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The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Months ahead of COP30, Bonn climate talks fumble pressure test
As the world braces for another climate summit in November this year, the Subsidiary Bodies meeting in Bonn, Germany, brought together negotiators, scientists, policymakers, and civil society actors to tackle the complex, behind-the-scenes work that shapes the outcome of the Conference of the Parties (COP) summit. Held annually in Bonn, this mid-year gathering sets the technical and political groundwork for the ensuing COPs, with the 30th Session of the COP (COP30) scheduled for later this year in Belém, Brazil. Beyond setting the agenda, Bonn could be considered a litmus test to gauge how seriously countries are committed to implementing past pledges and how prepared they are to scale up ambition in the face of a rapidly closing climate window. Sadly, this year's Bonn conference was marked by delays, deep disagreements, and mounting frustration, especially over procedural priorities and climate finance. As global temperatures continue to break records, the urgency to act was palpable — as was the resistance to revisiting entrenched political differences. Delayed start, deep divisions The conference got off to a slow start as agenda adoption, a procedural step, was stalled by disputes over finance and trade measures. The Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs, including India) demanded the inclusion of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which obligates developed countries to provide climate finance and unilateral trade measures, such as carbon border taxes, on the agenda. India, along with the LMDCs, continues to see carbon border taxes as unfair, undermining principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. Both these propositions were opposed by developed nations, particularly the European Union, which argued that finance issues were being addressed under other agenda items. Eventually, a compromise was reached to address these issues: not as standalone agenda items but through informal consultations. Disappointed with developed countries' reluctance to discuss the legal obligations to provide financial support to developing countries, the LMDCs stated their intention to revisit this contentious issue at COP30. This prolonged deadlock delayed the start of formal negotiations by nearly two days and underscored the persistent divide. While developing nations pushed for historical responsibilities to be acknowledged and operationalised, developed countries advocated forward-looking frameworks and voluntary support mechanisms. An elusive agreement One of the most intensely negotiated themes at Bonn was the Global Goal on Adaptation, which aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change, enhance adaptive capacity, and strengthen resilience. There were also discussions on integrating the National Adaptation Plan progress into the Goal, which the G77+China rooted for. One of the key drawbacks of the Goal thus far has been the lack of metrics. At Bonn, about 490 indicators from a list of nearly 9,000 were shortlisted, with the aim of consolidating them further to about 100. These indicators will be used to track adaptation actions under health, water, agriculture, and infrastructure, among others. India emphasised that adaptation must not be assessed through a uniform lens and backed indicators that are flexible, context-sensitive, and don't overburden national reporting. However, differences and tensions arose over whether and how to include indicators on the means of implementation, including finance, capacity, and technology transfer. Many developing countries and regional blocs, such as the African Group and Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC), stressed that without finance-related indicators, adaptation efforts will remain an unfunded mandate. However, countries like Japan and Australia pushed back against including finance-related indicators. Additionally, the African Group and AILAC were opposed to including indicators to track domestic finance allocation and development assistance, while Australia supported their inclusion, emphasising the importance of tracking national adaptation processes. The process to refine indicators was thus contentious. Countries including Australia warned against micromanaging expert groups tasked with technical work while others demanded clear guidance and tight timelines. Towards the end of the conference, Parties agreed on a globally applicable headline indicator set, which would be complemented by regionally or nationally tailored context-specific sub-indicators. Guidance on indicators to reflect the means of implementation wasn't agreed on, however. 