This was a simulation exercise for media professionals reporting on a UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies meeting. Based on the provided documents, we had to formulate the tasks outlined for our "team of journalists."
Our task was to produce a 500-600 word article or broadcast script for our national outlet, acting as a media team reporting on the meeting. This should broadly support our Cambrunaysia government's position, but with a tone of constructive critique.
Our Group Submission:
Cambrunaysia Links Climate Action to Economic Transition, Calls for $100 Billion Finance at COP
Byline: Group2 Staff
Bonn, 5 July 2025
Cambrunaysia, a lower-middle-income Southeast Asian nation, used this week’s UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies meeting in Bonn to highlight how its economic future is tightly bound with the pace of global climate action.
Delivering the country’s official statement, Dr. Surya Mahathana, Minister for Environment, Climate Affairs and Ecological Transition, pointed to a 32 percent rise in renewable energy capacity since 2015, much of it in the last 18 months, and the establishment of a national carbon trading framework aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement which outlines the commitment to keep global temperature rise to under 1.5C.
Yet the minister acknowledged that coal still generates over 40% of the country’s electricity, making energy security a recurring concern. “We are committed to phasing out coal,” Dr. Mahathana said, “but we must do so in a way that safeguards our people’s livelihoods and sustains industrial growth.” When asked to comment, Mahathana emphasises the need to “move away from coal”.
Economy at the Core of Climate Debate
Cambrunaysia’s $320 billion economy is driven by textiles, agriculture, and extractive industries such as coal and bauxite. While the government has launched large-scale renewable energy auctions and invested in community-based adaptation programs that have already reached over 100,000 households, fossil fuel subsidies remain politically sensitive.
Analysts say this tension—between economic dependence on coal and the ambition to expand clean energy—captures the broader challenge facing many developing economies.
Call for Climate Finance
Cambrunaysia joined other developing nations in calling on industrialized countries to honor their long-overdue $100 billion annual climate finance pledge. Officials stressed that without scaled-up finance and technology transfer, it will be impossible to meet both climate and development targets.
“Flexibility in timelines is essential,” Dr. Mahathana noted, “particularly for countries like ours that must balance climate ambition with urgent developmental realities.”
Civil Society Scientific Pressure
Domestically, environmental NGOs and youth movements are becoming increasingly vocal about coal dependence. Shweta, a civil society representative states that the policies do not take into account indigenous voices and more transparency is needed. “We are not against development, but it must take place in the right and fair manner,” she noted.
Gunjan Jain, a scientist present at the event emphasises that not all renewables may always be the most ideal solution to supply Cambrunysia’s energy needs. She adds, “solar and hydropower [may not] have emissions but the extractive nature is still a point of contention.”
Regional and Global Position
As a member of the G77 and Non-Aligned Movement, Cambrunaysia emphasized equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities.” It works closely with ASEAN partners but remains cautious of alignment with Western blocs.
Observers say Cambrunaysia’s intervention in Bonn signals a growing determination among middle-income countries to link climate ambition directly with economic justice.
My personal attempt if I did it as an independent non-profit one-man media team:
Bonn, July 2025 – Cembrunaysia’s delegation, led by Minister for Environment, Climate Affairs and Ecological Transition Dr. Surya Mahathana, presented a statement at the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) meeting, reaffirming the nation's commitment to the Paris Agreement. The statement highlighted significant progress in renewable energy and adaptation, but a leaked document and skepticism from observer groups suggest the path forward is complex.
The official statement lauded a 32% increase in renewable energy capacity since 2015, and the provision of climate-based adaptation programs to over 100,000 households. The government also noted its commitment to a carbon trading framework under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This progress aligns with the nation's "low-income coastal nation" status and its ambition to transition away from fossil fuels.
However, a leaked document reveals a more nuanced reality. It suggests the government is delaying its planned coal phase-out due to "energy security concerns." This has drawn sharp criticism from several fronts, including civil society and scientific groups.
Critical Voices Challenge National Stance
The Civil Society Coalition, which includes indigenous and youth representatives, expressed deep concern, stating that continued subsidies for fossil fuels and a slow pace of coal phase-out are "completely incompatible" with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Indigenous groups also highlighted a worrying trend of increased mining activity on their lands for energy projects, while youth leaders accused the government of using "energy security" as an excuse for inaction.
The Scientific Advisory Group to the UNFCCC offered a similar critique, noting that Cembrunaysia's current emissions trajectory is "not aligned" with the Global Stocktake benchmarks. They called for more transparency on the government’s implementation pathways and enforcement mechanisms. The group's statement casts doubt on the credibility of Cembrunaysia's 2050 net-zero pledge.
A Call for Clearer Pathways
While the government's official stance emphasizes its unique developmental challenges as a developing country, these criticisms underscore the need for greater clarity and more ambitious action. Other developing nations in similar economic situations have taken more aggressive stances on climate action. A delegate from a Pacific Island nation poignantly asked, "If you say you can’t move faster, how do you expect us to survive?"
To maintain its credibility on the global stage, Cembrunaysia must bridge the gap between its stated commitments and its on-the-ground policies. This includes addressing the concerns raised about fossil fuel subsidies and providing a clearer, more ambitious timeline for its coal phase-out.
The government's call for increased international support for technology transfer and capacity building is a key part of its strategy. However, to effectively secure this support, it will likely need to demonstrate a stronger, more transparent commitment to its own national climate goals, ensuring that its actions match its rhetoric. The future of Cembrunaysia’s climate strategy lies in finding a realistic and transparent pathway that both ensures energy security and protects the planet for future generations.
***This does not include the supposed interviews with the different stakeholders and the government.
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The social media promotion. All were uploaded on a Google drive to be opened by the workshop facilitators.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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