AUSTRALIA will not co-host the COP31 climate summit with Turkiye next year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Monday, amid an ongoing deadlock between the two nations over hosting rights.
“No, we won't be co-hosting because co-hosting isn't provided for under the rules of the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change],” Reuters cited Albanese telling reporters during a media briefing in Melbourne. “So that's not an option and people are aware that it is not an option, which is why it has been ruled out.”
The announcement comes after Turkish diplomatic sources told Reuters that Turkiye had proposed jointly leading the summit with Australia, but discussions on a compromise remain unresolved.
Both countries submitted separate bids in 2022 to host COP31 and neither has withdrawn, creating a standoff that must be addressed at this year’s COP30 meeting currently underway in Belem, Brazil.
The annual Conference of the Parties serves as the primary global forum for climate action, though it has evolved from a diplomatic gathering into a major showcase for economic and trade opportunities for host countries.
Hosting the summit is crucial, as it allows nations to set the agenda and drive the international negotiations that underpin global climate agreements.
Albanese recently wrote to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to resolve the impasse, emphasising Australia’s interest in hosting the summit in partnership with Pacific island nations for the first time.
The Pacific Islands Forum, a bloc of 18 countries, has endorsed Australia’s bid, highlighting the urgent need for leadership on climate issues for nations threatened by rising sea levels.
The standoff underscores the complex interplay between international rules, climate diplomacy, and regional interests, with Australia positioning itself as a champion for Pacific nations at a time of escalating climate risk. - November 17, 2025
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