Switched On

Danya Liu and Natasha Mawdsley from BloombergNEF dive into the pressing issue of climate adaptation. They discuss how climate change is shifting from an environmental concern to a financial risk, with yearly losses hitting $1.4 trillion. The duo introduces BNEF’s Adaptation Preparedness Framework, highlighting leading nations like Canada and South Korea in readiness, while identifying laggards such as Thailand and Russia. They also explore innovative solutions, investment opportunities in emerging economies, and the need for coordinated national strategies to enhance resilience.

Nikolas Soulopoulos, head of commercial transport at BloombergNEF, discusses the pressing emissions from heavy-duty trucks, while Maynie Yang, an associate on the same team, focuses on electric trucking solutions. They explore how autonomous technology could boost efficiency and the financial models supporting fleet electrification. With China's strong e-truck sales and Europe's supportive policies, they also highlight key challenges like charging infrastructure and the future of battery technology in decarbonizing the trucking industry.

Join Martin Tengler, head of hydrogen research at BloombergNEF, as he navigates the complex world of hydrogen energy. Discover why hydrogen's progress has stalled, yet it's still vital for hard-to-abate sectors like shipping and aviation. Tengler explores the contrasting strategies of the US favoring blue hydrogen while China scales green hydrogen, and highlights India's low-cost production potential. Dive into the challenges of policy gaps and high costs holding back deployment, all while revealing the promising future of hydrogen technologies.

Victoria Cuming, Head of Global Policy at BloombergNEF, and Brynne Mary Merkley, Energy Transitions Associate, delve into the critical countdown to COP30. They discuss how fewer than a third of countries have submitted their 2035 climate pledges and the implications of the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The conversation highlights China's new absolute emissions target and Brazil's push for a global carbon market. They also examine the balance of ambition versus reality, exploring the potential for COP30 to reignite climate action amidst geopolitical challenges.

Join Ulrik Fugmann, Co-CIO at BNP Paribas Asset Management, Ralph Ibendahl, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, and Bianca Ziccarelli, Managing Director at CPPIB, as they delve into the shifting landscape of energy investment. They discuss how rising electricity demand and AI's influence impact clean energy opportunities amidst volatile tariffs and geopolitical tensions. The trio also highlights the competition between fossil fuels and renewables, shares insights on emerging technologies, and emphasizes the importance of strategic investment in a rapidly evolving market.

Oliver Metcalfe, Head of Wind Research at BloombergNEF, shares insights on the significant challenges facing aging wind turbines as they reach the end of their operational lives. He delves into the economic considerations of life extension versus repowering. The conversation highlights growing turbine sizes, the complexities of dismantling versus refurbishing, and recycling hurdles for old components. Oliver emphasizes the importance of strategic planning for owners and explores the evolving policy landscape that influences repowering decisions, offering a critical look at this crossroads in renewable energy.

Jess Hicks, a meteorologist at BloombergNEF, forecasts severe winter weather patterns that could strain Europe's gas reserves, highlighting signals such as sudden stratospheric warming. Olympe Mattei-D’Ornano provides insights into the current gas storage levels and the anticipated influx of US LNG, which may lead to a volatile prices scenario. They discuss how this season's weather could limit renewable energy generation and affect future LNG supply strategies, painting a complex picture of Europe's energy landscape this winter.

Ethan Zindler, head of country and policy research at BloombergNEF, leads an insightful discussion with Paige Crahan from Google X, Michael Skelly of Grid United, and Frank Kreikebaum from Smart Wires. They delve into the urgent challenges facing the US power grid, exploring innovative solutions like systems thinking and machine learning for optimization. Michael highlights the need for interregional connections, while Frank showcases technology to enhance existing infrastructure. The conversation underscores the balance between future demands and current capabilities in energy transmission.

Join Rosemary Katz, a senior associate at BNEF focusing on copper supply dynamics, as she dives into the urgent global copper crunch driven by skyrocketing demand from data centers. She reveals that by 2035, copper demand could exceed supply by 6 million metric tons. Rosemary explains how traditional industries compete for copper, and discusses the implications of mine closures despite rising demand. With insights on future pricing trends and the critical role copper plays in data centers, she offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of this essential metal.

In this engaging discussion, Meredith Annex, Head of Clean Power at BloombergNEF, reveals that global investment in clean energy hit a record $386 billion in the first half of 2025. Despite a downturn in U.S. investments, particularly in utility-scale projects, small-scale solar is thriving. Meredith also highlights emerging markets like geothermal and wind, and analyzes how geopolitical factors are reshaping capital flows. Tune in for insights on the fragmented investment landscape and the resilience of solar amidst challenges.