Bonn, Germany. The Claretian Missionaries, through Fondazione Proclade Internazionale–Onlus (FPI), actively participated in the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Bonn, Germany, from 8 to 18 June 2026. Representing the Claretians were Fr. Rohan Dominic, CMF, Coordinator of the Claretian Team at the United Nations, and Fr. Vincent Anes, CMF, Co-Secretary of the USG-UISG Commission for Justice, peace and Integrity of Creation.
The annual Subsidiary Bodies (SB) sessions are the principal mid-year climate negotiations under the UNFCCC. Bringing together government negotiators, UN agencies, civil society organizations, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, youth movements, and faith-based organizations, these meetings prepare technical decisions and negotiate implementation measures that shape the agenda for the annual UN Climate Conference (COP). This year’s gathering, known as SB64, marked an important milestone on the road from COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, later this year.
Throughout the negotiations, the Proclade delegation worked closely with the Network of Catholic Climate and Environment Actors (NCCEA) and other ecumenical and interfaith partners, ensuring that the moral and ethical dimensions of climate action remained present within the international policy discussions. Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching and the vision of integral ecology expressed in Laudato Si’, Laudate Deum, Fratelli Tutti, and Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas, the Claretians advocated for climate policies that place human dignity, justice, and the protection of creation at their center.
The Proclade representatives participated in strategic coordination meetings of NCCEA, joined the dialogue with the Holy See delegation, and helped strengthen the link between civil-society advocacy and the diplomatic voice of the Church. They also took part in the annual interfaith Talanoa Dialogue of faith-based actors and the coordinating meeting of the Interfaith Liaison Committee, witnessing alongside other religious traditions.
The delegation held consultations and partnership-network meetings with a range of organizations at different levels of collaboration, deepening Proclade’s network of allies on the road to COP31. They also followed key negotiating tracks, particularly those related to Just Transition and Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), while strengthening partnerships with Catholic organizations, faith-based networks, and civil society actors working for climate justice.
Across the UNFCCC process, Proclade’s engagement focuses on five priorities: Just Transition, Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF), Climate Finance, including Loss and Damage, Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), and the Global Stocktake (GST).
A significant contribution came during the NCCEA press briefings, where Fr. Vincent Anes reflected on the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies, emphasizing that artificial intelligence must always serve humanity, safeguard human dignity, and contribute to the care of our common home rather than becoming a tool of exclusion or conflict.
Although expectations for SB64 were high, the negotiations produced mixed outcomes. Some progress was achieved in advancing discussions on the Just Transition Work Programme and in continuing the review of Action for Climate Empowerment. However, negotiations on adaptation finance stalled, while meaningful commitments on climate finance and support for Loss and Damage remained elusive. The continued gap between ambitious climate commitments and concrete political action once again highlighted the urgent need for greater solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable communities.
For the Claretians, participation at SB64 reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a faith-based presence within international climate negotiations. Beyond contributing to policy discussions, the delegation sought to witness to the inseparable relationship between the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, reminding decision-makers that climate action is fundamentally a question of justice, human dignity, and care for future generations.
As preparations now shift toward COP31 in Antalya, the Claretian Missionaries remain committed to collaborating with the wider Church, ecumenical partners, civil society, and the international community in promoting an ambitious, people-centered, and justice-oriented response to the climate crisis. Through the work of Fondazione Proclade Internazionale–Onlus at the United Nations, the Claretians will continue to amplify the voices of vulnerable communities and advocate for policies that protect both people and the planet.
