Bonn conference concludes amid unfulfilled promises

The recently concluded Bonn Climate Conference, which served as a crucial stepping stone towards the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, witnessed intense deliberations on various pressing issues.

From the Global Stocktake (GST) to adaptation, loss and damage, and finance, the conference brought together delegates from around the world to address the urgent climate crisis.

However, amid the discussions, there were points of contention and unmet expectations that need to be examined.

One of the significant highlights of the conference was COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber's address, in which he acknowledged the imperative to "phase down" fossil fuels. While this statement was welcomed, critics pointed out the absence of a clear timeline or comprehensive plan.

"We recognise the need to phase down all fossil fuels," Sultan Al Jaber said during his address. However, critics argue that the absence of a clear timeline hampers the COP Presidency's vision for COP28 and sets no concrete expectations for the conference.

The political phase of the GST, a critical component of global climate governance, commenced during the Bonn conference. However, discussions became gridlocked due to disagreements over the structure and process of the GST. Consequently, the political outcome of the GST will be decided at COP28, leaving key decisions hanging in the balance.

The GST discussions at the Bonn conference faced significant challenges, with delegates unable to reach a consensus on the structure and process. As a result, the final decisions regarding the political outcome of the GST have been postponed until COP28.

Another contentious topic at the conference was loss and damage. Discussions revolved around the Santiago Network, the loss and damage fund, and the Glasgow dialogue. Notably, the host for the Santiago network was expected to be announced but remained undecided. Additionally, innovative sources of finance, including Greenpeace's call for taxing fossil fuel company profits to fund loss and damage, sparked deliberations on how to address the financial aspect of climate action.

Greenpeace advocated for rich governments to tax fossil fuel company profits to fund loss and damage. They argued, "Innovative sources of finance are crucial to address the impacts of climate change and support vulnerable communities."

The adoption of an agenda proved to be a significant challenge during the conference, with parties failing to reach a consensus until the penultimate day. The disagreement arose when the European Union proposed including the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) on the agenda, while other countries, particularly developing nations, insisted on prioritising discussions around finance.

The adoption of the conference agenda faced a significant hurdle as parties disagreed on the inclusion of the Mitigation Work Programme. Developing countries argued that discussions on finance should take precedence, revealing the ongoing struggle between developed and developing nations in climate negotiations.

A prominent demand voiced by campaigners during the Bonn conference was a call for a fossil fuel phase-out deal at COP28. Youth climate activists, including Eric Njuguna and Greta Thunberg, emphasized the need for transitioning away from fossil fuels and scaling up renewable energy to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

During a press conference, youth climate activist Eric Njuguna stated, "Keeping to 1.5 degrees Celsius is only possible with a fossil fuel phase-out deal and the ramping up of renewables."

In addition to the immediate outcomes of the Bonn conference, the unresolved deadlock concerning the host for COP29 in 2024 raised concerns. Geopolitical tensions within the Eastern Group, exacerbated by the Russia war and Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, prevented a consensus.

The decision on the host will now be made at COP28 in Dubai, with the possibility of defaulting to Bonn if the stalemate persists.

The geopolitical tensions within the Eastern Group, fueled by ongoing conflicts, led to a deadlock in selecting the host for COP29 in 2024. "This unresolved issue raises doubts about the smooth progression of climate negotiations," said Linda Kalcher, Executive Director, Strategic Perspectives.

Expectations were high regarding the influence of the recent warnings from the IPCC synthesis report on climate policy and action. However, some developing countries questioned the inclusiveness and robustness of the panel's findings, signaling a need for further discussions andclarifications.

Some developing countries expressed skepticism regarding the inclusiveness and robustness of the IPCC's findings, emphasizing the need for further discussions to address their concerns.

The importance of climate finance and adaptation was underscored during workshops on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Concerns were raised over the insufficient progress in meeting adaptation finance targets, as only 10 out of 26 wealthy countries fulfilled their commitments.

"The shortfall in funding jeopardises the ability of vulnerable nations, including Kenya, to adapt to the impacts of climate change effectively," Mohamed Adow, Powershift Africa.

The inadequate progress in meeting adaptation finance targets raised concerns about the ability of vulnerable nations, like Kenya, to effectively adapt to the impacts of climate change. The commitments made by wealthy countries must be fulfilled to support climate resilience efforts.