The Bonn Climate Change Conference is underway: why it is important

The Bonn Climate Change Conference is underway: why it is important shutterstock

Anna Velyka

It is about the most important goals of this event

A conference on climate change is taking place in Bonn, Germany, from June 3 to 13. It is an important stage in the preparation for the 29th UN Conference on Climate Change – The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), which will be held in November this year in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

This was reported by Euronews.

What is the Bonn Climate Change Conference?

Delegates from 198 countries – about 6,000 people – will discuss the most pressing environmental issues. These intersessional meetings are hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its headquarters to ensure that each of the member states can continue to effectively address the most pressing climate change issues.

In Bonn, the parties are discussing mechanisms for implementing the agreements reached at the previous COP. They work on the wording, moving towards draft conclusions, which are then submitted as official recommendations at the next COP. Therefore, the outcome of these negotiations will have a major impact on the decisions that will be made at COP29 in November this year.

What issues will be considered?

Delegates from 198 countries – about 6,000 people – will discuss the most pressing environmental issues. These intersessional meetings are hosted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its headquarters to ensure that each of the member states can continue to effectively address the most pressing climate change issues.

In Bonn, the parties are discussing mechanisms for implementing the agreements reached at the previous COP. They work on the wording, moving towards draft conclusions, which are then submitted as official recommendations at the next COP. Therefore, the outcome of these negotiations will have a major impact on the decisions that will be made at COP29 in November this year.

"The EU must be the driving force for agreeing a new credible post-2025 climate finance target that focuses on public finances, is needs-based, fair and equitable and reflects the specific legal obligations of developed countries," says Emilia Runberg, climate and development policy coordinator at CAN Europe.

In parallel with the discussion of climate finance at the current conference, decisions are being made on the financing of losses and damages. Last year, the Loss and Damage Fund was launched at COP28. This decision was controversial because it assumed that the World Bank would support the fund, and developed countries would not be obliged to contribute.

However, there are no specific goals for this final session of the dialogue in Bonn. The parties are expected to continue discussing the fund.

What impact will the Bonn Conference have on the climate plans of individual countries?

Also, the Bonn Climate Conference is a chance for further discussions on the integration of fossil fuel commitments made at COP28 into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before they are finally approved.

After the first Global Stocktaking (GST), which measured collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, this is an opportunity to define what a good NPP should look like. Bonn provides an opportunity to interpret the results of the GST in such a way that participating countries and the world at large are on the path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It's also a chance for ambitious pioneers to get ahead, realize their NVVs ahead of schedule and help accelerate the global transition to renewable energy.

Earlier, EcoPolitic talked about 3 climate court cases, which can set a precedent around the world.

Also in May, we reminded that in Ukraine for almost half a year nothing is known about the update of the Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement.

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