Australia’s Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, announced he will travel to Brazil this Saturday to make a strong case for Australia to host next year’s COP31 climate summit, amid an ongoing contest with Turkey.
Both Australia and Turkey submitted bids back in 2022, and neither country has backed down since. Recently, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reached out to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to resolve the long-running disagreement.
Speaking to reporters at Sydney Airport, Bowen expressed confidence in Australia’s bid, stating, “Australia has the overwhelming support of the world to host” next year’s conference. Bowen emphasized that he will not only advocate for Australia but also showcase the country’s growing clean energy industry at the summit in Belem, located in Brazil’s Amazon region.
Australia hopes to host COP31 alongside Pacific island nations for the first time, aiming to present a united front in tackling the “existential threat” of climate change. Bowen highlighted the urgency of coordinated climate action, noting, “Our nation has a lot at stake when it comes to climate change, but every effort we make now will help avert the worst impacts.”
Backing Australia’s bid is the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional bloc of 18 countries, many of which are threatened by rising sea levels. Australia is positioning itself as a future “renewable energy superpower,” shifting away from coal and gas while encouraging investments in critical minerals, green steel, and clean technology innovations like battery production.
Turkey, on the other hand, emphasizes the need for a COP that prioritizes financing for developing countries’ climate initiatives and showcases its own progress toward a 2053 net-zero emissions goal.
The annual COP meetings have evolved from diplomatic discussions into global platforms where host nations can demonstrate leadership in climate action while promoting economic opportunities. Australia’s bid reflects both ambition and a genuine desire to collaborate with vulnerable Pacific nations to safeguard the planet’s future.
