Australia is already in the running to host this next edition of the UN climate talks, COP31. We hope that with the support of Pacific nations we can attract this important event to Adelaide. Australia’s successful bid demonstrates its clearly positive response to addressing climate priorities that are absolutely critical to the Pacific region. This effort comes at an especially opportune time for the country. The Albanese government is convinced that securing COP31 will assist Australia re-establish its strategic leadership in the Pacific. Beyond creating immediate access to critical data, it will create dividends in goodwill among bordering nations.
The nation has received the “overwhelming” support of the bloc of nations that makes up the body which decides the host country for COP31. Australia’s bid, in turn, is expected to be under intense competition from Türkiye. As the host, Türkiye is standing firm and has not retreated from its bid to host the conference. The state of affairs has left the two countries in a diplomatic standstill. This has caused Australia to double down on diplomatic engagement to secure a solution that works for both sides.
Diplomatic Efforts and Deadlock
To resolve this stalemate, the Albanese government has reached out to Türkiye’s President on two separate occasions. They are looking for some sort of resolution that would allow both countries to attend the conference. Despite Australia’s ambition to clinch the presidency of COP31, they are considering their own compromises. One is for Türkiye to host an in-person leaders’ meeting in Ankara while Australia retains the leadership position with the presidency.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain evident. Some Australian officials are concerned that the prime minister has not yet gone all in on the campaign. Instead, they refer to the much more muscular approach pursued by former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson throughout his nation’s winning COP26 bid. As one official now said, “It’s not really been Team Australia,” pointing to a host of shortcomings in Australia’s campaign strategy so far.
The need is dire. We cannot let this hosting madness continue, and we need to have this sorted out by the end of COP30 in Belem. Australia, for its part, is still hopeful of winning hosting rights to COP31. If they’re unsuccessful, the next conference will be in Bonn, Germany – something Australia is keen to avoid.
Economic Implications and Strategic Importance
Hosting COP31 is expected to bring serious monetary costs. Projections indicate that the final aggregated cost of hosting the conference would be well over $1 billion and could be as high as $1.5 billion. The Adelaide Convention Centre has already been identified as the main venue for this major event.
Experts warn that if Australia hosts COP31 successfully, significant diplomatic and economic rewards await the country. David Dutton, a political analyst with the Monash University, pointed out that pulling something like that off would take enormous ingenuity. He forecast that it might even fully occupy the government’s agenda in 2026. That year, with the eye of the political world on other hot-potato issues, like immigration.
“This is a message that the world needs to hear and a reality that the world needs to see,” remarked an unnamed official involved in the bid process. Australia has the opportunity to show bold climate leadership. It highlights the need for continuing deep partnerships with Pacific island nations to make this happen.
Climate Action and Future Challenges
Australia’s successful bid would support its commitments to ambitious climate action and help respond to critical environmental issues. In recent years, climate change has been recognized not merely as one issue among many but rather as an existential threat facing humanity. Josh Wilson, an advocate for climate action, highlighted this urgency by stating, “climate change is not one subject among many for gradual negotiation, but a present and existential threat.”
Prize Australia is presented with a complicated, yet rich, landscape. Yet, it needs to harmonize its ambitious goals with the realities of international diplomacy, and the urgency of climate action. The government’s commitment to championing Pacific climate priorities will be pivotal in enhancing its bid’s credibility and appeal.
