Insight
Eye on SI: 2026 Outlook
What are the key trends driving investment opportunities and concerns for sustainability in 2026? Our Sustainability Outlook focuses on three—all of which relate to the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and energy transition.
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Authors
-
Kofi Mbuk, Ph.D.
- Christopher McKnett
- Henrietta Pacquement, CFA
1/9/2026
13 min read
Topic
Sustainable Investing
Key takeaways
- Data center and AI infrastructure: Growing demand for AI links energy supply and reliability directly to technological competitiveness.
- Natural gas: Rising energy demand from AI has revived natural gas investment, tightened natural gas supply chains, and widened spreads in European and Asian gas markets.
- Rare earth materials: Capital is being redirected to mining and critical-mineral plays, as geopolitical constraints in China and Africa are elevating supply-risk premiums.
Related insights
The 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30) is likely to deliver incremental rather than transformative progress, as most countries remain misaligned with the Paris Agreement and net-zero pathways.