Bonn Climate Talks: COP31 Presidency announces “35% by 2035” electrification target

COP31 President-Designate Murat Kurum has launched a new global electrification target as a flagship initiative of the COP31 Presidency’s Action Agenda, calling for a major acceleration in the shift from direct fossil fuel use to clean electricity across buildings, transport and industry.

 

This comes as part of a wider package of non-negotiated Action Agenda initiatives and targets announced by the COP31 President-Designate.

 

Speaking to delegates at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, Mr. Kurum, who is Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, proposed a collective global goal to increase the share of final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035.

 

“By electrifying daily life, from transport to buildings and industry, we can protect families and businesses from volatile energy markets. This “35% by 2035” target will be one of the defining priorities of our COP31 Presidency. On the road to COP31 in Antalya, we will work to bring together a strong global coalition that is ready and determined to act in support of this objective,” said Murat Kurum.

 

The COP31 Presidency also committed to building a global coalition to implement actions towards achieving this target.

 

The target is based on analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and is designed to support implementation of the Paris Agreement and help keep the world on a pathway consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

 

During a presentation on the Presidency’s Action Agenda, Mr. Kurum also announced other targets, including a goal of halving the growth in global waste by 2035. This ambition is part of COP31’s thematic focus on achieving zero waste. Food waste in particular accounts for 10% of global emissions, primarily through methane, which is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.

 

The COP31 Presidency also introduced a new global target under its Resilient Cities priority, to reduce energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25% by 2035. This is an important step in protecting families and businesses from rising energy costs.

 

In addition, Mr. Kurum also shared details on new initiatives and targets being developed by the Presidency. These include critical topics such as food security, circular materials in manufacturing and climate education.

 

He also shared further details on the Climate Implementation Bridge, which will support countries by improving the link between national climate, economic and development priorities, helping finance reach the ground more rapidly and with greater impact.

 

In support of the electrification target, the COP31 Presidency, in partnership with Australia, has commissioned the IEA to deliver special reports to map out pathways to achieving the “35x35” target and to analyse the benefits of halving waste growth and boosting circular waste management systems.

 

This follows the COP31 Presidency’s existing work with IRENA to identify how electrification can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.

 

“Electrification has already sparked a global surge in clean energy, driving growth and jobs. Rewiring the global economy is crucial to kick the world’s addiction to coal, oil and gas, to bring energy costs down, and to restore energy security. Now’s the time to step up the pace and scale of electrification, as the current fossil fuel cost crisis shows so painfully,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. “So too, more resilient and energy-efficient cities and cutting waste are key to tackling the climate crisis which is already hitting every economy and global supply chains, and driving up inflation. The Brazilian COP30 Presidency introduced the alignment of the Action Agenda with the first Global Stocktake outcomes, setting six thematic axes — and the incoming Turkish presidency, working with Australia, is to be commended for building on that progress.”

 

The Bonn Climate Change Conference is taking place from 8–18 June 2026 and is an annual meeting of negotiators from Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, ahead of the annual COP summit, which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, this November.

 

Bonn Climate Talks: Ghana takes the floor on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators

The UN June Climate Meetings has opened in Bonn, Germany, with Ghana taking the floor on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) to deliver interventions on climate adaptation, finance, and governance.

 

As negotiations opened at the 64^th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the AGN has called for a more responsive, equitable and implementation-focused climate process.

 

Delivering the Group’s statement during the Joint SBI–SBSTA Opening Plenary, AGN Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to constructive engagement.

 

He expressed concern over growing climate risks facing Africa, citing recent forecast of likely El Niño conditions and warning that worsening climate impacts threaten livelihoods and development gains across the continent.

 

“About a week ago, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) issued a warning of an 80 per cent likelihood of El Nino conditions during June-August 2026, with probabilities for continuation to at least November near or above 90 per cent, and most models suggesting at least moderate and possibly strong conditions,” said Nana Dr. Amoah. “For Africa, already burdened by severe climate impacts, a warning of worsening conditions spells catastrophe. It is of grave concern to all of us, and yet – in a process claiming urgency – we do not even have agenda items on Loss and Damage, or on National Adaptation Plans. We find a process that is insensitive to Africa's situation deeply worrying.”

