Copper is essential for any modern technology. It powers electrical grids and supports clean energy. It’s also used in electronics and vehicles. The U.S. relies a lot on foreign copper supplies. This raises big concerns about supply security.
Recently, President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into possible tariffs on copper imports. These tariffs might help U.S. mining by making domestic copper cheaper. But they could also increase costs for EVs and renewable energy.
U.S. Faces a Critical Minerals Challenge
S&P Global found that the U.S. has major challenges in securing critical minerals. Robert Friedland, founder of Ivanhoe Mines, warned that depending on foreign sources puts the country in a “dangerous position.”
At CERAWeek, he noted that Wall Street’s focus on quick profits is driving investments away from mining. Developing a new mine takes decades, but only a few have been built lately.
Friedland also suggested a U.S. sovereign wealth fund for domestic mining. This would be like the funds China and Japan have.
Top mining leaders, such as Elias Scafidas from Rio Tinto, say Western companies struggle with long-term funding. Investors hesitate to back mining projects. This is mainly because these projects take too long to become profitable.

Rising Copper Demand Exposes U.S. Supply Gaps
According to the National Mining Association, China controls the supply of 30 out of 44 key minerals. In 2024, the U.S. depended entirely on imports for 12 of the 50 minerals designated as critical in the government’s 2022 list. It also relied on foreign sources for more than half of another 28 minerals.

- As per USGS, In 2024, the copper production of U.S. mine production was an estimated
1.1 million tons, a decrease of 3% from that in 2023. Arizona accounted for ~ 70% of domestic output. Copper was also mined in Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlights that the global push for net-zero emissions by 2050 is set to double copper demand by 2035. The key force would be AI-driven demand.
- AI data centers alone are expected to consume up to 200,000 metric tons of copper per year from 2025 to 2028, potentially creating a 2.6-million-metric-ton shortfall by 2030.
BHP projects copper demand will grow by 2.6% annually through 2035, surpassing 50 million metric tons per year by 2050. This outpaces the 1.9% annual growth seen between 2006 and 2021.

S&P Global also revealed that to boost domestic production, the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $500 million in funding for mining and processing. However, experts believe this is far from enough. Without major changes, the U.S. risks falling further behind in securing its mineral supply.
Despite soaring demand, the copper supply chain faces major obstacles. Labor shortages, strict environmental regulations, and rising costs are slowing production. Experts warn that without faster permitting and increased investment, the U.S. could struggle to secure its mineral supply chains.
Freeport-McMoRan Pushes for Critical Status to Boost U.S. Copper
Amid this copper conundrum, Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan Inc, a leading global metals company aims to have copper labeled as a critical mineral.
CEO Kathleen Quirk said at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference,
“Having the incentives and clarity around those would be a big plus for the domestic copper industry. People are understanding more what copper is used for and its importance in our economy. It’s just a matter of time before it’s classified as a critical mineral.”
She also highlighted that this move could unlock $500 million yearly in tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Notably, Freeport reported a 3.1% drop in fourth-quarter earnings, falling to $5.72 billion due to lower copper and gold production. The revenue decline highlights ongoing supply issues and market uncertainty in the U.S.
To stay competitive, Freeport is pushing for policy changes to strengthen its global position. The company plans to boost U.S. copper production. This includes developing the Lone Star mine in Arizona that could add 100,000 metric tons each year.
Resource Nationalism and Global Trade Tensions
Countries rich in minerals like cobalt, lithium, and copper are gaining control over their resources. In the past five years, 47 countries have made mining rules stricter. This includes 17 major producers.

According to the Resource Nationalism Index, the number of high-risk countries has jumped from 22 in 2016 to 38 today. Chile and Peru supply 35% of the world’s copper. Recently, they increased government involvement, which creates uncertainty for miners.
Copper Production by Country 2025

