Coalitions' Advocacy at Bonn Climate Conference
At the ongoing SB62 Bonn climate conference, various coalitions such as G77+China, Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) have been prominent in raising the issue of climate finance accountability. These groups, backed by strong interventions from India, aim to influence the upcoming COP30 in Brazil by pushing for the inclusion of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement as a formal agenda item.
Background and Context
- The push for Article 9.1 inclusion comes after dissatisfaction with the outcomes of COP29 in Baku, 2024.
- Bonn serves as an annual precursor to the COP, and the current standoff highlights the divide between developed and developing nations over agenda priorities.
Key Issue: Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement
- Definition: Article 9.1 mandates developed countries to provide financial resources for both mitigation and adaptation to developing countries.
- Developing nations argue that Article 9.1's poor implementation undermines climate equity and global trust.
- There is a concern that current climate finance mainly consists of loans, adding financial burdens on vulnerable economies.
India's Position and Advocacy
India played a strong role during the formal consultation, emphasizing that:
- Article 9.1 is both a moral imperative and a legal obligation, essential for climate equity.
- Ignoring Article 9.1 undermines multilateralism and delays climate action.
- The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance from COP29 was termed "grossly inadequate."
- Additional climate finance should not impede national development goals.