The sustainability trends report 2025

We are living through a period of retrenchment. Business people we thought were sincerely committed to the sustainability transition are backing out of promises they made only a few years ago. Politicians are waffling. Countries that have written emissions cuts into law are starting to wonder if their targets can be met. Worst of all, of course: the new presidential administration in Washington has engineered a complete about-face in the climate commitments of the United States. The American government is going after renewable energy, slashing tax breaks and threatening to block the basic permits needed to build new projects. It is even attempting to shut down projects whose construction is nearly complete. It is bullying other countries to abandon their climate goals.

This situation is especially tragic given that America is responsible for more historical emissions than any other country, by far. Since World War II, the United States with the world’s largest economy and advanced scientific and technical capabilities has been essential to solving humanity’s largest problems. Yet on the climate crisis, the country that ought to be doing the most is now doing the least.

We are disappointed by these developments, but not especially surprised. The climate and energy transition is the hardest collective task humanity has ever tried to pull off. It was never going to happen without backlash and entrenched political opposition. The fossil fuel industry has many politicians willing to serve its interests. Ordinary citizens are concerned, understandably, about the potential costs of the transition, and the oil companies are doing their best to exacerbate those fears.

source:

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