 

The AGN Chair questioned the absence of agenda items on Loss and Damage and National Adaptation Plans, stressing that climate negotiations must remain responsive to countries experiencing severe climate impacts.

 

Formally called the 64^th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies under the UNFCCC (SB64), the UN June Climate Meetings are where the agenda takes shape for the UN Climate COP in November each year, this November in Antalya, Türkiye (COP31).   

 

They are held annually at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) where UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) is headquartered. 

 

The meetings are held over 10 days, ending this year on Thursday 18 June, and are expected to have over 7,000 participants, including negotiators from Parties to the Paris Agreement (i.e. national governments), observers from civil society, real economy and sectoral leaders. 

 

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, says “leaving economies and communities exposed to climate disasters will take a wrecking ball to live”.

 

 

AGN focus at SB64

 

On adaptation, the AGN welcomed engagement under the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and the Belem–Addis Vision and emphasised that agreed indicators should support implementation and inform future Global Stocktake processes.

 

The AGN reiterated that implementation discussions must remain grounded in existing obligations under the Paris Agreement and called for progress on the Technical Task Force.

 

“We reiterate; the primary purpose of agreed indicators is to ensure we have clear and usable information feeding into the global stocktake in respect of adaptation action as well as on support needed and provided. We look forward equally to progress on composition and modalities of the Technical Task Force.”

 

On climate finance, the group reaffirmed that the Climate Finance Work Programme remains rooted in Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which places an obligation on developed parties to provide financial support to developing parties, and expressed concern that it is not adequately reflected in the agenda.

 

The AGN Chair called for a clear operational definition of climate finance that incorporates grant equivalence, additionality, predictability and accountability, pointing out the importance of strengthening the Adaptation Fund and advancing work on monetisation of the Share of Proceeds.

 

Regarding Just Transition, Nana Dr. Amoah called for balanced allocation of negotiation time to support operationalisation of the mechanism and implementation of agreed outcomes.

 

On climate and trade, Africa reiterated that climate-related measures must not undermine sustainable development and poverty eradication and raised concerns over unilateral trade restrictions and supply-chain measures that impose costs without corresponding support.

 

“We look forward to a constructive engagement on how trade measures impact the ability of African countries to pursue the goals of the Paris Agreement, while safeguarding the legitimate right of African nations to pursue sustainable development and poverty eradication. Africa is unapologetic about protecting her development space. We also cannot shy away from a decision in respect of unilateral measures and unjustifiable trade restrictions, including climate-related trade measures and supply-chain regulations that impose costs without commensurate support,” said the AGN Chair.

 

 

 

Africa's climate negotiators put health at the centre of climate action ahead of Bonn talks

African climate negotiators have reaffirmed their commitment to placing health at the heart of global climate negotiations, recognising climate change not only as an environmental challenge but as a growing public health emergency affecting millions across the continent.

 

The call was made by African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) Chair, Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, during a Climate and Health Capacity Building Workshop convened in Bonn, Germany, ahead of the 64th Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB64).

 

Addressing negotiators, technical experts, young climate leaders, and representatives from key institutions, including the WHO-AFRO, the Africa CDC, Amref Health Africa, and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Nana Dr. Amoah emphasized that climate and health are inseparable realities for Africa.

 

He noted that rising temperatures, recurrent floods and droughts, food insecurity, malnutrition, air pollution, and changing disease patterns are placing unprecedented strain on health systems and communities across the continent.

 

The workshop, supported by the IISD builds on momentum generated by the launch of the first ever African Negotiators Climate and Health Curriculum developed by Amref Health Africa and launched in Dar es Salaam last year.

 

“Since then, evidence of climate-related health impacts has continued to mount, with climate-sensitive diseases expanding into new regions and extreme weather events damaging critical health infrastructure,” said Dr. Amoah. “We continue to witness climate-sensitive diseases expanding into new geographies, health infrastructure being damaged by extreme weather events, and increasing burdens on already stretched public health systems in Africa”.

