Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It details the progress and points of contention across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as countries worked toward a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement intended for adoption at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

• The Bonn meetings from March 29 to April 8, 2009, served as the first of at least six negotiating sessions planned for the year, aiming to establish a post-2012 climate agreement for COP 15 in Copenhagen. While the meetings produced no "tangible results," the UNFCCC Executive Secretary stated they succeeded in "narrowing gaps among Parties."
• Mitigation discussions under the AWG-LCA focused on long-term emission reduction goals and the implementation of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) for developing countries. A point of contention emerged regarding whether measurable, reportable and verifiable (MRV) requirements should apply to the actions themselves or only to the support provided by developed countries. Additionally, some developed nations sought more stringent actions from major developing emitters like China and South Korea, a proposal rejected by most developing countries.
• Under the AWG-KP, no agreement was reached on the scale of emission reductions for Annex I Parties. While the IPCC suggested a range of 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, some developed countries preferred a "bottom up" approach based on existing pledges, such as the EU's commitment to reduce emissions by 20 per cent unilaterally (or 30 per cent in the context of global efforts) and Australia's unconditional commitment of 5 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. Developing countries rejected this approach, favoring one based on scientific and equitable principles.
• Negotiations on adaptation under the AWG-LCA showed convergence on the need for an overarching framework, particularly for least developed countries (LDCs), small island developing states, and African countries. The G-77 and China proposed a Framework on Adaptation that would treat adaptation and mitigation equally and include a mechanism for loss and damage. Developing countries requested that funding be "new, predictable and additional to official development assistance."
• Parties remained far from consensus on technology development and transfer. Developing countries proposed relaxing intellectual property rights (IPR) through mechanisms like compulsory licensing or patent pooling, while developed countries, including Japan, argued that protecting IPRs is essential to "recoup innovation costs and promote further technology development."
• Financing discussions were marked by a divide over the source and governance of funds. Developing countries preferred public funding and a new institutional framework under the UNFCCC, citing dissatisfaction with the World Bank and Global Environment Facility (GEF). Conversely, developed nations argued that funding should come mainly from the private sector and be managed through existing institutions. Specific proposals included a Green Fund from Mexico and a carbon tax of US$2 per tonne of carbon dioxide from Switzerland.
• The participation of the United States in the Bonn talks was noted as having a positive impact on the "tenor of constructive engagement," despite the U.S. lacking a detailed mandate on substantive issues. However, the report notes that the U.S. position remains a critical factor, as its domestic implementation plans and potential emission reduction targets will heavily influence the outcome of COP 15.

APA

Murphy, D., & Drexhage, J. (2009). Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/status_unfccc_bonn.pdf

Chicago

Murphy, Deborah, and John Drexhage. Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/status_unfccc_bonn.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murphy |first1=Deborah |last2=Drexhage |first2=John |title=Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/status_unfccc_bonn.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murphy2009status, author = {Murphy, Deborah and Drexhage, John}, title = {{Status of the UNFCCC Negotiations}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/status_unfccc_bonn.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }