Bonn Climate Change Conference: Disappointing Outcome.
13 June 2024 — The Bonn Climate Change Conference has come to an end with disappointing outcomes across the board, with finance negotiations being the deal breaker-as ALWAYS! Rich countries owe a climate debt to developing countries to help them adapt to the climate crisis. CARE is disillusioned by the slow to lack of progress in Bonn. Representatives of CARE and CARE partner organizations from various countries attended the conference. Below is what they had to say about the Bonn june climate intersessions :
On Finance: John Nordbo, Senior Climate Adviser CARE Denmark, said:
“As a citizen from a developed country, I feel ashamed. Here in Bonn, the wealthy countries have acted like a bunch of runaway drivers. Instead of acknowledging their responsibility for global warming they are trying to evade their commitments to provide climate finance. They even seek to exclude support for victims of climate catastrophes from the talks. This behavior is far below the dignity one would expect from any noble citizen.”
On Adaptation:Marlene Achoki, Global policy Lead climate & Resilience said:
Adaptation action and support is crucial for developing countries in the face of ravaging climate Impacts. It is very disappointing that discussions around the Global goal on adaptation for global resilience in Bonn ended up with a compromised text on means of implementation -finance and without clear modalities for engaging in developing the indicators for global goal on adaptation. It’s important as we head to Baku COP29 that parties agree to a clear roadmap on indicator mapping, compilation and finalization of the framework. This will ensure progress in adaptation action and clearly highlight provision of finance that is very critical to support vulnerable countries to adapt and build resilience. We have run out of time!
On Loss and damage: Obed Koringo, Climate Policy Adviser, said:
Besides the adoption of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) Review TORs, discussions on Loss and Damage focused on the Glasgow Dialogue ahead of another “High Level Dialogue” later this year. In the lead up to COP29, countries must shift from mere dialogues to real action by ensuring that the Loss and Damage Fund is fully operational for it to deliver adequate and timely access of funds to vulnerable communities and countries. The immediate priority must be to fully capitalize the Fund through ambitious pledges by developed countries. To ensure Long-term financing, it is crucial that Loss and Damage is integrated as a subgoal of the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG).
On gender: Rosa van Driel, Policy Adviser Climate Justice for CARE Netherlands, said:
The lack of progress made in Bonn is deeply alarming. Parties need to raise their ambition for COP29 instead of backtracking on past commitments. In the gender and climate negotiations, valuable time was wasted reversing established progressive language and finance. The revision of the Gender Action Plan in Baku should not bring us back in time, but drive us forward, ending climate and gender injustices. This also requires adequate finance. Developing countries need support to implement ambitious, gender-just climate plans, and developed countries must fulfill their financial responsibilities. We must end divisive debates and amplify our efforts. It is time to end divisive debates and step up efforts.
On gender and climate finance – Hayley Capp, Climate Policy Adviser for CARE International UK
“Disappointing progress on gender and climate finance at this month’s UN climate meetings has put the future of millions of marginalized communities facing the brunt of the climate crisis, especially women and girls, in serious jeopardy.
Parties failed to reach a conclusion on an ambitious new Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) and limited progress has been made on agreeing a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that delivers for the most affected countries without burdening them with debt. This leaves lots to do before COP29 in November if countries are to agree on a strengthened Enhanced Lima Work Programme (LWPG) and Gender Action Plan (GAP) that is more progressive, transformative and inclusive than the last, with the climate finance to implement.
It is critical therefore that the next UK Government steps up to the plate. COP29 will be one of the first major opportunities and tests for the new Government to demonstrate global leadership and ambition on the climate crisis. They must prioritize achieving agreements that deliver on gender equality and unlock new and additional climate finance targeted towards the women’s rights organisations who are leading their communities in this crisis.”