Climate Blog
2025-06-12
2025 Bonn Climate Conference Preview: A Critical Moment for Rebuilding Trust and Advancing Climate Action
The Bonn Climate Change Conference (Bonn Conference), held annually in June, is a vital platform for global climate governance, convened by two subsidiary bodies under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). This conference not only follows up on the outcomes of the previous United Nations Climate Conference (COP) but also establishes implementation mechanisms and negotiation foundations for the upcoming COP. This year’s Bonn Conference, scheduled for June 16–26, will build on the outcomes of last year’s COP29 in Azerbaijan and pave the way for COP30, to be held in Belém, Brazil, at the end of the year.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the Bonn Conference is becoming increasingly significant. The outcomes of COP29 last year left many countries disappointed, particularly due to limited progress on key issues such as climate finance, the Global Stocktake (GST), and the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP). The climate finance target agreed upon at COP29 was only $300 billion, far below the $1.3 trillion demanded by developing countries, and follow-up work on the Global Stocktake failed to reach a consensus. Trust among nations has been further eroded, posing challenges to advancing global climate action.
The Bonn Conference carries several critical tasks this year, one of the most important being the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Paris Climate Agreement. Since the adoption of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap at COP29, progress on the GGA has been slow, with significant disagreements persisting, particularly regarding the development of specific indicators. It must establish a clear implementation pathway for the GGA to serve as a core guide for countries in advancing climate adaptation actions. At the same time, developing these indicators is not only crucial for enhancing climate resilience but will also directly impact whether least developed countries and small island states can secure sufficient financial support.
Another key focus of the conference is advancing carbon trading mechanisms. The international carbon market mechanisms outlined in Article 6, paragraphs 2 and 4, of the Paris Climate Agreement are critical tools for global emissions reduction efforts but have long faced challenges such as ineffective implementation and lack of transparency. The Bonn Conference needs to further refine these mechanisms to ensure that emissions credit trading is fair and effective while encouraging private sector participation in emissions reduction efforts. Additionally, discussions must address how to ensure that the benefits of carbon trading genuinely flow to developing countries, avoiding the pitfalls of uneven climate finance redistribution.
The outcomes of the Bonn Climate Change Conference will directly shape the next steps for global climate action. From advancing the Global Goal on Adaptation to establishing robust carbon market mechanisms, this conference is of paramount importance. As an international city, Hong Kong should actively participate in global climate action and closely follow international developments. CarbonCare Innolab will once again join youth representatives in Bonn this year to engage in climate negotiations. At the same time, we will launch a series of commentaries to deeply analyze the core issues of the Bonn Conference, explore their implications for Hong Kong, and assess Hong Kong’s role in global climate issues.