 

The AGN Chair highlighted progress made in securing the inclusion of health within the framework of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), describing it as a significant milestone in recognising that adaptation efforts must ultimately protect people, livelihoods, and well-being.

 

As discussions continue under the Belém Adaptation Indicators and the Baku Adaptation Road Map, African negotiators are calling for health indicators that reflect the realities and vulnerabilities of African countries, emphasising the urgent need for increased adaptation finance.

 

“Following the adoption of the Belém Adaptation indicators and the ongoing discussions under the Baku Adaptation Roadmap, Africa has a unique opportunity to shape how adaptation is measured, financed and implemented globally.

 

“We must ensure that health indicators under the global goal on adaptation are meaningful, context-specific, and responsive to Africa’s realities. We must also continue pushing for adaptation finance that enables countries to build climate-resilient health systems, strengthen early warning systems, protect health infrastructure, and enhance preparedness for climate-related health emergencies,” said the AGN Chair.

 

Climate finance remains a top priority for the continent, and the AGN Chair noted that despite escalating climate-related health risks, the health sector continues to receive only a fraction of the adaptation finance required.

 

“We won’t relent on calling for developed countries to deliver on their climate finance commitments and ensure that health considerations are reflected within broader discussions on loss and damage, given the significant social and economic costs associated with climate-related health impacts,” he said.

 

Delegates at the workshop described a historic opportunity for the continent to shape global climate priorities, including climate and health, indicating COP31, which is meant to be a strong building block for COP32, to be hosted in Africa.

 

The workshop also highlighted the critical role of young negotiators and technical experts in ensuring continuity and long-term leadership of Africa’s climate and health agenda. Participants agreed that stronger collaboration between AGN, WHO-AFRO, Africa CDC, Amref Health Africa, and other partners will be essential in advancing coordinated African positions ahead of upcoming negotiations.

 

WHO-AFRO, Africa CDC, and Amref Health Africa highlighted their work on climate and health and pledged continued support for Africa’s climate and health agenda.

 

Overall, the AGN Chair reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to elevating climate and health as a strategic continental priority, urging negotiators to develop coherent African messages and negotiation strategies to ensure health remains fully integrated into climate policy discussions.

 

“Health is the human face of the climate crisis,” he noted, emphasizing that if climate negotiations are ultimately about protecting people, then health must remain at the centre of global climate action.

Climate Change: Africa must move adaptation from promises to action – AGN Chair urges

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called for urgent and practical action to strengthen climate adaptation efforts across Africa, warning that millions of vulnerable people on the continent are already bearing the devastating impacts of climate change.

 

He says Africa could no longer afford fragmented and underfunded adaptation responses while communities continue to suffer worsening climate shocks.

 

Dr. Amoah was delivering the opening statement remotely at the Pan African Coalition for Adaptation and Resilience (PACAR 2026) Workshop in Athi River, Kenya.

 

"For Africa, this sequence must be treated not simply as a calendar of meetings, but as a pathway to move adaptation from recognition to implementation; from general commitments to measurable progress; and from fragmented pilot projects to scaled, financed and country-owned resilience programmes,” he stated.

 

The three-day workshop, organised by Power Shift Africa, brought together civil society actors, researchers, youth groups, women’s movements, and climate experts to discuss Africa’s adaptation priorities ahead of major global climate negotiations.

 

Dr. Amoah commended Power Shift Africa for consistently championing adaptation issues across the continent and acknowledged the organisation’s efforts in connecting grassroots realities to international climate negotiations.

 

Climate change is already hurting ordinary Africans

 

In a deeply human-centred address, the AGN Chair highlighted the growing toll of climate change on ordinary Africans, especially farmers, fisherfolk, women, children, and vulnerable communities already struggling with poverty and weak infrastructure.

 

“Climate impacts are already affecting African farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, urban households, women, children, persons with disabilities and communities in fragile settings,” he said.

 

Beyond environmental destruction, he noted that climate shocks are worsening food insecurity, damaging public infrastructure, straining health systems, and increasing economic pressure on governments already battling debt and development challenges.

 

For many communities across Africa, the crisis is no longer theoretical.

