earth

action report 2025

ChangeNOW & KPMG’s solutions to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

Earth Action Report 2025: Top priorities for systemic change

ChangeNOW and KPMG unveil the second edition of the Earth Action Report, a high-impact guide for leaders ready to move from commitment to action on today’s most pressing ecological and social challenges.

Built on insights from over 100 international experts across sectors, it identifies five critical priorities for 2025 and highlights concrete, scalable solutions already driving impact across industries and regions.

More than a report, it’s a strategic compass—a clear roadmap to break through systemic barriers, accelerate transformation, and bridge the gap between ambition and implementation for a just transition and more effective climate and social policies.

read the full report

“We are a big proponent of 'don’t get stuck with trying to find the perfect solution, take a step and keep evolving because there is not a perfect solution out there'. It is about stepping into it.”

Kate Williams, CEO, 1% for the Planet

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

  • Identify the top priorities for systemic change based on expert contributions.
  • Outline key barriers and challenges hindering progress.
  • Provide practical, actionable solutions to accelerate impact.
  • Track shifts and progress from 2024 to 2025.

METHODOLOGY

  • 100+ expert respondents across companies, NGOs, science, institutions, and opinion leaders from 27 countries.
  • 38 questions covering climate resilience, energy transition, education, social equity, biodiversity, and governance.
  • 20+ expert interviews from the ChangeNOW ecosystem.
  • Comparisons with the 2024 report to track changes and trends.

“If I had a magic wand, I would instill a true sense of urgency about climate change in everyone’s mind. The urgency we see on TV and social media often does not translate into real sustainability efforts. I want these two movies to become one story.”

Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainability, Henkel

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

In 2025, adaptation to climate change has emerged as the top priority, with a clear need for investments in resilience to climate-related disasters. The urgency of the energy transition and fair transition & social equity remains just as critical as in 2024, while education & awareness, particularly concerning AI and climate issues, follows closely behind. Biodiversity protection rounds out the top five priorities, while water resources are notably absent from the focus of this year’s report.

Together, these five priorities account for 75% of expert responses, yet the report highlights alarming gaps in progress. Most of the issues are rated at around 2/5 for maturity, underscoring the need for accelerated action.

A striking finding is that 92% of climate investments are currently allocated to emission reduction, with only 8% directed toward adaptation, despite growing recognition that building resilience is just as vital for tackling the climate crisis.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, closing the gap to meet the goals set in Paris remains a central focus. This includes efforts to push for a fair transition in the Global South and enhance public debate to support effective climate and social justice policies.

The Earth Action Report offers both a call to action and a roadmap for leaders to speed up the transition to a sustainable future.

The ‘Earth Action Report’ offers a detailed analysis of the pressing challenges confronting us and our planet in 2024, outlining key priorities and providing actionable solutions.

How mature are we in addressing the main priorities mentioned above. This graph aims to identify the gaps that need bridging for each of them.

Systemic and Interconnected Challenges to focus on for transformative change

“The biggest barrier is a lack of political will. Policymakers forget that the policies are not only for today’s interest but for future generations. They forget the long-term perspective and the interconnectedness of these issues.”

Mayada Adil, UN Young Leader for SDGs