As the climate crisis intensifies, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for addressing key environmental challenges. From efforts to limit global warming to tackling plastic pollution, the global community has numerous opportunities to make meaningful progress.
The goal of keeping global temperature increases below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels remains critical. The UN’s COP30, set to take place in November 2025 in Brazil, will focus heavily on mitigation efforts. Countries are expected to bring more ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acknowledging that current commitments fall short. For frontline states, such as island nations at risk of disappearing due to rising sea levels, this progress is a matter of survival.
Hosting COP30 in the Amazon highlights the vital role of nature in combating climate change. The Amazon rainforest, a significant carbon sink, plays a critical role in absorbing CO2. However, deforestation, driven by illegal logging and agricultural expansion, threatens this invaluable resource. Efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystems will resume with renewed urgency during a February 2025 biodiversity summit in Rome.
Climate finance has been a contentious issue for years. Developing nations demand greater contributions from wealthier countries, while fast-growing economies like China face increasing pressure to share the financial burden. A notable breakthrough at COP29 in 2024 tripled annual climate finance for developing countries to $300 billion by 2035, though this figure remains far below the $1.3 trillion experts estimate is needed. In 2025, the Financing for Development summit in Spain offers a chance to overhaul the financial system, including proposals like carbon pricing and green taxes.
In 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver a landmark advisory opinion on states’ legal obligations regarding climate change. Spearheaded by Vanuatu, this initiative seeks clarity on international laws, potentially shaping future climate-related legal frameworks. While the ICJ’s ruling will be non-binding, it is expected to influence global accountability efforts.
Plastic pollution remains a pressing global issue. The UN’s ongoing negotiations for a legally binding agreement to curb plastic waste gained momentum in 2024, with the goal of addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics. Finalizing this agreement in 2025 will be essential to reducing the harmful environmental impacts of plastic.
While 2025 poses significant challenges, it also presents unprecedented opportunities for collaboration and progress. Through focused action on these fronts, the world can take crucial steps toward a more sustainable future.
