Implementation of the UAE Just Transition Work Programme (UAE JTWP) continued to advance in Q2, building on the momentum established last year, and the strong just transition outcome at COP 30. A key milestone was the fifth dialogue under the UAE JTWP, held in April during Climate Week 3 in the Republic of Korea. The dialogue brought together Parties and non-Party stakeholders to discuss how just transition considerations can be integrated into holistic approaches to food security, including agriculture, and ocean-based action. An informal summary of the dialogue was published in early June.

The secretariat also published an initial interim mapping of relevant instruments, initiatives, and processes under the Convention and Paris Agreement, as well as relevant entities across the United Nations system. This work represents an intermediate step towards the preparation of the mandated synthesis report to be published ahead of COP 31.

Q2 also saw good progress at SB 64, where Parties advanced implementation of the UAE JTWP through the adoption of the terms of reference for its review, establishing a clear framework and timeline for the process. Parties also agreed to forward an informal note capturing initial views on key messages emerging from the fifth dialogue and on the operationalization of the just transition mechanism. While further work remains, these developments provide an important foundation for continued progress towards an ambitious outcome on just transition at COP 31.

At SB 64, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) initiated the midterm review of the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), and agreed to continue consideration of this matter at SB 65 on the basis of the informal note prepared by the co-facilitators.

Ahead of the session, the secretariat organized a dialogue at Climate Week 3 and a series of events to support discussions on ACE implementation. During SB 64, Parties continued these discussions through the 2026 ACE Dialogue and a technical workshop to get input to inform the midterm review process and discuss potential new elements for a new action plan.

While SB 64 did not reach agreement on the Global Goal on Adaptation agenda item, work under the Baku Adaptation Road Map continued, with the first mandated workshop held during Q2 to advance discussions on adaptation progress and implementation.

The Subsidiary Body for Science and Technical Advice welcomed progress in implementing the Nairobi Work Programme and reaffirmed its role as the UNFCCC knowledge-to-action hub for adaptation and resilience, emphasizing its importance in delivering timely, accessible and actionable knowledge in response to Parties’ evolving needs, including those arising from the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience.

The 2026 NAP Expo, held in Kigali, Rwanda, in May, focused on supporting countries to move from adaptation planning towards implementation-ready portfolios, financing strategies, and delivery systems that can strengthen resilience by 2030 and beyond. The Expo also launched the NAP Exchange (NAPX), a new platform designed to help countries translate NAPs into structured, implementation-ready plans.

The Adaptation Committee continued advancing its 2025–2027 workplan, including through engagement at the NAP Expo, work on the State of Adaptation report and the landscape of adaptation support, and preparations for upcoming dialogues on adaptation finance and monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for NAPs.

The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage adopted a new gender strategy and advanced the development of voluntary guidelines to support reporting on loss and damage in BTRs at its twenty-fourth meeting.

The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) also advanced its work through the fifteenth meeting of its Facilitative Working Group in June. The Working Group adopted the 2026 LCIPP annual theme to guide implementation of its workplan, focused on advancing holistic climate action through kinship, balance and collective well-being, rooted in cultural heritage, lived realities and diverse knowledge systems.

By the end of Q2, 147 Parties had submitted new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The secretariat continues to follow up on outstanding NDC submissions, while strengthening support for Parties to implement their commitments.

Implementation support expanded during the quarter through the work of the secretariat and our Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs). During Climate Week 3, the first Peer Exchange Workshop on NDC Implementation brought together representatives from key government ministries across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside civil society, Indigenous Peoples, youth, development partners, regional development banks, climate funds, and the private sector to exchange practical experiences on delivering NDCs.

The RCCs also advanced efforts to strengthen financing for NDC implementation by leading discussions on institutional arrangements for mobilizing climate finance, including through a peer master-class series on financing NDC implementation. Across the quarter, the RCCs supported 21 NDC-related events and peer-learning activities and responded to requests for direct country support.

At SB 64, the secretariat, together with partner organizations, organized events on advancing implementation of NDCs and long-term low-emission development strategies. Discussions focused on translating climate plans into investable projects, mobilizing finance for industrial decarbonization, and exploring how artificial intelligence can support climate policymaking and implementation.