'Safe space' debate The Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) — created to scale up action to meet the 1.5° C target — also came under scrutiny. While many Parties acknowledged the usefulness of dialogues under the MWP, several questioned its ability to deliver actual emissions reductions. The debate between Parties was on how a constructive and inclusive environment, a.k.a. safe space, could be provided for the MWP discussions: some advocated a push to ramp up ambitions while others wanted to limit their scope. Developing countries emphasised that many of them have already set ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets but lack the financial and technical support to implement them. The LMDCs, including India, and the African and Arab Groups, warned against the MWP being used to impose new commitments and urged that it remain a facilitative, non-punitive process. The Philippines called for the MWP to facilitate, promote, and enhance international cooperation. Further, a proposal was made to develop a digital platform to share mitigation tools and experiences. While Brazil, supported by Egypt, argued that this could help connect fragmented initiatives, the Alliance of Small Island States and the EU cautioned about the duplication of existing platforms, which could take attention away from scaling up ambitions. L&D, just transition, gender The review of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage (L&D) made some headway, with proposals emerging on integrating L&D into NDCs and streamlining technical assistance. However, funding gaps and questions about how the Santiago Network — a UN initiative linking vulnerable developing nations with technical support to tackle climate impacts, focusing on loss and damage reduction — would operate continued to cloud consensus. In this session, interventions by observers emphasised the need to consider non-economic L&D, scale up finance, and align L&D efforts with human rights obligations. India and other developing countries called for streamlining access to technical support and adequate and scaled-up funding for responding to climate-induced losses. In discussions under the Just Transition Work Programme, Parties emphasised that just transition must be anchored in equity, development rights, and national contexts. Social dialogue, labour rights, and meaningful stakeholder engagement, especially that of Indigenous Peoples, were highlighted as foundational to just transition. Parties also flagged the economic impacts of unilateral measures, such as carbon border taxes (tariffs imposed on imported goods based on their carbon footprint) and trade barriers, and the role of critical minerals in energy transition. Parties agreed to address these issues through linked agenda items, and this would remain a bone of contention at COP30. A new dispute emerged at Bonn in connection with the development of a new Gender Action Plan. There were differences of opinion on terminology (gender diversity and intersectionality). Key areas of focus proposed for the Plan included unpaid care work, sexual and reproductive health, and addressing gender-based violence, signalling the need for a framework that responds to evolving realities. In this context, the roles of gender-disaggregated data, traditional knowledge systems, and gender-responsive budgeting were also discussed. Climate finance gridlock Climate finance loomed large across almost every negotiation track. The issues of how much funding is available, where it is going, where it will go, and how predictable it is remained a recurring theme across discussions on adaptation, mitigation, and L&D. The presidency-led consultation on the 'Baku to Belem' roadmap aims to operationalise a target to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually in climate finance. But deep disagreements emerged over the structure of finance — grants v. loans, public v. private, and mitigation v. adaptation — and who should be held responsible for raising the money. Developing countries pushed for transparent and clear burden-sharing frameworks among developed countries, with the G77 and China calling for tackling systemic barriers to finance. Small Island Developing States, represented by AOSIS, demanded earmarked and fast-disbursing funds tailored to their unique vulnerabilities. The Least Developed Countries sought a tripling of adaptation finance by 2030 compared to 2022 levels and a greater reliance on grants. Several groups, including AILAC, the Environmental Integrity Group, and the Arab Group, also stressed the importance of tracking progress; scaling non-debt instruments; and innovating revenue streams, such as taxes on financial transactions. The EU noted the need for the roadmap to be a transparent platform engaging external stakeholders and building on existing initiatives. Taken together, these inputs reflect a clear call for an inclusive and accountable roadmap that's responsive to diverse regional needs. Meanwhile, concerns emerged over the credibility of ex-ante finance reporting by developed countries on their planned financial contributions, per Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement. Several developing countries highlighted discrepancies between planned or promised contributions and actual disbursements and called for reforms to improve transparency and accountability. On the service arrangements of the Adaptation Fund: Parties led by AOSIS requested that the World Bank, currently an Interim Trustee of the Fund, be named the Permanent Trustee of the Adaptation Fund. With COP30 in Belém just months away, the Bonn Climate Conference was both a teaser and a pressure test. On the positive side, parties made incremental progress on technical workstreams like adaptation indicators, transparency frameworks, and Article 6 (on cooperative mechanisms). But the underlying political tensions around equity and finance remain unresolved. Bonn 2025 reaffirmed that while the science is unequivocal, politics will determine the pace of action. Indu K. Murthy leads the Climate, Environment and Sustainability sector at the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank.
