Bonn Climate Change Conference builds momentum towards COP27

After two weeks of negotiations and discussions, parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) brought the Bonn Climate Change Conference to a close on 16 June. The conference was a key milestone in the build-up to COP27 in November 2022. The range of critical topics discussed included mitigation of climate change effects, deeper cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and capital flows into developing countries to finance the transition. Financing the transition in developing countries has been a particularly divisive issue, which, according to the BBC, caused “acrimony” between developed and developing countries in Bonn. The statement from the UN indicates that even though there is still work to be done, such discussions and negotiations are critical and serve as reminders of the ambitious political commitments needed at COP27 later this year.