Climate Week 3 (CW3) held in Yeosu, Republic of Korea, in April, brought together more than 1,200 participants – including negotiators, governments, businesses, investors, civil society and other stakeholders – to connect the formal UNFCCC process with implementation on the ground.

By combining mandated meetings with implementation-focused dialogues, Climate Weeks help inform negotiations with practical experience while creating opportunities to identify, replicate and scale proven solutions. They also reflect our continued commitment to delivering the UNFCCC process in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

CW3 reinforced a common experience: climate solutions are more effective when they are locally driven, supported by strong institutions, and designed to deliver tangible benefits for people, communities, and economies.

Participants showcased innovative approaches from around the world, including the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in accelerating climate action. Discussions also underscored that technology alone is not enough – scaling solutions depends on strong local capacity, enabling policy environments, and equitable access to finance and innovation.

Preparations are underway for Climate Week 4 (CW4), which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 7 to 11 September 2026. CW4 will continue the implementation-focused approach established in 2025, again prioritizing efficiency by clustering mandated events, along with convenings to support various aspects of implementation by Parties and other stakeholders.

Emphasis will be placed on advancing the six axes of the Global Climate Action Agenda, while strengthening partnerships, mobilizing investment, and supporting Parties in turning their NDCs and NAPs into tangible results.

Implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) continued apace during Q2, with sustained progress in country reporting, technical review, capacity-building and support.

Between April and June, the secretariat conducted 19 technical expert reviews of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), including 11 in-country reviews, four centralized reviews and the first centralized group review for four African least developed countries in Kigali.

Capacity-building efforts also continued, including through a regional Consultative Group of Experts workshop in Mozambique, focused on the submission of BTRs in 2026. In addition, a regional training workshop for 14 Pacific Island countries, co-organized with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Samoa, strengthened the capacity of Parties to use the reporting tools and advance preparation of their common reporting tables and common tabular formats.

The third meeting of Lead Reviewers for BTRs brought together experts to strengthen the consistency and quality of technical expert reviews. Participants adopted a new set of conclusions to support the review process under the ETF.

Transparency featured prominently at SB 64. The twentieth session of the Facilitative Sharing of Views concluded for Ecuador, Niger and Seychelles, while a record number of Parties presented their first BTRs at the third session of the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration of Progress, making it the largest session to date. Activities under the #Together4Transparency initiative included the mandated World Café workshop on support for ETF implementation, a Presidency-led high-level event on sustaining momentum for BTR submissions, reviewer training modules on NDC tracking and adaptation, an informal FMCP dialogue, and dedicated support for delegates through the #Together4Transparency Corner. Six reporting tool clinics provided tailored assistance to Parties, helping to resolve technical issues and accelerate preparation of BTR submissions.

The first REDD+ Global Summit was held in Nairobi in May. The Summit focused on sharing practical experience to accelerate REDD+ implementation, strengthen transparency and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV); improve access to results-based finance; and clarify linkages between Articles 5 and 6 of the Paris Agreement in support of efforts to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. A report summarizing the meeting is available here.

Progress also continued under the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security (SJWA). The enhanced Sharm el-Sheikh Online Portal was launched, providing an improved platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and funding matchmaking to support climate action in agriculture and food security.

During SB 64, the secretariat convened the mandated SJWA workshop on identifying needs and accessing means of implementation for climate action in agriculture and food security.  This workshop provided a platform for Parties and stakeholders to discuss challenges and share good practices.

During Q2, the secretariat began implementing the first mandated events under the Belém Gender Action Plan. At Climate Week 3 in Yeosu, a hybrid event on financing implementation of the Plan at the national level brought together representatives from governments, climate funds, multilateral development banks, UN entities, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen national capacity to access gender-responsive climate finance.

At SB 64, the secretariat convened three key mandated events that will help shape the implementation of the gender and climate change agenda. These included an expert dialogue on gender- and age-disaggregated data and gender analysis, a workshop on strengthening the role of national gender and climate change focal points, and the first annual interactive dialogue on progress in delivering gender-responsive climate finance.

