What are the Sustainable Priorities in 2025?
The global sustainability landscape is undergoing significant transformation as nations, businesses, and organizations align their efforts to address pressing environmental and social challenges.
With ambitious targets set for the coming years, several key priorities have emerged that will shape policies, investments, and actions worldwide. Recent data reveals both progress and persistent obstacles in the journey toward a more sustainable future.
Renewable Energy Transformation
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world is on track to add over 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of capacity of new renewable energy between 2024 and 2030, nearly three times the increase observed in the previous seven-year period.
The European Union has set ambitious targets, aiming for 42.5 percent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2030, which is a substantial increase from 24.1 percent recorded in 2023. Thus, this doubling of renewable capacity reflects both political will and market forces driving the continent’s energy transformation.
China continues to lead in renewable deployment, investing heavily in solar power infrastructure. Current projections indicate that China will account for approximately 60% of the world’s renewable capacity installation by 2030.
Despite this progress, challenges persist in the renewable transition. The pace for renewables to replace fossil fuels has slowed somewhat due to geopolitical tensions creating market uncertainty.
A pivotal agreement at COP28 marked a historic “transition away” from fossil fuels, though implementation momentum has been measured. The recent COP29 focused primarily on financing global clean energy goals, establishing a UN-managed carbon market to incentivize emission reductions.
Transportation remains a critical sector for sustainability innovation. Renewable fuels for various vehicles, from cars and trucks to airplanes and ships, are becoming increasingly available as effective alternatives to fossil fuels.
Products such as sustainable aviation fuel, lower-emission marine fuels, and renewable diesel continue to gain traction. Continuous innovation in raw materials and significant investment in production capacity are creating pathways to scale these solutions efficiently.
Climate Action and Environmental Protection
Environmental protection policies continue evolving in response to escalating climate impacts. In July 2024, global average temperatures reached alarming new records, underscoring the urgency of immediate climate action. Thus, this milestone serves as a stark reminder of why sustainable priorities must focus on effective climate solutions.
The European Union has established itself as a policy leader in environmental protection. In 2021, EU member countries established and adopted the European Climate Law. It was the first legally binding document that sought to achieve goals set by the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal. Therefore, this landmark legislation represents a shift from voluntary to mandatory climate commitments.
A 2024 research paper shows that the 8th Environment Action Programme builds on six European Green Deal priorities and signals an evolution in the EU’s approach to environmental protection. However, implementation challenges persist as many initiatives remain dependent on voluntary compliance rather than strict enforcement.
EU sustainable development policies increasingly recognize global interdependence as an essential factor. With the EU dependent on international partners for much of its energy supply, enforcing obligatory changes presents significant challenges. Thus, this reality emphasizes the importance of the 17th Sustainable Development Goal, which focuses on partnerships for achieving sustainable objectives.
Sustainable Development Goals: Progress and Challenges
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continue guiding global sustainability efforts, though progress remains uneven across targets. According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report, with just a few years remaining until the 2030 deadline, current advancement falls significantly short of requirements.
The report emphasizes that without massive investment and scaled-up action, achieving the SDGs and the blueprint for a resilient and prosperous world will remain elusive. Despite these challenges, notable bright spots have emerged. The report highlights tangible progress in reducing global child mortality, preventing HIV infection, and expanding access to energy and mobile broadband.
These success stories demonstrate that targeted interventions can yield measurable results when adequately resourced and implemented. Critical areas undermining SDG progress include climate change, peace and security, and persistent inequalities both among and between countries. The report identifies these fundamental challenges as requiring immediate attention to advance sustainable development globally.
The UN General Assembly established and passed a resolution to hold the Summit of the Future. This summit serves as an opportunity to reinvigorate existing global commitments such as the SDGs. One area identified as potentially contributing to achieving the global SDG agenda is human rights implementation by the private sector, commonly referred to as Business and Human Rights (BHR).
