3 Climate Trends - Issue 20

Making planetary health a business priority, tackling global plastic pollution and looking ahead to COP30 – these are the stories covered in this issue of the World Economic Forum’s 3 Climate Trends newsletter, your guide to climate, nature and sustainability in an ever-changing world.

1. How #business can bring planetary health into the #boardroom

Six of the nine planetary tipping points have been breached, and a further one is at imminent risk.

The Planetary Health Check – a new initiative of the World Economic Forum , the PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the CDP – is designed to offer a global stock take on the health of the planet.

Speaking at the launch in Davos 2025, PIK’s director Johan Rockstr?m , presented the latest findings, which point to an irreversible decline for the planet. But there is still a small window of time to turn things back, he says.

Forecasts suggest an 18% decline in global GDP by 2050, making the planet’s health an issue for every business.

Despite this, just 10% of corporations demonstrate tangible action to address the climate emergency, and only 1% perform at the highest assessment level.

The initiative has identified four levers which must be enacted simultaneously to have the desired effect. These are:

1. A 1.5°C-aligned climate transition plan and the ability to track this
2. Placing a price on carbon internally
3. Linking executive pay to climate plans and goals
4. Engagement throughout the value chain

Learn more about moving from climate targets to action in this article here.

2. How close are we to a global treaty that will end #plastic #pollution?

Plastic pollution is a huge and incredibly complex issue.

That's part of the reason why agreeing on the details of a United Nations plastic pollution treaty are almost a year behind schedule.

Just 63% of the world's 460 million tonnes of plastic produced every year ends up in landfills or incinerators, while 22% is littered.

Find out about the progress being made towards tackling this global issue, by watching the video below.

3. #COP30: What's next and how to accelerate #climate action

After almost a decade since the Paris Agreement changed the global landscape of net zero, several open questions remain on how to increase the speed and scale of inclusive climate action.

What is on the agenda for COP30 in Brazil and how can all stakeholder groups unlock a new era for collaboration on climate and nature? Listen to this episode of Agenda Dialogues from a session at the World Economic Forum 's Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos.

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. For more detailed analysis, follow the World Economic Forum. See you in the next issue for more updates on #nature, #climate and #sustainability.