Daily report for 16 June 2025

The climate community has flocked to Bonn again for the annual June Climate Meetings, tasked with paving the way for the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, disagreement over the agendas—specifically two items proposed for inclusion by the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) two weeks earlier—held up the opening of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) until the evening. Several mandated events nevertheless took place throughout the day, including one on indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).

SBI Opening Plenary

Pointing to lengthy discussions with Heads of Delegation on Sunday and throughout the day on Monday, SBI Chair Julia Gardiner (Australia) invited parties to adopt the supplementary provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2025/5/Add.1). Parties could not agree on this and made various counter-proposals.

The EUROPEAN UNION proposed amending the supplementary provisional agenda to expand the scope of item 20 to address not only the implementation of Paris Agreement Article 9.1 (developed countries’ finance provision commitment), but also Article 9.2 (voluntary provision of support) and Article 9.3 (developed countries taking the lead in mobilizing climate finance from a variety of sources). They also proposed adding a footnote, to reflect the understanding that taking this step forward on addressing finance holistically under the SBs would help consolidate the finance agenda more generally, including with regard to the item on long-term finance. 

The GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA (G-77/CHINA) proposed:

• withdrawing the proposed agenda item on trade-restrictive unilateral measures on the condition that related issues will be considered under other relevant items, such as on just transition; and
• maintaining the proposed item on Article 9.1 and inserting a footnote stating that the SB Chairs will hold substantive consultations at SB 62 on this item and report back to parties at SB 63 to determine a way forward, including a potential standalone item on the matter.

On trade measures, the EU proposed that discussions under other agenda items “may” consider the matter.   

The ARAB GROUP opposed the EU’s proposal on finance, noting that the G-77/CHINA’s proposal already represents a step back from the initial vision of the proponents of the item on Article 9.1. TUVALU suggested adopting the provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2025/5) with the footnote proposed by the G-77/China on trade measures, as amended by the EU, and the item on Article 9.1 and related footnote suggested by the G-77/China. The LMDCs objected to the EU’s proposal on the grounds that Article 9.1 relates to legal obligations of developed countries while Article 9.2 pertains to voluntary contributions, and opposed replacing “will” with “may” with respect to trade measures.

SBI Chair Gardiner suspended the plenary, announcing it will resume on Tuesday, without interpretation.

Mandated Events

Workshop on GGA Indicators: In this mandated event, participants heard reports from eight groups of technical experts tasked with consolidating the draft list of indicators to track the thematic targets and targets related to the iterative adaptation cycle, as set out in the GGA Framework. Providing feedback, they, among others:

• welcomed the refined list of 490 indicators (FCCC/SB/2025/3);
• noted gaps in the list of indicators and questioned the relevance of some;
• highlighted the importance of focusing on vulnerable groups such as Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, and children and youth;
• called for indicators on means of implementation to focus on the provision of climate finance under the Paris Agreement;
• opposed indicators tracking domestic budgeting decisions; and
• stressed that indicators should not add to the national reporting burden.

Workshop on Experiences in Economic Diversification, Workforce Transition, and Response Measures Impact Assessment: In this mandated event convened in the context of the workstream on response measures, participants heard presentations on, among others: a pilot project that turned a coal mine into a hydroponic farm; fly-ash brick manufacturing; and the impacts of carbon-border adjustment mechanisms. Parties’ comments highlighted that not all intend to respond to the Global Stocktake’s call to transition away from fossil fuels. 

In-Session Technical Workshop to Facilitate the Design of Gender Action Plan Activities: The first day of this three-day workshop started with scene-setting presentations. Afterwards participants engaged in interactive discussions to reflect on activities in the existing action plan to discuss whether adjustments are needed and brainstorm new ideas. 

In the Corridors

Waiting… and waiting… and more waiting. Monday’s discussions (or rather, the lack thereof) felt a lot like Samuel Beckett’s famous play involving an elusive guest. It started with long queues in front of the registration desks, which provided an opportune platform for pro-Palestinian protestors to land their message with the lined-up participants.

The wait continued inside the venue, with the opening plenary failing to materialize for hours on end. Meanwhile, delegates did get to engage substantively in mandated events, including on technical experts’ progress in elaborating indicators towards the Global Goal on Adaptation. “They’ve miraculously managed to bring down the number from 9000 to 490 indicators,” acknowledged one observer with appreciation.

The Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies spent hours behind closed doors with Heads of Delegation to try and defuse a protracted agenda fight—without much success. When the opening plenary finally convened late in the evening, agreement was still nowhere in sight as various proposals were floated and rejected on the floor amidst expiring interpretation services and pressures to vacate the venue. While rushing out of the building, a seasoned delegate spelled out the obvious: “I hope Godot will come at last.”