Navigating a year of climate turbulence: Researchers identify the top 10 global carbon neutrality events of 2025

As the world grapples with record-breaking temperatures and shifting political landscapes, the Research Institute of Carbon Neutrality at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) has released its definitive list of the most influential events in global carbon neutrality and climate response for the year 2025.

Published in the journal ENGINEERING Energy, the report serves as a critical retrospective for policymakers and scientists, documenting a year defined by both significant setbacks and urgent calls for collective action.

The 1.5°C Threshold and Extreme Realities 

On the scientific front, 2025 marked a harrowing milestone. Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that from January to August 2025, global average temperatures reached 1.42°C above pre-industrial levels, teetering on the edge of the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement.

The year saw unprecedented meteorological anomalies, including the "Great Heat" in the Northern Hemisphere and record-breaking "anomalous cold" in parts of the Southern Hemisphere. These events, combined with historic lows in polar sea ice, signal that the climate crisis has evolved from a long-term threat into an immediate, all-encompassing global reality.

Accelerating Energy Transition: Market Mechanisms and Green Fuel Expansion

Amid mounting climate pressures, 2025 also witnessed significant progress in low-carbon transition strategies. Carbon markets entered a new phase of institutional strengthening and broader sectoral coverage, reinforcing the role of market-based mechanisms in driving emission reductions.

Simultaneously, large-scale green fuel projects—including green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol—advanced toward commercialization. These energy carriers not only provide long-duration storage solutions for renewable electricity but also offer viable pathways for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as industry and shipping. Together with evolving renewable energy market reforms and system-integration policies, these developments signal a structural shift from capacity expansion toward higher-quality, system-oriented energy transformation.

Global Cooperation in a Divided World 

Despite political headwinds, the report emphasizes that the journey toward carbon neutrality (CO₂ neutrality) remains a common mission for humankind. The selection of the "Top 10" events reflects the sustained efforts of various nations to document their collective footprints in addressing climate change.

“There are no bystanders in the face of this crisis,” the researchers state. The report underscores that addressing climate change through shared responsibility and concerted action is more urgent now than ever before, particularly as meteorological alarms sound simultaneously across the globe.

JOURNAL: ENGINEERING Energy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-026-1051-7

Article Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11708-026-1051-7

Cite this article: Research Institute of Carbon Neutrality, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. (2026). Top 10 most influential events in global carbon neutrality and climate change response in 2025. ENGINEERING Energy, 20(1), 10517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-026-1051-7