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WRI DIGEST *↓*
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2025 was, in many ways, a year of upheaval — from political turnovers and trade wars to energy tensions and the meteoric rise of AI.

Some countries deprioritized climate action, slowing momentum at a time when we urgently need to pick up the pace. The evidence is all around us in the form of blistering heat, floods and wildfires ( [link removed] ).

But that’s not the whole story.

As countries like the U.S. step back, others are taking up the mantle of climate leadership. We’re seeing a solar revolution in Pakistan ( [link removed] ). Electric vehicle uptake is growing globally, with EV sales outpacing gas-powered cars in places like Norway and Sweden ( [link removed] ). Nature-based solutions are taking root across Africa ( [link removed] ). And at the UN climate summit in November, leaders agreed to triple ( [link removed] ) the amount of money flowing to climate adaptation in developing countries.

There’s also growing evidence that climate action is one of the best ways to improve people’s lives ( [link removed] ).

WRI experts were here through the ups, downs and everything in between — *unpacking the latest research, analyzing emerging trends and spotlighting solutions.* Below, our editors selected some of our most important stories from the year.

We hope you’ll take a look back at this tumultuous year and support our work ( [link removed] ) for people, nature and the climate.

Thanks for reading!

Sarah Parsons
Editorial Director

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Our Changing Planet
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A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by humphery/Shutterstock

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World’s Warming Target in Peril ➔ ( [link removed] )
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Data released in 2025 underscored just how close we are to surpassing the world’s 1.5 degree C warming threshold, a target scientists say is necessary for keeping some of the worst climate impacts at bay.

Urban landscape behind a forest. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Loren McIntyre/Alamy

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Forests’ Carbon Stores Are Shrinking ➔ ( [link removed] )
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WRI research found that forests' carbon stores shrank drastically in 2023 and 2024, a worrying sign for their ability to curb climate change.

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by Tuayai/iStock photo

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Extreme Heat Is Reshaping Urban Life ➔ ( [link removed] )
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Extreme heat is no longer rare or seasonal. It’s a growing pressure that’s undermining jobs, transportation and our own health. Europe alone saw thousands of heat-related deaths this year, exacerbated by low access to air conditioning ( [link removed] ).

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by Rafaela Fernanda5/Shutterstock

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Fires Ravage Tropical Forests ➔ ( [link removed] )
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New data confirmed: Forest fires are getting worse, burning twice as much forest today as they did 20 years ago. Even historically wet places like tropical rainforests are feeling the effects.

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by Artaporn Puthikampol/iStock

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Cherished Destinations Face Growing Water Risks ➔ ( [link removed] )
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From Machu Picchu to the Taj Mahal, WRI research found that most UNESCO World Heritage Sites now face severe water risks such as droughts and floods. Cultural value isn't the only thing at stake.

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New Global Realities
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A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Pradeep Gaurs/Shutterstock

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Recent Setbacks Won’t Derail the Green Transition ➔ ( [link removed] )
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Climate action saw serious setbacks this year, from policy reversals in the U.S. to cuts in international aid. Yet there’s reason to believe these hurdles won’t halt the great green transition already underway.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Aerovista Luchtfotografie/Shutterstock

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AI Offers Promise and Peril for the Planet *➔* ( [link removed] )
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Some see AI’s rapid ascent as a solution to thorny climate challenges. Others, as a resource drain that will only compound environmental harms. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Idealink Photography/Alamy

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The Critical Mineral Conundrum, Explained *➔* ( [link removed] )
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Demand for critical minerals like lithium, copper and cobalt could more than double by 2030, largely for clean energy and electric vehicles. While these technologies are central to a low-carbon future, a surge in new mineral mining could also pose risks for people and nature if not managed properly.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by raclro/iStock

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What’s Behind Rising Energy Prices? *➔* ( [link removed] )
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U.S. electricity prices are up almost 30% on average since 2010 and still climbing. Common theories about what’s behind this rise — data centers? growing demand? wind and solar? — mask a more complex story.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by ultramansk/Shutterstock

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Countries Deliver Lackluster Climate Plans *➔* ( [link removed] )
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All countries were due to submit new national climate commitments this year. Many are falling short of the ambition needed. And collectively, they’re far off track from holding temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C ( [link removed] ).

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Accelerating Solutions
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A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by James Dowson/UN Climate Change

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10 Years After the Paris Agreement, What’s Next? *➔* ( [link removed] )
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On the Paris Agreement’s 10th anniversary, WRI President and CEO Ani Dasgupta reflected on what the landmark climate treaty achieved in its first decade — and how to keep its vision alive.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Cynthia Lee/Alamy Stock Photo

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The State of Climate Action in 2025 *➔* ( [link removed] )
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The latest State of Climate Action report found that not one indicator of global climate action is moving fast enough. But importantly, it also charts a path to get on track.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Florian Kopp/Alamy Stock Photo

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The Compelling Investment Case for Climate Adaptation *➔* ( [link removed] )
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WRI research finds that every $1 spent on climate resilience can generate up to $10.50 in economic, social and environmental benefits over the next 10 years, turning traditional views of climate adaptation on their head.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Cynthia Lee/Alamy Stock Photo

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6 Ways to Accelerate World’s Energy Transition *➔* ( [link removed] )
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The world is moving toward a clean energy future, but too slowly. Unlocking progress will take six things, from modernizing power grids to overcoming local pushback.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Prowl Limited/WRI

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Reviving Land to Boost Economies *➔* ( [link removed] )
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From Ghana’s cocoa belt ( [link removed] ) to the “Cradle of Mankind” in Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley ( [link removed] ) , an important change is taking root. Farmers are proving that it’s possible to restore degraded lands while boosting incomes in the process.

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