Climate Change Negotiations after Bonn Climate Meet – Challenges and Way Forward

A recent Climate Change Negotiations in Bonn, Germany, struggled to agree on a new target for climate finance beyond the current $100 billion annually from developed to developing countries by 2024. The talks were expected to outline specific figures ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, but instead produced a lengthy “input paper”. According to the 2015 Paris Agreement, developed countries are required to regularly raise money above the existing figure of $100 billion per year after 2025 due to the increasing needs for climate finance. This increased target, known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), for the period after 2025, is expected to be decided in the upcoming CoP summit.

According to a UNFCCC report last year, developing countries need about $6 trillion by 2030 to fulfill their climate commitments. For adaptation alone, which is part of these commitments, they require between $215 billion and $387 billion annually. The report also highlights that global investments of approximately $4.3 trillion per year until 2030 are necessary for transitioning to clean energy worldwide, with an additional $5 trillion annually required after 2050 to achieve global net zero emissions.

This article will highlight the key outcomes of recently concluded talks examine the challenges climate change negotiations face, and propose a path forward.

What are the outcome of recently concluded Bonn climate meet?

1) Inadequate progress on New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) – Little progress was made on setting a new target for climate finance that developed countries must provide to developing nations after 2024. Developed and developing countries disagreed on how much money should be provided and which developing countries should contribute.

2) Divergence on NCQG amount-There was a divergence on deciding the NCQG amount. Developing countries proposed annual figures of $1.1-$1.3 trillion whereas developed nations did not make any specific financial offer.

3) Trust deficit-The discussions highlighted the ongoing lack of trust between developed and developing countries. Developing nations emphasized that the Paris Agreement clearly obligates developed countries to provide climate finance.

4) Disagreements over Global Stocktake (GST) dialogue-The first annual dialogue after the GST at COP28 exposed disagreements. Developed nations demanded stronger emission reduction targets from all parties but avoided discussion on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

5) Fossil fuel transition-Due to COP29 taking place in Azerbaijan, an oil-producing nation, there are concerns that the important topic of transitioning away from fossil fuels would not receive adequate attention.

6) Inadequacy of Loss and Damage Support-Developing nations, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs), emphasized that current mechanisms to handle loss and damage from climate change impacts are insufficient.

7) Deadlock on Mitigation Work Programme (MWP)-Negotiations on the MWP have stalled because developing countries are resisting additional pressures, while developed countries are advocating for further discussions.

8) Lack of consensus on Article 6 (market mechanisms)-There were clarifications on some positions. However, there was no agreement on the guidelines for market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

What is the significance of Climate Change Negotiations?

May was the warmest on record, marking 12 consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures, according to Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also stated that there is now an 80% likelihood that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.In the backdrop of this development, climate change negotiations assumes great sihnificance.

1) Global Cooperation: They provide a platform for countries to come together and collectively address climate change issue.

2) Setting Targets and Commitments: Negotiations establish targets for emissions, reductions, adaptation measures, and financial support.For ex– Paris Agreement. These targets guide national policies and actions.

3) Legal and Policy Frameworks-Global agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement establish legal frameworks that enforce countries’ specific commitments. These agreements promote transparency and accountability by enabling nations to monitor progress and ensure mutual responsibility.

4) Financial Support-These negotiations involve discussions on climate finance, where developed countries pledge financial assistance to developing countries for mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (building resilience to climate impacts).

5) Technology Transfer: They facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge between  developed and developing countries to support sustainable development and climate resilience.

6) Long-Term Goals-They set long-term goals, such as achieving net-zero emissions or limiting global temperature rise to specific thresholds.This helps in guiding global efforts towards a sustainable future.

7) Public Awareness and Engagement: Climate negotiations raise public awareness about the urgency of climate action and the need for global solidarity. They mobilize civil society, businesses, and other stakeholders to support climate goals.

8) Addressing Equity and Justice-They address fairness concerns by acknowledging historical responsibilities for emissions and vulnerabilities to climate impacts. Their goal is to achieve equitable sharing of responsibilities and benefits among nations and communities.

9) Adaptive Governance-They advocate for adaptive governance approaches that promote flexibility in policies and strategies.This helps in adapting to evolving scientific knowledge and shifting climate conditions.

10) Accountability and Transparency-They establish frameworks for monitoring, reporting, and verifying countries’ actions and progress towards their commitments. This accountability promotes transparency and ensures that nations are taking meaningful steps to address climate change.

