BONN, Germany — The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) has warned against attempts to weaken global climate commitments, cautioning that delays and reduced ambition at the ongoing UN climate negotiations in Bonn could undermine urgent climate action and damage confidence in the multilateral process.
Addressing the media during the 64th sessions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Bodies (SB64), AGN Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, expressed concern over moves to postpone critical climate ambition discussions until the second Global Stocktake in 2028.
He said such delays were inconsistent with the reality of the climate crisis facing Africa and other vulnerable regions.
“Climate change is not a future event. It is an ongoing emergency. Africa cannot wait for ambition to be deferred to another negotiation cycle,” Dr. Amoah said.
The AGN Chair also raised concerns over resistance from some countries to advance commitments on adaptation finance, particularly the agreement reached at COP30 to triple adaptation finance for developing countries — a commitment built on the earlier doubling target agreed at Glasgow.
“We are deeply concerned with the resistance from some partners to engage concretely on the tripling of adaptation finance agreed at COP30; a commitment that itself built on the doubling target from Glasgow,” he said.
“It is unacceptable that this hard-won commitment is at risk of being erased from the conclusions of the current session.”
Dr. Amoah stressed that the outcome of SB64 must provide a clear pathway for COP31 to reaffirm the Glasgow commitment and establish concrete timelines towards delivering increased adaptation finance that responds to Africa’s growing climate needs.
The AGN Chair further criticized procedural decisions that have excluded previously agreed mandates from formal discussions, warning that such actions could weaken trust in the global climate negotiation process.
Despite the concerns, he reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to constructive engagement and called for stronger outcomes at upcoming climate conferences.
He urged COP31 and COP32 to deliver measurable progress on adaptation finance, the operationalisation of carbon market mechanisms under Article 6.4, institutional arrangements for the Just Transition Mechanism, technology support, agriculture and food security, and the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation.
African negotiators maintain that stronger commitments and faster implementation are essential to protect vulnerable communities and ensure a fair and sustainable global transition in the face of escalating climate impacts.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