In northern Kenya, prolonged droughts continue to wipe out livestock and livelihoods. In West Africa, floods are destroying homes and farms, while urban settlements across the continent face mounting sanitation and disease risks linked to extreme weather.

 

“Drought is not only a water problem,” Dr. Amoah explained. “It is also a food price, nutrition, health and income problem. Flooding is not only an infrastructure problem; it is also a housing, sanitation, disease and local government finance problem.”

 

Call for integrated adaptation and accessible finance

 

Dr. Amoah argued that Africa must adopt integrated adaptation systems that simultaneously protect food production, water resources, public health, infrastructure, and vulnerable ecosystems.

 

According to him, adaptation should no longer be treated as disconnected interventions but as a comprehensive development and resilience strategy.

“We need approaches that strengthen local institutions, build early warning systems, climate-proof infrastructure, expand social protection and support communities before disasters become humanitarian crises,” he said.

 

He also raised concerns over the accessibility and quality of climate finance available to African countries.

 

“Too much of what is counted as climate finance does not reach those carrying the greatest adaptation burden,” he stated. “Too much comes as loans, and too much is trapped in complex procedures that local institutions and community-based actors cannot access.”

 

Dr. Amoah insisted that adaptation finance for Africa must be predictable, grant-based or highly concessional, and directly accessible to local communities at the frontline of climate impacts.

 

“If adaptation is local in its impact, then finance must become more local in its delivery,” he added.

 

Africa’s voice ahead of COP31 and COP32

 

Looking ahead to upcoming global climate negotiations, including SB64, COP31 and COP32 expected to be hosted in Ethiopia, the AGN Chair urged African stakeholders to sharpen the continent’s adaptation narrative and push for stronger implementation commitments.

 

He encouraged workshop participants to focus on practical outcomes that connect international negotiations to real action on the ground.

 

“Global decisions must translate into resources, institutions, programmes and accountability for communities,” he stressed.

 

Dr. Amoah said COP32 must become more than just another climate conference hosted on African soil.

 

“It must be a moment when the world confronts adaptation with the seriousness it deserves, and when African priorities shape the centre of the global climate agenda,” he stated.

 

He concluded by reaffirming the readiness of the African Group of Negotiators to work closely with civil society organisations and frontline communities to ensure Africa’s adaptation priorities are not only heard globally, but acted upon decisively.

 By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Climate Change: AGN calls for action-driven climate finance at regional sustainable development forum

Chairperson of the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called for a decisive shift from climate finance pledges to implementation, urging global partners to deliver predictable and accessible funding to support Africa’s climate and development priorities.

 

Speaking at the opening of the 12^th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AGN Chair emphasised that Africa’s foremost demand is not additional commitments but tangible financial flows that address adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, and green industrialisation.

 

He underscored the need for outcomes from key global processes, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and COP30, to translate into grant-based and concessional financing mechanisms that are both predictable and accessible to African countries.

 

“Africa’s message is implementation finance, not more pledges,” he told delegates, stressing that climate finance must directly support national priorities such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and critical resilience infrastructure.

 

Dr. Amoah further highlighted the urgency of closing the widening development and climate finance gaps, referencing global commitments such as the Sevilla Commitment. He noted that for Africa, this must result in expanded fiscal space, reduced debt burdens, and lower costs of capital to unlock large-scale investments.

 

On the roadmap to COP30, he called for a “delivery agenda” anchored in clear milestones and accountability mechanisms, particularly in efforts to mobilise at least $300 billion annually by 2035 and scale climate finance to $1.3 trillion within the same timeframe.

 

He stressed that adaptation finance should be treated as development finance, given its direct impact on food systems, water security, health, infrastructure, and economic stability across the continent.

 

“Climate resilience is not a peripheral issue—it sits at the core of Africa’s development,” he noted, adding that the quality of finance is as critical as its volume.

The AGN Chair cautioned against financing models that exacerbate debt vulnerabilities, advocating instead for grants, highly concessional funding, non-debt instruments, and innovative solutions such as debt swaps and local currency financing.

 

He also called for simplified access to climate funds and stronger support for project preparation, particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and fragile states.

