2025 was a geopolitically turbulent and a tough year for sustainability. While celebrating the 80th birthday of the UN and the 10 year anniversary of the Paris Agreement and SDGs, the global community was simultaneously dealing with funding cuts, policy rollbacks, and backlash to all things sustainability. There were some bright spots but it was a tough one.

2024 was marked by rising geopolitical tensions and a number of conflicts that have, rightly, taken much of the global community’s attention.  In addition, in 2024 a record number of people went to the polls. And while there were some bright spots, it was not an overly positive year for sustainability.