Student Experience at COP

SB62 (UNFCCC June Climate Meetings) in Seventeen Photographs

Catherine Wang
By Catherine Wang, '25 C
11 Mar 2026
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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the international agreement that coordinates climate change mitigation and adaptation. Famously, the UNFCCC holds a two-week Conference of Parties (COP) every winter to negotiate the international response to climate change. The number of COP attendees runs in the tens of thousands, with COP29 in Azerbaijan hosting 53,000 attendees in November 2024.

However, there is another critical UNFCCC meeting that gets much less attention. Each June, midway between annual COPs, the UNFCCC convenes its Subsidiary Bodies at its headquarters in Bonn, Germany. These mid-year meetings are called the June Climate Meetings, or SBs, and their objective is to set the agenda items to be negotiated at the upcoming COP. The SBs run smaller than COPs, with about 5,000 to 6,000 attendees.

From June 16th to 26th, 2025, the UNFCCC hosted SB62 to prepare for COP30, which took place in Brazil in November 2025. At SB62, the central question was whether to put “climate finance” on the COP30 agenda. Climate finance is the transfer of funds from developed countries to developing countries for the purposes of climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience.

I attended the first week of SB62 as part of Emory University’s delegation. Since Emory is classified by the UNFCCC as a Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organization, Emory’s delegates have Observer status. As an Observer, I had access to all of the open-door official negotiations and the side event panels.

As someone who does not study diplomacy, I found the careful language of international negotiations impenetrable. Historically, slight variations in wording have led to huge debates. For example, negotiators could argue for days over the words “shall” versus “may” in treaties! In the heat of the moment, my ear sometimes missed the implications of small variances in diplomatic language. Instead, I looked towards body language to offer me clues. I captured these moments in a collection of photographs that preserve the energy of the first week of SB62, and I present these photos below.