The secretariat also convened representatives from UN entities, civil society, financial institutions, and academia to strengthen coordination and identify practical pathways for implementing the Belém Gender Action Plan, reinforcing partnerships to support delivery over the coming years.

Work on climate finance advanced across several mandates during Q2. At SB 64, Parties continued discussions on the future of the Adaptation Fund. While no final outcome was reached, Parties agreed to continue consideration at SB 65 based on draft decision texts. Continued engagement during the intersessional period will be important to support agreement at COP 31 and ensure the timely transition of the Fund to exclusively serve the Paris Agreement.

Work also progressed under the climate finance work programme, including Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Paris Agreement in the context of Article 9. Ahead of SB 64, the co-chairs consulted Parties and non-Party stakeholders, and published a workplan informed by 68 submissions. During the session,  engagement workshops also supported discussions and helped inform the programme's future work.

The first meeting of the Veredas Dialogue was held during SB 64, focusing on the implementation of Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement and its complementarity with climate finance under Article 9, while emphasizing the nationally determined nature of implementation. The co-chairs will publish an informal summary of the discussions, and the COP 30 Presidency plans to convene the Xingu Finance Talks high-level roundtable ahead of COP 31.

At its fortieth meeting, the Standing Committee on Finance advanced work on its flagship reports, including the seventh Biennial Assessment and the third report on progress towards the USD 100 billion goal, while also agreeing on the programme for the 2026 SCF Forum and the theme for the 2027 Forum. The next meeting will take place in September, held back-to-back with the Forum.
 

At SB 64, Parties reaffirmed their commitment to effective multilateral cooperation by reaching substantive outcomes across four technology agenda items. They also recommended the United Nations Environment Programme as the host of the Climate Technology Centre. In addition, the secretariat prepared an evaluation report on the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer and launched the work on the second periodic assessment of the Technology Mechanism.

The secretariat also supported the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) in delivering its workplan, including the organization of TEC 32 and a joint session with the Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). Other highlights included the launch of the AI for Climate Action Award 2026 in partnership with Korea International Cooperation Agency, the publication of the TEC Practical Guide on Support for Technology Needs Assessments, and contributions to regional forums for national technology focal points in Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia.

At SB 64, Parties advanced work across all capacity-building agenda items, including agreeing draft decision texts for the comprehensive reviews of the capacity-building frameworks for developing countries and economies in transition under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol.

Global capacity-building efforts also progressed through two key events at SB 64. The fifteenth Durban Forum on Capacity-building, held in June, brought together Parties, capacity-building organizations, academia, and other stakeholders to exchange experiences on strengthening developing country Parties’ access to climate finance for the implementation of NDCs and NAPs. Discussions also explored the evolving landscape of capacity-building providers and the support needed to address pre-readiness challenges in developing countries.

The tenth meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), held in June, advanced implementation of the Committee's workplan, including work on the State of Capacity-building Report, the Global Capacity-building Dialogues, the Capacity-building Hub, and research on capacity gaps and needs. The PCCB also concluded work under its 2025–2026 focus area on capacity-building for holistic investment strategies, bankable projects, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen NDC and NAP implementation, launching a dedicated knowledge product on the topic.

The seventh global dialogue and investment-focused event under the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme was held in April during Climate Week 3. It brought together Parties, observers, and non-Party stakeholders to exchange practical experiences, identify solutions, and explore opportunities for enabling mitigation ambition and implementation in the industrial sector, drawing on national and regional experience. The event also featured a Pitch Hub, where Parties presented project concepts to investors and financial institutions and received expert feedback on investment opportunities and project preparation.

The key outcomes have been captured in a summary report prepared by the secretariat under the guidance of the Co-Chairs of the work programme. The eighth global dialogue and investment-focused event, to be held at the end of September in Sydney, Australia, will build on these discussions by continuing the focus on industry while also addressing cross-cutting issues.

