The Bonn Climate Change Conference, held from 16–26 June 2025, brought together negotiators, campaigners, and observers from around the world to prepare for key decisions expected at COP30. Jesuit Missions focused on one core message: richer countries must take responsibility and provide meaningful support to poorer nations already suffering the effects of climate change.
Jesuit Missions co-hosted a side event during the conference: Climate Change and Climate Migration: Challenges and Solutions from the Global South. The discussion brought together Jesuit voices from Madagascar, the Philippines, and Latin America, highlighting the human cost of climate migration and the urgent need for systemic change. You can watch the full discussion here.
Throughout the two-week conference, key discussions focused on climate finance, loss and damage, adaptation, and the Just Transition Work Programme — which seeks to ensure that the shift to greener economies is fair for all, especially workers and frontline communities. A full breakdown of the negotiations is available in Jesuit Missions' Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025 Daily Bulletins.
Richard Solly, Campaigns and Advocacy Officer at Jesuit Missions, attended the talks alongside partners from Madagascar. He said much more needs to be done to secure genuine climate justice for poorer countries:
“At the talks in Bonn, I saw richer countries continue to block discussion of their obligation under the Paris Agreement to provide funds for poorer countries to deal with climate change.”
Yet, despite these challenges, there were positive signs.
“The bright spot in these talks was that climate campaigners and representatives of workers, Indigenous Peoples and the Global South have forced the rich countries to start serious discussion of a Just Transition away from fossil fuels, one that will not throw fossil fuel workers on to the scrap heap or wreck other communities by expanded mining of so-called 'green' minerals.” He added: “It was also good to see many Catholic organisations, including Jesuits, coming together in Bonn to call for climate justice.”
Brother Stephen Power SJ, Chairman of Jesuit Missions’ Management Board, explained why these talks matter so much now:
“This COP in November is perhaps the most important one since COP21 set up the Paris agreements, where the need to keep the world on track for a less than 1.5°C degree change was first projected. Now, we are reaching a make-or-break point for keeping in any way close to that target.”
He also stressed the urgent need for money to help poorer countries manage the big changes ahead:
“There is also the drive to fund poorer countries to manage the transition of all of us to a sustainable world. We, as a global society, are way 'behind the curve' of doing what is needed.”
Throughout the Bonn talks, Jesuit Missions supported efforts to protect workers’ rights as countries move away from fossil fuels, called for clear and fair financial help for poorer nations so they can adapt to climate change, and worked to ensure that Indigenous Peoples and local communities have a real voice in tracking global progress on climate goals.
Looking ahead to COP30 in November, Jesuit Missions has vowed to continue speaking up for those most affected by climate change and to push governments to act boldly and fairly. With time running out, their message is clear: tackling climate change is not just urgent — it is a matter of justice.
