The report, based on input from nearly 300 scientists across 83 countries, warns of a tipping point as emissions hit record highs in 2024 and projects warming could reach about 2.4°C by 2100 if current trends persist.

Experts stress that transforming systems will require unprecedented, rapid changes, and warn that failure to address climate change will hinder progress on health, development, and environmental goals.

While some nations are poised to move forward, others may lag, potentially widening action gaps, though researchers remain hopeful that high-stakes urgency will spur decisive changes.

The cooperation effort remains fragile, illustrated by the United States’ absence from Environment Assembly discussions and uneven progress in climate and plastic-pollution negotiations.

A central message is that climate change worsens biodiversity loss and land degradation, so acting on climate is critical to addressing broader environmental problems.

Climate scientists acknowledge urgency but warn that delays threaten human society, while officials anticipate possible partial progress and continued efforts.

Lead author Bob Watson stresses that climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution are interdependent and must be tackled together to protect health, economies, and food- and water-security.

Watson notes that these issues reinforce one another and cannot be addressed in isolation without risking cascading negative impacts.

The emphasis is on integrated action that safeguards health, poverty reduction, and essential resources while strengthening resilience.

The report urges evaluating economic health beyond GDP to reflect sustainable growth and warns that current cooperation is faltering, with hesitancy or withdrawal by major players and stalled agreements on plastic pollution and biodiversity funding.

To reach climate neutrality and protect endangered species by mid-century, global annual investment of around $8 trillion is required, but short-term priorities and subsidies for cheap energy hinder progress.

The UN GEO-7 report warns environmental crises are accelerating faster than anticipated, with rising temperatures, accelerating species loss, and mounting waste contributing to millions of deaths annually.

The economic costs of inaction are already substantial, with extreme weather imposing about $143 billion in losses per year and warming reducing global GDP by at least 4% by 2050, while protection efforts could yield trillions in long-term benefits.

A comprehensive UN Environment Programme assessment calls for a holistic policy shift to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution together, stressing their interconnections and the need for higher spending and financial incentives to move away from fossil fuels toward sustainable practices.

International cooperation faces hurdles, such as the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and stalled talks on plastic pollution and biodiversity funding, though some countries may pursue reforms independently.

It argues that achieving net-zero by 2050 and restoring biodiversity would require roughly $8 trillion in annual global investment, with benefits rising to $20 trillion annually by 2070 and potentially $100 trillion thereafter.

Experts, including prominent voices like Michael Mann, urge action rooted in environmental responsibility, noting that some nations are advancing toward sustainability even as others lag.

Scientists such as Katharine Hayhoe and Michael Mann emphasize urgent, cross-governmental and societal action, warning that delay endangers the viability of a healthy civilization.

Key voices, including Bob Watson, Hayhoe, and Mann, highlight the need for cross-cutting solutions that go beyond climate alone to protect ecosystems and economies.

Political obstacles include limited international coordination and U.S. non-participation, with warnings that without leadership from Washington or others, some countries may delay or forego action despite mounting evidence.

Despite setbacks, several countries are expected to advance measures, as researchers stress the urgency of cross-border action to safeguard human society on a thriving planet.

Experts call for rapid, collective action across governments, business, science, and civil society, noting that environmental protection is financially advantageous and essential for stable economies and populations.

Addressing climate change is foundational to solving other environmental challenges, and economic indicators should shift beyond GDP to reflect sustainable, healthy human development.

Climate change acts as a multiplier for deforestation, land degradation, and pollution, making timely and rapid action essential to avert tipping points and recognizing the scale of transformation needed.

Solving these intertwined issues demands systemic change across governments, financial institutions, industry, and citizens, with a shift toward sustainable development rather than isolated treaties.

Some scientists remain cautiously optimistic, believing progress is possible as stakes rise and interlinked challenges become clearer, even amid political hurdles.

Despite obstacles, optimism persists that action will accelerate as the economic and social benefits of moving forward become more evident.