At SB 64, Parties discussed the future of the work programme, including its continuation, functioning, and effectiveness. While no agreement was reached, Parties agreed to resume negotiations at COP 31 with a view to recommending a draft decision to continue the work programme for adoption. The intersessional period, including Heads of Delegation meetings and the pre-COP, will provide important opportunities to build common ground and lay the foundation for a successful outcome at COP 31, so it will be important Parties seize these opportunities to make strong progress.

In line with the outcomes agreed in the Belém decision, work in Q2 focused on supporting the transition from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), with the secretariat’s RCCs playing a central role in supporting Parties. Progress continued across several fronts. By the end of June, 129 Parties had designated a Designated National Authority, 69 had submitted Host Party Participation Requirements forms, and 418 of the 1,512 requests to transition CDM activities had received Host Party approval.

At its twenty-first meeting, the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body adopted a new methodology for nitrous oxide abatement from nitric acid production, together with methodological tools on lock-in risk and the fraction of non-renewable biomass.  This further strengthens the operational framework of the PACM.

Article 6 implementation also advanced through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building. During SB 64, the Article 6.2 Ambition Dialogue provided a platform for Parties and Observers to exchange practical experience, while the Article 6 Markets Day brought together more than 300 people to discuss market developments and implementation.

Additional webinars on the International Registry and Additional Registry Services, and on the PACM Registry supported Parties' understanding of key operational elements. The RCCs complemented these efforts by supporting Article 6 events and responding to country requests for technical assistance.

Progress also continued under the transparency and non-market components of Article 6. Nine technical expert review reports under Article 6.2 were published during the quarter, while SB 64 adopted conclusions on Article 6.8, including the review of the work programme on non-market approaches.

During Q2, the secretariat continued to strengthen the engagement of non-Party stakeholders across the UNFCCC process. The secretariat completed the assessment of 281 applications for admission as observers, with 91 organizations deemed eligible. The secretariat also convened an implementation dialogue in China with the China National Textile and Apparel Council and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, identifying solutions and opportunities for collaboration to accelerate climate action.

In preparation for SB 64, the secretariat organized three observer briefings and published updated guidance, including the Observer Handbook, Observers' Guide to Advocacy Actions and Side Event Organizers Manual, helping observers engage effectively in the session. During SB 64, the secretariat facilitated observer participation across negotiations and mandated events, including the COP 30 Presidency's Open Dialogue on transparency and integrity, co-developed with NGO constituencies.

The secretariat’s Engagement team also supported 128 side events, more than 30 engagement opportunities with Parties and constituted bodies, and 25 advocacy actions.

The secretariat supported the Climate High-Level Champions (CHLCs) and their Presidencies as they continued to implement the Global Climate Action Agenda (GCAA) as defined in their 2026–2030 five-year vision, working closely with Marrakech Partnership stakeholders. At SB 64, the secretariat supported the Champions in their efforts to convene bilateral meetings with Party groups, and to hold a public event and roundtables across the six thematic axes of the GCAA. These engagements helped mobilize stakeholders around COP 31 priorities, showcased progress under the Plans to Accelerate Solutions, and informed the 2026 work programme.

Alongside the negotiations at SB 64, the COP 31 Presidency announced its priorities for the Global Climate Action Agenda, including three headline targets: increasing the share of final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20 per cent today to 35 per cent by 2035; halving the growth in global waste by 2035; and reducing energy consumption intensity in the building sector by at least 25 per cent by 2035 to support more resilient cities. These priorities align with the six axes launched at COP 30 in Belém to support implementation of the outcomes of the first global stocktake.

The incoming Türkiye COP 31 Presidency’s GCAA launch was supported by Australia’s President of COP 31 Negotiations and the Executive Secretary.

The global stocktake (GST) is a core mechanism of the Paris Agreement, assessing the collective progress of Parties every five years. Its outcomes are intended to inform Parties as they strengthen their climate actions and support, on a nationally determined basis, and to improve international cooperation.

The second global stocktake (GST2) will formally begin at COP 31 and will follow a three-stage process: information collection and preparation, technical assessment, and consideration of outputs. The process will conclude at COP 33 in November 2028, where Parties will consider the findings of the technical assessment and agree on the GST2 outcome.

