Bonn, Germany, Tuesday 9 June 2026 — In response to Minister Chris Bowen’s opening address at the Bonn Climate Change Conference SB64, Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific and speaking from Bonn, said:
“While Australia’s speech was strongly focused on the limitations of fossil fuels and supply chains amid the current energy shock, what’s still lacking is the vision and agenda for COP31 that will truly deliver the transition away from fossil fuels. Until then, it remains rhetoric without any results. Minister Bowen emphasised the electrification agenda and renewable energies, but in a challenging geopolitical environment more clearly needs to be done to ensure COP31 is a moment of true implementation.
“Every successful COP has depended on a strong Presidency and Bonn is a key moment for the incoming Presidency to start shaping the vision. What Australia must also do is support Pacific climate leadership and get squarely behind the longstanding Pacific priorities of limiting warming to 1.5°C — and that requires rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, building resilience to the escalating impacts of climate change, addressing loss and damage, and ensuring communities can access the funding and support they need.”
Ahead of SB64, Greenpeace International has produced a policy briefing outlining the core elements of a just transition away from fossil fuels and the urgent, priority actions needed from national governments and through global co-operation to make it a reality.[1]
