[SB62] Climate Process Stalls Again Leaving Small Island Developing States in the Crossfire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BONN, 26 June 2025 – As the UNFCCC June climate meetings (SB62) in Bonn come to a close, it has become clear that the climate process is veering dangerously out of touch with the scale of the global crisis, and once again leaving Small Island Developing States (SIDS) stranded between political posturing and policy paralysis.

“The fallout from the failures in Baku has clearly shaped the dynamics in Bonn ,” said Dr. Sindra Sharma, International Policy Lead at PICAN. “While some developing countries undermined the science and the 1.5°C goal, and developed countries failed to shift on their finance obligations, it was SIDS that remained stuck in the middle. Our resilience cannot be used to justify global inaction.”

Across two weeks of negotiations, procedural progress was made — texts were forwarded, dialogues were had, and informal notes evolved — however ‘true’ progress remained elusive. SIDS and Least Developed Countries fought hard to protect ambition, fairness, and rights-based framing caught between the global north’s tokenised ambition and the global south’s resistance to ambition without equity. Issues like 1.5C and the realisation of our particular vulnerability, became battlegrounds for deeper ideological divides.

“There is a dangerous drift in the UNFCCC process,” said Sharma. “Countries are quick to recommit to 1.5 in public, but behind closed doors they expand fossil fuels and delay finance. Our message is simple. Ambition without action is betrayal. Climate justice is impossible without public finance, and SIDS must not be asked to carry the burden of political compromise.”

While Bonn delivered a positive step with the inclusion of civil society demands in the Just Transition Work Programme, this progress will mean little without real implementation and political courage in Belém.

“COP30 in Brazil must deliver a course correction. No more hiding behind process or profit. We need a clear outcome on phasing out fossil fuels, scaling up public climate finance, and restoring trust in multilateralism,” said Sharma.

PICAN commits to continuing to hold the line on science, justice and the 1.5°C goal, working alongside allies to ensure the Pacific and SIDS voice remains clear and powerful. As attention turns to Belém and the upcoming release of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, we see a key moment to inject much-needed ambition and urgency into the climate multilateral process. Both present an opportunity to course-correct, reaffirm legal obligations, and centre the needs of those most impacted.

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About PICAN

PICAN is a regional alliance of 190+ non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, social movements and not-for-profit organisations from the Pacific Islands region working on various aspects of climate change, disaster risk and response and sustainable development.

Media Contact:

Dylan Kava, Strategic Engagement and Communications Lead, PICAN

dylan.kava@pican.org | +679 9061989 (Manila / GMT+8)