It’s been a tough year for environmental protection. Politics has muddied the waters and thrown a monkey wrench in what was a generally positive environmental trend and sent things spiraling into chaos. However, there were some positive elements worthy of note. Science in general has taken quite a hit this year but read on to look at some of the ups and downs with links for further exploration.
Overall, 2025 was a year of mixed progress:
- Structural wins in energy transition, institutional climate leadership, and biodiversity finance signal systemic shifts toward sustainability.
- Yet political rollbacks, ecological disasters, and stalled treaties show that overarching threats from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution remain severe and accelerating.
Major Environmental Wins in 2025
Clean Energy & Climate Progress
- For the first time, renewable energy generation surpassed coal globally, driven by strong growth in solar and wind capacity — a big structural shift in the energy mix. (weforum.org)
- The clean energy transition continued despite policy setbacks, with EV adoption rising and improvements in battery storage technology supporting more reliable renewables. (Vox)
Global Awards & Leadership
- The United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth 2025 honored innovative climate leaders tackling justice, methane emissions, forest protection and sustainable cooling — signaling broad global engagement across sectors. (UNEP – UN Environment Programme)
Biodiversity Funding & Conservation
- A historic $200 billion annual biodiversity finance commitment was agreed by governments to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including a new Cali Fund aimed at driving private sector contributions to nature protection. (ESG News)
- The 2025 UN Ocean Conference yielded major marine conservation pledges, including creation of giant marine protected areas and the ratification of the High Seas Treaty, enhancing protection for international waters. (Wikipedia)
- Local and subnational actions — such as new U.S. state parks and pollution accountability wins — added important regional conservation outcomes. (Environment America)
Community & Cultural Environmental Engagement
- The city of Vilnius was designated as the 2025 European Green Capital showcasing community-driven sustainability. (Environment)
Innovation in Waste & Circular Economy
- Significant waste management innovations — from waste-to-energy facilities and solar compost centers to smart, electric waste fleets — reduced emissions and showcased scalable circular solutions. (LinkedIn)
Environmental Losses, Challenges, and Setbacks
Climate Policy Rollbacks (Especially in the U.S.)
- Environmental protections faced major defeats, including rollback of key climate regulations and weakening enforcement of rules addressing greenhouse gases, endangered species, and pollution — prompting criticism that safeguards are being eroded. (Michigan Advance)
Ongoing Climate Impacts
2025 continued to set records for extreme climate conditions — including one of the warmest months of May on record — underscoring that global temperatures remain on a dangerous upward path. (NCEI)
Global Coral Bleaching Disaster
- A mass coral bleaching event (2023–2025) became the most extensive ever documented, affecting an estimated 84 % of reefs worldwide and highlighting huge vulnerability of marine ecosystems to warming seas. (Wikipedia)
Plastic Treaty Negotiations Stall
- Crucial talks toward a global, legally binding plastics pollution treaty ended in impasse in 2025, delaying action to curb plastic waste in oceans and terrestrial environments. (weforum.org)
Deforestation & Land-Use Threats
- Large-scale forest clearing in regions such as Papua (Indonesia) accelerated, with government-backed agricultural expansion threatening biodiversity and carbon stocks. (Financial Times)
Biodiversity Under Stress
Stalled offshore wind development in parts of Europe (e.g., Italy) shows that policy and regulatory barriers can slow essential climate infrastructure. (Reuters)
Iconic landscapes like Greece’s fir forests faced severe die-off due to drought and secondary pest outbreaks, illustrating climate-driven ecological tipping points. (The Guardian)