Energy transition as a security and modernisation project
On 8 June, this year’s intersessional negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB64) get underway in Bonn. The negotiations are an important stage on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference COP 31, which will be under the Presidency of Türkiye and Australia. The Bonn conference will prepare decisions for COP 31, especially on how we can accelerate emission reductions and the global transition to climate-neutral, resilient economies and achieve the agreed targets on adaptation and climate finance. The starting situation for this has changed: Renewable energies are growing faster than ever throughout the world. At the same time, geopolitical crises and heavy price fluctuations bring home to us the risks of continued dependence on those fossil fuels. That is why, for more and more countries, the energy transition is not only a climate policy, but also a policy for industry, security and strong business locations.
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider commented: "Germany supports international cooperation, peace and climate action. The Bonn Climate Change Conference highlights the importance of well-functioning international institutions. In the midst of escalating conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions around the world, countries continue to work together under the auspices of the United Nations to find shared solutions to the climate crisis. That is not a given. But it is a must for limiting global warming and minimising the economic and security risks arising from climate change. The United Nations remains the central place for tackling these global challenges together. Germany will continue to play its part in this in future – reliably, constructively and with the clear goal of further advancing the international energy transition."
Alongside issues such as emissions reduction, the technical-level negotiations in Bonn will focus on mobilising private investment, implementing international climate finance, adapting to the impacts of climate change and conserving forests and other natural carbon sinks. The discussions will also explore how the outcomes of COP 30 can be translated into concrete implementation programmes. This relates in particular to the continued global phase‑out of fossil fuels, as launched at the Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) in April.
Minster Schneider noted: "Implementing the Paris Agreement is still a core multilateral goal. Not only is this a preventive measure to protect our natural foundations of life, it is also a modernisation project for the 21st century. Germany will work to ensure the international community picks up the pace on the expansion of renewables, electrification, energy efficiency, conservation of natural carbon sinks and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Those who invest in climate action today are investing in economic strength, security and prosperity."
Several thousand delegates from government, the scientific community, industry and civil society from all UN Member States are expected to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn from 8 to 18 June.
At this year’s negotiations, the environment and climate ministers from Türkiye and Australia will participate as future holders of the COP 31 Presidency. State Secretary for Environment and Climate Action, Jochen Flasbarth, will also attend as a high-ranking representative of the German government. Bonn is home to a number of UN bodies, including the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Climate Change Conference in Bonn is the largest UN conference regularly held in Germany and is considered the most important stage in the negotiations on the road to COP 31.