Climate 2024 in Review: Top 10 News Stories Shaping Our and the Planet’s Future
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Soon, people around the globe will be watching the “Ball Drop” at Times Square in New York City. That celebratory moment marks the end 2024 and a call for reflection and future action. Well into the new year, the climate crisis will continue to vex policymakers and industry leaders seeking to meet sustainability goals and drive a new era of innovation. This year’s major climate stories included frightening setbacks and urgent reminders of what’s at stake for the global community.
Despite the dominance of doom and gloom in the news flow, there were positive movements in global collaboration, economic support, and reinforcing policies. What events and headlines shape global climate discourse? From worrisome record-breaking carbon emissions and fires that scorched millions of acres to international climate finance agreements and heightened social impact awareness to industry ramping up supply chain and sustainability programs, climate is on many C-Suite dashboards.
News has its ebbs and flows. These 2024 headlines do disappear at the close of a year. They should determine the agenda for 2025. But will they be taken seriously? Will short-term economic goals that offer immediate gratification lead nations to kick the environmental legislative can down the road? Ultimately, the planet’s fate impacts its global residents’ well-being. Is procrastination preferable to action?
We must face a stark reality — the planet doesn’t need people, but people need the planet. As Spanish philosopher George Santayana’s adage goes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If we ignore climate change now, will future generations get another opportunity?
Here are my Top 10 Climate Change Stories for 2024 that I’ll follow into 2025:
1. COP29 Finance Agreement: $300 Billion for Developing Nations
At the 2024 UN Climate Conference in Baku, world leaders made a landmark commitment: tripling climate finance to developing countries, aiming for $300 billion annually by 2035. This historic pledge addresses the urgent need for climate adaptation and mitigation in the world’s most vulnerable regions. Yet, the challenge lies in delivering these funds transparently and equitably — a key storyline to watch as COP30 in Brazil approaches.
Edward Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change of the United Kingdom, remarked, “This deal is beneficial for Britain’s national interest, emphasizing the need to transition to clean energy and the opportunities it creates for businesses and jobs.”
2. Record Global Carbon Emissions
Despite progress in renewable energy adoption, carbon emissions from fossil fuels surged to record highs in 2024, with no sign of peaking. This reality underscores the need to accelerate clean energy transitions and enforce emission-reduction targets. Failure to reverse this trend threatens to undermine the climate agreements designed to avert catastrophe.
Samantha Burgess, PhD, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), shares, “We can now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first calendar year above 1.5°C. This does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.”
3. Planetary Boundaries Breached
A sobering scientific report confirmed that humanity has breached seven of nine planetary boundaries, including biodiversity loss, freshwater use, and climate stability. This red-alert status highlights Earth’s declining capacity to sustain life sometime in the future. The report should serve as a (scary) wake-up call for global leaders, businesses, and citizens, reminding us that planetary and human health are inseparable. We cannot indefinitely put a pause on climate action.
4. Climate Tech Innovations Lead the Charge
Amid the grim environmental news, climate technology emerged as a beacon of hope. Startups like CarbonCapture and BlueGreen Water Technologies significantly advanced direct air capture and water preservation priorities, offering scalable solutions to reduce climate impact. These technologies are critical if the world can meet net-zero targets and address hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and water pollution.
5. Extreme Weather in Canada: A Climate Wake-Up Call
Record-breaking heatwaves and storms swept across Canada, bringing the country’s climate vulnerability into stark relief. Wildfires consumed millions of acres, while floods displaced thousands. These extreme weather events underscore the real-time impact of climate change, making climate resilience and disaster preparedness essential national priorities. How far did it go? The skies over New York City turned a yellowish haze, and air-quality warnings keep people indoors — a stark reminder that what happens in Canada can quickly visit the Big Apple.
6. AI in Climate Tech: A $6 Billion Surge
Artificial intelligence (or augmented implementation) took center stage in climate tech, attracting $6 billion in venture funding in 2024. AI-driven tools are revolutionizing emissions monitoring, energy optimization, and climate modeling. From smarter grid management to early-warning systems for climate disasters, AI is transforming how we combat the climate crisis. At the same time, it is a double-edged sword. Computing power and cloud-based services require vast energy and produce incredible heat. But, sometimes, the lesser of two evils is a preliminary step toward a resolution.
7. Deforestation Decline in Brazil’s Amazon
A positive news story that demonstrates change is possible! For the first time in years, deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest dropped significantly in 2024 — a 30.6% decline compared to the previous year — the lowest level of destruction in nine years. This positive development reflects strengthened environmental protections and international cooperation. Yet, sustaining this momentum requires continued political will, global financial support, and community engagement.
8. PFAS Contamination Crisis in the U.S.
A study revealed that up to 95 million Americans might be exposed to polyfluoroalkyl substances, best known as PFAS. PFAS-contaminated water is and should be raising widespread public health concerns. These “forever chemicals” found in the linings of fast-food boxes and non-stick cookware do not break down easily in the environment and are linked to serious health issues that call for urgent policy action. Environmental advocacy groups are pushing for stricter regulations and expanded water safety measures, and companies are working diligently to remove them from their manufacturing processes.
9. COP29 Carbon Markets Agreement
Another significant Baku COP29 achievement was the long-needed breakthrough in global carbon markets. This agreement promises to accelerate emissions reductions through international carbon trading, unlocking billions in green investments. As the system takes shape, transparency and accountability will be crucial to ensure that carbon markets deliver real environmental benefits rather than serve as greenwashing mechanisms.
10. Triple-COP Year: Climate Action on All Fronts
It was a confluence of global climate minds gathering at three international COP meetings focusing on climate finance, adaptation, and biodiversity. This triple-COP year underscored the interconnected nature of climate issues. Solutions to climate change must address ecosystem preservation, financial equity, and societal resilience in a coordinated manner.
What’s Ahead for 2025?
These top stories reflect the urgency and complexity of climate advocacy and crisis. Climate finance commitments and technological breakthroughs offer hope, but record emissions and breached planetary boundaries remind us that time is running out. The following U.S. administration and COP30 negotiations will play pivotal roles in determining whether promises made in 2024 translate into real-world impact.
Companies will need to ramp up their efforts and ensure employees, shareholders, and advocates are in the know about responsible social impact efforts. Climate response is not a blanket fix — it is a grassroots effort by local and national governments, NGOs and companies and advocates working collaboratively to make a difference — a difference that will benefit world citizens.
Climate action is not optional — it’s essential. Just as the threat to the planet is not existential, it is a global policy and innovation priority. As citizens, leaders, and advocates, we must hold governments, corporations, and ourselves accountable. The future of our planet depends on it.
