“We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet’s vital signs are flashing red.” The opening of the annual State of the Climate Report is blunt in its assessment of efforts to reduce global emissions and sets the tone for the rest of the report. It went on to note in the highlights that “22 of 34 planetary vital signs are at record levels”.
This international project was directed by Oregon State University scientist Dr William Ripple and makes the point that the time for drastic climate action is now. “Almost every corner of the biosphere is reeling from intensifying heat, storms, floods, droughts, or fires. The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.”
No longer future threats
The report continued on to highlight the interconnected risks to biodiversity, the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, the risks to freshwater, and the hothouse trajectory risks. The introduction noted that “The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now.” It listed the recent climate-related disasters since September 2024, with their attendant economic costs and noted that mitigating against climate change, as well as being a moral imperative, is also a sound economic strategy. “The cost of mitigating climate change is likely far lower than the global economic damages that climate-related impacts could cause.”
Every fraction of warming is critically important
The State of the Climate Report also made the clear convincing argument, as many scientists are making, that thinking about the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5℃ as a last stop measure is not a helpful approach. It notes that: “Avoiding every fraction of a degree of warming is critically important. We are entering a period where only bold, coordinated action can prevent catastrophic outcomes.”
Coordinated action will come from global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but many countries have not made, or kept, their pledges to reduce these emissions, leaving the world in uncertain territory. The authors of the report urge for this insufficient response to change dramatically. “These recent developments emphasize the extreme insufficiency of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mark the beginning of a grim new chapter for life on Earth.”
Professor Michael Mann commented: “The climate crisis is here, and it’s now a question of just how bad we’re willing to let it get. The catastrophic landfall of a record strength hurricane on Jamaica this week would seem to underscore the urgent message of the report. And ironically, we saw yet another billionaire plutocrat – Bill Gates – downplay the urgency of climate action as ordinary people suffer the consequences of inadequate action.”
Is a social tipping point getting nearer?
However, the report was not all doom and gloom. Indeed, it noted that social movements can shift attitudes and mindsets quickly, which then, in turn, can drive government policy. It notes: “Social tipping points can drive rapid change. Even small, sustained nonviolent movements can shift public norms and policy, highlighting a vital path forward amid political gridlock and ecological crisis.” It argues that because the public often underestimate the level of public support for climate action, they do not put pressure on elected representatives for fear of being the minority voice.
“However, many people underestimate how widely shared their climate concerns are. Despite majorities in nearly every country supporting strong climate action, most individuals believe they are in the minority.”
State of the Climate Report 2025
The annual report pushes for these social tipping points and asks the public for concerted collective action in shifting the political mindset that we see in some countries. “These cultural and political shifts can ripple across institutions and economies, accelerating the adoption of large-scale climate solutions. Reaching this positive tipping point will require more than facts and policy; it will take connection, courage, and collective resolve.”
The future is still being written
Dr Ripple told Yorkshire Bylines: “This is a time for courage and imagination. We need leaders who look beyond short-term interests and work together for real transformation. COP 30 could be a turning point if countries commit to bold action grounded in justice and care for the planet. One point that’s not widely understood is that it’s not just about cutting emissions. Dealing with climate change requires more. It calls for deep, systemic change in how societies value nature, design economies, consume resources, and define progress.”
Overall, the report concludes on a point of hope and with a clear target: “The future is still being written. Through choices in policy, investment, education, and care for one another and the Earth, we can still create a turning point. It begins by embracing our shared humanity and recognizing the profound interconnectedness of all life on the planet.”
