Turkey’s joint-host offer to break COP31 deadlock with Adelaide
With neither country backing down from their bid to host the COP31 summit, Turkey has suggested they and Australia lead it jointly.
Turkey has proposed jointly leading next year’s UN climate summit with Australia, with the two sides so far failing to reach an agreement and discussions on the hosting standoff still unresolved.
Australia and Turkey both submitted bids in 2022 to host COP31.
Neither has withdrawn, leading to an attention-sapping impasse that must be overcome at this year’s COP30 meeting in Belem, Brazil.
The annual COP – or Conference of the Parties – is the world’s main forum for driving climate action. The host matters because they set the agenda and lead the diplomacy needed to reach global agreements.
Turkish diplomatic sources said on Sunday (local time) that Turkey and Australia had explored a joint presidency model during talks on the margins of the UN General Assembly in September, including sharing hosting duties for high-level meetings and jointly steering negotiations.
Those conversations created “a basis of mutual understanding”, they said, but the proposal had not advanced.
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According to the sources, later exchanges showed differing views on how a co-presidency could function within UN procedures.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen travelled to Brazil on Saturday for COP30, saying a decision would be made there and that Australia had “overwhelming support” for its candidacy.
Canberra says it wants to co-host with Pacific island nations to highlight the climate threats they face. The Pacific Islands Forum backs Australia’s bid.
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Turkey, however, says its candidacy emphasises cooperation and inclusiveness and aims to put greater focus on financing for developing countries while showcasing its progress towards a 2053 net-zero emissions goal.
President Tayyip Erdogan expressed this view in recent correspondence with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Turkish sources said, adding that Turkey still believed “flexible formulas” could be developed through continued consultations.
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At the same time, the sources said Turkey was prepared to host the summit alone and assume the presidency if no agreement was reached.
The annual talks rotate through five regional groups, with COP31’s host needing to be unanimously agreed upon by the 28 members of the “Western Europe and others group” bloc, which includes Australia and Turkey.
PM disputes price tag
Albanese has rejected suggestions it could cost Australia more than $2 billion to host a major climate summit.
He pushed back when asked about the apparent price tag, floated in multiple media reports.
“Commentary is commentary,” Albanese said on Sunday.
“People are plucking figures, from who?”
Climate change was wreaking havoc across the nation and wider region and urgent action was required, Albanese said.
“Our Pacific family are under threat. Their very existence,” he said.
“We need to be a part of acting on climate change.
“We need to make sure that we act domestically, but we also engage globally as well.”
-with AAP
