The year 2025 presented a stark paradox for global climate action. It began with a major setback as US President Donald Trump formally withdrew the world's largest historical polluter from the landmark Paris Agreement. Yet, the year concluded with a powerful demonstration of resilience, led by developing nations, proving that the momentum for a cleaner future is now unstoppable.
A Year of Defiance and Determination
Trump's withdrawal in early 2025 and his aggressive campaign to bolster the fossil fuel sector cast a long shadow. However, the anticipated collapse of climate diplomacy did not materialize. Instead, at COP 30 in Brazil, developing countries stood firm. They successfully defended the Paris Pact's framework, turning the conference into a platform for tangible progress. A significant outcome was the commitment from developed nations to triple adaptation finance by 2035 and establish a new fund to help the Global South finance climate action.
This diplomatic resolve was mirrored by real-world energy shifts. Over the last decade, the use of renewable energy has increased appreciably. In a historic milestone, 2024 saw green fuels edge out coal as the primary source of electricity globally. This clean energy transition gained remarkable traction across the Global South, with India being a prominent example of this northward-moving graph.
The Dual Reality: Progress and Precariousness
Despite the progress, 2025 also exposed the vulnerabilities inherent in the green transition. Europe's ageing energy infrastructure was tested by poor wind conditions and drought, revealing a concerning dependency on favourable weather. Furthermore, Trump's policies had a direct impact, leading the International Energy Agency (IEA) to slash the US's green energy capacity growth forecast by 50% compared to the previous year.
These events underscored a critical dual challenge. While the salience of cutting emissions cannot be overstated, the destruction from extreme weather events made it equally clear that the world must prepare for an increasingly unstable climate. In India, scientists are actively connecting the dots between the nation's pollution crisis and broader climate vagaries.
India's Path Forward in 2026
India finds itself in a position of strength, being way ahead in meeting its international climate commitments. The challenge for 2026 and beyond is to upscale this ambition with a focus on holistic well-being. This means government efforts must aim not just at installing more renewable capacity, but at minimising the impact of adverse weather events, mitigating public-health challenges linked to pollution, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian industry through green technology.
The lesson from 2025 is clear: the fight against climate change has matured beyond being susceptible to the policies of a single nation. The initiative has decisively shifted, with the Global South, including India, now driving the agenda and demonstrating that a sustainable future is both necessary and achievable.