Resource control is also fueling global tensions. The U.S.-China trade war has grown stronger. China is now limiting exports of gallium, germanium, and antimony. In response, the U.S. is ramping up domestic mining and even considering resource acquisitions like Greenland.
Meanwhile, the European Union is working to reduce its dependence on China. It recently passed the Critical Raw Materials Act to boost local production and recycling of key minerals. As global alliances shift, securing critical minerals has never been more important.
Can the U.S. Sustain?
Goldman Sachs predicts U.S. copper imports could surge by 50% to 100% in the coming months as buyers rush to secure supply ahead of potential tariffs.
Currently, the May 2025 U.S. copper price is trading at $756 per metric ton above the global benchmark on the London Metal Exchange (LME). This increase follows Trump’s. investigation into potential tariffs aimed at boosting domestic copper production.
Copper is More Critical than Ever
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Carbon Footprint
Climate Impact Partners Unveils High-Quality Carbon Credits from Sabah Rainforest in Malaysia
The voluntary carbon market is changing. Buyers are no longer focused only on large volumes of cheap credits. Instead, they want projects with strong science, long-term monitoring, and clear proof that carbon has truly been removed from the atmosphere. That shift is drawing more attention to high-integrity, nature-based projects.
One project now gaining that spotlight is the Sabah INFAPRO rainforest rehabilitation project in Malaysia. Climate Impact Partners announced that the project is now issuing verified carbon removal credits, opening access to one of the highest-quality nature-based removals currently available in the global market.
Restoring One of the World’s Richest Rainforest Ecosystems
The project is located in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This region is home to tropical dipterocarp rainforest, one of the richest forest ecosystems on Earth. These forests store huge amounts of carbon and support extraordinary biodiversity. Some dipterocarp trees can grow up to 70 meters tall, creating habitat for orangutans, pygmy elephants, gibbons, sun bears, and the critically endangered Sumatran rhino.
However, the forest within the INFAPRO project area was not intact. In the 1980s, selective logging removed many of the most valuable tree species, especially large dipterocarps. That caused serious ecological damage. Once the key mother trees were gone, natural regeneration became much harder. Young seedlings also had to compete with dense vines and shrubs, which slowed the forest’s recovery.
To repair that damage, the INFAPRO project was launched in the Ulu-Segama forestry management unit in eastern Sabah.
- The project has restored more than 25,000 hectares of logged-over rainforest.
- It was developed by Face the Future in cooperation with Yayasan Sabah, while Climate Impact Partners has supported the project and helped bring its credits to market.
Why Sabah’s Carbon Removals are Attracting Attention
What makes Sabah INFAPRO different is not only the size of the restoration effort. It is also the way the project measured carbon gains.

Many forest carbon projects issue credits in annual vintages based on year-by-year growth estimates. Sabah INFAPRO followed a different path. It used a landscape-scale monitoring system and waited until the forest moved through its strongest natural growth period before issuing removal credits.
- This approach gives the credits more weight. Rather than relying mainly on short-term annual estimates, the project measured carbon sequestration over a longer period. That helps show that the forest delivered real, sustained, and measurable carbon removal.
The scientific backing is also unusually strong. Since 2007, the project has maintained nearly 400 permanent monitoring plots. These plots have allowed researchers, independent auditors, and technical specialists to observe the full growth cycle of dipterocarp forest recovery. The result is a large body of field data that supports carbon calculations and strengthens confidence in the credits.
In simple terms, buyers are not just being asked to trust a model. They are being shown years of direct forest monitoring across the project landscape.
Strong Ratings Support Market Confidence
Independent assessment has also lifted the project’s profile. BeZero awarded Sabah INFAPRO an A.pre overall rating and an AA score for permanence. That places the project among the highest-rated Improved Forest Management, or IFM, projects in the world.
The rating reflects several important strengths. First, the project has very low exposure to reversal risk. Second, it has a long and stable operating history. Third, its measured carbon gains align well with peer-reviewed ecological research and independent analysis.
These points matter in today’s market. Buyers have become more cautious after years of debate over the quality of some forest carbon credits. As a result, they now look more closely at durability, transparency, and third-party validation. Sabah INFAPRO’s rating helps answer those concerns and makes the project more attractive to companies looking for credible carbon removal.
The project is also registered with Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard under the name INFAPRO Rehabilitation of Logged-over Dipterocarp Forest in Sabah, Malaysia. That adds another level of market recognition and verification.
A Wider Model for Rainforest Recovery
Sabah INFAPRO also shows why high-quality nature-based projects are about more than carbon alone. The restoration effort supports broader ecological recovery in one of the world’s most important rainforest regions.
Climate Impact Partners said it has worked with project partners to restore degraded areas, run local training programs, carry out monthly forest patrols, and distribute seedlings to support rainforest recovery beyond the project boundary. These efforts help strengthen the wider landscape and expand the project’s environmental impact.
That broader value is becoming more important for buyers. Companies increasingly want projects that support biodiversity, ecosystem health, and local engagement, along with carbon removal. Sabah INFAPRO offers that mix, making it a stronger fit for the market’s shift toward higher-integrity credits.

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Carbon Footprint
Bitcoin Falls as Energy Prices Rise: Why Crypto Is Now an Energy Market Story
Bitcoin’s recent drop below $70,000 reflects more than short-term market pressure. It signals a deeper shift. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly tied to global energy markets.
For years, Bitcoin has moved mainly on investor sentiment, adoption trends, and regulation. Today, another force is shaping its direction: the cost of energy.
As oil prices rise and electricity markets tighten, Bitcoin is starting to behave less like a tech asset and more like an energy-dependent system. This shift is changing how investors, analysts, and policymakers understand crypto.
A Global Power Consumer: Inside Bitcoin’s Energy Use
Bitcoin depends on mining, a process that uses powerful computers to verify transactions. These machines run continuously and consume large amounts of electricity.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows Bitcoin mining used between 67 and 240 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023, with a midpoint estimate of about 120 TWh.

