Australia and Turkey Reach Breakthrough Deal on Hosting COP31 Climate Summit

Turkey is set to host next year’s UN climate summit, COP31, while Australia will take charge of leading negotiations under a compromise agreement emerging from talks in Brazil. The deal, confirmed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ends a long-running standoff between the two nations, both of which had submitted bids in 2022 and refused to withdraw.

Albanese described the arrangement as a significant win for both sides, noting that Turkey will preside over the summit in Antalya, while Australia will oversee the critical negotiation process. This includes managing discussions, appointing co-facilitators, shaping draft text, and issuing the summit’s final “cover decision.” A pre-COP event is also expected to take place in the Pacific, aligning with Australia’s initial vision of a “Pacific COP” focused on the climate vulnerabilities of small island nations.

Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen emphasized that the compromise achieves key goals, even if it falls short of full hosting rights. He acknowledged that organizing a COP summit, which brings together tens of thousands of attendees and requires extensive diplomatic coordination, is a massive undertaking. Sharing responsibilities, he said, is practical and strategic.

Experts also view the deal positively. David Dutton of the Lowy Institute, formerly Australia’s assistant secretary of climate diplomacy, said it reduces the logistical burden on Australia while preserving meaningful opportunities to highlight Pacific climate concerns. Australia has already spent A$7 million preparing its bid, confident in strong international support.

Turkey, positioning itself as an emerging economy, plans to use COP31 to emphasize global solidarity between developed and developing nations. While Ankara has not yet commented on the arrangement, the summit is expected to spotlight broader climate challenges beyond regional priorities.

The compromise—first reported by Bloomberg—helps both countries move forward quickly, with just a year remaining to prepare for COP31 and shape global climate policy in a pivotal period.