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India flags finance as Bonn talks end
India has endorsed the views of Like-Minded Developing Countries, G77 and China groupings that adherence to Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which mandates developed nations to provide financial assistance to developing countries, is critical as the world approaches the annual climate conference scheduled for November. Bonn Climate Meetings act as a midway point before COP (AP) During the closing plenary at the Bonn Climate Meetings, which act as a midway point before COP, India said that lack of progress on Article 9.1 has emerged as one of the foremost challenges related to climate finance. 'Lack of any progress on Article 9.1 is one of the foremost challenges related to climate finance. This is a global priority. This is a priority for Global South. This is not possible without international cooperation and the developed countries meeting their obligation and ensuring the urgent implementation of Article 9.1,' India's delegate at Bonn said. India has also expressed concerns about unilateral trade measures. '…we are concerned about the unilateral trade measures against the provision of Article 3.5 of the Convention. We are hearing unilateral carbon border adjustments, which directly contravene the principles of equity, CBDRRC, and the multilateral spirit of the Convention. We strongly urge parties to reflect on this and extend support to these matters in future deliberations,' Rajashree Ray, economic advisor, MoEFCC, said. While Article 9.1 says that developed countries must provide financial resources to assist developing countries for mitigation and adaptation, Article 3.5 of the UNFCCC mandates countries to cooperate for a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to sustainable economic growth and development. 'We need to put our best foot forward to strengthen multilateralism, rebuild trust, and ensure to find a just and equitable solution that leaves no one behind. As ever, India stands ready to work constructively with all parties… India is committed to a scientific approach to addressing climate change,' she said. One of the key agendas for COP30 is the 'Baku to Belem' road map to 1.3T, which is all about mobilising climate finance for the developing world. The spokesperson for LMDC grouping said there were 'many, many unfulfilled promises' from developed country partners. 'We have faced a lot of resistance from our developed country partners in moving forward agenda items that would support actual implementation of the Paris Agreement... Instead, our partners prefer to talk about having more dialogues, obfuscating the real issues underlying their failure to fully comply with their long-standing commitments since 1994… And as if to add insult to the injury, against our needs which run into trillions of dollars, developed countries chose to offer to mobilise only $300 billion for the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG),' said Diego Pacheco, Bolivia's climate negotiator and spokesperson for LMDC. 'COP30 needs to inspire all of us to implement the Paris Agreement, grounded squarely on the principles of the Convention, equity and CBDR-RC, while unlocking the provision of public finance through implementation of Article 9.1, while seriously addressing trade restricted unilateral measures,' he added. At COP29, held in Baku, developing nations sought the mobilisation of $1.3 trillion with a $600 billion of this coming through grants and grants equivalent resources by 2030. However, the chair hastily gavelled a climate finance goal of 'at least $300 billion per year by 2035' from a wide variety of sources. Experts said the Bonn discussions were an example of the 'hypocrisy' of wealthy countries. 'In Bonn, we saw the theater of rich nations once again dodging their duty, hiding behind the smokescreen of technical talks while communities in the Global South are left to drown in broken promises. After decades of negotiations, the fundamental truth remains unchanged: there is no climate justice without climate finance,' Harjeet Singh, Climate Activist and Founding Director, Satat Sampada Climate Foundation. 'And the hypocrisy is stark: wealthy countries can find trillions for military spending and the fossil fuel industry, yet they sideline the adaptation finance that is crucial for helping people suffering from losses and damages. We cannot achieve a just transition away from fossil fuels or protect our people from devastating climate impacts until the wealthy countries that created this crisis finally meet their commitments with real, public grants,' Singh said.
