The year 2025 emerges as a critical milestone in the fight against climate change. Recent reports from organizations such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations (UN), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) converge on a clear message: the window of opportunity to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of global warming is rapidly closing. This journalistic article delves into the latest data and analyses, exploring the urgency of mitigation and the strategies needed to reverse the current trajectory, focusing on the actions and challenges that lie ahead in this decisive year.
The Urgency of the Data: A Rapidly Warming Planet
The climate indicators of 2025 reinforce the gravity of the situation. May 2025, for example, was the second hottest month of May on record, with a global average temperature of 15.79°C, just slightly below the record set in May 2024 [1]. In the oceans, the situation is equally concerning, with surface temperatures reaching 20.79°C, also the second warmest May ever recorded [1]. These elevated temperatures are not mere fluctuations; they are part of an accelerating warming trend that has already raised global temperatures by 1.57°C above pre-industrial levels from June 2024 to May 2025.
The UN’s Warning: 2025 as a Deadline
The United Nations (UN) has been emphatic in its warnings. A recent UN report, released in March 2025, points out that the planet is emitting greenhouse gases at levels that may render climate change damages irreversible. The year 2024 was the first to record warming of more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, a symbolic threshold established by the Paris Agreement. The UN reiterates that 2025 is the deadline to halt emission increases and avoid a climate catastrophe, requiring a 43% cut in emissions compared to 2019 levels by 2030. However, the reality is challenging: as of February 2025, only ten of the 197 countries party to the Paris Agreement had updated their emissions reduction targets.
The IPCC and Undeniable Science
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading scientific body for assessing climate change, continues to provide the knowledge base for climate action. Its reports are clear: climate change “is not fiction or exaggeration.” The IPCC assesses progress and gaps in limiting global emissions and analyzes available mitigation options across sectors. The science is unanimous: immediate and ambitious action is essential to limit global warming and its devastating impacts.
Mitigation Strategies: Pathways to Decarbonization
Mitigating climate change involves a set of strategies and technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere. The energy transition—replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources—is the central pillar of this strategy.
IRENA’s Role in the Energy Transition
IRENA, with its focus on the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, plays a crucial role in mitigation. Its reports, such as “Renewable Energy Capacity Statistics 2025,” show that 2024 recorded the highest increase in renewable capacity, accounting for 92.5% of total energy additions [6]. IRENA promotes the development of bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind energy, emphasizing their competitiveness even amid cost inflation. The agency stresses that governments must implement supportive policies to accelerate investment and mitigate climate change.
Energy Efficiency: The Invisible Pillar
Energy efficiency is a crucial yet often underestimated component of mitigation. Reducing energy consumption through more efficient technologies and practices is just as important as generating clean energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that energy efficiency can contribute over 40% of the greenhouse gas emission reductions needed to meet global climate goals by 2040. This includes everything from optimizing industrial processes and building sustainable infrastructure to adopting low-consumption appliances and promoting efficient transportation. In Brazil, the Energy Efficiency Atlas from the Energy Research Company (EPE) tracks national progress, and studies from ANEEL show significant savings through energy efficiency projects.
Innovative Mitigation Technologies
In addition to traditional renewables, other technological innovations are essential for mitigation. The electrification of urban systems, green urban infrastructure, and smart energy demand management are examples. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources, is a promising energy vector. Carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS, CCUS, and BECCS) are also under consideration, although they still face challenges in cost and scalability. Technological innovation is a key driver for accelerating the adoption of these solutions by overcoming regulatory and infrastructure barriers.
Challenges and Opportunities for 2025 and Beyond
The path to climate change mitigation is complex and full of challenges—but also unprecedented opportunities.
Financing and Investment
One of the greatest challenges is financing. It is estimated that by 2030, $10.4 trillion will need to be invested in renewable energy to combat climate change. Public banks have a crucial role in this context. In Brazil, for example, BNDES, Banco do Nordeste, and Finep have allocated R$146 billion to wind and solar projects over the past 10 years, helping the country become the 6th largest in solar energy and the 5th in wind energy globally.
Policies and Governance
Implementing ambitious and effective climate policies is essential. COP30, to be held in Belém (PA) in November 2025, will focus on mitigation, with actions and policies to reduce emissions. However, the slow pace of updating climate targets by countries is concerning. Global governance must be strengthened to ensure commitments are met and international cooperation is effective.
Climate Justice and a Just Transition
The transition to a low-carbon economy must be just and inclusive. This means ensuring that burdens and benefits are equitably distributed, protecting the most vulnerable communities, and providing support for workforce retraining in impacted sectors. The UN warns that 74% of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have high exposure to extreme climate events, affecting food and water security—highlighting the need for actions that address existing inequalities.
The Potential of Biogas and Biomethane
Biogas and biomethane are emerging as promising solutions for decarbonization. Gás Verde, for example, has invested significantly in producing biomethane from waste, with plans to quadruple production to 640,000 m³ per day by 2028 [15]. Initiatives like the landfill project in Manaus, which aims to produce biomethane from urban waste, demonstrate the potential of these sustainable fuels to decarbonize gas consumption and reduce methane emissions.
The Future Is in Our Hands
The year 2025 is a turning point. The data is clear, the warnings are urgent, and the solutions are available. Mitigating climate change is not only an environmental necessity—it is an economic and social imperative. Collaboration among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society is essential to accelerate the energy transition, implement mitigation technologies, and build a more resilient and equitable future. The responsibility is collective, and action must be immediate and ambitious to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
