From marine heatwaves to faltering land carbon sinks to the growing importance of carbon dioxide removal, climate science delivered several critical findings in 2025.
A new peer-reviewed paper published today in the journal Global Sustainability brings these developments together, highlighting their urgent implications for global policy.
Authored by more than 70 researchers from some 20 countries, the article “Ten New Insights in Climate Science 2025” synthesizes results from an expert survey and comprehensive review of the past year’s literature. Its goal is to translate complex, rapidly evolving science into clear, actionable insights that policymakers and researchers can use to better understand the state of the climate and inform decision-making.
The initiative is a key part of Future Earth’s mission to convene researchers across disciplines and regions to assess emerging scientific knowledge.
“Each year we see advancements in climate research, and it is hard for researchers, even more for decision-makers, to keep up with what is new and relevant,” said Daniel Ospina, a science officer at Future Earth who served as co-lead author for the paper. “This synthesis relies on a big and diverse group of scientists identifying and pulling together essential developments from 2025, so readers get a better picture of what matters most.”
The paper also underpins the 10 New Insights in Climate Science report, an annual science-policy publication led by Future Earth, The Earth League, and the World Climate Research Programme. The 2025/2026 edition was released ahead of COP30 in Brazil to help bridge the gap between research and real-world policy.
Alongside its publication in Global Sustainability, the paper is featured in a guest post on the news outlet Carbon Brief, which presents the 10 insights for a broader, non-technical audience.