What are the challenges in Climate Change Negotiations?

1) Conflicting national interests:-Countries have diverse economic, political, and developmental priorities, which can conflict with climate action goals. Balancing these interests with the need for collective action is a major challenge.

2) Equity and burden-sharing:-Deciding on fair and equitable ways to distribute the responsibilities of climate action, especially between developed and developing nations, has been a contentious issue. Disagreements regarding historical responsibilities and capacities have impeded progress.

3) Finance and Funding issues-

A) Insufficient Funding Levels: Developed countries’ funding for climate action in developing nations is not adequate enough to meet ambitious goals like those in the Paris Agreement.

B) Lack of Predictability and Stability– Developing countries find it challenging to plan and execute long-term climate projects due to unpredictable funding. Fluctuations in annual disbursements can disrupt ongoing initiatives.

C) Balancing Adaptation and Mitigation-There is a disparity in funding allocation between adaptation (building resilience to climate impacts) and mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions).

D) Private Sector Engagement– Mobilizing private finance for climate projects is difficult because of perceived risks, inadequate incentives, and the difficulty of aligning private sector goals with climate objectives.

E) Debt Sustainability Concerns:-Climate finance, which includes loans or debt-related instruments, can increase debt burdens in developing countries.

4) Technology Transfer:-Facilitating the transfer of clean technologies to developing countries on favorable terms is difficult because of issues related to intellectual property rights, market barriers, and capacity limitations.

5) Emissions targets and commitments-Setting ambitious yet achievable emission reduction targets and ensuring countries stick to their commitments has been difficult, mainly because of concerns about economic competitiveness and growth

6) Inclusion and participation-It has been challenging to include and address the voices and concerns of all stakeholders, including civil society, indigenous communities, and marginalized groups, in the negotiation process.

7) Scientific uncertainty-Despite strong scientific evidence, some countries and stakeholders still question climate science.This hampers agreement and action.

8) Implementation and compliance– There arises a great difficulty in ensuring effective implementation and compliance by all parties because of  lack of political will, resources, or enforcement mechanisms.

9) Complexity and scope-Climate change spans across multiple sectors such as energy, agriculture, and transportation, posing challenges for comprehensive negotiations.

10) Geopolitical tensions– Geopolitical rivalries, trade disputes, and shifting global power dynamics can influence the dynamics of climate change negotiations and hinder cooperation.

How can climate change negotiations be made more effective and productive?

1) Enhance transparency and trust-There is a need to build trust among parties.This can be done by ensuring enhanced transparency in reporting emissions and climate actions during climate change negotiations.

2) Strengthen scientific collaboration-It is important to promote cooperation among scientific communities and include more experts in negotiations to minimize uncertainties, offer reliable data, and improve decision-making processes.

3) Prioritize adaptation and loss and damage-Greater focus should be devoted towards adaptation strategies in climate change discussions, as well as addressing the loss and damage experienced by vulnerable nations from climate change effects..

4) Promote Climate Justice and Equity-Climate change negotiations should address equity concerns by acknowledging historical emissions responsibilities and supporting vulnerable groups like indigenous peoples and marginalized communities in decision-making.

5) Facilitate technology transfer and capacity building-The negotiations should ensure that developed nations fulfill their commitments to facilitate the transfer of climate-friendly technologies and assist in capacity building for developing nations.

6) Explore innovative financing mechanisms-: In addition to traditional financing channels,the negotiations should also promote exploration of innovative financing mechanisms, such as carbon pricing, green bonds, and public-private partnerships.

7) Encourage inclusive participation-Negotiations should include all stakeholders, such as civil society, indigenous communities, and marginalized groups, to increase support and commitment to climate policies and actions.

8) Promote sectoral approaches-The negotiations should promote  sector-specific approaches, such as in energy, agriculture, and transportation in addressing climate change issue.This can help address the complexities of climate change and identify targeted solutions.

9) Enhance compliance and accountability-The negotiations should propose ways to enhance compliance mechanisms and use incentives or penalties to motivate countries to fulfill their commitments.

10) Foster regional and sub-national cooperation-Encouraging regional and sub-national cooperation, alongside global negotiations, can effectively tackle local climate challenges and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

11) Navigating Geopolitical Tensions-Climate change negotiations must acknowledge the impact of geopolitical tensions and power dynamics on issues of Climate Change.This approach can help navigate complex negotiations and foster consensus.