UN Climate Change Resumes Climate Weeks in 2025 with a Renewed Focus on Implementation
13 March 2025 – The UNFCCC secretariat is set to relaunch Climate Weeks in 2025, with a stronger alignment to the intergovernmental process under the Convention and the Paris Agreement. These events will bridge policy decisions with on-the-ground implementation, fostering inclusive and accelerated climate action.
Building on the foundation of previous Regional Climate Weeks, this refreshed approach reflects the evolving priorities of the global climate agenda. In 2025, Climate Weeks will be held twice, maintaining a global outlook while providing a platform for dialogue, capacity-building, and showcasing climate solutions that directly contribute to international negotiations.
Key Climate Weeks in 2025
- Panama City, Panama (19-23 May 2025): The first Climate Week of the year will be hosted by Panama, a recognized leader in climate action.
- Africa (Date TBD, Ahead of COP30): The second Climate Week will take place in Africa, ahead of the annual UN Climate Conference.
Panama’s Commitment to Integrated Climate Action
Panama’s Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, emphasized the importance of shifting from fragmented action to an integrated strategy. “With COP30 fast approaching, Climate Week will be where policy meets investment, creating tangible impacts on the real economy,” he stated. Panama will also present its Nature Pledge, a unified framework addressing climate, biodiversity, and land conservation goals.
A Streamlined, Impact-Driven Approach
The 2025 Climate Weeks will bring together government officials, non-state actors, and key stakeholders. These events will integrate UNFCCC-mandated meetings, high-level policy discussions, and technical dialogues, ensuring that their outcomes directly contribute to COP negotiations. This streamlined approach is expected to enhance ambition, improve efficiency, and reduce operational costs by consolidating multiple climate meetings into fewer, more impactful gatherings.
Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, highlighted the significance of this renewed approach:
“By aligning Climate Weeks more closely with the intergovernmental process, we aim to drive faster progress and concrete outcomes that benefit both economies and everyday lives. I also commend Panama for stepping up as a host country, given its remarkable achievement as a carbon-negative nation, with 65% of its land covered by forests.”
Key Priorities for 2025 Climate Weeks
- Accelerating Ambitious NDC Submissions ahead of COP30
- Enhancing Climate Finance to drive implementation and ambition
- Strengthening National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
- Advancing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) through Biennial Transparency Reports
- Promoting Equity and Inclusivity, including gender considerations and just transitions
- Scaling Article 6 Implementation to support international carbon market mechanisms
Additionally, each Climate Week will feature:
- Policy dialogues between governments and non-state actors
- Capacity-building workshops to strengthen national climate strategies
- Exchanges on innovative solutions for climate action
Alongside Panama Climate Week, the country will also host the Nature Summit, a global forum aimed at mobilizing investment for the green and blue economy transition.
With this renewed structure, Climate Weeks in 2025 will serve as a strategic intersessional space ahead of UNFCCC June sessions (SBs) and COP30, ensuring that climate action remains at the forefront of global discussions. By reducing duplication, optimizing resources, and fostering collaboration, these events will help drive the world toward a more ambitious and coordinated response to the climate crisis.
