The UN’s Bonn Climate Change Conference has opened with a warning from US Special Envoy John Kerry that countries should not use Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a pretext for extending reliance on coal-powered electricity generation. Speaking ahead of two weeks of discussions by national negotiation teams, Kerry said not enough had been done since COP26 and called for a “wholesale elevation of effort by countries all around the world”. Large CO2 emitters such as China and India have continued to invest in coal while also ramping up solar panel installations, with a number of European countries seeking to invest in gas infrastructure, switching to non-Russian sources as a stop-gap measure, while accelerating their renewables transition. According to a UN statement, the Bonn conference will help to prepare for the COP27 in November this year, by discussing topics including GHG emission reductions, adapting to climate impacts, and providing financial support for developing countries. “Nations must show how they will, through legislation, policies and programmes, and throughout all jurisdictions and sectors, begin putting the Paris Agreement into practice in their home countries,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa.
The upcoming #bonnclimateconference (6-16 June) is set to kick off next week in @BonnGlobal, designed to prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in November this year 🌎 🇺🇳
Read the full press release here 👉 https://t.co/HgTlS3Ls1I@UNFCCC pic.twitter.com/859cZbwY08
— UN Bonn (@UNBonn) June 3, 2022
