Highlights and images for 15 June 2026

“Mandate” is a word that comes up often in multilateral negotiations. Simply put, it refers to what a certain group is expected to do. Ideally, expectations are clear and come from a formal decision adopted by Parties at a previous meeting. Often, however, countries have different perspectives about the issues that are to be addressed—or intentionally try to push boundaries to foster their interests.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

The day’s negotiations at the 2026 June Climate Meetings featured many mandate-related debates. Negotiations on the future of the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP), for example, had some countries arguing against a continuation of the MWP on the grounds that it was intended to promote mitigation ambition and implementation “in this critical decade.” Many others were skeptical of this line of reasoning, arguing for the MWP’s continuation beyond 2030 on the grounds that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will remain the key to effective climate action.

In discussions on the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), Parties debated the now-classic governance question: does the CMA (Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement) have a mandate to engage in the stocktaking of the LEG’s work? Some Parties are generally wary of recognizing the CMA’s mandate over constituted bodies originally established under the Convention. Others underscore that support for the implementation of the Paris Agreement is now a key function of these bodies.

An informal meeting organized by the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) on preparations for the second Global Stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement also illustrated Parties’ differing expectations as to the timing of the GST’s different phases and the breadth of issues to be addressed in the GST decision. With regard to the latter, Parties pointed to, among others:

• the provision of financial support and how it meets needs; 
• quantitative information on adaptation;
• finance flow alignment;
• barriers to international cooperation; 
• the Ocean-climate nexus; and
• implementation of the GST outcome.