With only five months to go until COP31, Bonn SB64 must show that the multilateral system can accelerate the operationalisation of agreed action.
- It must shape a coherent implementation package across negotiations, finance, credible delivery roadmaps and sectoral platforms, and real-economy Action Agenda initiatives.
- It is an opportunity for the COP31 Presidencies to signal coherence and focus across Türkiye, Australia and Pacific Island priorities and to test how much countries are prepared to close widening ambition and finance gaps while keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach.
Watch E3G’s opening press conference from 9 June.
Story
The 64th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) under the UNFCCC take place in Bonn between June 8th and June 18th. SB64 is the only official negotiating moment between COP30 in Belém and COP31 in Antalya later this year. The Bonn sessions advance the negotiations needed to deliver action across mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, finance, transparency and just transition.
In the context of the ongoing and severe energy crisis and accelerating climate impacts including heatwaves and a forecast Super El Nino, the urgency to accelerate action is clear with climate a security, stability and economic development imperative.
As the climate regime enters an era of implementation, the focus of SB64 should also shift towards delivery, accountability and acceleration of efforts. It is expected to shape the landing zones for key decisions at COP31 and test whether countries are prepared to close widening ambition and finance gaps while keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach.
Against this backdrop, SB64 focus will span both the formal negotiating agenda and the broader action agenda. Negotiators will be under pressure to make progress on climate finance implementation, adaptation indicators and the Global Goal on Adaptation, Article 6 carbon market rules, transparency arrangements, just transition pathways and preparations for the next Global Stocktake cycle. The first of the new trade dialogues will also take place at Bonn, alongside meetings of the new Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade.
At the same time, governments, businesses, financial institutions and civil society actors will be looking to Bonn to demonstrate momentum on real-economy delivery, including accelerating clean investment, strengthening resilience, mobilising international cooperation and aligning sectoral transitions with Paris Agreement goals ahead of COP31.
A successful Bonn will drive early clarity on the pathway to the second Global Stocktake, and the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)s in 2030.
E3G on the ground:
Experts from E3G will be reporting from Bonn throughout the negotiations, providing analysis, media commentary and rapid reaction across the key political and technical discussions.
E3G media briefings will take place in the UNFCCC press conference room (provisionally 9th and 18th June but please see the final timetable on the UNFCCC website).
Quotes
Kaysie Brown, Associate Director, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“Geopolitical developments continue to demonstrate just how crucial climate action is to energy security, stability and prosperity and in response to the current energy crisis and accelerating climate impacts. SB64 in Bonn must show that the multilateral system can make a durable and politically resilient shift to support delivery at scale and will act as a key health check for the climate regime at a time of a rapidly shifting global order.”
Cosima Cassel, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“Bonn will be a key test for the COP31 Presidency to demonstrate coherence and focus across Türkiye, Australia and Pacific Island priorities, and to show that both formal negotiations and the wider implementation agenda are moving in the same direction, reinforcing the role of the Action Agenda as a bridge between commitments and delivery on the ground.”
Alden Meyer, E3G Senior Associate, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, said:
“As climate impacts become ever more devastating and energy security and affordability are front and center in everyone’s minds, the negotiations in Bonn offer an opportunity to accelerate the clean energy transition and scale up investments in adaptation and resilience. The Turkish and Australian presidencies should more clearly signal their priorities for the climate summit in Antalya this November, both on negotiations outcomes and on the Action Agenda and other non-negotiations fronts.”
Katrine Petersen, Programme Lead, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, E3G, said:
“As the global energy crisis hammers home the economic and security risks of fossil fuel dependence, Bonn must show that multilateral climate diplomacy can deliver solutions that meet the moment. That means the COP31 Presidency outlining a credible plan to boost delivery on the shift to clean, electrified economies and to carry forward the COP30 Presidency’s roadmap on the global transition away from fossil fuels. And it means all governments arriving ready to strengthen political cooperation for an orderly, equitable energy transition as a strategic imperative for collective prosperity and security.”
Ana Mulio Alvarez, Policy Advisor, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“At Bonn governments need to make real progress on creating a credible pathway to scale finance for vulnerable countries and communities so they can implement their adaptation plans. At the same time, with the second GST around the corner, Bonn is the place where countries can begin connecting these agendas: ensuring that resilience, mitigation ambition and finance are reinforced together ahead of COP31, rather than negotiated in isolation”
Jordan Dilworth, Policy Advisor, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“With global trade being dominated increasingly by volatility and confrontational stances, the first of the new trade dialogues at Bonn offer countries the rare chance to develop practical solutions together. Rather than trading blows, countries can use these new spaces to trade remedies to contentious issues, including the global impact of unilateral measures.”
Lily Hartzell, Senior Policy Advisor, Public Banks & Development, E3G, said:
“The first Veredas Dialogue on implementing Article 2.1(c) will take place in Bonn, providing Parties and stakeholders from across the financial system the opportunity to roll up their sleeves to determine how they will accelerate action to align financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement. What has long been viewed as a secondary issue in the finance negotiations is beginning to take its rightful place as central to our collective success, or failure, to secure a liveable planet for all.”
Oyku Senlen Gundogan, Senior Researcher, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, E3G, said:
“Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency comes at a moment when the multilateral climate process needs a credible bridge-builder. The recent energy crisis has reinforced the case for “Dialogue, Consensus and Action”. In partnership with Australia, Türkiye carries a historic responsibility to steward this moment, and Bonn will offer the first signal of how that responsibility will be taken forward. The Presidency is expected to bring words and action together, creating real momentum for the transition.”
Natasha Green, Senior Associate, and Country Lead – Australia, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G said:
“Bonn marks an important moment for Türkiye and Australia to move beyond shared visions and begin building tangible solutions together. At a time of growing global insecurity driven by volatile fossil fuel markets, Bonn is a critical juncture on the road to Antalya and ahead of elevating Pacific priorities at Pre-COP in Fiji, to unite parties around practical delivery, constructive dialogue, long-term energy and climate resilience and strengthened international cooperation.”
Available for comment
Alden Meyer (EN), E3G Senior Associate, (UNFCCC and G7/G20 dynamics, multilateral
climate and clean energy diplomacy, mitigation ambition, US policy and politics), m: +1-202-
378-8619 | alden.meyer@e3g.org
Ana Mulio Alvarez (EN, ES), Policy Advisor, UNFCCC, Adaptation & Loss and Damage,
m: +34 639916760 | e: ana.mulio@e3g.org
Cosima Cassel (EN, DE, ES), Programme Lead, Multilateral venues, Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics m: +49 160 339 0883 | e: cosima.cassel@e3g.org
Jordan Dilworth (EN), Policy Advisor, UNFCCC & UK Climate Diplomacy, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, m: +44 (0) 79 56 53 48 79 | e: jordan.dilworth@e3g.org
Katrine Petersen (EN, DK), Programme Lead, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, m: +44 (0) 07961754452 | e: katrine.petersen@e3g.org
Lily Hartzell (EN), Senior Policy Advisor, Public Banks & Development, climate and development finance, adaptation finance, public banks, country platforms, lily.hartzell@e3g.org
Natasha Green (EN), E3G Country Lead – Australia (COP31, Australian policy and politics, multilateral climate diplomacy, international energy transition), m: +61 (0) 435 221 237 | natasha.green@e3g.org
Oyku Senlen Gundogan (TR, EN), Senior Researcher, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, global power transition, Türkiye climate and energy policy, m: +447444439202 | e: oyku.senlen@e3g.org
For further enquiries, email press@e3g.org or phone +44 (0)7783 787 863
