As international negotiators convene in Bonn for the mid-year United Nations climate talks, a significant opportunity arises to prioritize the phaseout of fossil fuels in global climate action. This meeting serves as a precursor to the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
The historic commitment at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels did not translate into substantial progress at COP29. Many governments are still planning to increase fossil fuel production, supported by subsidies. Fossil fuels account for over 80 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and are a primary driver of the climate crisis. Human Rights Watch has highlighted how communities near coal, oil, and gas infrastructure suffer health, environmental, and human rights harms due to fossil fuel production.
The Bonn conference is expected to establish a framework for transitioning away from fossil fuels within a clear timeline. Countries are anticipated to submit updated national climate plans detailing emission reduction strategies through 2035. However, most countries have yet to submit these plans, and many existing submissions do not align with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Bonn talks should encourage governments to commit to ambitious climate plans with concrete milestones like ending new fossil fuel exploration and licensing, phasing out government subsidies, and ensuring proper monitoring and accountability.
Additionally, there is an urgent need to incorporate the COP28 commitment into the COP30 agenda—a gap that remains unaddressed. Brazil’s recent call for countries to demonstrate their implementation plans for this commitment should lead efforts ensuring it becomes central at Belém’s conference. As host of COP30, Brazil holds a leadership role in this initiative.
Governments gathering in Bonn are urged to adopt ambitious national plans and commit to phasing out fossil fuels. Without decisive action now, there is a risk that COP30 will not deliver an effective response to the ongoing climate crisis.
