Climate 411

From Bonn to London, Indigenous voices raise expectations for COP30 Belem

By Bärbel Henneberger / Published: July 3, 2025

Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, speaking at EDF Side Event at SB62. Photo by Patricia Zuppi

The 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded in Bonn, Germany last week. SB62 is the last intersessional meeting before the highly anticipated COP30 climate talks in Belém, Brazil in November, where a major focus will be on the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC). So, what were some highlights?

During SB62, the Brazilian government made a landmark move by bringing together ministries, civil society, and UN representatives to advance the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) at climate negotiations. The goal is to present a document with recommendations to the COP30 Presidency, which has put forth the idea of “global mutirão” or collective action, on how to build a common agenda for IPLC climate policies and integrate traditional knowledge with nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Brazil has made significant efforts to elevate IPLC voices on the global stage ahead of COP30, and this was evident at SB62 where IPLC priorities, including on the just energy transition, climate adaptation, and gender equality, received attention.

Posted in Forest protection, Global Engagement, Indigenous People, Just Transition, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Authors: bhenneberger / Leave a comment

As New York continues to await cap-and-invest program, studies show just how impactful these programs can be

By Caroline Jones and Alex DeGolia / Published: July 1, 2025

New York just experienced a brutal heatwave, with several cities experiencing the hottest days ever recorded, underscoring the urgent need to address the climate crisis.

As temperatures heat up, so do energy prices as New Yorkers continue to struggle with higher cost of living and economic uncertainty. To make matters worse, across the country polluters and their political allies are working to stall progress and roll back the clock on climate action. In the face of those attacks, states must be the firewall.

New York has the chance to lead by example — tackling climate change while reducing costs for many New Yorkers and spurring economic growth — through the adoption of a bold, economy-wide cap-and-invest program.

Posted in News / Authors: cajones, adegolia / Leave a comment

At the Financing for Development Conference, an opportunity to make climate and development finance go further

By Christopher Dekki and Zach Cohen / Published: June 27, 2025

The Fourth International Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) in Seville will convene critical discussions about how to reshape the global financial architecture in an era of converging crises. As we grapple with persistent development challenges and the escalating impacts of climate change, this conference presents a vital moment to re-evaluate how climate and development finance intersect. Read More »

Posted in Climate Finance, Economics, Paris Agreement / Authors: christopherdekki, zacohen / Leave a comment

Jalisco’s Path to High-Integrity Jurisdictional Climate Finance: A Model for Climate Action and Territorial Justice

By Edgar Godoy / Published: June 19, 2025

Clouds partially cover a forest in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Photo by Edgar Godoy.

This post was authored by Edgar Godoy, Associate Vice President for Jurisdictional Alliances, and Paola Bauche, Secretary of Environment and Territorial Development, State of Jalisco, Mexico.

As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, jurisdictional REDD+ approaches have emerged as a scalable, equitable, and results-based solution for tackling deforestation and forest degradation. In Mexico, the State of Jalisco stands out as a subnational leader, having developed and begun implementing a jurisdictional REDD+ model rooted in long-term vision, institutional strength, and a strong commitment to forest communities’ rights. In its role as strategic partner to the Government of Jalisco, Environmental Defense Fund has been providing targeted technical assistance, supporting the development of emissions baselines and safeguard frameworks, and bolstering Jalisco’s alignment with international best practices in high-integrity carbon markets.

With over 4 million hectares of forest cover, representing more than 50% of its territory, Jalisco’s forests are critical for biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of hundreds of communal land communities, called ejidos, and Indigenous communities. The state’s REDD+ Strategy, developed through inclusive, participatory processes, links forest conservation, restoration, land-use planning, and sustainable rural development. It aligns with Mexico’s national REDD+ framework and the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Posted in Carbon Markets, Forest protection, Indigenous People, International, Mexico, Paris Agreement, REDD+, United Nations / Authors: egodoy / Comments are closed

Bonn 2025: Charting the Path to COP30 and Enhanced Climate Action

By Sarah Swain and Zach Cohen / Published: June 12, 2025

2025 June Climate Meetings. UNFCCC/ Amira Grotendiek

Next week, the international climate community will convene in Bonn for the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (June 16-26, 2025), or SB62. SB62 marks a critical milestone on the road to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, shaping the preparation and setting the stage for the negotiations.

The meetings in Bonn will be guided by a central principle set by COP30 Presidency: the idea of “global mutirão,” the power of collective action to achieve goals no single actor can accomplish alone. Brazil has launched this initiative to identify common ground across regions and sectors, finding areas of convergence that can drive ambitious climate action forward. The Presidency has underscored the urgent need for this collaborative approach, particularly at SB62, to rebuild the multilateral trust strained during COP29 and by widening geopolitical rifts.

Answering the global call for climate action, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is putting the spirit of “mutirão” into practice. At its core, EDF’s “mutirão” is already in our DNA. We play a unique role working with partners and allies across society – from local communities, major companies, Indigenous Peoples, governments and more – to find the shared goals that lead to groundbreaking solutions. Embracing collaboration and partnership has led us to impactful wins for planet and people: from supporting Indigenous Peoples’ participation in UN spaces to conserve forests, to gathering national oil companies together under an ambitious goal to slash methane emissions. Our commitment to this inclusive approach is essential for rebuilding the global trust needed for swift, fair, and ambitious climate action that delivers.

Here are the thematic issues and topics EDF will be actively engaged in during SB62:

Posted in Agriculture, Brazil, Climate Finance, Indigenous People, International, News, Oceans, Paris Agreement, United Nations / Tagged Bonn Climate Talks, COP30, global collaboration, multilateral, Road to COP | Authors: sarahswain, zacohen / Comments are closed

Cap-and-invest program continues to drive down climate pollution and raise investments in Washington state

By Caroline Jones / Published: June 11, 2025

Results were released today for Washington’s second cap-and-invest auction of the year, administered last Wednesday by the Department of Ecology (Ecology). During the auction, participating entities submitted their bids for allowances. Under the Climate Commitment Act — Washington’s landmark climate law that sets a binding, declining limit on pollution — major emitters in Washington are required to hold one allowance for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit, with the total number of allowances decreasing each year. This system requires Washington’s polluters to reduce their emissions in line with the state’s climate targets, as fewer allowances become available annually.

Posted in Carbon Markets, Cities and states, Economics, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, News, Policy / Authors: cajones / Comments are closed

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