Preparations for the start of GST2 are now underway. With support from the secretariat, the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies have developed guiding questions for the information collection and preparation phase, covering thematic and cross-cutting issues. These questions are intended to inform submissions from Parties, observers and other non-Party stakeholders and support a focused and comprehensive assessment.

Preparations are also advancing for the technical assessment component, including the Technical Dialogue scheduled to begin at SB 66 in June 2027. In a notification communicated in July, the Subsidiary Body Chairs encouraged Parties to confirm nominations of the two Technical Dialogue co-facilitators – one from a developing country Party and one from a developed country Party – at an early stage.  This will help enable timely preparations for the first dialogue and the development of the technical assessment outputs.

The June Climate Conference (SB 64) was delivered smoothly, with registration and accreditation processes operating effectively. The redesigned registration area featured additional service stations and an optimized layout, and significantly improved participant flow and reduced waiting times, particularly during peak arrival periods.

Participation remained strong, with 6,705 participants attending in person and 823 joining virtually, making SB 64 the second-highest attended SB session to date, following SB 62. In total, 182 Party delegations attended in person.

Visa facilitation efforts continued in close coordination with relevant authorities. While some delays and refusals occurred (mainly due to late applications, incomplete or fraudulent documentation, or insufficient evidence of return), targeted support helped facilitate participation for several delegations.

The Trust Fund for Participation continued to support broad participation, with 135 of 142 eligible Parties responding to the funding process, representing a 95 per cent response rate.

As part of ongoing conference modernization efforts, the secretariat also successfully introduced a new online room booking system at SB 64, improving the efficiency and accessibility of meeting room allocation processes.

Last year, the Executive Secretary convened a High-Level Informal Consultative Roundtable to provide independent perspectives on how the UNFCCC process could be further optimized to support greater effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and timeliness, particularly as climate action enters a period with a heightened focus by many Parties on accelerated implementation and delivery.

The deliberations of the Roundtable members have taken place in full cognizance of the Party-driven nature and foundations of the process, and the mandates of the secretariat. Roundtable members serve in a pro-bono capacity and have held deliberations since early last year.

On the sidelines of SB 64 in Bonn, an open informal event took place at which various Roundtable members shared perspectives and ideas. A brief summary will be posted here in the period ahead.  You can read the Executive Secretary's remarks at the event here.

The secretariat is also listening carefully to the views of Party and non-Party stakeholders, on issues related to improvement and optimization of the process, and welcomes any inputs and perspectives that Parties or other entities may wish to share.

Preparations for COP 31 continue to advance, with the secretariat and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) completing a third technical mission to Antalya, Türkiye, in June. The mission marked a transition from planning to execution assurance, testing the readiness of operational systems under realistic conditions, including peak scenarios. It confirmed progress across key areas, including venue arrangements, accommodation, transport, and security, as well as the integration of these systems to support effective conference delivery.

Preparations for COP 32 also commenced with an initial fact-finding mission by the secretariat and UNDSS to Ethiopia in early July. The mission provided an initial assessment of the proposed venue and supporting infrastructure, as well as preliminary reviews of accommodation, transport, and security arrangements. The findings will help identify potential risks and inform preparations ahead of the full technical mission planned for January 2027.

The Host Country Agreement (HCA) between the government of Türkiye and the UNFCCC has been ratified and is expected to come into force soon, with a range of strengthened measures to support an inclusive, efficient and effective COP31. 

The COP 31 HCA consolidates a series of improvements made to HCAs in recent years and also includes important new innovations and efficiencies agreed with Türkiye this year. For example, the COP 31 HCA includes a strengthened approach to human rights, including stronger language on inclusion, covering gender, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and persons with disabilities. This helps make inclusion and gender central organizing principles.

The COP 31 HCA also ensures accommodation prices for participants funded through the Trust Fund for Participation are capped at 50% of the daily subsistence allowance, supporting full participation by countries with limited financial capacity.

The COP 31 HCA will be published on the UNFCCC website after it enters into force in the period ahead. 

The updates above are just a sample of all the work taking place in the intergovernmental process on climate change in Q2. We will continue to update Parties on the vital work and progress in many other areas in future Quarterly Updates.

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