THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2025 – As the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference concludes, outcomes remain modest— but the determination negotiators showed in standing firm on their positions, even amidst a complex geopolitical landscape and in the absence of a U.S. delegation, sends an important signal: multilateral climate cooperation still matters. Countries remain committed to delivering results in Belém this November.
Alexandra Scott, Senior Climate Diplomacy Expert at ECCO – the Italian Climate Change Think Tank, said:
“The tenacity on display in Bonn is a reminder that countries still value this process, even when progress is hard-fought. But we need leadership that goes beyond facilitation: we need vision, direction, and action. Brazil – and climate champions like Europe – have the chance to raise the bar at COP30 and deliver concrete results to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.”
Despite limited concrete progress on critical areas like climate finance and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – with only a handful of new NDCs submitted – there was a clear undercurrent in Bonn that the world expects more from the road to COP30 in Belém.
Brazil, as the COP30 Presidency, helped steer some progress on procedural items that had stalled at COP29, showcasing an open and inclusive diplomatic approach. Given that big climate decisions on economic transformation and planning and on finance are in the hands of Ministers and Leaders rather than negotiators, there is growing pressure for Brazil to shift from coordination to leadership at higher political levels.
The spotlight now turns to Ministers and Leaders at moments like the Clean Energy Ministerial, the Africa Climate Summit, and the UN General Assembly meetings to lead on substance:
- What new adaptation finance pledges can they bring to the table?
- How will the Circle of Finance Ministers Brazil has convened guide the $1.3 trillion roadmap toward concrete deliverables?
- Will Brazil’s “action agenda” secure real emissions-cutting policies from countries, cities, or businesses in key sectors?
With just months to go before COP30, one message echoed throughout Bonn: process must now give way to progress. Countries need to arrive in Belém with clear goals—not just logistical demands—and a shared determination to scale up climate action.
Photo by UNclimatechange
