Written by Phil Hampshire
As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the key sustainability signals we’ve encountered in our work at 3ADAPT throughout 2024 and what they might mean for 2025. Over the past year, our collaborations with leading organisations on climate adaptation, carbon management, nature-based solutions, and social value have provided unique insights into the emerging trends shaping the sustainability landscape.
Looking ahead to 2025, I see ten interconnected trends that will shape how businesses, institutions, and local authorities approach sustainability. These trends reflect a growing demand for integrated, data-informed solutions that deliver environmental, social, and economic value.
1. Climate Adaptation Goes Mainstream
Throughout 2024, we saw an increased focus on the urgency of addressing climate risks. Organisations are beginning to recognise that resilience is not just a long-term aspiration but a necessity for immediate action. From our work supporting local authorities to integrate climate risks into urban planning to helping private organisations future-proof their operations, it’s clear that adaptation is becoming a priority. In 2025, I expect to see more organisations actively investing in resilience-building strategies that safeguard not just infrastructure but also the ecosystems and communities they serve.
“In the second quarter of 2024, the economic toll of extreme weather became painfully evident. UK insurers reported a record £1.4 billion in weather-related claims, driven by severe flooding, storm damage, and wildfires. These figures underscore the mounting financial burden of climate change and highlight the urgent need for resilience planning across all sectors.”
2. Biodiversity Gains Equal Priority with Carbon
This year, the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework brought biodiversity into sharper focus. Many of our clients, especially those managing large landholdings, are now seeking to align with biodiversity targets as part of their overall environmental strategies. We’ve worked with organisations to understand and baseline their biodiversity, which has served as critical starting point for creating measurable, impactful plans. In 2025, I anticipate biodiversity becoming more integral to organisational strategies, supported by enhanced metrics and accountability.
3. Nature-Based Solutions Dominate Investment
Nature-based solutions (NbS) have consistently proven to be powerful tools in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and resilience challenges simultaneously. Over the past year, we’ve supported several projects that used NbS to deliver multifunctional benefits, from carbon sequestration to enhanced biodiversity corridors. These solutions are gaining momentum due to their ability to generate co-benefits for people and nature. In 2025, we expect investment in NbS to grow significantly as more organisations see the tangible and measurable outcomes they provide.
4. Supply Chains and Procurement Drive Change
Our work in 2024 highlighted that supply chains remain one of the biggest challenges for organisations aiming to achieve their net-zero goals. We’ve collaborated with clients to map supply chain impacts and develop approaches to procurement that prioritise sustainability criteria such as carbon reduction and ethical sourcing. In 2025, businesses will need to focus even more on driving change through procurement practices, ensuring that every contract reflects their broader sustainability commitments.
5. Digital Tools Transform Land Management
This year, digital innovation became a vital enabler of sustainable land management. Tools like our Landarna platform have allowed organisations to integrate biodiversity, carbon, and financial data into decision-making processes. For example, we’ve worked with clients to model land-use scenarios, helping them identify opportunities to enhance ecological value while achieving commercial objectives. In 2025, I foresee digital tools becoming even more integral as organisations seek data-driven ways to balance multiple sustainability priorities.
“Last year, we worked with organisations that collectively own, manage, and improve tens of thousands of hectares of land, encompassing many hundreds of thousands of biodiversity units across their estates. By helping them understand the biodiversity value of their land, we’ve also identified strategic opportunities to enhance habitats, increase carbon storage, and deliver broader environmental benefits.”
6. Sustainability Embedded in Decision-Making
Throughout 2024, we observed a growing trend of organisations embedding sustainability into their core decision-making processes. From boardroom discussions to community consultations, we’ve helped clients develop frameworks to integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations. In 2025, I expect this to deepen further, with organisations prioritising transparency and engaging diverse stakeholders to ensure that decisions reflect the needs of both people and the planet.
7. Sustainability Reporting Becomes More Complex
Evolving reporting standards have been a significant theme in our work this year, with frameworks such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) requiring robust data and clear narratives. We’ve worked with clients to navigate these requirements, helping them move beyond compliance to produce reports that drive meaningful action. As reporting becomes more stringent in 2025, I expect organisations to further invest in the systems and expertise needed to meet these growing demands.
8. Leveraging Data for Smarter Decisions
One of the clearest signals from 2024 has been the growing emphasis on integrating internal and external data to make better decisions. For instance, we’ve supported clients in combining operational data with external datasets on climate risk, biodiversity, and ecosystem services to inform strategic land use. In 2025, I believe this trend will accelerate, as organisations recognise the value of connecting data sources to achieve broader sustainability outcomes.
9. Sustainability in Housing and Infrastructure
The UK government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes and expand energy infrastructure requires a balance of priorities. This year, we supported projects that sought to align these developments with sustainability principles, addressing critical challenges like resource efficiency, social equity, and biodiversity protection. In 2025, I expect these considerations to become more central to housing and infrastructure planning as the pressure to deliver sustainable growth increases.
“The UK’s target to deliver 1.5 million new homes can’t just be about quantity—it also must be about quality and sustainability. These homes must be affordable, efficient to run, and help tackle energy poverty by integrating low-carbon technologies. They need to withstand flooding and extreme weather, while minimising carbon emissions and being Net Zero Ready. Crucially, we also have to seize the opportunity to enhance biodiversity by creating green spaces and habitats that benefit both people and nature. ”
10. Increased Focus on Just Transitions
As the low-carbon transition accelerates, equity and inclusivity are becoming increasingly central themes. This year, we worked on projects that explicitly considered how climate action could deliver social value. In 2025, I anticipate even greater emphasis on ensuring that the benefits of sustainability initiatives are distributed fairly, fostering trust and participation in the process of change.
Final Thoughts
2025 promises to be a transformative year for sustainability, where progress depends on the integration of robust data, inclusive decision-making, and clear strategies. Reflecting on the work we’ve undertaken throughout 2024, it’s clear that the foundations for these trends are already being laid.
As we look ahead, I’m excited to see how organisations will rise to these challenges and seize opportunities to drive meaningful change. What trends do you think will define the year ahead? Let’s continue the conversation.
About the Author
Phil Hampshire is the Director and Co-founder of 3ADAPT, a sustainability consultancy and software agency specialising in climate adaptation, carbon management, biodiversity, and land-use strategies. With an EngD doctorate and extensive experience in organisational sustainability, Phil is passionate about helping organisations navigate complex sustainability challenges through data-informed, people-focused solutions. His work has supported leading institutions, businesses, and public sector bodies in integrating sustainability into decision-making and driving measurable environmental and social outcomes.
