Bonn, Germany— African negotiators have called for climate ambition to be matched with concrete support for adaptation, climate finance and equitable implementation as the UN Climate Change June Meetings (SB64) opened in Bonn.
The call came as governments gathered for the two-week negotiations that will lay the groundwork for key decisions ahead of COP31, with climate impacts continuing to intensify across vulnerable regions, particularly in Africa.
Opening the session, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, urged negotiators to move beyond commitments and focus on implementation.
“The hard work continues. Make these two weeks count,” he told delegates, stressing that the world has entered a new phase where climate pledges must deliver tangible results.
Speaking on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators during the Joint SBI-SBSTA Opening Plenary, AGN Chair Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah welcomed the growing focus on implementation but cautioned that progress would remain limited unless adaptation, climate finance and equity concerns receive greater attention.
He warned that Africa remains disproportionately vulnerable to climate change despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Citing forecasts pointing to the persistence of El Niño conditions and worsening climate extremes, Dr. Amoah said the continent faces mounting threats to food security, livelihoods, water resources and economic development.
“For Africa, already burdened by severe climate impacts, a warning of worsening conditions spells catastrophe,” he said.
The AGN Chair argued that international climate negotiations must remain responsive to the realities facing developing countries and communities already experiencing the harshest effects of climate change.
He called for stronger support for adaptation measures, improved access to climate finance and outcomes that reflect the principles of fairness and common but differentiated responsibilities.
As negotiations continue in Bonn, African countries are expected to push for progress on adaptation, the delivery of climate finance commitments, just transition pathways and more inclusive climate governance arrangements.
The outcomes of SB64 are expected to shape discussions leading into the next round of global climate negotiations, with African negotiators emphasizing that climate urgency must be matched by implementation, resources and equitable action.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
