Siemens report finds energy resilience now outranks climate goals

Executives now view national energy resilience and independence as more important than global climate collaboration, according to new research from Siemens.

The findings, published in Siemens' Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025, are based on a survey of 1,400 senior executives and government representatives across 19 countries and reflect a marked shift in priorities for infrastructure investment and energy transition strategies.

Changing priorities

The study identifies a growing focus on securing and strengthening national energy systems amid heightened geopolitical risk and global supply chain volatility. Respondents ranked resilient energy supply as the top governmental priority for infrastructure transition, moving it up from third place in Siemens' 2023 report. National energy independence and proactive risk management of climate impacts also showed the most significant increase in priority among surveyed leaders.

The research suggests this development signals a shift away from purely multilateral approaches for clean energy, toward models that emphasise sovereign resilience and regional production. According to Siemens, over three in five respondents (62%) believe that future energy systems will lean more heavily on local or regional production than on global trade. The survey cites the integration of renewables, storage readiness, and advanced grid systems as central enablers for this transition.

The infrastructure transition is entering a new phase whereby national goals of energy security are overtaking global collaboration on decarbonization. As systems face mounting climate and energy disruptions, resilience is no longer optional - AI, technology, and digitalization are now critical to this shift. They can empower organizations and governments to manage the complexities of renewable-based systems, ensure reliability, and accelerate the clean energy transition smarter and more sustainably,

said Matthias Rebellius, Managing Board Member of Siemens AG and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Infrastructure.

Developments in energy resilience

According to the report, over half of executives say resilience (53%) and energy independence (52%) are now at advanced or maturing levels in their countries. Siemens attributes these changes in part to an increasingly unstable global environment, with state actors seeking to mitigate the strategic uses of energy as a policy lever amid uncertain geopolitical and market conditions.

As governments recalculate their approaches, the study finds a continued interest in technological and digital solutions. Digitalisation is ranked the second most important factor in accelerating the industrial clean energy transition, just after expanding energy storage. The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is especially prominent: 66% of respondents believe AI is enhancing critical infrastructure resilience, and 59% report their organisations are using AI to support decarbonisation in operations.

Confidence in climate targets

While resilience and security gain prominence, expectations regarding climate ambitions appear to be slipping. The proportion of business leaders who feel confident their organisations will meet 2030 decarbonisation targets has dropped to 37%, compared to 44% in 2023. In parallel, more than half (57%) anticipate an increase in fossil fuel investment over the next two years, reflecting a potential stall in the momentum towards net zero objectives.

Implications for policy and investment

The Siemens report notes the risks of failing to embed resilience within broader energy planning strategies, which could impact both economic stability and environmental outcomes. It identifies grid investment and continued digital innovation as essential for reconciling energy resilience with progress on climate commitments. At a time when countries are modifying their net zero strategies alongside economic and social welfare agendas, the integration of new technologies is seen as crucial for advancing these dual goals.

The Infrastructure Transition Monitor 2025 concludes that while climate confidence is waning, the deployment of digital technologies-including AI-and targeted investments can help bridge the gap between resilience and decarbonisation as international policy and market dynamics continue to evolve.