In a year marked by climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical tensions, 2025 has also brought us positive news that reminds us that moving toward a better and more sustainable future is indeed possible. The following five advances do not eliminate the remaining challenges, but they show that, when we act with a long-term perspective, the impact is real.
1. Green turtles recover after decades of protection
Green sea turtles have officially improved their conservation status, moving from the most threatened category to “least concern.” This is the result of decades of continuous work: protecting nesting beaches, regulating fishing, reducing bycatch, and creating marine protected areas.
Although green turtles continue to face risks such as plastic, rising sea temperatures, and bycatch, this progress demonstrates that long-term conservation works, even for species that were on the verge of collapse.
Read more here.
2. Renewable energy surpasses coal for the first time
For the first time in history, renewable electricity generation has globally surpassed energy produced from coal. This advance marks a clear shift in the energy system, where solar and wind power continue to grow steadily, driven by cost reductions and increased investment.
Meanwhile, global investment in clean energy has surpassed that in fossil fuels, indicating that the world is slowly beginning to align itself with climate goals.
Read more here.
3. The High Seas Treaty officially enters into force
The UN Treaty on the Protection of Marine Biodiversity in International Waters has reached the minimum number of ratifications required to enter into force. This is the first time there has been a global legal framework to create marine protected areas on the high seas where, until now, governance has been fragmented and weak.
This treaty allows for the coordination of the conservation of key ecosystems, the regulation of extractive activities, and the reinforcement of the fundamental idea that the ocean is not no man’s land, but a shared responsibility of the international community.
Read more here.
4. Norway stops deep-sea mining
Norway has announced that it will not proceed with deep-sea mining in the Arctic, at least until 2029. This comes after years of pressure from the scientific community and environmental organizations. The decision represents a significant shift in a key debate about the future of the deep ocean and access to critical minerals.
Deep-sea mining poses significantly high and potentially irreversible risks to poorly understood ecosystems. By halting these plans, Norway is applying the precautionary principle and sending a clear international signal.
Read more here.
5. The United Kingdom closes its last coal-fired power plant
In 2025, the United Kingdom closed its last coal-fired power station, ending more than a century of electricity generation based on this fossil fuel. With this closure, the country became one of the first major economies to completely eliminate coal from its electricity mix, a key step in reducing emissions and air pollution.
The end of coal in British electricity generation has been made possible by a combination of public policies, the expansion of renewable energy, and sustained long-term planning. Beyond its national impact, this step sets a clear precedent: it demonstrates that abandoning coal is viable and sets a benchmark for other countries to accelerate their own energy transition.
Read more here.
These five advances don’t mean the environmental crisis is over, but they do make one thing clear: when there are public policies, social pressure, and long-term commitment, change happens. Focusing only on what’s failing can paralyze us; recognizing what works reminds us why we keep acting. The challenge now is to sustain these advances, expand them, and make them the norm, not the exception.
