Who will lead the climate race in 2025?
Climate Group
Working towards a world of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with greater prosperity for all.
The US has been at the forefront of the climate headlines so far in 2025. Starting with the devastating fires in LA and then President Trump making good on his promise to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on day one of his new presidency.
But while this has opened up a leadership vacuum in the US and across the globe, the science is clear that the world cannot wait. So, where can we look for more hopeful climate news in the coming months and years?
The battle to reduce emissions might be cooling in the US at a federal level, but other regions are seizing the opportunity to build on existing legislation to adapt their economies towards a zero carbon future.
Asia harbours some of the biggest emitters and consumers of energy and raw material, and it’s responsible for 45% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But it’s also home to critical drivers and innovators at the forefront of the transition, as well as low-lying or island economies that are among the most vulnerable to climate change. In many ways it’s a key region for climate action.
China is by far the largest emitter of GHGs, accounting for 30% of global carbon emissions - but it’s also streaks ahead in the green technology race. It broke its own record in installing renewable power last year, adding roughly 277 gigawatts of solar – that’s almost 3.5 times the entire capacity of the UK grid in 2023 - and it’s expected that its EVs will outsell petrol and diesel cars this year, 10 years ahead of target.
The recent launch of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek - allegedly far cheaper and less carbon-intensive than western alternatives - has cemented China’s image of producing competitive technology behind the scenes and catching the global market off guard. If China can do this on AI, does it have similar surprises in store on climate?
Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia has vowed to phase out its coal use over the next 15 years. Toy giant Lego has chosen to open their first carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam to be close to Asia’s major markets, thanks in part to the country’s support for renewable energy. At the same time, Japan still spends between $140-230 billion every year on importing fossil fuels from across the globe. This is money that Japan could invest in developing domestic renewable energy. Asia should look to maximise its central role in production, consumption, global trade and innovation.
With Asia gaining speed, Europe faces a defining moment. To stay in the race, European policymakers must commit to strengthening Europe’s green technologies and diversify innovation, energy security, and green supply chains without delaying the transition. This was made clear in Mario Draghi’s report on Europe’s competitiveness and the importance of Research and Innovation and the green transition, which sent a clear message to European policy makers last September.
And it’s important to recognise that on a state level, US Governments still have the power, the opportunity, and the authority to drive real climate action. Companies in the US, because of their global footprint, can also continue the transition by sticking to their long-term strategies. And it’s in their best interest – their international competitiveness is not just defined by nation’s borders, but by what’s happening across the globe, including in Europe and Asia.
At this key juncture, with the climate crisis so starkly upon us, we are in urgent need of clear leadership. Governments and companies are stepping up, but we need to build critical mass. It’s urgent and it’s existential.
Helen Clarkson , Climate Group CEO
US Climate Action Summit
The US Climate Action Summit 2025 is back from 21 - 27 April, including a wider week of engaging events across Washington, DC. These include Climate and Health Day on 22 April, and our flagship event, The Leaders' Forum on 24 April.
The Leaders’ Forum brings together the most prominent coalition of subnational, Federal, private sector and NGO decision makers in the US that are committed to addressing climate change, for a series of public events and closed-door dealmaking sessions. Find out more.
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