Economic Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
In Bonn, India leads climate finance fight for developing world ahead of COP30
Developing nations, led by India, are pushing for climate finance accountability at the Bonn climate conference, demanding developed countries fulfill their obligations under Article 9.1 of Paris Agreement. Dissatisfaction with COP29's climate finance outcomes fuels the push to include Article 9.1 as a formal agenda item at COP30. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads ( Originally published on Jun 24, 2025 ) Backed by strong interventions led by India, coalitions such as G77+China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) came together to raise the issue of climate finance accountability at the ongoing SB62 Bonn climate conference The mobilisation of developing nations at Bonn is likely to set the tone for the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, where there is expected to be a strong push to include Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement as a formal agenda item. This comes against the backdrop of widespread disappointment with the climate finance outcomes at COP29 in Baku in Bonn conference - an annual precursor to the COP - has seen a standoff between developed and developing countries over including Article 9.1 as a standalone agenda item. The article underscores the obligation of developed countries to provide financial resources to support both mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing the demand to list Article 9.1 formally on the agenda was not accepted, the conference Chairs permitted a formal consultation on the issue on June 23. India and Bolivia led the discussions, with active interventions from Nigeria, Chad, and the Arab the heart of the debate is Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which states: "Developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation in continuation of their existing obligations under the Convention."However, developing nations argue that the poor implementation of Article 9.1 has undermined both climate equity and trust in the global climate regime. Most climate finance, they note, continues to be in the form of loans rather than grants, increasing the financial burden on vulnerable made a forceful pitch during the formal consultation, describing Article 9.1 not just as a moral imperative, but a legal obligation and the "cornerstone of climate equity." It cautioned that strategic deflections from the issue would only delay global climate action and asserted that the commitment cannot be replaced by loosely defined or indirect support concern over what it called a weakening of multilateralism in climate action , India stressed that implementing Article 9.1 was essential to restoring credibility, balance, and trust in the climate also termed the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, announced at COP29 in Baku, as "grossly inadequate," "incomplete," and an "eyewash," sources told Indian delegation also flagged shifting narratives that place unrealistic burdens on developing countries, ignoring their domestic priorities and development challenges. It emphasised that additional climate finance must not come at the cost of undermining national development goals.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
In Bonn, India leads climate finance fight for developing world ahead of COP30
Backed by strong interventions led by India, coalitions such as G77+China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) came together to raise the issue of climate finance accountability at the ongoing SB62 Bonn climate conference . The mobilisation of developing nations at Bonn is likely to set the tone for the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, where there is expected to be a strong push to include Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement as a formal agenda item. This comes against the backdrop of widespread disappointment with the climate finance outcomes at COP29 in Baku in 2024. The Bonn conference - an annual precursor to the COP - has seen a standoff between developed and developing countries over including Article 9.1 as a standalone agenda item. The article underscores the obligation of developed countries to provide financial resources to support both mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing nations. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Although the demand to list Article 9.1 formally on the agenda was not accepted, the conference Chairs permitted a formal consultation on the issue on June 23. India and Bolivia led the discussions, with active interventions from Nigeria, Chad, and the Arab Group. At the heart of the debate is Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which states: "Developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation in continuation of their existing obligations under the Convention." Live Events However, developing nations argue that the poor implementation of Article 9.1 has undermined both climate equity and trust in the global climate regime. Most climate finance, they note, continues to be in the form of loans rather than grants, increasing the financial burden on vulnerable economies. India's Stand at Bonn India made a forceful pitch during the formal consultation, describing Article 9.1 not just as a moral imperative, but a legal obligation and the "cornerstone of climate equity." It cautioned that strategic deflections from the issue would only delay global climate action and asserted that the commitment cannot be replaced by loosely defined or indirect support mechanisms. Expressing concern over what it called a weakening of multilateralism in climate action , India stressed that implementing Article 9.1 was essential to restoring credibility, balance, and trust in the climate regime. India also termed the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, announced at COP29 in Baku, as "grossly inadequate," "incomplete," and an "eyewash," sources told ET. The Indian delegation also flagged shifting narratives that place unrealistic burdens on developing countries, ignoring their domestic priorities and development challenges. It emphasised that additional climate finance must not come at the cost of undermining national development goals.
