The US is a no-show at Bonn climate negotiations

The intersessional climate meetings in Bonn, Germany, which mark the midway point to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP30, in Brazil, are kicking off today, but without the United States. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed that they would not be sending a delegation but declined to offer specific reasons for the withdrawal. This will be the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the Bonn climate talks that the U.S. will not attend. These meetings are an essential part of the final agreements made at COP30 in November. The decision to skip it means that the U.S. will not have as much of a say in the final discussions — but some experts say that their absence might make for more streamlined talks and make room for new leaders in the climate and development space. “The US has been a laggard in the negotiations, its absence could actually provide opportunity for others to step up and for the climate process there could be more progress in the negotiations,” said Mariana Paoli, global advocacy lead at Christian Aid. “⁠The international climate regime cannot be dependent on whoever occupies the White House every 4 years.” Another development official who requested anonymity due to their position echoed this sentiment. “I don’t think it’s going to make much difference. It’s not a loss because in recent years the US has been more focused on resisting China at COP even though they are outspending the US on climate finance three-fold,” the official said. The official said that in the absence of the U.S. — and thus the absence of its potential funding aid — countries are likely to focus on insurance as a solution to increased climate risks, private sector finance for adaptation, and scaling up voluntary carbon credits. The U.S. decision is unlikely to come as a surprise. In January, the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from the landmark Paris Agreement, which commits signatory countries to ambitious targets aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 C, above pre-industrial levels. While the U.S. remains an official party to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change — the overarching international treaty under which the Paris Agreement falls — it can choose not to participate in the meetings. Paoli said that Bonn, without the U.S,. could be a time for other countries to step up and lead. “⁠Other developed countries cannot hide behind the US anymore as an excuse preventing climate ambition. It is time they show leadership to deliver their commitments under the Paris Agreement.” The United States has been notably absent from other significant climate-related gatherings leading up to Bonn, including the Petersburg Climate Dialogue, a forum for informal yet critical discussions among major emitters, and the U.N. Ocean Conference, which focuses on the vital role of oceans in climate regulation and sustainable development. In May, the U.S. was also largely missing from the World Health Assembly meetings, with its contribution limited to a video message rather than in-person engagement. The lack of U.S. involvement allowed for the Pandemic Accord, a major global health agreement that the U.S. had previously declined to endorse, to be signed.