Resource and climate paradox: quantifying the impact of climate change in the copper supply chain

Climate change presents major challenges to industries like mining, which is essential for supplying minerals critical to the global energy transition. This study presents a novel approach to assessing climate change impacts on mineral supply, focusing on Chile, the world’s top copper producer. We evaluate how production projections, extreme weather exposure, and climate risks affect copper output, finding potential disruptions of 1% to 11%. These findings urge policymakers and mining companies to adopt adaptation strategies and integrate climate risk assessments into operations. As climate change challenges industries globally, mining must address unique vulnerabilities to support the energy transition.