Climate change
ICC speaks up at closing of UN Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB62)
On behalf of the global business community, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) urged parties to turn words into action at the closing plenary of the 62nd sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 62)—also known as the Bonn Climate Change Conference. The negotiations mark a crucial milestone on the road to COP30, taking place in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025.
The full statement was delivered by Sophie Talarico, ICC Policy Manager – Climate, on 26 June 2025.
I am honored to speak on behalf of the Business and Industry Constituency.
We thank the SB Chairs, as well as the Chairs and co-facilitators, for their leadership, and commend Parties for working toward consensus until the final hours.
We were pleased to see a constructive spirit over the past two weeks. But significant divergences persist – underscoring the scale of the work that still lies ahead.
On the GST, we urge Parties to turn words into action by urgently delivering ambitious, actionable, 1.5-aligned NDCs that offer the policy certainty and predictability business needs to act and invest.
On mitigation, the small steps made must lead to substantive, solution-focused discussions in Belém – addressing both opportunities and barriers to accelerate mitigation across all sectors in this decisive decade.
On adaptation, we call on Parties to continue progress to deliver a robust framework of indicators in Belém – one that enables real-world action, including from the private sector.
On Just Transition, we are pleased that agreement was reached. But the real work begins now. We urge Parties to accelerate efforts for a meaningful outcome at COP30, one that strengthens international cooperation and ensures that all actors of the society have the skills, resources, and tools needed to adapt and thrive in a changing economy.
Finally – and this was loud and clear here in Bonn – without adequate financial support, the promises made in Dubai risk remaining just words. Delivering on COP29 commitments is essential to maintain trust in this process.
The private sector has a key role in complementing public finance. The Baku to Belém roadmap must lead to concrete action to fix misaligned financial rules, remove barriers, and unlock the 1.3 trillion needed.
Now more than ever, our shared climate ambitions demand collaborative solutions. No single country, sector or actor of society can tackle this challenge alone.
Now it is time to unite and work together to transform promises made into real world implementation. We stand ready to support the SB Chairs, the incoming COP30 Presidency and all Parties in the critical months ahead.
Thank you.
