Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019

The SB-50 negotiations in Bonn were characterized by persistent political deadlocks, particularly regarding the IPCC 1.5ºC report and Article 6 mechanisms. While there was an increase in countries advocating for human rights-based social safeguards in market mechanisms, deep divisions remain. The session also advanced reviews of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and the Gender Action Plan, while highlighting the importance of procedural rights and the Escazú Agreement for civil society participation.

• A persistent deadlock occurred regarding the IPCC report on 1.5ºC, with Saudi Arabia, the United States, Kuwait, and Russia rejecting wording that credited the report's findings, mirroring a standoff from COP-24.
• Negotiations on Article 6 mechanisms (6.2, 6.4, and 6.8) revealed deep divisions, particularly concerning environmental integrity and the necessity of social safeguards. While a single draft was merged, Parties' positions remain largely irreconcilable.
• There was a notable increase in the number of countries, including the EU, Norway, Costa Rica, Tuvalu, Mexico, and Switzerland, calling for the inclusion of human rights-based social safeguards and grievance redress mechanisms within Article 6.
• Regarding the Article 6.4 Sustainable Development Mechanism, the draft text for the grievance process is further bracketed, and there was minimal discussion on making the process independent, transparent, or rights-based, with Brazil being the only country to request more understanding.
• Civil society emphasized the importance of procedural rights, specifically access to information and public participation, linking these needs to the Escazú Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The SB-50 initiated reviews of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) and the Gender Action Plan (GAP), with the WIM review adopting terms of reference that stress the importance of considering vulnerable populations.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2019). Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HRCC_Roundletter_SB50final.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019. 2019. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HRCC_Roundletter_SB50final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019 |date=1 June 2019 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HRCC_Roundletter_SB50final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2019report, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Report from the Bonn Climate Talks, June 2019}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2019}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HRCC_Roundletter_SB50final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }