Few announcements expected, but meeting offers opportunity to build relationships ahead of Ban Ki-moon summit.
Coming off the back of the Abu Dhabi Ascent, and the jubilation at the recently announced agreement in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) meeting, Bonn looks to be just another stage post en route to Paris in 2015.
But the Bonn intercessional this June is more than just a normal negotiation. Ministers have no sooner disembarked from their transportation out of the luxury oasis of the desert, to step back in it to reach the not so glamorous Maritim Hotel, Bonn.
The unusual suspects at the intercessional are the result of strong calls by the most vulnerable countries for Ministerial engagement to focus on raising ambition from now until 2020.
What this means in practice is two Ministerials: one for those who already have existing commitments through the Kyoto Protocol to provide details on how they could increase ambition; and one for everyone to demonstrate what actions they are taking pre-2020.
It is unlikely that this short window of opportunity will result in new announcements to increase pledges before 2020.
After all, the Climate Summit hosted by Ban Ki-moon is where Heads of State will come with 'bold’ pledges; they’re not going to let their subordinates steal their thunder by announcing in June.
But we shouldn’t write off Bonn because nothing major will be announced. The trials and tribulations of the GCF negotiations demonstrate that concerted diplomatic capability can produce results. Multilateral agreements require reciprocity.
They depend upon relationships, friendships and partnerships. A fundamental condition of strategic diplomacy is to 'know the other’.
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