Brazil seeks early deals on two stalled issues at Bonn climate talks

Brazilian diplomats leading the COP30 climate summit have expressed their aim to achieve progress during the mid-year climate negotiations in Bonn in June. Their focus is on finalizing agreements related to the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) and recommendations from the 2023 Global Stocktake (GST) that were left unresolved during COP29. Lead climate diplomat Liliam Chagas emphasized the need for advancements in these areas to be approved at COP30.

The JTWP involves discussions on transitioning to a greener world fairly, while the GST addresses how governments worldwide should respond to the challenge of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Negotiators have started discussions at the Climate Week event in Panama using an informal format called “world café” to talk about various issues such as the role of Indigenous communities, economic factors, and social protections.

Chagas highlighted that the issues left unresolved at COP29 were due to lengthy discussions on a new finance goal and that she is now pushing for urgency among officials to make significant decisions earlier in the year rather than waiting for COP30 in November. The COP30 Presidency also stressed the importance of making progress now rather than delaying critical decisions.

The GST review in 2023 revealed that while some progress had been made in reducing global warming, it was still insufficient to meet the 1.5C target. The COP28 talks called for actions like increasing renewable energy capacity and moving away from fossil fuels. However, disagreements at COP29, particularly regarding mentioning fossil fuels, hindered progress.

The COP30 Presidency emphasized the need to accelerate efforts to achieve the GST goals, including tripling renewable energy capacity globally and phasing out fossil fuels. They also highlighted the importance of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) as a framework to monitor collective progress in adapting to climate change impacts.

The COP30 Presidency called for a robust agreement on the JTWP, emphasizing its significance in real people’s lives. They urged negotiators to build on discussions from COP29 and show ambition in agreeing on the scope and focus of the program. Activists and environmental groups are hopeful that a solid agreement on the just transition is within reach and are urging governments to seize the opportunity.

The COP30 Presidency also addressed the need for transparency and clarity in climate finance commitments to ensure concrete outcomes. They emphasized the importance of early milestones to maintain focus on climate action and avoid delays in achieving climate goals.