 

He urged a shift in approach where Africa leads in shaping its investment agenda, rather than being a passive recipient of fragmented projects. According to him, financing should align with national and regional development frameworks, including Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

As part of his key recommendations, Dr. Amoah proposed the establishment of a climate finance delivery compact for Africa to track progress, ensure transparency, and guarantee equitable distribution of resources.

 

He also called for reforms to the global financial architecture to reduce vulnerability, lower borrowing costs, and prioritise grant-based support for adaptation and resilience.

 

In addition, he advocated for increased investment in sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, water systems, and resilient urban development, describing these as strategic drivers of sustainable growth and global stability.

 

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Selma Malika Haddadi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the AGN in advancing Africa’s climate action agenda.

 

She assured the AGN Chair of continued collaboration to strengthen the continent’s negotiating position and mobilise the resources required to meet its climate goals.

 

In conclusion, Dr. Amoah stressed that climate finance for Africa must be viewed through the lens of equity and accountability.

 

“For Africa, unlocking climate finance is not about charity; it is about justice, implementation and trust,” he said, warning that the credibility of global climate processes will ultimately be judged by their impact on vulnerable communities, economies, and ecosystems across the continent.

by Kofi Adu Domfeh

 

 

AGN Chair echoes need for Africa to translate strong climate negotiating positions into powerful outcomes

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has acknowledged Africa’s strong negotiating positions in the global climate change talks.

 

He, however, says the continent needs to translate these positions into outcomes that are financed, implemented, and felt on the ground.

 

“Africa must move from positions to power,” he said while speaking at the Pre-SB64 Strategy Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, convened by the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES). “Climate finance remains the central issue. The gap between commitments and delivery is still too wide. Africa must approach this with a stronger, more coordinated strategy”.

 

The meeting ahead of the Bonn Climate Conference builds directly on the AGN Strategic Session recently held in Accra, where African interest groups came together as a continent to reflect, align, and set direction for the next phase of their work.

 

“We recognized that, to be effective externally, we must strengthen our internal coordination, technical depth, and ability to act as a unified group. That is the foundation for everything else,” said the AGN Chair.

 

Dr. Amoah acknowledged the important role AGNES continues to play in strengthening Africa’s technical and negotiation capacity, emphasizing that the platform has become central to how Africa prepares, aligns, and engages effectively in the UNFCCC process.

 

“We are coming out of COP30 with important outcomes that now shape our work. The adoption of the Belém Gender Action Plan gives us a clear framework to advance gender-responsive climate action. At the same time, the work on agriculture under the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work continues to highlight the urgency of implementation, especially for Africa’s food systems and livelihoods.

 

“And alongside this, Article 6 is opening new opportunities to connect climate action with economic value, including for our communities but one thing we must be careful about is this – these are not separate conversations,” he stated.

 

He also emphasized that agriculture, gender, finance, and just transition must come together in a coherent African approach, adding that implementation does not happen in silos.

 

“As we look ahead to SB64, our task is straightforward. We must move beyond restating principles and begin to define how things will work: How implementation will happen on the ground. How will finance be accessed? And how our national systems will deliver results. And we must do this with a clear and united African voice.

 

“We must keep our eyes on what lies ahead. With COP32 to be hosted in Africa, we have a real opportunity to shape the global climate agenda from our own context. That opportunity will not organize itself. We must prepare for it deliberately, and that preparation starts here,” Dr. Amoah said.

 

Australia’s Counsellor for Climate Change (Africa), Liam Cosgrave, discussed climate change challenges and strategies for engagement across Africa in the lead-up to COP31.

 

Every year, Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), together with its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, convene to assess progress in the global response to climate change. These sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies and the Conference of the Parties provide a platform for advancing negotiations, recommending decisions, and strengthening implementation of agreed outcomes.

 

The Pre-SB64 AGNES Strategy Meeting was therefore convened at a critical point in the broader climate negotiation process.

 

“Africa is not just participating in this process. Africa is helping to define what implementation should look like in real terms, grounded in development, equity, and justice. Our task now is to ensure that this is reflected in the outcomes we negotiate,” the AGN Chair noted.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh