The upcoming COP31 climate summit is set to be hosted by Turkey after Australia withdrew its bid, striking a unique compromise under UN rules. Typically, the right to host the COP rotates among a group including Western Europe, Australia, and other nations.
For months, both Australia and Turkey vied for the 2026 summit, but a consensus had proven elusive. The breakthrough came at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where Australia agreed to support Turkey’s bid in exchange for its climate minister chairing the talks. This arrangement is unusual, as COP presidents are traditionally from the host country.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the compromise as an “outstanding result,” highlighting that Pacific issues would remain “front and centre.” He also engaged with Pacific leaders, including Papua New Guinea’s James Marape and Fiji’s Rabuka, to discuss the arrangement.
However, some Pacific nations voiced disappointment. Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told AFP, “We are all not happy. And disappointed it’s ended up like this,” while Solomon Islands leader Jeremiah Manele echoed similar concerns.
Australia had lobbied to host COP31 in Adelaide, co-hosting with vulnerable Pacific island states. Turkey, proposing Antalya as the venue, argued it had a legitimate claim after stepping aside in 2021 for the UK’s Glasgow summit. Without agreement, the default venue would have been Bonn, Germany.
The compromise includes a pre-COP meeting on a Pacific island, while the main conference takes place in Turkey. Australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen will act as COP president, handling negotiations, appointing co-facilitators, preparing draft texts, and managing the summit’s decision-making process. Turkey will manage venue operations, including schedules and meetings.
Bowen acknowledged the unusual setup but stressed the importance of consensus, noting that without compromise, COP31 leadership would have been left in limbo for 12 months. The agreement now awaits ratification by over 190 countries attending COP30.
This innovative partnership aims to balance the interests of both Australia and Turkey while ensuring Pacific nations remain involved in the climate agenda.
