Bonn: The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change has called for stronger focus on adaptation, climate finance, and equitable international cooperation as negotiations opened in Bonn, Germany. The group emphasized the need for the climate process to address directly the realities facing Africa and other vulnerable developing countries.
According to Ghana News Agency, Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the AGN Chair, made this call at the opening of the Sixty-Fourth Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn. He highlighted the necessity for the climate process to be more responsive to the challenges faced by Africa and similar regions.
Dr Amoah also addressed the Climate and Trade Dialogue, advocating for clarity on how the outcomes of these discussions would be captured and reported, particularly in anticipation of a high-level event scheduled for 2028. He referred to Paragraph 57 of the relevant mandate, which requires the Subsidiary Bodies to report on dialogue outcomes, and proposed that the Bonn session establish procedures for documenting these outcomes.
The Chair expressed concern over the increasing climate risks facing Africa, referencing recent warnings by the World Meteorological Organisation about an 80 percent likelihood of El Ni±o conditions between June and August 2026. Such conditions could exacerbate the already severe climate impacts in Africa, with significant consequences for livelihoods and development.
Dr Amoah raised questions about the absence of agenda items on Loss and Damage and National Adaptation Plans, describing the omission as inconsistent with the urgency often expressed in climate negotiations. The Group welcomed discussions under the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and the Belem-Addis Vision, emphasizing the need for practical indicators to support implementation and future Global Stocktake processes.
Further, the Group called for progress on the composition and modalities of the Technical Task Force, stressing that discussions should remain grounded in the obligations under the Paris Agreement. On the issue of Just Transition, the Group urged for a balanced allocation of negotiation time to support the operationalisation of the mechanism and advancement of related work programmes.
Mr Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, urged governments to accelerate the implementation of climate commitments, warning against delays, renewed negotiations, or weakened ambitions in addressing the climate crisis. He emphasized the importance of continued action, noting that every economy and population depended on its success.
Stiell highlighted the progress made through years of negotiations despite political differences and encouraged parties to build on this momentum. He stated that the Bonn meetings are crucial for future climate milestones, including COP33 and the next global stocktake process. Stronger commitments and faster implementation are essential to match the scale of climate risks and opportunities, he stressed, while warning against reopening past decisions or renegotiating existing commitments, advocating instead for a focus on delivery.