The AI investment boom that accelerated in 2025 is dominating sentiment across financial markets. Confidence in ‘American exceptionalism’ may be waning, while geopolitical events now drive the global news cycle and governments face increasing pressure from bond markets. Already, 2026 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year.

Looking back over the past five years, we have navigated a pandemic, a surge in inflation, an aggressive shift in the interest rate cycle, war in Europe, and now growing risks tied to the AI revolution. Yet, despite these challenges, the global economy has shown resilience, and markets have delivered strong returns.

So how has the sustainability outlook evolved?

As sustainable investing matures, the focus is shifting decisively from ambition to execution. In 2026, investors are likely to care less about long-term pledges and more about whether sustainability themes translate into resilient business models, credible cash flows, and effective risk management.

Increasing use of AI is pushing the world to a crunch point in terms of resource access, while this new geopolitical era risks global fragmentation rather than cooperation.

Against this backdrop, we explore the key sustainability themes for 2026, shaping how we think about the world, how we position our portfolios, and where we are seeking new investment opportunities.

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