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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Sunday he has written to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an effort to resolve a two-year standoff over who will host next year’s COP31 climate summit, Reuters reported.
Asked whether he believed Australia would ultimately host the event, Albanese told Sky News there was “no real process for finalizing the matter.”
“I’ve written to President Erdogan of Türkiye; we’re continuing to engage,” he said. “It’s hard when there’s no consensus, when you’ve got two bids. Our bid, of course, is in partnership with the Pacific.”
Australia and Türkiye both submitted bids in 2022, and neither has withdrawn. The summit’s host must be selected by unanimous agreement of the 28-member Western Europe and Others Group (WEOG), which missed a June deadline to reach consensus.
Australia has campaigned alongside Pacific nations, seeking to highlight its renewable energy transition and commitment to representing countries facing existential climate threats. The Pacific Islands Forum, a bloc of 18 nations, is backing Canberra’s bid. Many Pacific island states are at high risk from rising sea levels.
Albanese said Australia wants to ensure the region’s interests are protected. “Our bid is in partnership with the Pacific,” he said.
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Türkiye has emphasized its experience hosting major international events and has promoted Antalya as a venue, arguing its Mediterranean location would help cut emissions from long-haul flights.
Ankara has also pointed to its relatively small oil and gas sector compared to Australia.
The United Nations has urged the two countries to settle the impasse, calling the delay unhelpful and unnecessary.
The decision rotates through five regional groups, with COP31 requiring a unanimous WEOG choice.
COP31 will follow COP30 in Brazil in 2025, where nations are expected to submit updated climate targets for 2035.
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