By Abdullahi Lukman
As climate negotiators meet in Bonn ahead of COP30 in Brazil this November, over 200 civil society and Indigenous Peoples groups have presented bold reform proposals aimed at making the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) more effective in addressing the climate emergency.
The call for urgent reform comes after more than 30 years of negotiations during which global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise, worsening climate impacts especially in the Global South.
The proposals, released on June 23, 2025, focus on five key pillars: restoring power and equity, ending the corporate influence and “trade show” nature of COPs, increasing transparency and accountability, protecting human rights, and strengthening international climate governance.
A major recommendation urges the 198 UNFCCC Parties to adopt majority-based decision-making to break deadlocks caused by the current consensus requirement.
The reform also seeks to curb the influence of fossil fuel industries by establishing an accountability framework to prevent conflicts of interest within the talks.
The reform initiative is backed by major networks including the Climate Action Network, Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice, Children and Youth Constituency, Women and Gender Constituency, and over 200 organizations such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Oxfam, and the Centre for International Environmental Law.
Experts highlight that the absence of strong decision-making processes and accountability has allowed polluting countries and industries to stall progress, undermining international law and climate justice.
They emphasize that effective multilateralism and fossil-free climate action are crucial to overcoming the global climate crisis.
Speakers urge COP30 host Brazil to lead reforms that ensure the UNFCCC delivers on the Paris Agreement and prioritizes justice for vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
The calls underline the urgent need for the UNFCCC to reimagine itself and adopt meaningful changes to avoid further complicity in worsening the climate crisis.
The proposals also stress the importance of linking climate efforts with biodiversity and other environmental agreements to address interconnected global challenges and hold polluters accountable for environmental damage.