Highlights and images for 18 June 2026

It was clear from the outset that the last day of the 2026 June Climate Meetings would be a long and difficult one. Parties had yet to reach agreement on a range of issues, including several technology-related items, research and systematic observation, the mitigation work programme (MWP), response measures, and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). With this in mind, the closing plenary was scheduled to last until 10:30 pm. 

First up were the technology items. Negotiators managed to agree on a “package solution” which allowed them to salvage agreement on, among others, recommending that the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) continue to host the Climate Technology Centre. This brought about broad relief, as lack of agreement on this matter would have compromised the delivery of technical support to developing countries in 2027—something that developed and developing countries alike were very keen to avoid.

Negotiations on the other outstanding items did not proceed so smoothly, however. Delegates went back and forth between negotiation formats. The Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) held bilateral consultations with some groups. Other discussions proceeded in huddles of various compositions. Resumed informal consultations were pushed back several times over to offer Parties a chance to make progress in informal-informals. 

In the afternoon, delegates convened to hear closing statements. However, the SBs had still not adopted any conclusions and negotiations were still ongoing on the MWP, response measures, and the GGA. 

Groups, Parties, and observers voiced their keen disappointment with the progress—or lack thereof—made in Bonn. Many of them: 

• denounced push-back against science, including with respect to references to keeping 1.5°C in reach, limiting overshoot, and ensuring that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Seventh Assessment Report feeds into the second Global Stocktake;
• lamented lack of progress on the MWP and GGA; and
• expressed disappointment at the tone of the negotiations.

In the evening, the three outstanding issues—the MWP, GGA, and response measures—were raised to the level of Heads of Delegation (HOD). Seeing the lack of progress at HOD level and the late hour, the SBs reconvened their closing plenaries shortly before 10:00 pm to go through the conclusions that were ready for adoption. Eventually, HODs made their way to plenary and it transpired that no substantive agreement was reached on any of the three issues. This sparked further expressions of disappointment by various groups. 

The meeting closed at 11:37 pm.