The month of May 2025 marked a critical juncture in global climate action, with pivotal scientific forecasts, landmark legal decisions, and high-stakes international summits shaping the trajectory of climate policy and resilience efforts. From unprecedented temperature projections to grassroots protests and groundbreaking legislation, these developments underscore the urgency of addressing climate change through multilateral cooperation, corporate accountability, and adaptive strategies.
1. WMO predicts high probability of exceeding 1.5°C threshold
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a stark warning on May 28, forecasting an 86% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with a 70% likelihood that the five-year average for 2025–2029 will surpass this threshold. This projection, based on anthropogenic warming and residual El Niño effects, emphasizes the narrowing window to meet Paris Agreement goals. While long-term averages remain below 1.5°C, the report highlights escalating risks of extreme weather, Arctic amplification, and regional precipitation shifts, urging immediate emissions reductions.
2. Sixth Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference
Held in Copenhagen from May 27–28, this UN-sponsored conference convened policymakers, climate envoys, and civil society leaders to align national climate plans (NDCs) with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Denmark’s Green Transition Minister, Jeppe Bruus, emphasized the need for partnerships to address biodiversity loss and sustainable agriculture, while UN Assistant Secretary-General Navid Hanif called for “transformative change” in tackling interconnected climate and development crises. The event focused on mobilizing finance for vulnerable nations and embedding SDG targets into NDCs ahead of COP30.
3. Landmark climate liability ruling in Saúl vs. RWE case
On May 28, Germany’s Higher Regional Court of Hamm ruled in favor of Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya, affirming that major emitters like RWE could be held liable for climate-related damages. The case, which argued that RWE’s emissions contributed to glacial melting threatening Huaraz with flooding, sets a precedent for future climate . Legal experts noted the decision could pressure fossil fuel companies to accelerate decarbonization efforts and compensate affected communities.
4. Climate protests disrupt European Insurance Conference
On May 14, Extinction Rebellion and allied groups staged protests at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) conference in Manchester, demanding an end to insurance for fossil fuel projects. Activists deployed flooded-car installations and testimonies from climate-affected communities, criticizing insurers for enabling projects that exacerbate extreme weather. The protest underscored growing public pressure on financial institutions to align portfolios with net-zero targets.
5. UN Climate Week concludes with calls for implementation
The revamped Climate Week, held in Panama City from May 19–23, emphasized translating climate pledges into “real economy outcomes.” UN Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji highlighted collaborations between governments, businesses, and Indigenous groups, while Brazil’s COP30 CEO Ana Toni stressed the need for a “decade of implementation”. Sessions focused on scaling renewable energy, nature-based solutions, and just transition frameworks, with outcomes feeding into June’s Bonn Climate Meetings.
6. Forecasts signal extreme rainfall for Greater Horn of Africa
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) warned on May 20 that much of the Greater Horn of Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda, faces above-normal rainfall from June to September, raising flood and disease risks. Conversely, coastal Kenya and Somalia anticipated drier conditions, exacerbating existing drought pressures. The forecast urged preemptive measures to safeguard agriculture and water resources in a region where 50% of annual rainfall occurs in these months.
7. UAE enacts sweeping climate law
Effective May 30, the UAE’s Decree 11 of 2024 mandates a 47% emissions reduction by 2035 (vs. 2019 levels), with stringent targets for sectors like buildings (79% cut). The law, part of its updated NDC, accelerates investments in clean energy and carbon capture, positioning the UAE as a Middle Eastern climate leader. Analysts noted the policy’s potential to influence regional peers and attract green finance.
8. Tajikistan hosts International Glacier Preservation Summit
From May 29–31, Dushanbe hosted a UN-backed conference on glacial preservation, responding to the loss of Venezuela’s last glacier in 2024. Experts discussed transboundary water management, early warning systems, and financing for climate adaptation in glacier-dependent regions. The summit’s declaration emphasized integrating glacial protection into NDCs and fostering regional cooperation in Central Asia.
9. Study links climate change to extreme heat exposure
A May 30 report by World Weather Attribution and Climate Central revealed that 4 billion people faced 30+ extra days of extreme heat in 2024–2025 due to climate change, with the Caribbean, Sudan, and the Mediterranean hardest hit. The study attributed events like Morocco’s deadly July 2024 heatwave (48°C) to anthropogenic warming, stressing disproportionate impacts on low-income communities and health systems.
10. Asia Climate Summit 2025 announced for July
On May 27, Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced the Asia Climate Summit (ACS) for July 8–10 in Bangkok, focusing on Article 6 implementation, carbon pricing, and AI-driven climate solutions. The event aims to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually for developing nations by 2035, with sessions on blue carbon, REDD+, and compliance markets in China and India.
In a nutshell
May 2025 underscored the multifaceted nature of the climate crisis, blending dire scientific warnings with proactive policy, legal, and grassroots responses. While temperature projections and extreme weather reports highlighted accelerating risks, events like the Saúl vs. RWE ruling and UAE’s climate law demonstrated evolving accountability mechanisms. The interplay of international summits, regional forecasts, and public mobilization illustrates the critical need for integrated strategies that prioritize equity, innovation, and rapid decarbonization to avert irreversible climatic tipping points.
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