Jakarta – The annual UN Climate Change Conference SB58, kicks off in Bonn, Monday, 5th June. The conference aims to lay the groundwork for decisions that will be adopted at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates in December.
Following the mandates established during COP27 in Egypt last year, the 58th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) subsidiary bodies will convene during this conference. Various events and discussions will take place, focusing on critical issues related to climate change.
These issues include the global stocktake, the global goal on adaptation, the just transition to sustainable societies, the mitigation work program, and loss and damage. The global stocktake, in particular, presents an opportunity to address climate change with renewed vigor and perspective, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
At SB58, the technical phase of the global stocktake will be concluded, and the political phase will commence. The political phase will work towards a strong outcome during the first stocktake at COP28.
Another important task at SB58 is to prepare decisions at COP28 for the operationalisation of the new loss and damage fund and funding arrangements. Additionally, a decision on the host for the Santiago network on loss and damage will be made.
The Bonn Climate Conference also provides a platform to discuss climate finance, ensuring adequate and predictable financial support for climate action in developing countries. Transparency and accountability of climate action, as well as addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security sectors, will also be key topics of discussion.
Harry Vreuls, Chair of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) said on a UNFCCC blog that at the SBs, “the findings of science will complement and underpin our work across events and agenda items. This is not only about the challenges but equally about the opportunities.”
Nabeel Munir, Chair of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) said the “SBs will also be an opportunity for the parties to discuss what the contents of the global stocktake will be and for the High-level Committee to share its plans for how it wants to take the process forward. So our appeal would be for the Parties to take this opportunity during the SBs and to use this time in a very productive manner to see how they want the process to go forward.”
The Bonn Climate Change Conference sets the stage for meaningful and impactful outcomes at COP28, aiming to accelerate global climate action and move closer to achieving the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. (nsh)
Banner photo: UN Climate Change
