Weather and atmospheric phenomena are evolving. - Talks on climate funding are stalled.
A ten-day UN climate conference in Bonn ended without a breakthrough on the hotly debated topic of climate financing. Although the initial 65-page draft was reduced to 35 pages by Thursday, both sides maintained their demands.
Ever since 2009, industrialized countries have striven to provide billions annually in aid for climate protection initiatives in developing countries. This ambition was cemented in the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and further extended to 2025. In 2022, the $100 billion annual goal was finally achieved for the first time. Now, the focus is on post-2025 strategies. The upcoming World Climate Conference in November (COP29) is anticipated to provide concrete answers on this matter. Preparations for the COP29 should have commenced in Bonn.
Industrialized nations are pushing for financially contributed aid from developing countries in the future. The reasoning behind this is that these countries hold considerable contributions to climate pollution, namely oil extraction, and possess the corresponding wealth to support others.
Germany's State Secretary for Climate, Jennifer Morgan, informed the German Press Agency that progress on climate financing and various contentious matters have been left unresolved in Bonn. "While we haven't pinpointed a solution, we now have options we'll discuss politically," Morgan said. It's vital to achieve headway before the World Climate Conference in Baku: "We require a fresh approach to climate financing and sustainable economic planning globally," Morgan added.
Representatives from environmental protection organizations voiced their dissatisfaction. Susann Scherbarth from the German Environmental and Nature Protection Association (BUND) lamented, "Unfortunately, the kickoff for a successful climate conference in November in Azerbaijan was absent this week." "Countless political issues remain unanswered after the technical mid-term negotiations in Bonn," Scherbarth mentioned.
Jan Kowalzig, an Oxfam Climate Expert, called it "alarming" that industrialized countries have continuously attempted to reduce their commitments to assist low-income nations. Negotiations at the ministerial level are necessary for a solid draft resolution to be developed in Baku: "If the Azerbaijani COP presidency delays action, Baku may crumble on the topic of financing," Kowalzig cautioned.
Germanwatch Climate Expert David Ryfisch evaluated the progress made in Bonn as "extremely underwhelming." The ensuing responsibility lies with the Azerbaijani presidency: "Only ministers and ministers can mediate the intricate political disputes," Ryfisch declared. "Until then, the negotiating parties will continue to conceal their plans."
Various climate-related statistics were disclosed during the conference. The EU Climate Change Service Copernicus revealed that every month since record-keeping began had witnessed a new global warmest-monthly-average record. Consequently, May was the twelfth straight month in which the worldwide average temperature hit a new monthly record. Morgan highlighted, "The Southern German floods demonstrate: Each of us must better prepare ourselves for floods, droughts, heatwaves, and forest fires." This is particularly crucial for the most vulnerable developing countries.
