From Bonn to Our Cities: Climate Diplomacy Needs Local Organizing

Author: Elena-Alexandra Miron, Central and Eastern Europe Regional Organizer, Climate Reality Europe

As a young climate advocate from Romania and Climate Reality Europe’s Regional Organizer for the Central and Eastern Europe Hubs, I followed the negotiations with one question in mind: what does all of this mean for people back home? The Bonn meetings, known as SB64, took place from 8 to 18 June 2026 and gathered over 9,000 registered participants, including Party (government) delegates, observers and media representatives.

European Climate Youth Delegates SB64 in Bonn

Some progress was made: Parties advanced work on the review of the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP)*, continued discussions on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)**, and took steps on technology cooperation. But the bigger picture was much more complicated. Negotiations on the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP)***, the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)****, adaptation finance and research remained difficult and politically divided.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell was very clear in his closing statement: on adaptation and mitigation, Parties said action must be deepened and accelerated, but Bonn “did not deliver.”

For me, this is exactly where regional and city-level organizing becomes essential.

The Climate Hubs model was created to decentralize leadership, support collaboration and accelerate community-driven climate action. Hubs are city-based, self-governing, democratic, open to people from different backgrounds and supported by Regional Organizers and Climate Reality Europe. These work close to where climate action has to become real: in communities, city halls, schools, local campaigns and public conversations.

This matters deeply for Central and Eastern Europe. In the EU, buildings use around 40% of energy consumed, around 50% of gas consumption is linked to buildings, and about 80% of energy used in homes goes to heating, cooling and hot water.

So when we talk about implementation, we are not talking only about negotiation texts. We are talking about people’s homes, bills, cities, trust and capacity to participate.

Bonn reminded me that climate diplomacy matters. But it becomes powerful only when connected to local action.

If this resonates with you, the Climate Hubs are a practical place to start. Climate Reality Hubs are local, volunteer-led groups working on community-driven climate action, from education and local advocacy to campaigns, partnerships and public engagement. They are open not only to trained Climate Reality Leaders, but also to anyone passionate about climate action.

You can check whether there is already a Hub near you through the Climate Hubs Europe map and list. If there is no active Hub in your city, you can apply to start one with a small founding team, including two trained Climate Reality Leaders as co-leads, two additional members, and a clear vision for local action.

Because change starts close to home, and sometimes the most powerful climate work begins with a few people deciding to organize in their own city.

Abbreviations:

*Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) - A UN climate process that helps countries ensure the transition away from fossil fuels is fair and inclusive, creating decent jobs, supporting affected workers and communities, and reducing social inequalities.

**Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) - The UN framework for strengthening climate education, public awareness, participation, training, access to information, and international cooperation, so people are better equipped to contribute to climate action.

***Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) - A UN process focused on accelerating global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions this decade by identifying practical opportunities and encouraging stronger climate action.

****Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) - A global framework under the Paris Agreement that aims to help countries become more resilient to climate change by defining shared objectives and measuring progress on adaptation.