The Climate Change Conference, held from June 3–13, 2024, in Bonn, Germany, is an intersessional negotiating session under SBSTA 60 and SBI 60, collectively referred to as SB60 . This meeting is crucial in preparing for the COP 29 climate talks, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11–22, 2024.
Key Issues Negotiated in SB60
Three main issues were negotiated in SB60. The first was the implementation of the Global Stocktake (GST) to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. The second was the post-2025 climate funding target, commonly referred to as the NCQG ( New Collective Quantified Goal ). The third was the operationalization of the Loss & Damage Fund to address damage and losses caused by climate change.
The Hard Road to Ending Fossil Fuels
The 28th Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai last year resulted in a landmark decision on the Global Stocktake (GST), which included a call for all countries to transition away from fossil fuels within this decade. Unfortunately, the Bonn meeting failed to produce significant progress on this issue. According to the IISD , countries failed to agree on new dialogue modalities to implement the GST outcomes and did not reach agreement on a climate change mitigation work program. According to Carbon Brief , countries in the Like-Minded Group of Developing Countries (LMDCs), particularly China and Saudi Arabia, are blocking negotiations on the transition away from fossil fuels.
This lack of progress is particularly regrettable, as the safe limit of 1.5°C is on the verge of being exceeded. In other words, the fate of future generations hangs in the balance as climate change has become a crisis.
In a joint demand at COP 28, Indonesian civil society called for the adoption of a global target to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy. The use of all types of fossil fuels must be phased out without exception, both on-grid and off-grid , including captive energy. Furthermore, this effort must be carried out equitably by protecting the rights of the most impacted communities, including the fate of workers, gender equality, land rights, and the right to a good and healthy environment.
Indonesian civil society also called for the adoption of a global target to halt ecosystem degradation and restore all natural ecosystems, including forests, coasts, mangroves, and oceans, by 2030. This is crucial because six of the nine planetary boundaries that support human life and well-being have been exceeded, including changes in land systems due to forest destruction and changes in freshwater systems.
READ ALSO: Civil Society Demands at COP 28
Raise NDC Ambition in Accordance with Global Stocktake Results
The GST results encourage countries to submit more ambitious climate commitments, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aligned with the 1.5°C target by February 2025.
In order not to exceed 1.5°C, global emissions must fall by 43% by 2030 and 65% by 2035 compared to 2019. The NDC in the next round (Second NDC) must be able to close the ambition gap ( emissions gap ) of 20.3–23.9 Gt CO2e by 2030 without reducing the adaptive capacity of other countries, especially in developing and poor countries, and while still protecting human rights.
This NDC update also needs to be taken advantage of to make the Second NDC drafting process more participatory and inclusive, namely by meaningfully involving civil society, including vulnerable groups.
Will There Be a Solution to the Funding Issue?
Developed and developing countries are still hotly debating the post-2025 global climate funding issue . This target, known as the NCQG ( New Collective Quantified Goal ), must be agreed upon at COP 29 next November. Several issues that have become a stumbling block include developed countries' perceived failure to fulfill their commitment to disburse US$100 billion annually to assist developing countries. While developed countries claim to have met this target, developing countries complain that much of the funding comes in the form of loans. They also complain about developed countries relabeling their aid as climate finance.
Developed and developing countries are still debating who should pay, whether it should only be developed countries or include developing countries that are capable. They are also debating the amount of funding. The Arab Group, LMDCs including China, India, and small island states (AOSIS) are demanding funding from developed countries of US$1.1-1.3 trillion per year . The debate over the use of funds is no less heated, with developed countries rejecting the use of climate funding to finance Loss and Damage . According to Carbon Brief, this funding issue seems likely to continue to " hold hostage " future climate negotiations.
Indonesian civil society is demanding a shift in global funding flows from emissions-intensive or "dirty" sectors to sectors focused on environmental recovery and restoration or "green." Climate finance must also be easily accessible to affected communities, including young people who want to participate in mitigation and adaptation efforts. Climate finance must not increase the debt burden of developing countries (a " debt trap ").
According to Madani, the focus of climate finance obligations should remain on developed countries, known as Annex I countries. This aligns with the principle of distributive justice in climate justice, which emphasizes the role of developed countries in causing climate change (historical debt). However, non-Annex I countries can also be encouraged to contribute based on indicators such as their level of capacity to pay and historical responsibility (emissions).
The amount of global climate funding must be calculated based on the needs and priorities of developing countries to address the climate crisis, especially its impacts. A balance between funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation is crucial. Currently, climate change adaptation still receives a significantly smaller share of funding than mitigation. Climate funding must also be opened to fund Loss and Damage . Sub-goals for adaptation and Loss and Damage targets can be created to ensure that both receive sufficient funding. Furthermore, a transparent framework and mechanism must be in place to measure the progress of global climate finance distribution.
Operationalization of Loss and Damage Funding
Operationalization of funding to address damage and losses due to climate change ( Loss and Damage ) is very important for poor and developing countries.
Several key issues remain to be resolved to fully operationalize Loss and Damage funding . The primary one is the funding source. Developed countries oppose the use of the post-2025 global climate finance (NCQG) to finance Loss and Damage, while developing countries want a specific target for Loss and Damage . Another issue is who should access the funding and how to access it.
In the interim (for two years), the World Bank will serve as trustee and host of the Loss and Damage funding secretariat. In the meantime, an Independent Board will determine eligibility criteria and risk management policies. The next step in operationalizing the Loss and Damage funding is to establish the secretariat and elect an Executive Director.
Indonesian civil society emphasized the importance of assistance to countries and communities most impacted and with the least capacity to address climate change. The six civil society demands related to Loss and Damage are:
The COP must agree on a target amount of funding needed to address the damage and losses caused by the climate crisis.
Developed countries based on the CBDR ( Common But Differentiated Responsibility ) principle must immediately provide a fair, adequate and new portion of funding.
The operationalization of Loss and Damage funding mechanisms allocated to countries and communities most in need must be based on vulnerability and capacity assessments taking into account adaptation constraints.
Funding mechanisms must be designed simply without getting bogged down in complicated bureaucratic processes and must be immediately accessible to affected communities effectively and efficiently.
Loss and Damage should focus on reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation as well as providing financial support to communities displaced both temporarily and permanently.
Loss and Damage should provide financial support for both economic and non-economic losses such as loss of cultural heritage and biodiversity.
The 2024 Bonn Climate Change Conference fully demonstrated the many significant challenges that remain to be overcome in the global fight against climate change. While progress on some key issues has been limited, hope remains as calls from civil society and governments for more ambitious and inclusive action grow. With COP 29 fast approaching, it is crucial for all parties to remain committed to finding just and sustainable solutions for the future of the planet and future generations. A concrete and ambitious agreement is expected to bring real change to the 1.5°C safe limit and ensure fair and effective climate finance, especially for those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
