply capacity can meet demand for most transition metals, with copper emerging as the main exception.
Grid expansion and electrification are copper-intensive worldwide, and Europe is no exception. Securing enough supply will depend on bringing new resources into production, not only on how fast demand grows.
“The world is going to have to take more risk and develop projects that are currently not in production,” said Catherine Raw, chief development officer at BHP.
Catherine Raw, Chief Development Officer, BHP
6. Climate resilience is becoming an investment theme
Adaptation and resilience featured far more prominently than at previous BNEF summits, as investors increasingly treated physical climate impacts as a present financial issue rather than a long-term scenario exercise. Heatwaves, droughts and floods are already affecting power generation, electricity demand and infrastructure.
Lucia Graham-Wood, senior engagement specialist at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, noted that “physical risk is starting to really manifest in portfolios.”
The discussion also highlighted a shift in mindset. Resilience is no longer seen only as a defensive measure, but increasingly as a source of competitive advantage for companies that can anticipate risk, strengthen assets and adapt faster than their peers.
To dive deeper into these themes and more, watch a selection of videos from the BNEF Summit London. The annual summit brought together almost 900 stakeholders in –person and remotely from the energy, industry, finance, commodities and technology communities, as well as investors, financiers and policymakers.
Source: about.bnef.com
