At the end of June, the UN climate negotiations (SB62) took place in Bonn, Germany, bringing together delegates from across the globe to prepare for COP30 in Belém, Brazil (November 2025). Wietse Slob, trainer at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague and active with Climate Cleanup (that has an UNFCCC observer status), attended the talks with a colleague to follow developments and engage with negotiators and observer representatives.
Central themes: climate adaptation and gender
The atmosphere in Bonn was tense, largely due to lingering disagreements over climate finance after the Baku meeting. The conference agenda was only adopted after a two-day delay. Climate adaptation and gender were central themes, with discussions on implementation and new action plans. Positive steps were taken on the topic of gender, with a new action plan in preparation, though concerns about funding remain here as well. The negotiations around the Global Goal on Adaptation stalled due to uncertainty over funding and indicators.
Limited Progress, Lingering Gaps
A proposed new global finance target, $1.3 trillion per year by 2035, sparked intense debate, with concerns about over-reliance on private finance and strong calls for predictable public funding. Loss and Damage received limited attention, raising questions about its place in the Baku–Belém Roadmap. Mitigation efforts saw little progress, held back by political hesitancy and limited resources. Many key issues have been postponed to COP30.
Abscence of United States
A notable absence was the United States, seen by some as a relief (less obstruction) and by others as a signal of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Slob’s takeaway
While breakthroughs were scarce, the talks helped clarify positions and highlighted the urgency for real decisions in Belém. The pressure is on.
Curious how climate negotiations actually work?
This explainer by former negotiator Paul Watkinson breaks it down clearly.