Government policy is set to dominate mining investment in 2026, with 47% of respondents to White & Case’s Mining & Metals 2026 survey citing political variables and nearly 40% expecting state‑backed financing to be the main tool in developed markets. Some 73% foresee widening divergence between US and Chinese critical minerals policy, while a funding gap between the US and Europe is seen as a key opportunity, alongside risks of over‑expansion and a two‑to‑three‑year “gold rush” bubble. Copper and gold are viewed as the “sure bet” price risers, with gold miners seen as prime consolidation targets and strategic partnerships favoured over traditional M&A.

Sustainability reporting in construction is described as fragmented and inconsistent, with project disclosures difficult to compare and data quality varying widely across contractors and asset owners. This patchwork approach is exposing schemes to reputational, regulatory and operational risk, particularly as clients demand verifiable carbon footprints, lifecycle assessments and supply chain traceability aligned with frameworks such as the GHG Protocol and EU taxonomy. For geotechnical and civil engineers, the direction of travel points to standardised metrics on embodied carbon in concrete and steel, site energy use and materials sourcing becoming routine contract requirements.

JCB technical service director Phil Layton has begun a two-year term as president of the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE), representing the UK’s Construction Equipment Association. Layton plans to prioritise decarbonisation of construction machinery fleets, support for open global markets and a more competitive regulatory framework for European OEMs. CECE’s immediate policy push targets EU secondary legislation on road circulation of construction machinery and a guidance document for implementing the new Machinery Regulation, ahead of the CECE congress in London on 27–29 October.