COP29 and COP30 High-Level Champions meet for first time in Bonn
The second day of the annual June Climate Meetings in Bonn focused on preparations for the upcoming COP30 conference.
Many countries have missed a United Nations deadline to submit updated climate targets, as efforts to address global warming face challenges following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Nearly 200 nations under the Paris Agreement were expected to submit their updated national climate plans by Monday, outlining strategies to reduce emissions by 2035. However, several major polluters, including China, India, and the European Union, had yet to do so as of the deadline.
“The public is entitled to expect a strong response from their governments as global warming has now reached 1.5 degrees Celsius for an entire year, but we have seen little substantive action,” said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics.
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, emissions reductions remain insufficient, with 2023 marking the first year global temperatures surpassed this threshold.
Countries Submitting Plans
Some large economies, including the United States, Britain, Brazil, Japan, and Canada, have announced new climate targets. However, Trump is expected to revise the U.S.’s previous commitments, having ordered the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and suspended some federal clean energy funding last month.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell noted that while many countries missed the deadline, most have signaled plans to submit their targets later this year.
“Countries are taking this seriously, which is understandable given these plans are linked to the $2 trillion invested globally in clean energy and infrastructure last year,” Stiell said. “Taking more time to ensure high-quality plans makes sense.”
Challenges and Delays
The missed deadline raises concerns about the priority given to climate action, with some officials pointing to the impact of shifting U.S. climate policies on international efforts.
- European Union: EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra stated that the bloc's policy cycle did not align with the UN deadline but confirmed that its plan would be ready for the COP30 climate summit in November.
- India: Officials reported that required studies are still ongoing before finalizing the country’s climate plan.
- China: A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that China will publish its climate plan in due course.
- Indonesia: The Environment Ministry awaits presidential instructions on submitting its targets.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
A 32°C heatwave expected to grip England has been made a 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to a rapid scientific analysis released Thursday.
In 19 EU countries, the share of renewable energy sources in net electricity generation decreased in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the first quarter of 2024. The largest drops were recorded in Greece (-12.4%), Lithuania (-12.0%) and Slovakia (-10.6%).
The first side event of the Global South NGO Platform, initiated by Azerbaijan, was held in Bonn, Germany this week.
Egypt’s first integrated solar and battery storage plant will deliver dispatchable clean energy, enhance grid stability and manage peak demand. The project is expected to generate approximately 3,000 GWh of clean energy and avoid up to 1.4 million metric tonnes of emissions per year.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, has announced a record £2.5 billion in additional funding this week to advance the development of the world’s first fusion power plant.
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