Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025: Everything You Need to Know

The Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025 commenced on June 16 in Bonn, Germany, bringing together more than 5,000 government delegates, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and civil society actors. This mid-year gathering under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) plays a crucial role in shaping the global climate agenda.

What is the Bonn Climate Change Conference?

The Bonn Climate Change Conference is an annual technical meeting that occurs under the umbrella of the UNFCCC, a landmark international treaty signed in 1992 to combat climate change. Officially known as the Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs), this event is second only to the COP (Conference of the Parties) in terms of global importance in climate negotiations.

Unlike the COP, which is largely political and results in high-level commitments, the Bonn conference focuses on the scientific, technical, and operational groundwork necessary for progress in climate governance.

Purpose and Objectives

The primary aim of the Bonn Climate Change Conference is to set the agenda and lay technical foundations for decisions to be made at the upcoming COP summit, which typically takes place in November. The conference serves three key purposes:

1. Advance scientific understanding through expert discussions.

2. Assess progress in implementing climate agreements.

3. Prepare actionable recommendations for the COP.

According to the Harvard Kennedy School, “The results of the negotiations in Bonn are highly influential on decisions made at the COP. Recommendations made at the SBs frequently appear in final decisions acted upon by parties at the COP.”

Moreover, Bonn is the space where follow-up and accountability for COP decisions take shape, especially concerning climate finance, adaptation strategies, and technological support.

Who Are the Key Players?

The conference is led by two permanent subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC:

Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)

The SBI helps evaluate how effectively countries are implementing climate agreements. It also deals with financial mechanisms, such as climate funds and capacity building for developing nations.

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)

The SBSTA provides scientific assessments to support informed policymaking. It acts as a vital bridge between science and diplomacy, channeling findings from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) to national delegations and negotiators.

These bodies interact with a diverse group of stakeholders including:

• Government delegates

• Intergovernmental organizations

• Climate scientists

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

• Indigenous and community leaders

What’s on the Agenda This Year?

Focus on Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)

A major topic at this year’s conference is the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), which was originally defined in the Paris Agreement (2015) but gained real momentum only recently.

The GGA seeks to create a unified global framework for adapting to climate change, similar to the 1.5°C limit on global warming used in mitigation efforts. Until COP28 in Dubai (2023), progress on adaptation was minimal. There, countries finally adopted a framework for the GGA—this year’s Bonn conference aims to further define, refine, and operationalize that framework.

Other key discussion points include:

• Climate finance mobilization for developing nations

• Loss and damage implementation mechanisms

• Technology transfer and innovation

• Monitoring progress on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Why the Bonn Conference Matters

While it may lack the media spotlight of COP summits, the Bonn Climate Change Conference is a critical engine room for climate action. The decisions and documents produced here often shape the negotiating language and political decisions later adopted at COP.

It also ensures continuity, accountability, and a science-based approach to global climate governance, which is essential in an era marked by increasing climate emergencies.