Bonn Climate Conference ends without key progress as COP31 preparations advance

The United Nations' Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64) ran from June 8 to June 18 in Bonn, Germany, concluding without agreed steps on phasing out fossil fuels, protecting forests, or securing climate‑finance and adaptation funds. UN Climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warned that “significant divergences remain and a great deal of work lies ahead” during the final briefing.

Turkey, co‑organising the forthcoming COP31 with Australia, put forward a global electrification goal to raise electricity’s share of final energy demand from just over 20 % today to 35 % by 2035. Climate Action Network Europe welcomed the ambition but cautioned that it must be underpinned by renewable energy and efficiency, not new fossil‑fuel infrastructure. Negotiators also made progress on a “just transition” framework, the Belém‑Antalya Mechanism (BAM), aimed at ensuring climate‑finance reaches workers and communities most affected by the shift away from coal.

Despite these discussions, critical gaps remained on fossil‑fuel phase‑out pathways and financing, prompting NGOs such as Greenpeace Turkey to stress the lack of “vital progress.” The conference set the stage for the November COP31 in Turkey, but substantial policy work remains.

Key statements included Emel Türker Alpay of Greenpeace Turkey noting the planet is losing a football‑field of forest every two seconds, and UN officials highlighting the need for “real seriousness” in tackling core climate issues.