The Bonn Climate Change Conference concluded after two weeks of intensive work across a range of issues where progress is needed on the path to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) this November in Baku, Azerbaijan. Civil society expressed disappointment over the lack of progress on key issues including the process of discussions on the mitigation work programme.
The June Meetings hosted a technical expert dialogue to examine various elements of the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG) to ensure it is ambitious, optimally structured, transparently reported on, and improves the quality of climate finance to developing countries. Parties also worked on developing a substantive framework for a draft negotiating text for consideration at COP29, outlining the text here in Bonn.
Parties were invited to submit their consolidated and updated views on the NCQG to produce a new input paper with options for the next Technical Expert Dialogue and the third meeting of the ad-hoc work programme to be held back-to-back in October. A high-level ministerial dialogue on the NCQG will also be held in October to help pave the way for an outcome at COP29.
Parties took important steps towards making sure of inclusive, transparent and scientifically sound indicators in each of the thematic targets under the Global Goal on Adaptation. The June Meetings also noted that only 58 developing countries have submitted National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
As part of the outcome of the Global Stocktake, Parties are to develop NAPs by the end of 2025, and to make progress in implementing them by 2030. The secretariat has asked more countries to have these plans ready with the UN Climate Change working directly with countries over the next few months to accelerate the formulation of NAPs, including through its Regional Collaboration Centres.
Key technical aspects of Article 6, including carbon credit authorization, activity scope, the international carbon market registry and more were taken up with progress on key negotiations. The UN Body responsible for operationalizing a new global carbon market under the Paris Agreement will meet twice ahead negotiations in Baku, to finalize recommendations on methodologies and emission removals.
The Supervisory Body also aims to finalize a Sustainable Development Tool in the run up to COP29, to establish environmental and social safeguards. Completing the remaining elements on Article 6 in Baku will unlock further funding for national climate plans and adaptation.
The incoming COP Presidency asked Parties to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) ahead of COP29 in Baku. Later this month, UN Climate Change will deliver new Enhanced Transparency Framework reporting tools that integrate tracking of greenhouse gas inventories, action, and support. In partnership with Microsoft, UN Climate Change is also developing a new Climate Data Hub to bring this data to life.
At the June Meetings, UN Climate Change and the NDC Partnership launched the NDC 3.0 Navigator, to help Parties access information that can help them develop new NDCs with a focus on implementation. Parties are required to deliver their next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) early next year, aligned with the 1.5 °C limit, and covering all sectors and all greenhouse gases.
“We’ve taken modest steps forward here in Bonn,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in his closing speech. “[But] too many items are still on the table . . . We’ve left ourselves with a very steep mountain to climb to achieve ambitious outcomes in Baku.”
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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