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Germany, as host of the UN climate organisation, is the backstop destination for COP under the rules of the treaty that established the annual event. But the German government has made clear it does not want to host it at such short notice.
Reports have put the cost of hosting COP in Australia at up to $2 billion, which the government has refused to confirm. Green groups have argued the event could bring investment to Australia and enhance diplomatic ties with the Pacific.
Albanese said that Australia had support for its bid, but that he would not stand in Turkey’s way if support coalesced around its campaign to host.
“What we would seek to do is to ensure that the Pacific benefited from that through measures, potentially like a leaders meeting to be held in the Pacific,” Albanese said in Western Australia on Tuesday.
“We will prioritise making sure that the Pacific’s interests are looked after, but this is a difficult situation because of the rules and the way that they operate.”
The remarks are a major departure from Bowen’s comments. The minister said overnight that Australia was still vigorously pursuing its bid to host the conference, which the government has said it would bring to Adelaide next year.
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“We are in it, and we are in it to win it. Let me make it clear, we’re not going anywhere. South Australia’s not going anywhere,” he said. “It’s the fight we’ve going to have because it is very much in Australia’s interests and I believe in the world’s interest, having Australia as the president [and host] of COP31.”
Turkey’s deputy climate change minister Fatma Varank said overnight that her country had sought to be constructive but Australia had refused to yield and had stalled negotiations.