Climate shifts in 2025 could reshape global action

The year 2025 is expected to bring pivotal developments for climate policy with Donald Trump’s return to the White House, new national climate targets and a potentially influential court ruling on global climate obligations.

Jocelyn Timperley and Isabelle Gerretsen report for BBC.

In short:

Trump’s plans to withdraw the U.S. from key climate agreements may impact international climate efforts, though domestic clean energy growth could remain strong due to bipartisan investments.
February marks the deadline for updated national climate goals under the Paris Agreement, with a focus on deeper emissions cuts amid rising global temperatures.
A critical climate ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected, which could strengthen accountability for state-level emissions reductions.

Key quote:

“This [ICJ] advisory opinion has the potential to establish a global benchmark for climate accountability and reinforce the connection between human rights, sustainability and environmental protection.”

— Joana Setzer, associate professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment

Why this matters:

Extreme weather, record-breaking temperatures and rising emissions in 2024 highlight the urgency of climate action. Court rulings, policy shifts and new agreements in 2025 could determine the pace of the transition to renewables and the enforcement of international climate commitments.

In U.S. coal country, black lung surges as federal protections stall

While President Trump is directing hundreds of millions of dollars to coal projects, miners in Appalachia are suffering from a resurgence of black lung disease. But industry pushback has indefinitely delayed federal rules that would reduce miners’ exposure to deadly silica dust.

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Climate shifts in 2025 could reshape global action

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