Between war and climate... a global conference determines the fate of the planet

Arab Weather - While the Middle East region is busy monitoring the military escalation and exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran, one of the most important climate conferences of the year is being held today in the German city of Bonn: the 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB62), which will continue until June 26, 2025.

More than 5,000 representatives from governments, UN agencies, civil society, youth, and the private sector are participating in this session to assess progress in implementing the outcomes of COP28 in Dubai and formulate final recommendations that will be presented to world leaders at COP30, scheduled to be held in Belén, Brazil, at the end of the year.

SB62 is not just a technical event; it is a strategic operations room for translating climate commitments into practical policies. The conference comes amid growing scientific warnings that the world is approaching the point of no return regarding rising temperatures, the widening climate finance gap, and the slow pace of action needed to activate the Loss and Damage Fund.

The main issues up for discussion are:

Identify clear indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), taking into account the specificities of the most fragile countries.

Climate Transparency and Accountability Framework (ETF) to ensure credibility in emissions reporting.

Formulating a new Gender Action Plan to integrate issues of justice and equality into climate policies.

Coordinating the efforts of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to lobby for equitable, unconditional financing that respects the sovereignty of developing countries.

In this context, we emphasize the importance of Jordan and the Arab countries having an independent and influential voice in these negotiations, one based on our national interests and reflecting the critical environmental reality we face: from water scarcity to the threat to food security and the rise of diseases linked to climate change.

I also call for:

Expanding the base of Arab participation in formulating global climate policies, especially among youth, women, and local experts.

Investing in environmental media as a tool for oversight and accountability, and as a bridge between science, decision-makers, and society.

Establishing effective regional partnerships to promote clean technology, adapt to climate challenges, and build a fair green economy.

Amidst the political conflicts, we must not lose sight of the fact that what is happening with the climate is the deeper and longer-term threat.

History will not only record who fired the shots... but who saved the planet.

Dr. Zeina Hamdan
Environmental and Climate Media Expert
Executive Director - Awraq Environmental Development Organization