Turning climate urgency into a concrete action agenda is the warning issued by Deloitte to communities in order to tackle the crisis here and now. The topic will be discussed at the NEXT Milan Forum 2026 (May 4–6).
2025 has confirmed itself as one of the hottest years ever recorded, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by nearly 1.5°C. This is no longer an isolated anomaly: the decade 2015–2024 has been the warmest in modern history, and projections by the World Meteorological Organization indicate an 86% probability (a figure that continues to rise) that at least one year in the 2025–2029 period will exceed the critical 1.5°C threshold.
This is the rather alarming scenario outlined by Deloitte on its Voices platform, which also highlights the critical issue of global greenhouse gas emissions: in 2024 they reached 57.7 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, an increase of 2.3% compared to the previous year.
Between January 2024 and September 2025, only 64 countries submitted updated climate plans, accounting for roughly 30% of global emissions. The COP30 responded by establishing a Global Implementation Accelerator, explicitly recognizing that negotiation must give way to implementation..
A new level of awareness is required
The climate crisis is no longer a probable risk to be addressed in the future, but an existing condition to be managed in the present - one that will, in any case, have permanent long-term effects. According to Deloitte, a paradigm shift is needed - one that integrates the climate dimension into strategic choices, investment decisions, supply chain design, asset valuation, and relationships with territories and communities. Institutions, businesses, academia and research, and civil society must establish structured mechanisms for collaboration, capable of sharing knowledge and multiplying the effectiveness of actions.
To be discussed at NEXT Milan Forum 2026
The issue will be explored in depth during the upcoming edition of the NEXT Milan Forum 2026, taking place from May 4 to 6, fostering constructive dialogue among more than 1,000 young leaders who are already driving change in their communities. On that occasion, Deloitte will act as a knowledge partner, bringing climate transition to the table as an urgent phenomenon that must be addressed.
Climate disasters exceeding 328 billion dollars
The figures call for immediate action. In 2024, climate-related disasters worldwide caused damages exceeding 328 billion dollars and resulted in 16,000 deaths. Food security is one of the most evident manifestations of the ongoing change - in 2024, approximately 295 million people (a number that has increased for the sixth consecutive year, up 5% compared to the previous year) experienced acute food insecurity, and nearly one third of these cases is directly linked to extreme weather events- but it is not the only one. Forced displacement has reached record levels: 46 million people were compelled to migrate due to natural disasters in 2024 alone. Infrastructure, global supply chains, and the business models we rely on today are based on assumptions that the climate no longer guarantees.
Financial sector: early but significant signals
In 2025, global investments in clean energy reached 2.154 trillion dollars, compared to 1.148 trillion in fossil fuels - a ratio of nearly 2 to 1, reflecting a structural reallocation of capital within the energy sector. However, this progress has its limits: it is almost entirely concentrated on mitigation - that is, reducing future emissions, with still insufficient results - while adaptation, namely the ability of systems, communities, and infrastructure to withstand impacts already underway, remains secondary. Estimates indicate that by 2035, financing needs for adaptation in developing countries will be at least twelve times higher than current international public finance flows dedicated to this purpose. A structural revision of the financial system architecture and political priorities is therefore urgently required.