[1] The World Conference Center Bonn hosts the United Nations June Climate Meetings. Throughout the entire conference, the atrium was bustling.
[1] The World Conference Center Bonn hosts the United Nations June Climate Meetings. Throughout the entire conference, the atrium was bustling.
[2] COP30 was held in Belém, Brazil, in the Amazon rainforest. In the lead-up to the conference, Brazilian delegates wore ceremonial headdresses at SB62 to represent the Indigenous peoples of Amazonia.
[2] COP30 was held in Belém, Brazil, in the Amazon rainforest. In the lead-up to the conference, Brazilian delegates wore ceremonial headdresses at SB62 to represent the Indigenous peoples of Amazonia.
[3] The opening plenary of SB62 started a day later than planned, due to tensions between developed and developing countries about whether climate finance should be an agenda item. During the opening plenary, the Nigerian delegation emphasized that "the blood of the convention" (UNFCCC) was Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which states, "Developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties." In response, the Swiss delegation countered that the "main cause [of U
[3] The opening plenary of SB62 started a day later than planned, due to tensions between developed and developing countries about whether climate finance should be an agenda item. During the opening plenary, the Nigerian delegation emphasized that "the blood of the convention" (UNFCCC) was Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which states, "Developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties." In response, the Swiss delegation countered that the "main cause [of UNFCCC] is to tackle climate change,” sidestepping any mention of climate finance. If climate finance were to be included in UNFCCC treaties, Nigeria would receive financial resources, as a developing country, while Switzerland would be obligated to provide financial resources, as a developed country.
[4] As part of her work for the UNFCCC Archives, Zilin Ye promotes the Archives as a resource for journalists, scholars, diplomats, and the public. Her booth, located in the main atrium of the conference center, showcases the Archives' meeting recordings, digitized transcripts, and photos, as well as memorabilia from past COPs.
[4] As part of her work for the UNFCCC Archives, Zilin Ye promotes the Archives as a resource for journalists, scholars, diplomats, and the public. Her booth, located in the main atrium of the conference center, showcases the Archives' meeting recordings, digitized transcripts, and photos, as well as memorabilia from past COPs.
[5] At a side event panel on the role of nuclear energy in Africa's low-carbon energy transition, an attendee uses her phone to translate the discussion from English into Spanish in real time.
[5] At a side event panel on the role of nuclear energy in Africa's low-carbon energy transition, an attendee uses her phone to translate the discussion from English into Spanish in real time.
[6] At the entrance to a negotiation room, security requests identification from a UN Secretariat staffer.
[6] At the entrance to a negotiation room, security requests identification from a UN Secretariat staffer.
[7-9] Chairs are limited in the World Conference Center lobby, so attendees can be found scattered on staircases, the ground, or in corridors, as they work, rest, or network.
[7-9] Chairs are limited in the World Conference Center lobby, so attendees can be found scattered on staircases, the ground, or in corridors, as they work, rest, or network.
[10] Kiara Worth (right), the UNFCCC’s official photographer, presents a collection of photographs from decades of COPs to Katja Dörner, the mayor of Bonn (left). As the official UNFCCC photographer, Worth seeks to capture the "human side" of climate negotiations. She titled her exhibition "Finding Common Ground," describing it as a "love letter to multilateralism."
[10] Kiara Worth (right), the UNFCCC’s official photographer, presents a collection of photographs from decades of COPs to Katja Dörner, the mayor of Bonn (left). As the official UNFCCC photographer, Worth seeks to capture the "human side" of climate negotiations. She titled her exhibition "Finding Common Ground," describing it as a "love letter to multilateralism."
[11] In the early afternoon, delegates take lunch on a shady patch of grass outside the UN complex.
[11] In the early afternoon, delegates take lunch on a shady patch of grass outside the UN complex.
[12] Directly outside the conference venue, The Just Transition Rising Initiative hosted a protest called "Picket-nic,” which took place after that day’s negotiations concluded. The protest was located outside the conference venue, which meant that all exiting attendees would pass the Picket-nic. Many protesters were also SB62 observer delegates, representing youth groups or NGOs. The banner reads "Just Transition Rising," which is a grassroots campaign demanding that the UNFCCC implement climate finance
[12] Directly outside the conference venue, The Just Transition Rising Initiative hosted a protest called "Picket-nic,” which took place after that day’s negotiations concluded. The protest was located outside the conference venue, which meant that all exiting attendees would pass the Picket-nic. Many protesters were also SB62 observer delegates, representing youth groups or NGOs. The banner reads "Just Transition Rising," which is a grassroots campaign demanding that the UNFCCC implement climate finance, rapidly phase out fossil fuels, and support workers.
[13] Chief Ninawa Inu Huni Kui, leader of the indigenous Huni Kuin people of Brazil, speaks at the Just Transition Rising protest. A fellow activist stands beside the Chief to translate his speech into English. Chief Ninawa said, "In my country, our land is under constant threat: up for auction for oil and gas, and hydroelectric dams and mining. Many times, it is done in the name of the green economy. [But] what they call innovation, we call repeating old costumes and ways. For my people, the true just tran
[13] Chief Ninawa Inu Huni Kui, leader of the indigenous Huni Kuin people of Brazil, speaks at the Just Transition Rising protest. A fellow activist stands beside the Chief to translate his speech into English. Chief Ninawa said, "In my country, our land is under constant threat: up for auction for oil and gas, and hydroelectric dams and mining. Many times, it is done in the name of the green economy. [But] what they call innovation, we call repeating old costumes and ways. For my people, the true just transition is not only the energy transition, it is also a spiritual transition. We don’t want to be heard only as guests, but as co-creators of solutions.”
[14] Negotiators and their staff gather at the entrance of a meeting room. In the late afternoon, some use the opportunity to network, while others stand tiredly.
[14] Negotiators and their staff gather at the entrance of a meeting room. In the late afternoon, some use the opportunity to network, while others stand tiredly.
[15] At 6:00 PM, official negotiations have concluded for the day, but some negotiation blocs have closed-door strategy meetings that extend into the night. Here, delegates take a break before the evening meeting of African negotiators. This photo was taken moments before Observers were asked to leave the room.
[15] At 6:00 PM, official negotiations have concluded for the day, but some negotiation blocs have closed-door strategy meetings that extend into the night. Here, delegates take a break before the evening meeting of African negotiators. This photo was taken moments before Observers were asked to leave the room.
[16] At the end of the fifth day of SB62, Robert David Karoro, a negotiator from Kiribati, gets cheered on by a fellow member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
[16] At the end of the fifth day of SB62, Robert David Karoro, a negotiator from Kiribati, gets cheered on by a fellow member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
[17] Outside the conference center, a woman shelters from the hot afternoon sun. Though this space filled up during protests, such as the Just Transition Rising Picket-nic, the space emptied out when there were no demonstrations.
[17] Outside the conference center, a woman shelters from the hot afternoon sun. Though this space filled up during protests, such as the Just Transition Rising Picket-nic, the space emptied out when there were no demonstrations.