Highlights and images for 17 June 2025

The conferences of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are more than a space for multilateral negotiations—they also provide opportunities for learning and networking. This proved to be a saving grace for many delegates: as lack of agreement on the agendas of the Subsidiary Bodies’ meetings continued to hold up the launch of negotiations, they could at least participate in one of the many events taking place throughout the day.

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

After successive postponements, the opening plenary eventually resumed in the late afternoon and the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) adopted their agendas. They did so without the proposed additional items on trade-restrictive unilateral measures and developed countries’ provision of climate finance (Paris Agreement Article 9.1), on the understanding that: 

• on trade-restrictive unilateral measures, related issues will be discussed in relevant agenda items, including the just transition work programme;
• the SB Chairs will hold substantive consultations on Paris Agreement Article 9.1 to consider substantive elements regarding its implementation, take stock of progress on these consultations at SB 62, and report back at SB 63 for parties’ consideration, with a view to determining a way forward, including potentially a standalone item on this item.

The Chairs of the SBs then outlined the organization of work, noting substantive negotiations will commence on Wednesday, 18 June. 

The Research Dialogue was among the events keeping delegates busy beyond the agenda negotiations. During the session, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided an update on its Seventh Assessment Report. IPCC Chair Jim Skea highlighted that authors have been selected to work on the special report on cities and the methodology report on short-lived climate forcers. He announced that agreement is still pending on the scope of the methodology report on carbon dioxide removal technologies and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. The World Meteorological Organization shared insights from its State of the Global Climate 2024 report, highlighting that 2024 was the warmest year on record, 1.55°C (+/-0.13°C) above the 1850-1900 average. 

Another dialogue, among Indigenous Peoples, local communities, parties, and other stakeholders, served to reflect on the ethical and equitable incorporation of Indigenous values and knowledge, and local knowledge systems in nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Participants heard a presentation on the integration of Indigenous Peoples in NDCs, reporting an increase in the number of references to Indigenous Peoples as rights holders and a positive–though insufficient–trend in their participation of Indigenous Peoples in the design of NDCs.

In the Ocean Dialogue, participants heard key messages from the third UN Ocean Conference that recently convened, including the “Blue NDC Challenge,” which calls on all countries to place the Ocean at the heart of their NDCs. They reflected on ocean energy, the mitigation potential of coastal ecosystems (blue carbon), and opportunities to enhance coastal resilience, among others.

The incoming Brazilian COP 30 Presidency held an event on the promotion of synergies between the Rio Conventions (on climate, biodiversity, and desertification). Participants emphasized nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation as pathways to foster such synergies and underscored the need to promote the interoperability of reporting systems across the Conventions. They also cautioned that efforts to promote synergies must not result in a reduction in the provision of means of implementation or increase access barriers.

In the evening, delegates enjoyed the launch of the photography exhibition “Finding Common Ground,” prepared by Kiara Worth, storyteller and long-time photographer for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. The exhibit, launched in the presence of the Mayor of Bonn, Katja Dörner, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, captures the quieter moments of diplomacy that often go unseen. It addresses topics such as inclusivity, leadership, activism, and transparency.