The representatives of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Bonn-based United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meet to advance negotiations on key issues such as adaptation, mitigation, climate finance and transparency. The next world climate conference will take place in November 2025 in Belém (Brazil) and thus in the Amazon region.
Mayor Katja Dörner says: "The global community is negotiating in Bonn on greater efforts for climate protection and adaptation to the unavoidable consequences of the climate crisis. These are issues that also directly affect us as the city of Bonn. In Bonn, for example, we are currently developing an integrated climate adaptation concept, which will be submitted to the Council for approval. In addition to the Bonn Climate Plan, with which we want to make Bonn climate-neutral by 2035 and which is already being implemented, the integrated climate adaptation concept forms the second pillar of our local climate commitment. This involves, for example, taking measures to protect against heat, drought and heavy rainfall in order to better protect people from the consequences of the climate crisis.
The City of Bonn is once again supporting the Bonn Climate Conference this year with public relations measures and networking events, among other things. Culture is also a topic. The "Summer of Change", which is closely interwoven with the sustainable cultural strategy and Bonn's climate plan, is a series of around 100 events by more than 30 partners that will run until the end of September 2025. Cultural institutions and initiatives will inspire and provide impetus for action. For example, an international event, the "Climate x Culture" forum, will take place on June 25 at the LVR-Landesmuseum.
In this context, the city is also once again drawing attention to a project by "Fridays For Future Bonn" and the "Climate Delegation" association. For their "bed exchange", they are looking for volunteers to host international delegates during the conference. The budget for travel is often low, especially for participants from regions most affected by climate change. The Bed Exchange therefore relies on the commitment of people in Bonn to provide accommodation.
Cities in the climate crisis: Daring Cities with a focus on faster climate action
In addition to the official negotiations, numerous accompanying events will also take place. For example, the City of Bonn, together with the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability network and other partners, is hosting the sixth edition of the Daring Cities Conference in Bonn. From June 16 to 18, climate-committed mayors and other stakeholders from around the world will meet in Bonn to make contact with representatives of the national delegations to the climate conference, strengthen partnerships and promote the exchange of knowledge. The municipalities and regions are also keen to be more involved in the development of their countries' national climate plans and to make urban contributions to climate protection more visible.
In a discussion with Ingrid Hoven, Director of the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), also based in Bonn, and Marjorie Kauffmann, Secretary for the Environment of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande del Sul, Mayor of Bonn Dörner will discuss Bonn's path to climate neutrality as well as the participation of cities in the international climate process and their involvement in setting new and ambitious national climate targets.
The Daring Cities forums have been taking place since 2020. The Daring Cities Conference is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Foundation for International Cooperation of Sparkasse Köln-Bonn and other donors. The Daring Cities Bonn Dialogues and the presence of the cities and regions at the World Climate Conference in autumn with the "Multilevel Action and Urbanization" pavilion are the highlights of the forum, which also offers virtual programme items in spring and late summer.
Further information
Further information on the climate talks can be found at https://unfccc.int/ (opens in a new tab).
Information on the bed exchange for delegates of the climate talks: https://bedexchange.klimadelegation.de/ (opens in a new tab).
Further information on the "Daring Cities" conference: https://daringcities.org/daring-cities-2025/ (opens in a new tab).
formation on the climate plan and the climate adaptation concept of the city of Bonn: www.bonn.de/klimaplan und www.bonn.de/klimaanpassung.
Information on the Bonn cultural festival "Summer of Change" can be found at www.bonn.de/summer-of-change.