Climate Action 2025: Who Walked the Talk This Year?
As 2025 draws to a close, a new retrospective looks back at the first half of the year, highlighting key players in the global climate agenda. This review aims to distinguish between those merely talking about environmental action and those actively driving change in carbon markets and governance. With crucial developments across continents and urgent warnings about global warming, understanding these shifts is vital for climate progress. The report offers a concise overview of efforts to push for sustainable solutions amidst growing environmental challenges.
The first half of 2025 saw significant global movement on the climate front. Major events like Davos and COP30 underscored the urgency, especially with warnings that the planet is set to exceed the critical 1.5°C warming threshold. This global push was met with concrete actions, including the implementation of new regulations like OCPC 10 in Brazil and advanced climate policies in São Paulo, reinforcing the need for immediate environmental action.
Governance played a crucial role, with the EU, G20, and India leading in climate initiatives. Brazil made strides in hydrogen energy and financial regulation, while new national climate commitments (NDCs) were put forth. Tools from the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and public AI initiatives further solidified a period of regulatory and technological evolution geared towards sustainability.
Corporate climate governance also saw robust debate, particularly in the EU and Canada, alongside a revision of the Corporate Net-Zero standard. Hong Kong emerged as a key player, clean technologies advanced, and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programs were strengthened. Simultaneously, France and the UK worked to enhance the integrity of voluntary carbon markets, and the UNFCCC expanded its Article 6 portal, making international cooperation clearer.
Despite delays in some NDCs and a stark warning from NASA about rising sea levels, emerging markets made progress. Brazil, for instance, expanded its use of carbon credits and launched initiatives like ProFloresta+. Countries in Asia advanced Article 6 agreements, while the EU and UK linked their emissions trading systems (ETS). Stricter rules for REDD+, future projections for aviation emissions, and discussions around 'climate inflation' all pointed to a dynamic global landscape driven by the need for sustainable solutions.
Finally, the United Nations introduced new tools for carbon pricing, and the World Bank resumed support for nuclear energy projects, highlighting diverse approaches to decarbonization. An international coalition aimed to mobilize US$250 billion for climate efforts, and new GRI standards boosted transparency in climate reporting, collectively elevating global efforts to combat climate change.