International Cooperation for Sustainability
International cooperation remains essential for advancing sustainable development. The current period marks the beginning of implementing efforts agreed upon in recent years. According to the IDDRI, these include decisions from the Addis Ababa Conference, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More recently, it included the Kunming-Montreal Agreement on Biodiversity and the International Treaty on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of High Seas Biodiversity. Several events are shaping international cooperation on sustainability. The Summit of the Future, convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres alongside the UN General Assembly, aims to strengthen the multilateral system and accelerate SDG implementation.
In addition, COP16 on biodiversity, scheduled in Colombia, represents the first Conference of Parties focused on implementing the Kunming-Montreal agreement. Thus, this year serves as crucial preparation for essential milestones expected ahead.
The “Addis +10” conference on financing sustainable development, to be held in Spain, will benefit from ongoing efforts to reform international financial architecture, as well as from Brazil’s G20 presidency, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to this subject.
New national contributions from countries (NDCs) must be submitted in preparation for COP30 on climate, also chaired by Brazil. These are expected to be announced beginning in early 2025, setting the stage for the next phase of global climate action.
Business Sector’s Role in Sustainable Development
Business and Human Rights (BHR) has emerged as a crucial movement that can significantly contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It recognizes that enterprises have substantial responsibilities in respecting and promoting human rights while pursuing business objectives.
The Danish Institute for Human Rights says approximately 12% of businesses have fully integrated human rights into their operations and supply chains. Likewise, this figure indicates substantial room for improvement in how companies approach their human rights responsibilities within sustainability contexts.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is a reliable framework for companies to respect human rights in their operations. As businesses increasingly align strategies with sustainability objectives, human rights considerations are becoming central to corporate planning.
Financing Sustainable Development
At COP29, nearly 200 nations agreed to triple finances for developing nations, reaching $300 billion annually by 2035. The purpose is to help combat climate change issues and disasters and support investments in clean energy.
Therefore, this substantial financial commitment recognizes that developing economies require significant support to transition to sustainable development pathways. The establishment of a UN-managed global carbon market represents another important financial mechanism for advancing sustainability.
The “Addis +10” conference scheduled for Spain will build on efforts to reform the international financial architecture that began recently. Brazil’s G20 presidency has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable finance, potentially setting the stage for new financing mechanisms and obligations in the near future.
Renewable Energy Future Outlook
Renewable energy resources currently make up 26% of the world’s electricity, but according to IEA projections, this share is expected to reach 30% in the near term. The growth follows a global slowdown in 2019, with recent acceleration driven by falling technology costs and rising environmental concerns.
Solar energy continues leading renewable expansion. Forecasts indicate that solar capacity worldwide will grow by 600 gigawatts (GW), almost double the installed total electricity capacity of Japan. So, this growth underscores the central role that solar power will play in the energy transition moving forward.
The renewable energy sector’s expansion is creating substantial economic opportunities. Job creation in renewable industries continues outpacing traditional energy sectors, providing economic benefits alongside environmental advantages. It represents not just an ecological imperative but a financial opportunity for countries embracing clean energy technologies.
Environmental Policy Developments
Environmental policy frameworks continue evolving to address sustainability challenges. The European Climate Law stands as a groundbreaking development, establishing legally binding commitments rather than voluntary guidelines. It reflects growing recognition that mandatory frameworks may be necessary to achieve climate objectives.
Seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs) serve as constant reminders of the importance of globally coordinated actions in compliance with sustainable development theory. However, implementation varies significantly across regions and countries, with enforcement mechanisms often lacking sufficient strength.
According to Duke University, the EU treaties, which were signed between 1951 and 2007, established the foundation for creating EU environmental policy. However, these treaties, along with environmental policy, have historically formed merely a non-binding and minimum set of priorities without substantial sanctions for non-compliance. Recent developments indicate a shift toward enforcement mechanisms to ensure environmental objectives are met.
Final Words
The sustainable priorities shaping our immediate future reflect both ambition and pragmatism in addressing escalating environmental and social challenges. Renewable energy transition, climate action, SDG implementation, international cooperation, business responsibility, and sustainable finance all represent critical areas requiring focused attention and investment.
