(L-R) Serge Wilmes, Luxembourg’s Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity; Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC;
Credit: MECB
On Thursday 11 June 2026, Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity Serge Wilmes, met with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell on the sidelines of the 64th session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies in Bonn, Germany.
According to Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, the discussions focused on preparations for COP31.
Simon Stiell welcomed the recent Luxembourg International Climate Finance Days, which Minister Wilmes described as a practical contribution to the multilateral climate process by bringing together public and private stakeholders to help turn climate ambition into implementation, said the ministry, adding that the two officials also discussed the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) process and its potential to serve as a platform for building coalitions around concrete initiatives.
Following the meeting, Minister Wilmes reaffirmed Luxembourg's continued support for the UNFCCC Secretariat and its Executive Secretary and expressed the Grand Duchy's commitment to close cooperation ahead of COP31, which will take place in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 to 20 November 2026.
During his visit, Minister Wilmes also met with Fatma Varank, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change of Turkey, and Sally Box, Head of the Australian Delegation, to discuss preparations for COP31.
As Turkey and Australia will jointly host COP31 in Antalya, the discussions focused on the priorities and expectations for the conference. The participants stressed the importance of making COP31 a decisive step from ambition to implementation, particularly through practical climate finance solutions and stronger nationally determined contributions (NDCs), noted the ministry.
Minister Wilmes also welcomed the COP31 Action Agenda presented by the conference presidency and said Luxembourg stands ready to support the presidency with its expertise in sustainable finance. According to the ministry, he praised the joint efforts of Turkey and Australia to ensure the conference preparations remain inclusive, transparent and results oriented.
