Environment in 2025: what to expect

Summary

2025 is set to be a pivotal year for global environmental events, with nations updating their climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. Despite La Niña conditions, extreme weather is forecast, and 2025 will likely be one of the hottest years on record. Key milestones include the rise of renewables overtaking coal, major satellite launches for climate data, and significant international negotiations on plastic pollution. With continued geopolitical tensions and ongoing environmental destruction, the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies has never been more urgent, highlighting the unpredictable nature of climate action and challenges ahead.

Takeaways

• 😀 2025 is expected to be one of the three hottest years on record globally, despite the Pacific Ocean entering a La Niña phase.
• 😀 2024 saw unprecedented global temperatures and extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires, setting a concerning precedent for 2025.
• 😀 Environmental risks are identified as a major global threat, with extreme weather events ranked as the second highest risk in the coming two years.
• 😀 In 2025, countries are expected to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• 😀 U.S. President Trump, if re-elected, may withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, potentially affecting global climate action.
• 😀 2025 marks a monumental milestone with renewable energy set to overtake coal as the leading power source for the first time in history.
• 😀 China predicts that electric vehicle (EV) sales will surpass internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales in 2025, reflecting a significant shift in the automotive world.
• 😀 The ongoing conflicts, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s attacks on Palestine, have contributed to environmental destruction and worsened vulnerabilities in affected areas.
• 😀 In 2025, a global treaty on plastic pollution is hoped to be signed, following years of negotiations and the failure to reach an agreement in 2024.
• 😀 The launch of the Microcarb satellite in May 2025 will be the first European satellite dedicated to measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide and emissions, providing crucial environmental data.
• 😀 The Great Planetary Alignment in early 2025, where all seven planets in the Solar System align, is a rare celestial event that will occur alongside other key environmental milestones.

Q & A

What major environmental event is expected to occur in 2025?

2025 is expected to be one of the three hottest years on record globally, with extreme weather events continuing to be a major concern.

Why was 2024 significant in terms of global temperatures?

2024 saw unprecedented global temperatures, marking the first year with an average temperature clearly exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

What environmental milestone is expected in 2025 regarding climate action plans?

Countries are set to update their climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which outline how nations plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What role does the US play in the global environmental scene in 2025?

With Trump potentially returning to office, there is a risk that the US could withdraw from the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which could disrupt global climate action efforts.

What significant milestone is expected in the renewable energy sector in 2025?

Renewables are predicted to overtake coal as the leading power source for the first time in history in 2025, marking a pivotal shift towards cleaner energy.

What environmental consequences have arisen from the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine?

The prolonged wars in Ukraine and Palestine have caused environmental destruction with long-lasting effects, contributing to increased vulnerability in the affected regions.

What global environmental challenge failed to see progress in 2024, and what is the hope for 2025?

In 2024, countries failed to reach an agreement on tackling plastic pollution. However, in 2025, it is hoped that a global plastics treaty will be signed after ongoing negotiations.

How will new satellite launches in 2025 contribute to climate monitoring?

New satellite launches, such as the Microcarb satellite dedicated to measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide, will collect valuable data on climate, methane, and CO2 emissions, offering global overviews of environmental pollution.

What rare astronomical event is expected to occur in 2025?

In 2025, all seven of the other planets in the Solar System—Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars—will align and be visible in the night sky during the rare great planetary alignment.

What is the key focus for COP30 in 2025, and where will it take place?

COP30 will focus on climate change mitigation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and climate finance. It will take place in Belém, Brazil, located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.