Bonn climate meeting must deliver on indicators and finance
Delegates await the official opening of climate talks in Bonn, Germany amid tense wrangling over the meeting ‘s agenda.
What you need to know:
- The world is at a critical juncture as escalating impacts of climate change push humanity and life on the planet to the brink.
- In developing countries of the Global South, including Kenya, where impacts on lives and livelihoods are heaviest, adaptation is not just a buzzword in climate negotiations. It is a justice and development imperative.
After the delayed start to the Bonn Climate Conference over the disputed agenda, work must now begin in earnest.
The world is at a critical juncture as escalating impacts of climate change push humanity and life on the planet to the brink. In developing countries of the Global South, including Kenya, where impacts on lives and livelihoods are heaviest, adaptation is not just a buzzword in climate negotiations. It is a justice and development imperative.
While the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) was established under the Paris Agreement to address these needs, its execution has been alarmingly sluggish. The urgency to breathe life into this goal cannot be overstated. Our future depends on it.
In recent climate negotiations, notably the discussions in Baku, we witnessed a hopeful reshaping of the dialogue around GGA. However, the good intentions were not matched with concrete action.
To date, the framework still lacks robust provisions, especially regarding the Means of Implementation (MoI). These are the resources required to implement the framework and include finance, technology transfer and capacity for developing countries.
GGA discussions are not merely a matter of policy. These discussions are about lives, communities and vulnerable nations facing the harsh realities of the climate upheaval.
Without a dedicated focus on financing, building the capacity of poor nations and providing technological support, we risk leaving those in the most need without the resources to adapt to climate challenges.
The statistics are sobering. The Adaptation Fund, which aims to provide financial assistance to climate frontline communities, fell woefully short of its target last year.
The fund has an annual shortfall of between $187 and $359 billion, according to the adaptation gap report of 2024, Come Hell and High Water.
This raises serious concerns about commitment from developed countries. This decline in financial pledges signals an alarming trend, one that could undermine the very goals we are striving to achieve.
If we are to ensure that the GGA is not just aspirational but operational, we must confront this funding gap head-on.
Extreme weather
Beyond the numbers, these funds represent safety nets for communities facing rising seas, extreme weather and shifting agricultural patterns.
Why SB 62 cannot abandon the GGA
We can’t, therefore, let the GGA become just another framework buried under complex global negotiations. Every day of inaction means more suffering for those least equipped to cope with climate impacts. The world must unite to move adaptation commitments from mere rhetoric to action.
But even as we move forward, we must rally behind a shared vision of strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerability and enhancing the adaptive capacity of vulnerable populations from Africa and around the world.
Adaptation is about resilience and resilience can only be built with adequate, timely and predictable finance. This is especially critical for developing nations where the stakes are higher and resources scarcer.
The 62nd sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 62) must shift this narrative. In Bonn, negotiations must transcend technical elements, metrics and indicators to feature meaningful dialogue about real-world implementation.
Ultimately, climate adaptation strategies must be rooted in the lived experiences of those affected by climate change. Importantly, interventions must accommodate and consider voices from the Global South.
The climate talks in Bonn must elevate our ambitions and commitment to foster real partnerships between developed and developing nations.
Crucially, parties must embrace innovative solutions, invest in knowledge transfer and support local initiatives that strengthen community efforts to build climate resilience.
Time is of the essence. The impacts of climate change are not waiting for bureaucratic process to resolve. Only urgent action will move forward. By aligning our efforts and prioritising effective means of implementation, we can create a sustainable and resilient future for all. A future that leaves no one behind.
The time for decisive action is now. Our people and the planet deserve nothing less from Bonn.
The author is a senior climate justice programmes officer at ACT Alliance
