Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025 | 07 Jul 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?

The 62nd annual session of the Bonn Climate Change Conference was held in Bonn, Germany. This mid-year meeting sets the stage for key climate negotiations ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belem, Brazil.

What is the Bonn Climate Change Conference? 

  • About: The Bonn Climate Change Conference is a mid-year summit held under the UNFCCC, the 1992 treaty guiding global climate negotiations.  
    • Formally called the Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs), it is one of the two regular UNFCCC climate meetings alongside COP. 
    • It brings together SB members and committees, Indigenous groups, international organisations, scientists, and civil society to review implementation, hold technical discussions, and set the agenda for the upcoming COP summit. 
  • Key Players: 
    • Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of UNFCCC: Reviews implementation, facilitates technical and financial support, especially for developing nations. 
    • Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of UNFCCC: Provides scientific inputs from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to negotiators and policymakers. 

What are the Key Takeaways from the Bonn Conference 2025? 

  • Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA): Progress was made on refining indicators for the GGA, but disagreements over finance and Means of Implementation (MoI) delayed consensus. A draft list of 100 indicators is expected at COP30. 
    • The GGA, first outlined in the Paris Agreement (2015), aims to enhance adaptive capacity and climate resilience. However, it lacked concrete action until COP28 in Dubai, where a framework to define and implement the GGA was finally adopted.  
  • Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP):  Bonn saw significant movement on the JTWP, negotiators agreed to establish a Belém Action Mechanism to share fair transition strategies. 
    • The JTWP is a UNFCCC initiative launched at COP27 (2022) through the Sharm el Sheikh Implementation Plan.  
      • It aims to ensure that climate actions under the Paris Agreement are just, equitable, and aligned with national development goals considering social, economic, and workforce impact and is specifically aimed at supporting workers and communities affected by the shift away from fossil fuels. 
  • National Climate Plans: Most countries missed the February 2025 deadline for submitting updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), slowing efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. 
    • Brazil urged nations to submit stronger NDCs by September 2025 to align with the 1.5°C target. However, the current submissions remain insufficient, possibly pushing warming closer to 2°C. 
  • Climate Finance: Disputes over climate finance were intense, with developing nations (India) pressing for the fulfillment of pledges, including the mobilization of USD 1.3 trillion every year till 2030  
    • Wealthier countries suggested private finance as a solution, but critics argued that public grants were essential. 
    • Developing countries prefer a finance-centric dialogue and emphasize inclusion of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement (obligation of developed countries to provide financial support). 
    • According to the Climate Policy Initiative (an advisory organization), global climate finance must rise to around USD 9 trillion annually by 2030 to keep global temperature increases within the targets set by the Paris Agreement. 
  • Loss and Damage: The conference noted that the Loss and Damage Fund remains underfunded, with only USD 768 million pledged, far from the USD 1 trillion needed. 
    • Despite the pledges, governments have so far signed contribution agreements for USD 495 million and have paid in only USD 321 million. 

Nationally Determined Contributions 

  • About: NDCs are country-specific climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate change under the Paris Agreement, updated every five years.   
    • The existing NDCs, submitted in 2020, pertain to the 2030 period, with 2035 submissions by February 2025. The 2035 NDC must build on the 2030 targets, but countries set their own progression based on resources. 
  • India and NDCs: India submitted its first NDC in 2015, targeting a 33–35% reduction in emission intensity of GDP and 40% non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030. Both targets were achieved ahead of schedule—by October 2023, non-fossil fuel capacity reached 43.81%, and emission intensity had reduced by 33% by 2019.  
    • In August 2022, India updated its NDCs, targeting a 45% reduction in emission intensity of GDP, 50% non-fossil fuel power capacity, and an additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of carbon sink through forest and tree cover by 2030. 
    • According to India’s 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) (2024), emission intensity had reduced by 36%, non-fossil fuel capacity reached 47.10% by December 2024, and 2.29 billion tonnes of carbon sink had been created. 

UNFCCC_And_COP

Read more: UNFCCC COP29 Baku 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Discuss the role of international climate negotiations like the Bonn Climate Change Conference in strengthening global environmental governance.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims: 

Q. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

  1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN, and it will go into effect in 2017. 
  2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2ºC or even 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. 
  3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change. 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1 and 3 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: B 

Mains: 

Q. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (2021)

Q. Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at the World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (2021)