India's stance in BONN SB 62

THE 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), representing nearly 200 countries of the world will be held in Belem, Brazil on 21st November 2025. COP30 would advance ambitious climate Finance commitments and national actions aligned with the 2015 Paris Agreement. But before the world leaders meet in Amazon, the ground work is being laid down in a quieter, technical setting: The mid-year Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany, technically known as the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) has already begun from 16th of June this year and will continue till 26th of June. This crucial mid-year climate conference is a precursor to the COP30.

- IPSITA DASH

India, as part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) block, plays a key role in pushing for inclusion of climate finance and trade equity issues on the agenda. While a deadlock initially stalled formal proceedings, a compromise allowed discussions to proceed through informal consultations.

As regards the significance of SB62, it may be recalled that it is a key event in the UNFCCC process, bringing together the Subsidiary Body of Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). It also serves as a crucial milestone between COP29 in Baku and COP30 in Belem. It focuses on advancing negotiations on critical issues like climate finance, mitigation, adaptation and transparency.

India, along with other developing countries, sought to include climate finance and trade equity issues as separate agenda items. Concrete actions on climate finance under article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement were advocated emphasizing additionality, predictability and transparency.

India was also opposed to unilateral trade measures. Unilateral trade measures are actions taken by individual countries or blocs to impose tariffs, import restrictions, or other trade barriers based on specific criteria; in this case environmental standards. These measures have come to limelight with the European Union's adoption of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), followed by the UK's plans to implement UK CBAM and similar intentions from other countries, such as Canada. These policies are trade-related measures adopted unilaterally.