The most recent UN climate change negotiations were held in Bonn, Germany June 6–17, 2011. Given the underwhelming nature of the preceding talks in Bangkok, there was considerable pressure for the June session in Bonn to deliver some progress on key architectural elements of the Cancun Agreements before the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Durban, South Africa. This sense of urgency was compounded by uncertainty as to whether a fall negotiating session of the AWGs would be held before Durban due to lack of funds. Many developed countries have stated that they could not justify supporting a fall meeting unless the two weeks in Bonn were productive.
Movement during the first week in Bonn was stalled as a result of disagreements over the agendas for the meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies, largely reflecting continued developing country discomfort with the Cancun Agreements as a basis for negotiation. The second week in Bonn was decidedly more productive with certain agenda items making considerable progress, including in the areas of adaptation and technology transfer.
Access the report here.
About the International Institute for Sustainable Development
The world is challenged by a changing climate, biodiversity loss, abject poverty and environmental degradation. What can make a difference? Good ideas. Creativity. Passion. Innovation. The achievement of change.
IISD is in the business of promoting change towards sustainable development. As a policy research institute dedicated to effective communication of our findings, we engage decision-makers in government, business, NGOs and other sectors in the development and implementation of policies that are simultaneously beneficial to the global economy, the global environment and to social well-being.
In the pursuit of sustainable development, we promote open and effective international negotiation processes. And we believe fervently in the importance of building our own institutional capacity while helping our partner organizations in the developing world to excel.
Established in 1990, IISD is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization with a diverse team of more than 150 people located in more than 30 countries. Through our dynamic portfolio of projects, we partner with more than 200 organizations throughout the world. To learn more about our history, please visit the IISD Timeline.
Click here to learn more about our project work and programs, which are guided by our strategic institutional directions. And please visit our IISD Linkages site to follow our coverage of international negotiations on environment and development.
IISD is registered as a charitable organization in Canada and has 501(c)(3) status in the United States. IISD receives core operating support from the Government of Canada, provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Environment Canada, and from the Province of Manitoba. The Institute receives project funding from numerous governments inside and outside Canada, United Nations agencies, foundations and the private sector.