After two weeks of sluggish and at times tense negotiations, the mid-year UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, wrapped up last Friday with little to show on the thorniest issues: fossil fuels and climate finance.

The conference, a key preparatory step ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, opened to delays as delegates sparred over the agenda. By the close, frustrations loomed large, with UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell urging faster decision-making and warning that “there is a lot more to do before Belém.”

While the talks failed to deliver breakthroughs, negotiators managed to keep the process intact and secured a few modest wins, chief among them, a compromise on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).

The deal came after prolonged standoffs over how to track progress in adapting to climate change and where the financing should come from.

The GGA, established under the 2015 Paris Agreement, is intended to strengthen resilience in vulnerable nations facing climate-linked disasters like floods, droughts, and extreme heat.

Negotiations nearly collapsed over disagreements on whether metrics for adaptation should include financial support obligations from developed to developing nations.

The adaptation breakthrough, though fragile, included agreement to add indicators on “means of implementation,” essentially, financing, to be finalized in Brazil.

The funding gap remains a flashpoint.

Many developing countries argue that promised support from wealthy nations has fallen short, while disputes persist over how to measure and enforce climate finance commitments.

That debate will intensify ahead of COP30, particularly as the UN eyes a new finance target of $1.3 trillion (Sh167.7 trillion) a year by 2035 to support developing countries.

Bonn saw little headway on emissions reductions, even as 2024 was declared the hottest year on record.

The global average temperature surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, breaching the Paris threshold and intensifying calls to phase out fossil fuels.

“Every broken temperature record isn’t just a statistic,” warned Dr. Friederike Otto of the World Weather Attribution group. “It means lives lost and livelihoods destroyed.”

She lamented that new oil and gas projects continue to be launched, often backed by rising subsidies, even as fossil fuel emissions hit an all-time high.

Despite the gloom, the Bonn conference laid foundations for a just transition framework and advanced technical work on adaptation indicators.

Brazil, host of COP30, signaled its ambition to drive progress, with its environment minister, Marina Silva, proposing a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels and halting deforestation.

Silva also called for consensus on long-term climate finance and urged global unity to “move beyond endless disputes and act decisively.”

Bonn failed to agree on who would host COP31.

Türkiye's refusal to back down has delayed the decision, even as Australia garners support.

On the administrative front, countries approved a 10% budget increase for the UN climate secretariat for 202,5, less than half of what was requested.

With the U.S. unlikely to pay its full share, observers warned the secretariat may struggle to fulfill its growing responsibilities.

“This is a modest but vital investment,” said Stiell. “There’s no Planet B and no Process B.”

While the negotiations in Bonn dragged on, energy surged at London Climate Action Week, where over 700 events tackled climate solutions from clean energy and finance to sustainable fashion and food systems.

There, Brazilian leaders found a more receptive stage to build momentum for COP30, and Climate Home News hosted discussions on responsible mining to support the clean energy transition.

Experts argued that stronger regulation, community-led development, and strategic funding can transform mining into a force for good as demand grows for critical minerals.

As attention now shifts to Belém, the task ahead remains daunting but not impossible.