⁍ Copper and the platinum group metals are used heavily in wind energy and cleaner vehicles.

---

⁍ Palladium prices have increased by 53% over the past 12 months and by more than 1,500% since 2009.

---

⁍ Palladium and copper have bounced by 60% and 40% respectively from their lows in March.

---

– If you’re looking for an investment that will pay off in the long run, look no further than copper. The metal, used in everything from wiring to solar panels, is on the rise as the global economy improves and renewable energy becomes more financially viable, Bloomberg reports. In fact, one-quarter of all carbon emissions in the world comes from the production of electricity and heating, and improving technology is making onshore wind and other renewables more financially viable. China, the world’s biggest consumer of copper, has been trying to boost its economy with a huge stimulus package and is expected to spend $527 billion on renewable energy, clean cars, and hydrogen and zero-emissions trains over the next two years. But copper isn’t the only “green” metal on the rise. Palladium prices have increased by 53% over the past 12 months and by more than 1,500% since 2009, and copper has bounced by 60% and 40% from their lows in March, according to the International Business Times. “Each plays an important role in current and emerging technologies that may help decarbonization,” the paper notes. “They have already proven to be resilient to the economic downturn. … Platinum and copper have bounced by 60% and 40% respectively from their lows in March.”