Other estimates place consumption closer to 170 TWh per year in 2025. This accounts for roughly 0.5% of global electricity demand. Recently, as of February 2026, estimates see Bitcoin’s energy use reaching over 200 TWh per year.
That level of energy use is significant. Global electricity demand reached about 27,400 TWh in 2023. Bitcoin’s share may seem small, but it is comparable to the power use of mid-sized countries.
The network also requires steady power. Estimates suggest it draws around 10 gigawatts continuously, similar to several large power plants operating at full capacity. This constant demand makes energy costs central to Bitcoin’s economics.
When Oil Rises, Bitcoin Falls
Bitcoin mining is highly sensitive to electricity prices. Energy is the highest operating cost for miners. When power becomes more expensive, profit margins shrink.
Recent market movements show this link clearly. As oil prices rise and inflation concerns persist, energy costs have increased. At the same time, Bitcoin prices have weakened, falling below the $70,000 level.

This is not a coincidence. Studies show a direct relationship between Bitcoin prices, mining activity, and electricity use. When Bitcoin prices rise, more miners join the network, increasing energy demand. When energy costs rise, less efficient miners may shut down, reducing activity and adding selling pressure.
This creates a feedback loop between crypto and energy markets. Bitcoin is no longer driven only by demand and speculation. It is now influenced by the same forces that affect oil, gas, and power prices.
Cleaner Energy Use Is Growing, but Fossil Fuels Still Matter
Bitcoin’s environmental impact depends on its energy mix. This mix is improving, but it remains uneven.
A 2025 study from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance found that 52.4% of Bitcoin mining now uses sustainable energy. This includes both renewable sources (42.6%) and nuclear power (9.8%). The share has risen significantly from about 37.6% in 2022.
Despite this progress, fossil fuels still account for a large portion of mining energy. Natural gas alone makes up about 38.2%, while coal continues to contribute a smaller share.

This reliance on fossil fuels keeps emissions high. Current estimates suggest Bitcoin produces more than 114 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. That puts it in line with emissions from some industrial sectors.
The shift toward cleaner energy is real, but it is not complete. The pace of change will play a key role in how Bitcoin fits into global climate goals.
Bitcoin’s Climate Debate Intensifies
Bitcoin’s growing energy demand has placed it at the center of ESG discussions. Its impact is often measured through three key areas:
- Total electricity use, which rivals that of entire countries.
- Carbon emissions are estimated at over 100 million tons of CO₂ annually.
- Energy intensity, with a single transaction using large amounts of power.

At the same time, the industry is evolving. Mining companies are adopting more efficient hardware and exploring new energy sources. Some operations use excess renewable power or capture waste energy, such as flare gas from oil fields.
These efforts show progress, but they do not fully address the concerns. The gap between Bitcoin’s energy use and its environmental impact remains a key issue for investors and regulators.
- MUST READ: Bitcoin Price Hits All-Time High Above $126K: ETFs, Market Drivers, and the Future of Digital Gold
Bitcoin Is Becoming Part of the Energy System
Bitcoin mining is now closely integrated with the broader energy system. Operators often choose locations based on access to cheap or excess electricity. This includes areas with strong renewable generation or underused energy resources.
This integration creates both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, mining can support energy systems by using power that might otherwise go to waste. It can also provide flexible demand that helps stabilize grids.
On the other hand, it can increase pressure on local electricity supplies and extend the use of fossil fuels if cleaner options are not available.
In the United States, Bitcoin mining could account for up to 2.3% of total electricity demand in certain scenarios. This highlights how quickly the sector is scaling and how closely it is tied to national energy systems.
Energy Markets Are Now Key to Bitcoin’s Future
Looking ahead, the connection between Bitcoin and energy is expected to grow stronger. The network’s computing power, or hash rate, continues to reach new highs, which typically leads to higher energy use.
Electricity will remain the main cost for miners. This means Bitcoin will continue to respond to changes in energy prices and supply conditions. At the same time, governments are starting to pay closer attention to crypto’s environmental impact, which could shape future regulations.

Some forecasts suggest Bitcoin’s energy use could rise sharply if adoption increases, potentially reaching up to 400 TWh in extreme scenarios. However, cleaner energy systems could reduce the carbon impact over time.
Bitcoin is no longer just a financial asset. It is also a large-scale energy consumer and a growing part of the global power system.
As a result, understanding Bitcoin now requires a broader view. Energy prices, electricity markets, and carbon trends are becoming just as important as market demand and investor sentiment.
The message is clear. As energy markets move, Bitcoin is likely to move with them.
The post Bitcoin Falls as Energy Prices Rise: Why Crypto Is Now an Energy Market Story appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
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