Dear John,

2025, hey? It’s been a big year for us here at Friends of the Earth – and you were a part of that.

There have been all sorts of ups and downs, but we can’t help feeling hope, pride and even excitement.

While the news has been hard to read at times, we’ve seen countless examples of people power – people coming together over what really matters to them. Ordinary people standing up for themselves, for their communities and for others – here in the UK and around the world. You included.

That’s what Friends of the Earth is about – grassroots action that makes a difference to people and planet. So we’re excited to be a part of a growing call for meaningful change, for justice and for a future we can all embrace. And delighted you are too.

Scroll down for the full video wrap-up and a celebration of some of your 2025 wins below.

But first I've got some welcome news from Indonesia, where deadly floods have devasted communities and ravaged the home of the world’s rarest orangutan. We've heard from our sister organisation, WALHI, that the Indonesian government has ordered companies causing deforestation in North Sumatra to suspend their operations to allow for further assessment.

Extra funding for flood victims is still desperately needed. But it's positive that government officials are now publicly declaring that deforestation is a significant contributor to the flooding and deaths – and have ordered a pause on these activities. Thank you so much if you’ve already donated to our North Sumatra appeal – here’s the link if you still can.

Cumbrian coal mine plans finally buried

Our first big celebration of 2025 came in April when controversial plans for a coal mine at Whitehaven were finally scrapped. After 8 years of legal challenges and local campaigning, West Cumbria Mining withdrew its planning application.

Although plans for the coal mine are now history there's a bit of a sting in the tail. West Cumbria Mining is now using a secret corporate court to sue the UK government for rejecting its plans. More on that in the new year.

A (legal) climate plan for the future

Throughout this year you kept the pressure on the government to produce a bold, fair climate plan. One that delivered for people and planet.

In October the plan was finally published. And thankfully it included many things you called for – insulating homes, creating jobs in clean energy and nature restoration. It's not perfect and we’d have liked to see more ambition in there. But the plan would likely not have had the improvements it does without the support of tens of thousands of you.

People power at the UN climate talks

At the UN climate talks, the UK delegation was blocking progress. A new mechanism – to secure things like cheaper, clean energy for all, to support communities and the retraining of workers as the world transitions away from fossil fuels – was on the table. But the UK wouldn’t sign up.

Thousands of you wrote to Ed Miliband, telling him to change his mind. You were a part of incredible pressure from the international climate movement. Pressure the UK and other governments couldn’t ignore. In the final hours of the conference, they agreed the Just Transition Mechanism. A real victory for people power!

Support pulled for Mozambique gas project

At the end of this year, the UK government withdrew support for a massive gas project in Mozambique. This was to be funded by taxpayer money, would have huge climate impacts and was linked to awful human rights abuses. It’s been a long battle, fought by tens of thousands of you alongside our sister organisation in Mozambique.

Thank you for helping the government see sense. Let’s keep going and make sure taxpayer money goes into sustainable and fair energy.

Planet over profit, government vs. nature, protest and solidarity…

There’s more – so much more. 2025 has been full of challenges and wins. See the full roundup in our video.

Thank you

It’s been a big year – a year of challenges and hard work, yes, but also a year of successes.

Even when things haven’t gone the way we’d hope, we’ve built solidarity and a growing movement. We’ve seen so many people get involved with Friends of the Earth – ordinary people doing what they can to make things better, in the UK and globally.

We’re proud that so many of you took action online, in local groups and on the streets, as we all work together for a brighter future for people, nature and the Earth. These successes are truly your successes. Thank you for everything you’ve done for people and planet this year!

Aleanna,

Friends of the Earth

PS Missed the last post? Or just want a more eco-friendly way to tell people you’re thinking of them during the holidays?  Show your loved ones (and the planet) a little love this festive season by sending an eco-friendly ecard.

They’re free (though donations are welcome!), easy to send and some of the pictures are very cute.